Wonder Woman 24BCE: Kandake Amanirenas
History and I have a love-hate relationship, for it usually perpetuates the narratives of the conquerors and colonizers. Though there is a respite from the usual in the form of heritage months, the inclusion of diverse narratives is generally inconsistently acknowledged and almost always surrounding the iconic and overused figures of the Civil Rights Movement, peppered those with Harriet Tubman and Fredrick Douglass during Black History Month.
During my first few years as a teacher, I struggled with perspectives on the Roman seizure and subjugation of the ancient world. Year after year, my students, like countless others before them, were bamboozled into regarding all things Roman, and by default all things Greek, as superior to other cultures. This ideology needed to be disrupted before taking root in the minds of yet another flock of middle schoolers. The quest to debunk or at least reveal a more balanced account of this historical period led me to discover one of the ancient world’s most strategically savvy women — Kandake (Queen) Amanirenas.
An Unforeseen Force that Rome Was Forced to Reckoned With
After trampling Cleopatra in 31 BCE, Augustus Caesar’s world-dominance tour set out to expand beyond Egypt’s southern borders into the Kingdom of Kush (also referred to as Meroe). However, the self-appointed emperor’s efforts would be unexpectedly hampered by Kandake Amanirenas the Brave. Strabo, the ancient Greek geographer/historian, recorded her pre-emptive strikes on Roman resources and strongholds. Kandake Amanirenas’ prowess and intellect made her a tour de force on the battlefield.
Born around 60 or 50 BCE, Amanirenas reigned with King Teriteqas until his death around 29 BCE. Upon his passing, Queen Amanirenas, one of the most famous of the Kandakes, became the sole leader and warrior for the Kushites/Meroites.
According to sources, Queen Amanirenas struck the Romans first, sacking the area of Thebaid and demolishing Roman troops stationed nearby. In addition to taking prisoners of war, the Kandake toppled over all statues of Emperor Augustus Caesar. It would take 100,000 Roman troops to drive Amanirenas and her army of 30,000 back into Meroitic territory. Petronius, the Roman governor of Egypt, reciprocated, leveling her northern city of Napata. Despite Rome’s attempt to squash her troops and discourage her hopes to remain free of Rome, this setback only fueled Amanirenas, the shrewd female warrior.
The Costs of Battle
Though she would lose her son, Prince Akinidad, and an eye in battle, Queen Amanirenas never lost sight of her goal: protect her culture, her people, and their resources against Roman tyranny. For five years, Kush, under the leadership of Queen Amanirenas, stood its ground against the Romans. She raided and plundered Roman outposts; her actions exacting a complete role reversal. However, the most notable and most insulting action against Augustus Caesar and his empire was perhaps the decapitation of Augustus’ bronze statue and the placement of the head at the foot of a temple, where the Kushites trampled it daily.
Eventually, the Romans consented to peace. Amanirenas brokered a favorable peace treaty. The terms of the agreement ensured that Kush would remain independent of Roman control, maintain its culture, and be absolved of paying taxes.
Uncompromising, Unbreakable, and Uncommon
It is important to note that Amanirenas was not the first or last female warrior of Kush or on the continent of Africa. However, she was one of the last queen-warriors to successfully oppose Roman rule. The Romans would continue to wantonly trample and plunder until 100 years after Queen Zenobia’s failed revolt in Palmyra in 270 CE. As the empire’s conduit city, responsible for promoting cultural and economic exchanges between the west and the east, Palmyra was a significant Roman territory. Like Amanirenas, Mawiyya (also referred to as Mavia), an Arab warrior-queen of nomadic tribes, declared war on the Romans and secured independence.
This is history that I love — the stories of the supposed inferior refusing to accept unfavorable circumstances. Whether triumphant or disastrous, these historical accounts warrant closer inspection of our social studies curricula. For in the study of our collective past, we become enlightened, inspired and emboldened.
SOURCES:
“Augustus.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus May 26, 2020.
David Mickelson. “Warrior Queens — Five Legendary Women Who Took On the Roman Empire.” MilitaryHistoryNow.com, 12 Mar. 2021, militaryhistorynow.com/2019/04/16/warrior-queens-five-legendary-women-who-took-on-the-roman-empire/.
Fikes, Robert. “Kandake Amanirenas (?-10 BC) •.” Black Past, 9 Sept. 2019, www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/kandake-amanirenas-10-bc/.
Gates Jr., Henry Louis. “Africa’s Great Civilizations.” 2017. https://www.amazon.com/Africas-Great-Civilizations-Season-1
Rey, Sola. “Warrior Queens of Nubia/Kush/Meroe.” Sola Rey, 29 Oct. 2016, solarey.net/warrior-queen-of-nubia/.
Rey, Sola. “Relief of a Female Ruler, a Candace of Meroë, named Kandake Amanitore.” Sola Rey, 11 Oct. 2016, solarey.net/relief-female-ruler-candace-meroe-named-kandake-amanitore/.
“The Greatest African Queen The World Forgot: Queen Amanirenas.” YouTube, YouTube, 26 Sept. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZH16dCGsFo&t=273s.
