My vote: Olga (pronounced Ole-yah)
Bertha’s story is very nice. As queen consort of late 6th century Kent, she helped spread Christianity in England. She’s the reason the British have an Archbishop of Canterbury. Yay for her.
Olga ruled the Kyivan Rus (modern Ukraine and the foundation of the future Russian Empire) on behalf of her toddler son Sviatoslav in the 10th century. Her husband Prince Igor had been brutally killed by the Drevlians, a Slavic tribe. I’ll spare you the details, which may be legendary, but it’s kind of reverse tree-hugging. Olga plotted revenge. She agreed to marry Prince Mal of the Drevlians when he proposed. The Drevlians who had brought the proposal were thrilled and agreed to return to be honored by Olga’s people. The people carried the Drevlians with honor to Olga’s court, where they were thrown into a trench and buried alive. With honor.
Olga sent a message requesting more distinguished Drevlians to escort her to Prince Mal. Unaware of the previous group’s fate, more Drevlians arrived and were led to a bath house to freshen up. Then Olga and her people set the bath house on fire. With honor.
Another message, another trap for the Drevlians: a funeral feast at the tomb of Olga’s late husband. Drunk Drevlians destroyed by Olga’s army. The Drevlians finally figured out that Olga did not have honorable intentions and retreated. Olga laid siege to the city of Korosten in modern Ukraine. After a year, the Drevlians agreed to pay Olga a tribute to end the siege. She promised in return that her vengeance was finished, no more tricks. All she wanted was three pigeons and three sparrows from each home in the city. Do you believe her?
Well the Drevlians did, and once Olga had the birds, she had sulfur soaked cloth attached to the birds’ tail feathers and set on fire. When the panicked birds flew back to their nests in the roofs of houses, they lit the city ablaze. Anyone fleeing the flames was killed by Olga’s army.
Why on earth is she a saint after all of this?!
When she converted to Christianity around 955, she was the most powerful convert in the history of the Kyivan Rus. Although her son would not convert, others followed her example and he agreed not to persecute any who did. This opened up all of Eastern Europe to Christianity.
Now, how much of this is true? We don’t know. Olga’s story is probably embellished or made up. But by God, it’s entertaining. A woman successfully wielding so much power more than a thousand years ago? Olga gets my vote, no contest.
Bertha’s story is very nice. As queen consort of late 6th century Kent, she helped spread Christianity in England. She’s the reason the British have an Archbishop of Canterbury. Yay for her.
Olga ruled the Kyivan Rus (modern Ukraine and the foundation of the future Russian Empire) on behalf of her toddler son Sviatoslav in the 10th century. Her husband Prince Igor had been brutally killed by the Drevlians, a Slavic tribe. I’ll spare you the details, which may be legendary, but it’s kind of reverse tree-hugging. Olga plotted revenge. She agreed to marry Prince Mal of the Drevlians when he proposed. The Drevlians who had brought the proposal were thrilled and agreed to return to be honored by Olga’s people. The people carried the Drevlians with honor to Olga’s court, where they were thrown into a trench and buried alive. With honor.
Olga sent a message requesting more distinguished Drevlians to escort her to Prince Mal. Unaware of the previous group’s fate, more Drevlians arrived and were led to a bath house to freshen up. Then Olga and her people set the bath house on fire. With honor.
Another message, another trap for the Drevlians: a funeral feast at the tomb of Olga’s late husband. Drunk Drevlians destroyed by Olga’s army. The Drevlians finally figured out that Olga did not have honorable intentions and retreated. Olga laid siege to the city of Korosten in modern Ukraine. After a year, the Drevlians agreed to pay Olga a tribute to end the siege. She promised in return that her vengeance was finished, no more tricks. All she wanted was three pigeons and three sparrows from each home in the city. Do you believe her?
Well the Drevlians did, and once Olga had the birds, she had sulfur soaked cloth attached to the birds’ tail feathers and set on fire. When the panicked birds flew back to their nests in the roofs of houses, they lit the city ablaze. Anyone fleeing the flames was killed by Olga’s army.
Why on earth is she a saint after all of this?!
When she converted to Christianity around 955, she was the most powerful convert in the history of the Kyivan Rus. Although her son would not convert, others followed her example and he agreed not to persecute any who did. This opened up all of Eastern Europe to Christianity.
Now, how much of this is true? We don’t know. Olga’s story is probably embellished or made up. But by God, it’s entertaining. A woman successfully wielding so much power more than a thousand years ago? Olga gets my vote, no contest.
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