10/05/2026

theSunday Special V ON SUNDAY MAY 10, 2026

Behind great men stand greater mothers Five mums who proved themselves formidable warriors, wise advisers in male-dominated times surprised the Romans when her army attacked and burnt three Roman towns, including Londinium (present-day London).

Boudica Around 60AD, King Prasutagus of the Iceni tribe in what is today Britain passed away. He had been an ally of the Roman Empire and before his death, he had willed half his lands and wealth to his wife Boudica and his daughters and the other half to the Roman Emperor Nero as tribute. Unfortunately, the Romans proved to be greedy scoundrels. Not only did they ignore his wishes, taking possession of his lands, they also tortured Boudica and violated her daughters. Her revenge was inevitable. Over the next few months, Boudica would gather a large army of over 100,000 warriors to strike back at the Romans. She

For a time, there was an actual fear in Rome the Empire would have to abandon Britain altogether. Unfortunately, the Roman army eventually recovered and regrouped before decisively defeating Boudica on the battlefield. At the time, the Romans had a known tradition of capturing enemy leaders alive, bringing them back to Rome to parade them before the public and then executing them. Possibly aware of this, Boudica decided to deny her enemies the pleasure, supposedly taking poison and dying defiant.

BY Noel Wong Yan Ming lifestyle@thesundaily.com

M other’s Day commemorates the sacrifices and hardships mothers endure for their children. Throughout history, there have been many examples of women going above and beyond for their children, with some very inspiring stories to be told. Here are some of those stories, preserved over the ages and likely inspiring many more mothers in the present and the future.

PIC FROM FIRAXIS

Catherine de Medici Born into an influential Italian family, de Medici did not have a pleasant early childhood, with both parents dying a month after her birth. When she was just eight years old, her family was forcibly removed from power and she was held hostage, only being released in 1530 thanks to the Pope’s efforts. Just three years later, the Pope arranged a marriage between her and Prince Henry of France, despite the fact the French nobility did not think highly of an Italian commoner like her. Her marriage was not smooth-sailing, as her husband was a known philanderer. Despite this, she became a popular figure in court, as she was naturally charming, clever and witty, endearing herself to her in-laws. In fact, her father-in-law King Francis I considered her among his best advisers.

Her husband would die in a freak jousting accident in 1559, leaving behind de Medici and their 10 children. While he was not the most loyal husband, she still mourned his death deeply. The next decades would see her cementing herself as a powerful political presence in France and the rest of Europe, holding considerable influence behind the throne of Europe’s most powerful realm. Three of her sons, Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III, would become kings of France, while one daughter would become queen of Spain and another the queen of France. Such was her power that Queen Elizabeth I of England, a formidable woman herself, allegedly viewed de Medici as the one ruler she feared most. Apart from politics, she was also a patron of the arts and culture, supposedly introducing tablecloths and forks to the European dining table.

PIC FROM CREATIVE ASSEMBLY

Lady Bian The warlord Cao Cao is a well-known figure in Chinese history, but behind every great man is an equally great woman, who in his case was none other than Lady Bian. When she first met Cao Cao, she was an entertainer while he was a court noble, already married to one Lady Ding. He took her as his concubine and she bore him several children, including the future emperor Cao Pi and his poet brother Cao Zhi. In 197, Lady Ding separated from Cao Cao, blaming him for the death of Cao Ang, her favourite child. Cao Cao then married Lady Bian and she was given charge of all the children in the household, even those who were not hers. Lady Bian was a good mother and stepmother, loving all her children equally. She befriended Lady Ding, despite the latter previously seeing her as an unwelcomed rival. She had lived in poverty before, so she had a soft spot for the less fortunate. She also encouraged her family to live frugally. In fact, Cao Cao is said to have been embraced vegetarianism at her request. After Cao Cao’s death, their son Cao Pi declared himself Emperor of Wei, but he remained deferent to his mother. At one point, Cao Zhi committed a crime and Cao Pi asked her whether he should let his younger brother off. She told him to follow the law instead of asking her. On another occasion, he spared the life of a disliked relative simply because his mother asked him to. She passed away at the age of 70, buried together with Cao Cao. Historians of the time commended her as virtuous, high praise for a woman in a patriarchal Confucian society.

PIC FROM WIKIPEDIA

Maria Theresa When 23-year-old Maria Theresa ascended to the throne of Austria in 1740, a political crisis was already awaiting her. The Archduchy of Austria was in poor shape and was right next to the militaristic German kingdom of Prussia, led by the military genius Frederick II. When Frederick seized the Austrian province of Silesia, it was expected Maria would give in without a fight. Although she was not a military-minded woman, she still had a mother’s common sense. After all, during her lifetime, she would have 16 children, 10 of whom would survive to adulthood. Astounding for a time without modern medicine. She sensibly promoted capable people

into positions of power, reformed the tax system, modernised the army and introduced compulsory schooling. On the political side of things, she played the diplomacy game well, eventually confronting Frederick in the Seven Years’ War with powerful allies such as Spain, France, Russia and Sweden. The war was closely fought, with Frederick and Prussia saved only by a stroke of luck. Frederick would admire her as a worthy foe, although she never forgave her hated archnemesis. In her last years, she would advise her children in matters of leadership, fruitlessly warning her ill-fated daughter, Marie Antoinette of France, to maintain a good public image with the French people.

PIC FROM WIKIPEDIA

Rani Lakshmibai Colloquially known as Jhansi Rani, this warrior queen remains a popular historical icon in India today. Similar to Boudica, she was married to a local king, the Maharaja of Jhansi, who willed his kingdom be inherited by their adopted son. As soon as he passed away, the British East India Company seized the kingdom and disinherited the son. Outraged, Lakshmibai attempted to solve the matter through legal means, but was rebuffed by the British. In 1857, a bloody rebellion against British rule took place in northern India. Although Lakshmibai was not directly involved, the British were suspicious of

her and attacked Jhansi. The city fell after a fierce battle, but Lakshmibai escaped on a horse with her adopted son tied to her waist, avoiding British patrols to regroup with other Indian rebels. During this time, she provided helpful battlefield advice to her fellow rebels, which unfortunately went unheeded repeatedly, leading to yet another defeat. In her final battle, it is reported her bodyguards abandoned her as the British approached. In defiance, she charged at the enemy, going down fighting. Even then, the British would consider her a worthy opponent and she remains highly respected today as an Indian freedom fighter.

PIC FROM WIKIPEDIA