MICHAEL WALSH POET AND AUTHOR: From ancient times, the rise and fall of landscapes and panoramas have enchanted man.  Yet none captivated him as much as the rise and fall of a woman’s flowing curves.  The restless man gazes deep into the heavens and peers into the deepest oceans.  Yet, to truly lose himself all he needs to do is to gaze into the depths of a woman’s eyes.

Over two millennia man has created and perfected thousands of different types of musical instruments. He has yet to create a single musical instrument to equal the charm of a woman’s melodic voice singing an aria or lullaby.

If we were to remove the inspiration of women that so readily stimulates art; poetry, literature, sculpture, and music, art galleries, our libraries and theatres would be eerily empty.

Man is overawed by the greatness of nature yet never is he so spellbound as when witnessing the process of reincarnation at the birthing bed.

A glance through the history books is all that is necessary to suggest that power, not just behind the throne but on the throne, is the true manifestation of woman power.

England remembers its hapless and cruel kings yet the personification of Britain is the female Britannia, named after the Brettaniai tribes of those sceptre isles. The English revere Boadicea (1^st Century AD).  She was the only British leader to humble the Roman Empire.  Her French nemesis, Joan of Arc (1412 – 1431), before meeting her fiery fate, humbled the vainglorious English.

England’s monarchy stretches back over a millennium yet the two monarchs that immediately spring to mind are Queen Elizabeth I (1533 – 1603) and Queen Victoria (1819 – 1901).  Arguably, the first was the genesis of the British Empire; the reign of Elizabeth 1 certainly elevated England for the first time to world power status. 

During the reign of Queen Victoria, Britain, which before her reign was no more significant than that of competing continental powers France and Spain, became the world’s greatest empire? 

Queen Victoria was crowned Empress of India, the only supreme title bestowed upon an English head of state. Taking one country in isolation hardly makes a point. 

Russia’s Peter the Great is revered but Catherine the Great (1729 – 1796) more so.  Catherine’s ambitions Westernised and modernised Russia.  During the reign of Catherine the Great Russia became the only country whose frontiers spanned three continents; Europe, Asia and America. Spain, Europe’s most machismo nation, was finally unified. The 700 years of occupancy by the Arab Moors was brought to an end by Spain’s one notable monarch, Queen Isabella l (1451 – 1504). 

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During the reign of Isabella Spain achieved world power status to rival that of England. The Spanish monarch sponsored Christopher Columbus, who, whilst not necessarily discovering America certainly founded it. 

The enormous 800-year power of the Austro-Hungarian Hapsburg Empire, Europe’s longest-lasting dynasty was consolidated by Maria Theresa of Austria (1717 – 1780).

Mankind’s odyssey has been lantern lit by women, not all being monarchs.  The roll call of world-shaping women is impressive; Cleopatra, and Helen of Troy.  In all fields of activity, whilst women don’t dominate in numbers they do take the podium of bringing about great change, mostly for the good. 

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