Anna Zingha, Queen of Matamba

When meeting with the Portuguese governor, Njinga was given a mat, rather than a chair, on which to sit so as to indicate her subservience to the European power. Njinga ordered one of her servants to sit on all fours and sat on his back—looking the governor in the eye, as (at least) his equal.

• A skilled diplomat and military tactician, Njinga was queen of the kingdom of Ndongo, later conquering Matamba when forced out of her original court.
• Njinga offered sanctuary to runaway slaves while resisting the Portuguese who sought a more pliable leader for the kingdoms.
• Njinga negotiated a treaty with the Dutch against the Portuguese—pitting one European power against another while protecting her kingdoms.