Zenobia ruled the desert country of Palmyra, initially with her husband Odenathus. She bore him three sons and "an unknown number of daughters". Said to be a direct descendant of Egyptian Ptolomeian Cleopatra, half Greek and Half Arab, she was one of the great beauties of her day. She was highly educated, spoke several languages (Egyptian and Greek among them), and also wrote the first complete history of her country.
Zenobia was gifted in other disciplines too: military and hunting, often accompanying her husband in the quarry of lions, panthers and other dangerous animals. Together with her husband she acquired for Rome the vast territories of Syria, Mesopotamia, and West Armenia. Thanks to their military accomplishments, Palmyra enjoyed a far extended autonomy within the Roman Empire.
After the tragic death of her husband, Zenobia, rather than rest on her laurels and draw from her glory, chose a life of action over more ladylike endeavors. She won more territories for Rome (Egypt among them), which she claimed as rightfully hers. Zenobia's Palmyra, the City of Palms, was inhabited by 30,000 people and was flourishing, profiting from trade taxation, as it was an important stopping place for the caravans that carried trade goods along the Old Silky Road between China, Persia and the Roman Empire.
Being a powerful monarch of a very rich metropolis, Zenobia was not only a truly remarkable ruler, famous for her judicious policies and prudence, but her subjects adored her. She was also a very thoughtful mother - she gave her sons Latin education, grooming them for future higher honors within the empire. Powerful and daring, she started minting her own coins, with her likeness on it, as a sovereign ruler. This, together with her growing influence, caused the Roman Empire no small grief. Three emperors tried to tame her with no success; Gallienus and Claudius's troops returned to Rome defeated.
The third one, Emperor Aurelian, felt so disturbed by her actions that he decided to teach the disobedient woman a lesson and waged a war against her. Zenobia stood up to the most powerful army of her time and personally directed her armies against Aurelian's. Had it not been for her so-called allied neighboring countries, who betrayed her by siding with Aurelian, Zenobia could have won the war. The treason however deprived her of help that she needed and she was defeated by Romans. Her beautiful City of Palms was turned to ruin sacked by the Roman army.
Zenobia was taken to Rome where she was exhibited in Aurelian's triumphal procession. She was humiliated, but eventually granted an honorable, afluent and comfortable life after being recognized as a charismatic and extraordinary person. Her sole surviving son was allowed an honorable retirement as well (which was quite unique under the circumstances). Her daughters married into noble Roman families and Zenobia's line proliferated until the 5th century.
Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra, was brave, intelligent, level headed, practical and chocked full of sheer, raw, devil-may-care attitude...a beautiful, courageous woman, a personification of all women's values and possibilities.
