Olga of Kiev
It is believed that Olga of Kiev was born some time between 879-912 ce. Sometime around 912 ce she marries Prince Igor and around 942 C she has her son. It is from this point on that history does a better job of noting her umm… exploits.
A few years after her son is born her husband travels to a nearby tribe to collect taxes and tributes they owe him. This tribe called the Dreyylans decided they had enough and no longer wanted to pay this tribute, so they had Igor killed. Now Igor had an heir but he was three. As his mother Olga became the regent and was set to rule Kiev until her son was old enough to take the throne. This arrangement worked for the Kiev people but not for the Drevylans who didn’t want a female on the throne. They had different plans. They were going to force her to marry someone of their choosing. They sent a group of ambassadors to her to negotiate her marriage to Prince Mal. Olga was not interested in marrying Prince Mal or being told what to do. According to several sources the sources she had a large hole or moat dug. The ambassadors were carried by boat to the castle where Olga waited to greet them. When they arrived at the hall she had them dropped, boat and all, into the hole and commanded that the men be buried alive.
Olga then sent a message to the Dreylans and told them she wasn’t satisfied with the suitor that they had sent and requested that they send her better suitors to consider. Upon arrival the new suitors were treated to a bath in the bathhouse built in their honor. Once they were inside she locked them in and set the bathhouse on fire. Not yet satisfied Olga then decided to visit the Dreylans to collect the tributes owed to her. Upon hearing that she was planning to visit them they offered to host a feast in her honor to smooth things over. During the feast she had the men killed. Beaten the Drevlyan offered her goods such as honey and furs. Gifts she declined and asked instead that each household send her 3 sparrows and 3 pigeons. Upon receiving the birds she gave them to her soldiers. Each bird had a piece of string with a cloth dipped in sulfur tied to their legs and were released. Each bird returned to their homes in Drevlyn and set every home ablaze wiping out the entire village.
Interesting side note: As an older woman Olga converted to Christianity and in 1547 was canonized by the Catholic Church for her works in bringing her community to the catholic faith .
https://theexasperatedhistorian.com/the-womens-list/179-olga-of-kiev/
https://worldhistoryconnected.press.uillinois.edu/7.1/sherman.html
