Henry VII of England vs Shajar al-Durr

Henry Tudor defeated and killed Richard III at Bosworth Field, ending the Wars of the Roses. This victory allowed Henry to claim the throne as Henry VII, founding the Tudor dynasty.

Henry VII married Elizabeth of York, uniting the Houses of Lancaster and York. This marriage symbolically ended the Wars of the Roses and strengthened the legitimacy of the Tudor claim to the throne.

Henry VII defeated the Yorkist pretender Lambert Simnel at the Battle of Stoke Field. This victory crushed a major rebellion and secured Henry's throne against early challenges to his rule.

Henry VII signed a treaty with Spain, arranging the marriage of his son Arthur to Catherine of Aragon. This alliance strengthened England's position in Europe and laid the groundwork for future diplomatic ties.

Henry VII executed Perkin Warbeck, a pretender who claimed to be Richard of Shrewsbury. Warbeck's capture and execution ended a major threat to Henry's reign and demonstrated his firm control over the kingdom.

After the death of her husband As-Salih Ayyub, Shajar al-Durr became the de facto ruler of Egypt. She was proclaimed Sultana with the support of the Mamluk commanders. Her reign marked the first and only time a woman ruled Egypt in the medieval Islamic period.

To legitimize her rule and appease the Ayyubid caliph, Shajar al-Durr married the Mamluk commander Aybak. She abdicated the throne in his favor but retained significant influence. This marriage established the Mamluk Sultanate under Aybak's nominal rule.

Shajar al-Durr ordered the assassination of her husband Sultan Aybak in his bathhouse after he planned to marry another woman. She feared losing her power and influence. This act led to a power struggle among the Mamluks and her own downfall.

After Aybak's murder, Shajar al-Durr was arrested by the Mamluks loyal to Aybak. She was beaten to death by Aybak's concubines or slaves, and her body was thrown into a ditch. Her death ended the brief period of female rule in the Mamluk Sultanate.