20 Women Who Made History By Bending Gender Roles

Æthelflæd, the lady of the Mercians, was a clever military strategist and tactician who is largely responsible for kicking the Danes out of England. Taking power after her husband Æthelred died, Æthelflæd led her home area of Mercia and allied with her brother Edward the Elder (of whom she was a great ally in all war efforts).