The first woman to attempt to claim the English throne Matildadaughter of Henry I granddaughter of William the Conquerorwas hours from her coronation in 1141 when an angry mob chased her away Her daughterinlaw Eleanor of Aquitaine led a rebellion against her own husband Neither won the crown but both ensured that the dynasty would continue

Isabella and Margaret were both young French girls and political pawns when they were married to English kings Isabella was married to Edward II in the 14th century and 100 years later Margaret was married to Henry VI Isabella was accused of murder and Margaret of plunging England into the Wars of the Roses Shakespeare later dubbed Margaret Shewolf of France

In 1553 the death of a 15yearold boy caused an unprecedented political crisis Edward VI was Henry VIIIs only male heir For the first time in English history all the contenders for his crown were female Lady Jane Grey the staunchly Catholic Mary Tudor and Elizabeth I who showed how capably and gloriously a woman could rule