Kandake Amanirenas the Nubian Queen that defeated Caesar's army

Kandake Amanirenas (r. 40BC - 10 BC) was one of the queens of the African Kush Kingdom. She is best known for protecting her empire against Roman invasion which scholars agree that it might have discouraged Rome from seeking colonies further south of the Sahara.

Kandake or Candace was a title for Queens in the Kush Kingdom. Apart from her lioness personality, Amanirenas is  much known today for her curvy body as depicted in most of her arts. Of course, she was an African woman!

It is also believed that that is how the Kushites portrayed their queen mothers. Big hips symbolized that she was the giver of life, the mother of the Kingdom. Some accounts also add that she was one-eyed, probably after an accident from the many battles she led in protecting her empire.

Chancellor Williams writes that the Queen would ride on wild animals like elephants. The Kushites were also known to use wild animals in war. As a leader, Kandake Amanirenas led the wars from the front line. She is also said to be one of the few world figures who resisted Roman rule.

A digital illustration of Kandake Amanirenas having defeated the Roman army.

The Queen came into power after the death of her husband, Teriteqase, in the late 25BC. He died in one of the battles, leaving Kandake Amanirenas and their son to lead the Kingdom. The son would also lose his life in a future battle after the victory over Rome.

Kandake Amanirenas' battle with the Roman Army

Since the ancient Kushitic writings have not been fully deciphered, most of the accounts of Amanirenas' battle with the Romans are sourced from the Greek historian Strabo of Amasia and Roman historians Pliny the Elder and Cassius Dio. 

However, some of the artworks are still present in Northern Sudan and Southern Egypt which would have been the ancient Kush Kingdom.  

(Lions Temple, Naga) Queen Amanirenas preparing to punish captured enemies.

Amanirenas' kingdom suffered economic challenges when the Romans dominated Egypt, Kush's primary market for selling gold and other riches. Later, when Emperor Augustus took over Egypt, more political differences between the two kingdoms emerged.

As a result, Kandake Amanirenas strategically rallied an army of 30,000 men to challenge the Roman invasion that was furthering her empire. The Kush Kingdom had also been forced to pay high taxes to the Roman administration in Egypt, this angered the Kushites even more.

In the battle that took 5 years, most records Show that the Kushites won, and Rome lost some of its Egyptian cities to Kush. It also resulted in an agreement between the Romans and the Kushites that suspended the tax imposed and Rome assured Kush of never invading its boundaries again.

Another notable evidence of the Kushitic victory over the Romans in Egypt was a bronze head of Emperor Augustus that was found buried in a temple at Meroe, the capital of the Kush Kingdom. It was found placed under the feet of Queen Kandake's throne as a symbol of Kush's victory. 

The temple is said by History Team to have paintings of Roman prisoners and victorious Nubian Queens. Even though Kush would later get weakened, it remains one of the most outstanding African Kingdoms that demonstrates black resilience against powerful world forces.

African history is not only about slavery and colonialism. There were powerful people and empires to draw from it that attributed to black greatness. Here is something more that you might be interested to read.

Black female heroes that you should know about!