Editing Queen consort

{{short description|Wife of a reigning king}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{More citations needed |date=March 2020}}
{{Monarchism|Concepts}}
{{Ranks of Nobility}}
A '''queen consort ''' is the wife of a reigning [[king]], and usually shares her spouse's social [[Imperial, royal and noble ranks|rank]] and status. She holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical [[title]]s and may be crowned and anointed, but historically she does not formally share the king's political and military powers, unless on occasion acting as [[regent]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 September 2022 |title=What is Queen Consort? What will be the role of Camilla? |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/uk/what-is-queen-consort-what-will-be-the-role-of-camilla/articleshow/94092575.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2022-09-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Hilton |first=Lisa |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/359673870 |title=Queens consort : the autobiography |date=2009 |publisher=Phoenix |isbn=978-0-7538-2611-9 |location=London |oclc=359673870}}</ref>

In contrast, a [[queen regnant]] is a female [[monarch]] who rules ''[[suo jure]]'' (Latin for, "in her own right") and usually becomes queen by inheriting the throne upon the death of the previous monarch.

A [[queen dowager]] is a widowed queen consort, and a [[queen mother]] is a queen dowager who is the mother of the current monarch.

==Titles==

When a title other than king is held by the sovereign, his wife can be referred to by the feminine equivalent, such as [[princess consort]] or empress consort.

In monarchies where [[polygamy]] has been practised in the past (such as [[Morocco]] and [[Thailand]]), or is practised today (such as the [[Zulu people|Zulu]] nation and the various [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]] polities), the number of the king's wives and their status varies. In Morocco, [[King Mohammed VI of Morocco|King Mohammed VI]] has broken with tradition and given his wife, [[Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco|Lalla Salma]], the title of princess; prior to his reign, the Moroccan monarchy had no such title. In [[Thailand]], the king and queen must both be of [[royal descent]]; his other consorts need not be royal before marriage to him but are accorded royal titles that confer status. A Zulu [[Inkosi|chieftain]] designates one of his wives as "[[Great Wife]]", an equivalent to queen consort.

The situation is more complex in [[Yorubaland]]. [[Olori|All of a chief's consorts]] are essentially of equal rank. Although one wife, usually the one married to the [[Oba (ruler)|chief]] for the longest time, may be given a [[chieftaincy]] of her own to highlight her relatively higher status compared to the other wives, she does not share her husband's ritual power as a chieftain. When a woman is to be vested with an authority similar to that of the chief, she is usually a [[Iyalode (title)|lady courtier]] in his service who, although not married to him, is expected to lead his female subjects on his behalf.

In the [[Ottoman Empire]], ''[[haseki sultan]]'' ({{langx|ota|حاصكي سلطان}}; ''Ḫāṣekī Sulṭān;'' {{IPA|tr|haseˈci suɫˈtaːn}}) was the title held by the lawful wife and imperial consort of the [[List of sultans of the Ottoman Empire|sultan]].<ref name=Davis>{{cite book |title=The Ottoman Lady: A Social History from 1718 to 1918 |first=Fanny |last=Davis |year=1986 |isbn=0-313-24811-7 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DTIrK0et4LwC&q=pertevniyal&pg=PA11 |chapter=The Valide|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic }}</ref> The title was first used in the 16th century by [[Hurrem Sultan]], wife of [[Suleiman the Magnificent]], replacing the previous title of "[[Kadın (title)|Baş Kadın]] ("Head Lady").<ref name=Davis /> The bearer of the title occupied the second most important position in the Ottoman Empire for a female after [[valide sultan]] (queen mother).

While the wife of a king is usually given the title of queen, there is much less consistency for the husband of a [[queen regnant|reigning queen]]. The title of [[King Consort|king consort]] is rare. Examples are [[Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley]], in [[Scotland]] and [[Francis, Duke of Cádiz]], in [[Spain]]. [[Antoine of Navarre|Antoine of Bourbon-Vendôme]] in [[Navarre]] and [[Ferdinand II of Portugal|Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha]] in [[Portugal]] also gained the title. In Portugal, because of the practice of ''[[jure uxoris]]'', both King Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburgo-Gotha and his predecessor, King Pedro of Portugal, were treated as ruling kings in [[Protocol (diplomacy)|protocol]] and were thus symbolically co-rulers with their wives, but both really had only the same power of a consort and the queen was the real ruler.

The title of [[prince consort]] for the husband of a reigning queen is more common. The monarchies that adopted this title did so because the title of king is usually historically higher than queen, so when the sovereign is female, her husband should never have a higher title than her. An example is [[Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha]]. He married [[Queen Victoria]] of the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]]; because she insisted that he be given a title identifying his status, he became [[Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|Albert, Prince Consort]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Chancellor|first1=Frank B.|title=Prince Consort|date=1931|publisher=The Dial Press|location=New York|pages=215–218}}</ref>

==Role==
The traditional [[historiography]] on queenship has created an image of a queen who is a king's "helpmate"<ref>{{Cite book|title=Queens, Concubines and Dowagers: The King's Wife in the Early Middle Ages|last=Stafford|first=P|year=1983|location=London|pages=100}}</ref> and provider of heirs.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Politics and Ritual in Early Medieval Europe|url=https://archive.org/details/politicsritualea00nels|url-access=limited|last=Nelson|first=J|year=1986|location=London|pages=[https://archive.org/details/politicsritualea00nels/page/n18 7]|isbn=9780907628590 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mistry|first=Zubin|date=2019|title=Ermentrude's consecration (866): queen-making rites and biblical templates for Carolingian fertility|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/emed.12373|journal=Early Medieval Europe|volume=27|issue=4|pages=567–588|doi=10.1111/emed.12373|hdl=20.500.11820/141896e9-d116-4fc3-b50a-b9094ca0e8c0 |s2cid=213816257 |issn=1468-0254|hdl-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Queens, Concubines and Dowagers: The King's Wife in the Early Middle Ages|last=Stafford|first=P|year=1983|location=London|pages=86}}</ref> They had power within the royal household and partially within the court. Their duty was running the royal household smoothly, such as directing the children's education, supervising the staff, and managing the private royal treasury.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Queens, Concubines and Dowagers: The King's Wife in the Early Middle Ages|last=Stafford|first=P|year=1983|location=London|pages=112}}</ref> They unofficially acted as hostesses, ensuring the royal family was not involved in scandals and giving gifts to high-ranking officials in a society where this was important to maintain bonds. As a result, consorts were expected to act as wise, loyal, and chaste women.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Queens, Concubines and Dowagers: The King's Wife in the Early Middle Ages|last=Stafford|first=P|year=1983|location=London|pages=99}}</ref>

Some royal consorts of foreign origin have served as cultural transmitters. Due to their unique position of being reared in one culture and then, when very young, promised into marriage in another land with a different culture, they have served as a cultural bridge between nations. Based on their journals, diaries, and other autobiographical or historical accounts, some exchanged and introduced new forms of art, music, religion, and fashion.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Watanabe-O'Kelly |first1=Helen |title=Cultural Transfer and the Eighteenth-Century Queen Consort |journal=German History |date=2016 |volume=34 |issue=2 |pages=279–292 |doi=10.1093/gerhis/ghw002 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

However, the consorts of monarchs have no official political power {{Lang|la|per se}}, even when their position is [[constitution]]ally or [[statute|statutorily]] recognized. They often held an informal sort of power dependent on the opportunities afforded to them. Should a queen consort have had an amiable personality and high intelligence, produced a healthy [[heir]], and gained the favor of the court, then chances were higher she would gain more power over time.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Orr |first1=Clarissa Campbell |title=Queenship in Europe 1660–1815: The Role of the Consort |date=2004 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn=0521814227 |pages=1–9 }}</ref> Many royal consorts have been shrewd or ambitious stateswomen and, usually (but not always) unofficially, among the monarch's most trusted advisors. In some cases, the royal consort has been the chief power behind her husband's throne, e.g., [[Maria Luisa of Parma]], wife of [[Charles IV of Spain]]. At other times the consort of a deceased monarch (the [[dowager queen]] or [[queen mother]]) has served as [[regent]] if her child, the successor to the throne, was still a minor:
* Queen Regent [[Anne of Kiev]], mother of [[Philip I of France]]
* Queen Regent [[Queen Jeonghui|Jeonghui]], grandmother of [[Seongjong of Joseon|King Seongjong of Korea]]
* Queen Regent [[Queen Munjeong|Munjeong]], mother of [[Myeongjong of Joseon|King Myeongjong of Korea]]
* Queen Regent [[Queen Sunwon|Sunwon]], grandmother of [[Heonjong of Joseon|King Heonjong of Korea]]
* Grand Princess Regent [[Olga of Kiev]], mother of [[Sviatoslav I Igorevich|Sviatoslav I of Kiev]]
* Grand Princess Regent [[Elena Glinskaya]], mother of [[Ivan the Terrible|Ivan IV of Russia]]
* Queen Regent [[Mary of Guise]], mother of [[Mary, Queen of Scots]]
* Queen Regent [[Catherine of Austria, Queen of Portugal|Catherine of Austria]], grandmother of [[King Sebastian of Portugal]]
* Queen Regent [[Marie de' Medici]], mother of [[Louis XIII]] of [[France]]
* Queen Regent [[Anne of Austria|Anne]], mother of [[Louis XIV]] of [[France]]
* Queen Regent [[Luisa de Guzmán]], mother of [[Afonso VI of Portugal]]
* [[Rani]] [[Lakshmi Bai]], mother of [[Raja]] Damodar Rao of [[Jhansi]]
* Queen Regent [[Maria Christina of Austria]], mother of [[Alfonso XIII]] of Spain
* Queen Regent [[Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont]], mother of [[Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands]]
* Queen Regent [[Anna Khanum]], mother of [[Abbas II of Persia]]
* Queen Regent [[Helen of Greece and Denmark|Helen of Greece]], mother of [[Michael I of Romania]]

Similarly, in several cases in [[Kingdom of Siam (disambiguation)|Siam]] (now [[Thailand]]) the queen consort was named regent during an extended absence of the king:
* Queen Regent [[Saovabha Phongsri]], wife of [[Chulalongkorn|King Chulalongkorn]] of [[Siam]], served as Regent during his tour of Europe
* Queen Regent [[Sirikit]], wife of [[Bhumibol Adulyadej|King Bhumibol Adulyadej]] of [[Thailand]], served as Regent during her husband's extended retreat

==Examples of queens and empresses consort==

[[File:Annajagiello.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Anne of Bohemia and Hungary]], consort of [[Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor]]]]
[[File:Margaret of Denmark, Norway & Sweden (1389) effigy 2010 (1).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Margaret I of Denmark]] (1353–1412), was first the consort of King [[Haakon VI of Norway|Haakon of Norway and Sweden]] and later ruled Denmark, Norway and Sweden in her own right]]
[[File:Sophia Magdalene of Sweden coin c 1785.jpg|thumb|Queen [[Sophia Magdalena of Denmark|Sophia Magdalene]] wearing the crown of the Queen of [[Sweden]].]]
[[File:Nathaniel Dance-Holland (1735-1811) - Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744–1818) - 138274 - National Trust.jpg|thumb|''[[Portrait of Queen Charlotte (Dance-Holland)|Portrait of Queen Charlotte]]'' by [[Nathaniel Dance-Holland]], 1769]]
[[File:Portrait of Empress Nam Phuong during her Wedding Day, 1934.jpg|thumb|Empress Nam Phương on her wedding day, 1934. Royal portrait by unknown Nguyen Dynasty photographer, taken as a wedding photo of Nam Phương and was widely used right after in French Indochina]]
[[File:Tutankhamun and his wife B. C. 1330.jpg|thumb|upright|Egyptian pharaoh [[Tutankhamun]] married his half-sister [[Ankhesenamun]]]]
[[File:Carlota Amalia de Bélgica.jpg|thumb|upright|Empress [[Carlota of Mexico]] as a regent was the first woman to rule in the [[Americas]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Carlota, The Belgian Princess Who Went Mad When She Became A Mexican Empress |url=https://culturacolectiva.com/history/empress-carlota-of-mexico/ |website=[[Cultura Colectiva]] |access-date=2 October 2022}}</ref>]]
[[File:Victor Meirelles - Dona Tereza Cristina.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies|Teresa Cristina]], [[List of Brazilian royal consorts|Empress consort of Brazil]]]]

'''Past queens consort''':
* Queen [[Queen Sindeok|Sindeok]], consort of [[Taejo of Joseon]]
* Queen [[Queen Jeongan|Jeongan]], consort of [[Jeongjong of Joseon]]
* Queen [[Queen Wongyeong|Wongyeong]], consort of [[Taejong of Joseon]]
* Queen [[Queen Soheon|Soheon]], consort of [[Sejong the Great|Sejong the Great of Joseon]]
* Queen [[Queen Jeongsun (Danjong)|Jeongsun]], consort of [[Danjong of Joseon]]
* Queen [[Queen Inseong|Inseong]], consort of [[Injong of Joseon]]
* Queen [[Queen Uiin|Uiin]], first consort of [[Seonjo of Joseon]]
* Queen [[Queen Inmok|Inmok]], second of [[Seonjo of Joseon]]
* Queen [[Queen Inyeol|Inyeol]], first consort of [[Injo of Joseon]]
* Queen [[Queen Jangnyeol|Jangnyeol]], second consort of [[Injo of Joseon]]
* Queen [[Queen Inseon|Inseon]], consort of [[Hyojong of Joseon]]
* Queen [[Queen Myeongseong|Myeongseong]], consort of [[Hyeonjong of Joseon]]
* Queen [[Queen Ingyeong|Ingyeong]], first consort of [[Sukjong of Joseon]]
* Queen [[Royal Noble Consort Huibin Jang|Jang]], principal consort of [[Sukjong of Joseon]]. Demoted back in 1694 to the rank of ''hui-bin'', [[Royal Noble Consort of Korean Kings|Royal Noble Consort Joseon rank 1]]
* Queen [[Queen Jeongseong|Jeongseong]], first consort of [[Yeongjo of Joseon]]
* Queen [[Queen Hyoui|Hyoui]], consort of [[Jeongjo of Joseon]]
* Queen [[Queen Hyohyeon|Hyohyeon]], first consort [[Heonjong of Joseon]]
* Queen [[Maria Theresa of Spain|Maria Theresa]], consort of [[Louis XIV]] of [[France]]
* Queen [[Marie Leszczyńska]], consort of [[Louis XV]] of [[France]]
* Queen [[Marie Antoinette]], consort of [[Louis XVI]] of [[France]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Marie-Antoinette {{!}} Facts, Biography, & French Revolution |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marie-Antoinette-queen-of-France |website=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=22 March 2020}}</ref>
* Queen [[Caroline of Ansbach|Caroline]], consort of [[George II of Great Britain|George II]]
* Queen [[Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz|Charlotte]] was [[George III]]'s consort for 57 years, 70 days, between 1761 and 1818, making her [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Britain]]'s [[List of UK monarchy records|longest-tenured queen consort]].
* Queen [[Caroline of Brunswick|Caroline]], consort of [[George IV]]
* Queen [[Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen|Adelaide]], consort of [[William IV]]
* Queen [[Alexandra of Denmark|Alexandra]], consort of [[Edward VII]]
* Queen [[Mary of Teck|Mary]], consort of [[George V]]
* Queen [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Elizabeth]], consort of [[George VI]]
* Queen [[Nam Phương|Nguyễn Hữu Thị Lan]], consort of [[Bảo Đại]]
* Queen [[Victoria of Baden|Victoria]], consort of [[Gustaf V|Gustaf V of Sweden]]
* Queen [[Louise Mountbatten|Louise]], consort of [[Gustaf VI Adolf|Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden]]
* Queen [[Louise of Hesse-Kassel|Louise]], consort of [[Christian IX of Denmark]]
* Queen [[Louise of Sweden|Louise]], consort of [[Frederick VIII of Denmark]]
* Queen [[Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Alexandrine]], consort [[Christian X of Denmark]]
* Queen [[Ingrid of Sweden|Ingrid]], consort of [[Frederik IX]] of Denmark
* Queen [[Louise of Orléans|Louise]], consort of [[Leopold I of Belgium]]
* Queen [[Marie Henriette of Austria|Marie]], consort of [[Leopold II of Belgium]]
* Queen [[Elisabeth of Bavaria, Queen of the Belgians|Elisabeth]], consort of [[Albert I of Belgium]]
* Queen [[Astrid of Sweden|Astrid]], consort of [[Leopold III of Belgium]]
* Queen [[Fabiola de Mora y Aragón|Fabiola]], consort of [[Baudouin of Belgium]]
* Queen [[Queen Paola of Belgium|Paola]], consort of [[Albert II of Belgium]]
* Queen [[Queen Sofía of Spain|Sofía]], consort of [[Juan Carlos I]] of Spain
* Queen [[Queen Anne-Marie of Greece|Anne Marie]], consort of [[Constantine II of Greece]]
* Queen [[Geraldine of Albania|Geraldine]], consort of [[Zog I|Zog I of Albania]]
* Queen [[Marie-José of Belgium|Marie José]], consort of [[Humbert II of Italy|Umberto II of Italy]]
* [[Queen Kapiolani]], consort of King [[Kalākaua]] of [[Kingdom of Hawaii|Hawai{{okina}}i]]
* Queen [[Soraya Tarzi]], principal consort of King [[Amanullah Khan]] of [[Reforms of Amanullah Khan and civil war|Afghanistan]]
* Tsaritsa [[Giovanna of Savoy|Ioanna]], consort of Tsar [[Boris III of Bulgaria]]
* Queen [[Elizabeth of York|Elizabeth]], consort of [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]] of England
*Ranee [[Sylvia Brett]], consort of [[Charles Vyner Brooke|Vyner Brooke]] of The Raj of Sarawak 
* Queen [[Catherine of Aragon|Catherine]], first consort of [[Henry VIII]] of England. She was also [[regent]] in times of war.
* Queen [[Anne Boleyn|Anne]], second consort of [[Henry VIII]] of England. She gave birth to the future [[Elizabeth I]], who was the last monarch of [[House of Tudor]].
* Queen [[Jane Seymour|Jane]], third consort of [[Henry VIII]] of England.
* Queen [[Anne of Cleves|Anne]], fourth consort of [[Henry VIII]] of England
* Queen [[Catherine Howard|Catherine]], fifth consort of [[Henry VIII]] of England
* Queen [[Catherine Parr|Catherine]], sixth consort of [[Henry VIII]] of England
*
* Queen [[Anne of Denmark|Anne]], consort of [[James VI and I|James I]] of England
* Queen [[Henrietta Maria of France|Henrietta Maria]], consort of [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] of England
* Queen [[Catherine of Braganza|Catherine]], consort of [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] of England
* Queen [[Mary of Modena|Mary]], consort of [[James II of England|James II]] of England
* Queen [[Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe|Halaevalu Mata'aho]], consort of [[Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV|Tāufa'āhau Tupou IV]], [[Tu'i]] of [[Tonga]].
* Queen [[Hortense de Beauharnais|Hortense]], consort of [[Louis Bonaparte]], [[Kingdom of Holland|King of Holland]]
* Queen [[Sultanah Bahiyah|Bahiyah]], consort of [[Abdul Halim of Kedah]]
* Queen [[Sultanah Haminah|Haminah]], consort of [[Abdul Halim of Kedah]]
* Queen [[Siti Aishah]], consort of [[Salahuddin of Selangor]]
* Queen [[Tunku Ampuan Najihah|Najihah]], consort of [[Ja'afar of Negeri Sembilan]]
* Queen [[Bainun]], consort of [[Azlan Shah of Perak]]
* Queen [[Tunku Puan Zanariah|Zanariah]], consort of [[Iskandar of Johor]]
* Queen [[Sisowath Kossamak]], consort of King [[Norodom Suramarit]] of [[Cambodia]]
* Queen [[Norodom Monineath]], consort of King [[Norodom Sihanouk]] of [[Cambodia]]
* Queen [[Wilhelmine of Prussia (1774-1837)|Wilhelmine]], consort of [[William I of the Netherlands]]
* Queen [[Anna Pavlovna of Russia|Anna Pavlovna]], consort of [[William II of the Netherlands]]
* Queen [[Sophie of Württemberg|Sophie]], first consort of [[William III of the Netherlands]]
* Queen [[Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont|Emma]], second consort of [[William III of the Netherlands]]: When William died on 23 November 1890, Emma became regent (1890–1898) for her underaged daughter, [[Wilhelmina of the Netherlands|Wilhelmina]], the late king's only surviving child.
* Queen [[Maud of Wales|Maud]], consort of King [[Haakon VII]] of Norway. She was also simultaneously a princess of the [[United Kingdom]].
* Queen [[Queen Ratna of Nepal|Ratna]], second consort of [[Mahendra of Nepal]]
* Queen [[Sunanda Kumariratana]], consort of King [[Chulalongkorn]] of [[Thailand|Siam]].
* Queen [[Savang Vadhana]], consort of King [[Chulalongkorn]] of [[Siam]]. She was also grandmother of the King [[Ananda Mahidol]] and Great King [[Bhumibol Adulyadej]] of [[Thailand]].
* Queen [[Sukhumala Marasri]], consort of King [[Chulalongkorn]] of [[Siam]].
* Queen [[Saovabha Phongsri]], consort of King [[Chulalongkorn]] of [[Siam]], mother of the King [[Prajadhipok]] of [[Siam]].
* Queen [[Rambai Barni]], consort of King [[Prajadhipok]] of [[Thailand]]
* Queen [[Sirikit]], consort of Great King [[Bhumibol Adulyadej]] of [[Thailand]]
* Queen [[Supayalat]], chief consort of King [[Thibaw Min]], the last King of [[Burma]]
*Queen [[Supayalay]], consort of King [[Thibaw Min]], the last King of [[Burma]]
* Queen [[Ruth Williams Khama|Ruth]], consort (or ''Mohumagadi'') of [[Seretse Khama]], [[Kgosi|King]] of the [[Bamangwato]] [[Tswanas]] of [[Botswana]]
* Queen [[Mantfombi Dlamini|Mantfombi]], principal consort (or ''[[Inkosi]]kazi Enkhulu'') of [[Goodwill Zwelithini|Goodwill Zwelithini of Zululand]], [[South Africa]]. She was also simultaneously a princess of [[Eswatini]]
* Queen [[Kosala Devi]], chief consort of [[Bimbisara]], the first King of the [[Haryanka dynasty]].
* Queen [[Princess Vajira|Vajira]], chief consort of [[Ajatshatru]], the second king of the Haryanka dynasty.
* Queen [[Devi (wife of Ashoka)|Devi]], a consort of [[Ashoka]], the third Mauryan emperor
* Queen [[Karuvaki]], second consort of [[Ashoka]], the third Mauryan emperor
* Queen [[Padmavati (wife of Ashoka)|Padmavati]], third consort of [[Ashoka]], the third Mauryan emperor
* Queen [[Soyrabai]], chief consort of [[Shivaji I|Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj]], Maratha king
* Queen [[Yesubai]], chief consort of [[Sambhaji I|Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj]], Maratha king
* Queen [[Tarabai]], chief consort of [[Rajaram I|Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj]], Maratha king
* Queen [[Sakwarbai II]], chief consort of [[Shahu I|Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj]], Maratha king


'''Past empresses consort''':
* Empress [[Theodora (6th century)|Theodora]], consort of [[Justinian I]], [[Byzantine Empire|East Roman Emperor]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Phillips |first1=Lawrence Barnett |title=The Dictionary of Biographical Reference: Containing One Hundred Thousand Names, Together with a Classed Index of the Biographical Literature of Europe and America |date=1871 |publisher=S. Low, Son, & Marston |page=900 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cfidHuRk-M0C&pg=PA900}}</ref>
* [[Sophia (empress)|Empress Aelia Sophia]], consort of [[Justin II|Justin II of the Byzantine Empire]]
*[[Empress Wu]], consort of [[Emperor Gaozong of Tang|Gaozong of Tang]]
* [[Empress Wang (Gaozong)|Empress Wang]], consort of [[Gaozong of Tang]]
*Empress [[Chabi]], chief wife of [[Kublai Khan]], Emperor of [[Yuan dynasty]]
*Empress [[Nambui]], principal consort of [[Kublai Khan]], Emperor of [[Yuan dynasty]]
*Empress [[Danashri]], principal consort of [[Toghon Temür]], Emperor of [[Yuan dynasty]]
*Empress [[Bayan Khutugh]], principal consort of [[Toghon Temür]], Emperor of [[Yuan dynasty]]
*Empress [[Empress Gi|Gi]], principal consort of [[Toghon Temür]], Emperor of [[Yuan dynasty]]
*
* [[Empress Ma (Hongwu)|Empress Xiaocigao]], principal consort of [[Hongwu Emperor]] from the [[Ming dynasty]]
* Empress [[Ruqaiya Sultan Begum]], principal  consort and first wife of [[Akbar the Great]], the third [[Mughal emperors|Mughal Emperor]]
* Empress [[Salima Sultan Begum]], principal consort and third wife of [[Akbar the Great]]
* Empress [[Mariam-uz-Zamani]], principal consort and fourth wife of [[Akbar the Great]], the third [[Mughal Emperor]]
* Empress [[Taj Bibi Bilqis Makani]], principal consort of [[Jahangir]], the fourth [[Mughal emperors|Mughal Emperor]]
* Empress [[Nur Jahan]], principal consort of [[Jahangir]], the fourth [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] [[Emperor]]
* Empress [[Mumtaz Mahal]], principal consort of [[Shah Jahan]], the fifth [[Mughal emperors|Mughal Emperor]]
* Empress [[Qudsia Begum]], principal consort of [[Muhammad Shah]], the thirteen [[Mughal Emperor]]
* Empress [[Isabella of Portugal]], consort of [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor]]. She was the [[regent]] of the [[Spanish Empire]]. 
* [[Haseki Sultan]] [[Hürrem Sultan]], principal  consort and legal wife of [[Suleiman the Magnificent]], [[Ottoman Empire|Sultan of the Ottoman Empire]].
* [[Haseki Sultan]] [[Nurbanu Sultan]], principal consort and legal wife of [[Selim II]], [[Sultan of the Ottoman Empire]]
*
* [[Haseki Sultan]] [[Safiye Sultan (mother of Mehmed III)|Safiye Sultan]], principal consort and legal wife of [[Murad III]], [[Sultan of the Ottoman Empire]]
*
* [[Haseki Sultan]] [[Kösem Sultan]], principal  consort and legal wife of [[Ahmed I]], [[Sultan of the Ottoman Empire]]. 
* [[Haseki sultan|Haseki Sultan Turhan Sultan]], principal consort of [[Ibrahim of the Ottoman Empire|Ibrahim]], [[Sultan of the Ottoman Empire]]
*[[Haseki sultan|Haseki Sultan Gulnus Sultan]], principal consort of [[Mehmed IV]], [[Sultan of the Ottoman Empire]]
*[[Kadinefendi]] [[Nakşidil Sultan]], consort of [[Abdul Hamid I]], [[Sultan of the Ottoman Empire]]
* [[Valide sultan|Kadinefendi Bezmialem Sultan]], consort of [[Mahmud II]], [[Sultan of the Ottoman Empire]]
*
*
* [[Valide sultan|Kadinefendi Pertevniyal Sultan]], consort of [[Mahmud II]], [[Sultan of the Ottoman Empire]]
* [[Kadinefendi|Kadinefendi Sevkefza Sultan]], consort of [[Abdulmejid I]], [[Sultan of the Ottoman Empire]]
* [[Kadinefendi]] [[Tirimujgan Sultan]], consort of [[Mahmud II|Abdulmejid I]], [[Sultan of the Ottoman Empire]]
* [[Kadinefendi]] [[Rahime Perestu Sultan|Perestu Sultan]], consort of [[Abdulmejid I]], [[Sultan of the Ottoman Empire]]
* Empress [[Maria Theresa|Maria Theresa of Austria]], consort of [[Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor|Francis I]], [[Holy Roman Empire]].
* [[List of Mexican imperial consorts|Empress]] [[Ana María Huarte]], consort of [[Agustín de Iturbide|Agustín I of Mexico]], [[List of Emperors of Mexico|Emperor of Mexico]].
* Titular Empress [[Carlota Joaquina of Spain]], consort of [[John VI of Portugal]], [[List of monarchs of Brazil|Titular Emperor of Brazil]]
* Empress [[Carlota of Mexico]], consort of [[Maximilian I of Mexico]], [[List of Emperors of Mexico|Emperor of Mexico]].
* Empress [[Maria Leopoldina of Austria|Maria Leopoldina]], consort of [[Pedro I of Brazil|Pedro I]], [[List of monarchs of Brazil|Emperor of Brazil]]
* Empress [[Amélie of Leuchtenberg|Amélie]], consort of Pedro I, Emperor of Brazil
* Empress [[Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies|Teresa Cristina]], consort of [[Pedro II of Brazil|Pedro II]], Emperor of Brazil
* [[Empress Myeongseong]], first principal wife of [[Gojong of Korea|Gojong]], the first emperor of the [[Korean Empire]]
* Empress [[Eugénie]], consort of [[Napoleon III]], Emperor of the French
* Empress [[Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein|Augusta Victoria]], consort of [[Wilhelm II]]
* Empress [[Empress Elisabeth of Austria|Elisabeth]], consort of [[Franz Joseph I of Austria|Franz Joseph I]]
* Empress [[Empress Xiaojingxian|Xiaojingxian]], primary consort of [[Yongzheng Emperor|Yongzheng, Qing Emperor]]
*
* Empress [[Empress Xiaojingxian|Xiaoxianchun]], principal consort of [[Qianlong Emperor|Qianlong, Qing Emperor]]
* Step Empress [[Empress Nara|Nara]], secondary consort of [[Qianlong|Qianlong, Qing Emperor]] 
* Empress [[Empress Xiaoshurui|Xiaoshurui]], principal consort of [[Jiaqing Emperor|Jiaqing, Qing Emperor]] 
* Empress [[Empress Xiaoherui|Xiaoherui]], secondary consort of [[Jiaqing Emperor|Jiaqing, Qing Emperor]] 
* Empress [[Empress Dowager Ci'an|Xiao Zhen Xian]], principal consort of [[Xianfeng Emperor|Xianfeng]], [[Qing dynasty|Qing Emperor]]
* Empress [[Alexandra Feodorovna (Alix of Hesse)|Alexandra Feodorovna]], consort of [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]], [[Russian Empire|Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia]]
* Empress [[Durdhara]], principal chief consort of [[Chandragupta Maurya]], first [[Maurya Empire|Maurya emperor]]
* Empress [[Crown Prince Sushima Mother]], principal chief consort of [[Bindusara]], Second Mauryan emperor 
* Empress [[Shubhadrangi]], chief consort of [[Bindusara]], Second Mauryan emperor
* Empress [[Asandhimitra]], first principal chief consort (or ''Agramahishi'') of [[Ashoka]], third Mauryan emperor
* Empress [[Tishyaraksha]], last principal chief consort of [[Ashoka]], third Mauryan emperor
* [[Empress Michiko]], consort of [[Akihito|Emperor Akihito of Japan]]

'''Current queens consort''':
* Queen [[Raja Zarith Sofiah|Zarith Sofiah]], consort of [[Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor|Ibrahim Iskandar]] of [[Yang Di-Pertuan Agong|Malaysia]]
* Queen [[Queen Camilla|Camilla]], consort of [[Charles III]] of the United Kingdom
* Queen [[Jetsun Pema]], consort of [[Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck|Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck of Bhutan]]
* Queen [[Queen Letizia of Spain|Letizia]], consort of [[Felipe VI|Felipe VI of Spain]]
* Queen [['Masenate Mohato Seeiso|'Masenate]], consort of [[Letsie III|Letsie III of Lesotho]]
* Queen [[Queen Mary of Denmark|Mary]], consort of [[Frederik X]] of Denmark
* Queen [[Queen Mathilde of Belgium|Mathilde]], consort of [[Philippe of Belgium]]
* Queen [[Queen Máxima of the Netherlands|Máxima]], consort of [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands]]
* Queen [[Nanasipauʻu Tukuʻaho]], consort of [[Tupou VI|Tupou VI of Tonga]]
* Queen [[Queen Rania of Jordan|Rania]], consort of [[Abdullah II of Jordan]]
* Queen [[Queen Saleha of Brunei|Saleha]], consort of [[Hassanal Bolkiah|Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam]] 
* Queen [[Queen Silvia of Sweden|Silvia]], consort of [[Carl XVI Gustaf]] of Sweden
* Queen [[Queen Sonja of Norway|Sonja]], consort of [[Harald V]] of Norway
* Queen [[Suthida]], consort of [[Vajiralongkorn|Vajiralongkorn of Thailand]]

'''Current empress consort''':
* [[Empress Masako]], consort of [[Naruhito|Emperor Naruhito of Japan]]

'''Current queens consort in federal monarchies'''
* Queen [[Sultanah Nur Zahirah|Nur Zahirah]], consort of [[Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu]]
* Queen [[Tuanku Tengku Fauziah|Fauziah]], consort of [[Sirajuddin of Perlis]]
* Queen [[Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin|Norashikin]], consort of [[Sharafuddin of Selangor]]
* Queen [[Tuanku Aishah Rohani|Aishah Rohani]], consort of [[Muhriz of Negeri Sembilan]]
* Queen [[Raja Zarith Sofiah|Zarith Sofiah]], consort of [[Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor]]
* Queen [[Sultanah Nur Diana Petra|Nur Diana Petra]], consort of [[Muhammad V of Kelantan]]
* Queen [[Tuanku Zara Salim|Zara Salim]], consort of [[Nazrin Shah of Perak]]
* Queen [[Sultanah Maliha|Maliha]], consort of [[Sallehuddin of Kedah]]
* Queen [[Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah|Azizah]], consort of [[Abdullah of Pahang]]

Because queens consort lack an [[regnal number|ordinal]] with which to distinguish between them, many historical texts and encyclopedias refer to deceased consorts by their premarital (or maiden) name or title, not by their marital royal title (examples: Queen Mary, consort of [[George V]], is usually called [[Mary of Teck]], and Queen Maria José, consort of [[Humbert II of Italy|Umberto II of Italy]], is usually called [[Marie José of Belgium]]).

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[First Lady]]
* [[Consort crown]]
* [[Prince consort]]
* [[Princess consort]]
* [[Haseki Sultan]]
* [[Sultana (title)|Sultana]]
* [[Royal Noble Consort]] (Korea)
* [[List of Bohemian consorts]]
* [[List of Burmese consorts]]
* [[List of British royal consorts]]
* [[List of Bulgarian consorts]]
* [[List of Canadian monarchs#List of royal consorts of Canada|List of royal consorts of Canada]]
* [[List of Danish royal consorts]]
* [[List of Dutch royal consorts]]
* [[List of Queens and Empresses of France]]
* [[List of Georgian consorts]]
* [[List of Hawaiian royal consorts]]
* [[List of Hungarian consorts]]
* [[Empress of Japan#List of empresses consort|List of Japanese imperial consorts]]
* [[List of Norwegian royal consorts]]
* [[List of Shahbanus of Persia|List of Persian consorts]]
* [[List of Pre-colonial Filipino Consorts]]
* [[List of Portuguese queens]]
* [[List of Spanish royal consorts]]
* [[List of Swedish royal consorts]]
* [[List of Thai royal consorts]]
* [[List of Tongan royal consorts]]

{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Queen Consort}}
[[Category:Queens consort|*]]
[[Category:Royal titles]]