List of female hereditary rulers

This is a list of female hereditary rulers who ruled or reigned over a political jurisdiction in their own right or by right of inheritance.

Each entry contains the name and dates of reign (where available).

Where necessary, the source of inheritance right is indicated, that is, whether they succeeded from their fathers, mothers, siblings or other relatives. Cases where succession was obtained by other means (usurpation or marriage, for example) are also indicated accordingly.

The list does not include female regents, usually the mother of the ruler, male or female, for although they exercised political power during the period of regency on behalf of their child or children, the were not hereditary rulers, and thus cannot be included in the list of hereditary rulers.