Story Titled The Accident

Story Titled The Accident When we about to sit in a car, we usually take safety for granted. Many people dont even realize the dangers when driving from one place to another. Driving has become routine. People cant predict the dangers they face when driving, or even the tragic and disastrous moment when something goes wrong. I get asked this question quiet often, Why I am so scared to drive a car? August 6th 2007 is the date that I will never forget; that day changed my life. My perception, my thinking and social life was affected. It was the day when Ali got his license. It was 3:00 A.M in the morning, the air was misty, freezing and dark, and the streets lights were barely on. The streets were deserted and empty as if no one existed. It felt as if we were the only people in this city. There was a feeling of freedom but then something evil began to take its place, we decided to race. Even though the road was bumpy and uneven, the race seemed like a brilliant idea. Speeding up to 110mph we did not care about anything except going faster. It was fun and as far as I can recall, I was really enjoying it. Until the moment I turned my head to the right and saw Ali pointing with a smile, better keep up boy he said, this picture kept playing in my head constantly; at that very instant I felt the something wrong was about to happen. With fear I reduced my speed; just before I began slowing down, I heard a bang Alis car had flipped over, and the screech of grinding metal filled the empty streets. I used all my force to stop the car and get out. As the front wheel spun freely and oil was dripping to the ground, shards of the glass and other debris littered the crash scene like a pià ±ata spilled candy after being struck. My heart was beating rapidly, and my mind felt as if it was frozen. I rushed towards the car and saw Ali struggling with pain as cold as death itself screaming for help; his face was covered with blood and his hand was stuck behind his back. He was jammed in a very awkward position. I tried to help, and kept trying until I realized my help was not sufficient I needed more hands. Thinking of whom to call, I knew the best thing at that time was to try to keep him calm. I quickly dialed Alis residence. I called five times and every time the answering machine went on. Frustrating and panic filled my head. I then dialed the police. Thankfully, they were there in five minutes, but those five minutes felt like years. Watching Ali struggle with pain was disturbing; I felt helpless and des perately wanted this situation to end. Ali was finally dragged out of the car and was rushed to the Hospital; his condition was bad because too much blood had been lost. I finally got through to Alis parents. After an hour inside the emergency room the doctors were finally out, and what I was about to hear was something that changed my life. His spinal chord had broken. The doctors believed that he might not be able to walk. This was a very sad moment; his mother was crying hysterically, I still remember her saying no, no, no this cant be. Mr. Khan was constantly trying to comfort her, and she looked at me and shook her head with disappointment. At that very moment I felt that it was all because of me. I felt that I was not mature enough or responsible enough. I felt I had betrayed his parents; his mother always used to tell me to look after Ali. She thought I was the responsible one; it was hard to stand even a second there of her stare. Ali was not the same; we never hung out the way we used to. He was quiet and lost in his thoughts, and whenever I went to his house, he would tell his mother that he didnt want to meet me. He used to sit at home crying with disappointment when his attempt to walk failed. Every time I looked at him the picture of the crash kept playing in my head and his struggle to walk and his depression made me feel guilty every time I saw him. Eventually a gap started developing, and soon Alis isolation made him feel that I was the sole reason for this accident. The rare calls from Ali had stopped; months had passed and one day I found out Ali had moved to Dubai. I used to wonder if I am or ever will be same the person I used to be. He made a difference in my life by always being there for me and caring about me. I used to be a happy and optimistic person. My closest friend Ali made a major impact on my life; it was a major shock; that guy used to be my best friend; we hung out together; we were partners and did almost everything together. This accident that was an act of immaturity, caused an event because of which I not only lost a friend, but a great person who was also a good athlete lose his legs. The worst part is that he still feels its all because of me. His suspetition made a big impact on my life; I used to doubt myself and my ability to make friends. I got so afraid that sometimes I didnt even feel like tracing and locating him because I feel that even if I try to clarify myself it wont make a big difference; I stayed quiet most of the time and getting along with people wasnt my thing, I think it was all because I was conscious and I feared that I might end up hurting someone else. Through all of these thoughts and feelings, an annoying voice in the back of my head kept making feel that something could be wrong, that something or somewhere I must have gone wrong. Now four years have passed and I have no Idea of what Ali is up to, I never called nor I ever received a call from him, but now my views have changed. The car accident is and will always be a major moment in my life, it made me realize that God has a plan for every one and there is a hidden message behind everything. I had a great friend and probably best times in my life. Our life changes every second, this accident made me realize to value every single moment has as if it was my last, because its really difficult to predict when it all will be over.

August and December

The time allocated for teaching and learning is a factor influencing pupils' academic performance. There are three school terms every year with holidays in between in the months of April, August and December.Research has shown that majority of schools start learning after the first week of the school term. This indicates that there is a lot of time wastage before learning begins. Besides,most schools loose many teaching/ learning hours at the beginning of the term. This wastage leads to less work being covered and syllabus not being completed on time hence contributing to poor performance in KCPE examinations. b. Adequacy of Learning Resources: The adequacy and use of teaching and learning materials affects the effectiveness of a teacher's lesson.Teaching and learning esources enhances understanding of abstract ideas and improves performance. Adequate learning resources like text books,improvised weather instruments,relevant child friendly library books, wall maps and the exercise bo oks are of paramount importance. This makes learning easier of subjects like Social Studies very abstract to the pupils. Further still,it has been proven that school facilities have a direct effect on teaching and learning. Text books enable the pupils to follow the teacher's sequence of presentation and aids in understanding of lessons. . School Administration :The quality of school administration plays a vital role in academic performance as it is concerned with pupils, teachers, rules, regulations and policies that govern the school system. In analyzing the efficiency of school administration, the following aspects ought to be considered: Frequency of staff meetings Frequency of checking teachers' schemes of work and lesson plans Adequacy of teachers' prior preparation Frequency of class observation by the head teacher. Few staff meetings may lead to less co-ordination of curriculum implementation.This an lead to less monitoring and reporting of the progress of the schools activi ties to the teachers . Frequency of Checking Teachers' Schemes of work: The responsibility of checking the professional documents like teachers' schemes of work and lesson plans lies in the hands of the head teacher. This may be done in person or he may delegate to the deputy head teacher or the senior teacher. Preparation and use of schemes of work by the teachers enhances sequential teaching and results to improved achievement.Checking of teachers schemes of work should be done frequently to allow the head teacher monitor curriculum implementation. Frequency ot Checking the Teachers' Lessons Plans :Teacners' lesson plan is a protessional document prepared by teachers for the purpose of presentation of a lesson. The teacher indicates whether the lesson has been taught and objectives achieved; if the lesson is not taught, then the teacher indicates the reason why and when he intends to cover it; if the lesson objectives are not achieved, the teacher plans for remedial lesson in orde r to make the concept understood by the pupils.Head teachers should monitor lesson plan preparation frequently; otherwise it may lead to poor erformance. Adequacy of Teachers' Prior Preparation: Adequate prior preparation before a teacher goes to class leads to good performance by the pupils. This promotes sequential presentation of concepts by the teacher to the learners. Always, prior preparation by the teachers leads to systematic delivery of concepts to pupils and enhances performance. Observation of Classes by Head teachers: One of the roles of the head teacher is to carry out internal supervision of curriculum implementation in his/her school.This involves physical observation of teachers' lessons in progress. One of the head teachers' roles is regular class supervision in order to promote curriculum goals. Failure to do so may lead to poor performance. 2. Teacher-Based Factors These are the factors within the teachers that could hinder or promote academic performance of pupil s in their schools. The following are some of the aspects of teacher based factors: Teachers' commitment Teachers' frequency of absenteeism Teachers' motivation Teachers' work load.Teachers' Commitment Level: Good performance is as a result of high commitment levels by the teachers. Studies shows that teachers who lack enthusiasm are unable o teach effectively, making pupils not to learn well. Frequency of Absenteeism among Teachers: When teachers absent themselves from school frequently, pupils go unattended and do not do well in examinations. Absenteeism by teachers reduces the amount of instructional time and this result in the syllabus not being completed. This in return results to lower output of work by the pupils.Teachers' Motivation:A World Bank Report (1986) acknowledges that teacher satisfaction is generally related to achievement as satisfied teachers would concentrate hence enhancing academic performance of their pupils. Teacher Turn-over Rate:lf the teacher turn-over ra te is high then it can contribute to poor performance in examinations. According to Schneider (2003) high teacher turn over forces schools to devote attention, time and financial resources attracting replacement of teachers. Teachers' Workload: This is the number of lessons teachers take per week.If teachers are not overloaded their output in terms performance should be good. 3. PUPlLS BASED FACTORS These are the factors within the pupils that could enhance or hinder their academic performance. The following are some aspects under pupil-based factors: 1. Pupils' language use 2. Pupils' rate of absenteeism 3. Pupils' lateness to school. Pupils' Language Use: Pupils who interact using English language tend to understand it better and do well in examinations as all examinations apart from Swahili are written in English language.It is equally true that leaner who also interact well using Swahili language will pass the Swahili exam. Therefore,both languages must be encouraged in equal me asure by the teachers,parents and the larger community. Pupils' Frequency of Absenteeism: These is the aspect of how frequent pupils absent themselves from school. When pupils absent themselves from school, they tend to lose many concepts and definitely may not do well in exams. The effect of absenteeism and irregular school attendance is that materials taught are difficult to understand when studied on one's own.Continued loss of classes results to loss of content and knowledge. Class assignments,exercises,homework and holiday homework would not be properly and correctly done leading to poor performance. 4. Community-Based Factors Community based factors are factors within the community that impede or enhance pupils' academic performance. In analyzing the community based factors, the following aspects can be looked into: a) Parents' Consultation with Teachers:Good performance is realized when parents work in consultation with the teachers in order to understand their children bette r.Studies shows that most often parents do not consult teachers and that most parents were not so much concerned about education of the children. Bogus (2004) indicated that parents' interaction with teachers enables them to know what their children are encountering in school and what could be done to deal with the problems. It would also put pupils on alert and tudy in school as they would know that their parents would inquire about their performance.

Psychology of Spending: Where Does Belt-Tightening Begin?

The Psychology of Spending analyzes consumer’s ideals of the scarcity principle – in which, consumers are mentally forced to buy certain brands as they have before. The high costs of their choices make no difference even after their economic status is not as unique as it was once before. For example, the Water-Diamond scenario in which we will pay thousands of dollars for a diamond, but we will not pay thousands of dollars for a bottle of water. Our mental state of underestimating its value because it is a ‘need’ makes us consider it invaluable by numbers. Every consumer has encountered these kinds of thoughts pertaining to their buying habits in different perspectives. We could also address the issues of supply and demand. Luxury goods are in demand because of the advanced technology we are experiencing in our New Economy. We have found ourselves trapped in securing the newest trend because of the gadgets, computers, cell phones, and other accessories around us everyday. You can notice these triggering children to purchase their own cell phones because it is now a need – not a want. Cell phones have trampled into the same estate as water in the water-diamond scenario. We consider cell phones as invaluable goods for keeping in touch with our friends and family around the world. The ultimate ‘need’ comes from feeling inadequate or isolated without one so our demand increases to where we must purchase accessories as well. According to the article, the high-end wants are really needs now due to the vanity and exposure to as many choices as possible. Consumers have more than enough to consider when they want to buy products. Generic products are slowly, but surely losing the interests of these buyers. The marginal utility of large net worth has declined as more and more luxury goods are being produced. As aforementioned earlier, the demand for luxuries has increased and the suppliers are interested in increased sales – so they have given the strength of the ‘scarcity’ rule away to growth. For example, they could increase the price of their merchandise if every high-end retailer produces no more than 40,000 units of their product. The product’s marginal utility will remain at its best possible light to the consumer’s eye. A well-known factor, which was mentioned in The Psychology of Spending, is the wealthy household’s attempts to buy large amounts of land no matter what the economic status is. Other issues arise in comparison to their counterparts in the luxurious industries. Some indirect factors that corner the marginal utility of luxury goods is the quality of the resources used to produce the goods. If the quality of the resources is reduced, the probability of increased sells could remove the ‘high-end’ aspect of the products. We will be used to the products and then ‘anyone’ can get it so it will not be considered high quality or high-end anymore. Properties over the $10,000,000 are probable to a decline in net worth if more products are created with their same unique characteristics. More interest rates will appear viable to the consumers, but their efforts in securing the products will increase due to their ideal of ‘scarce’ resources available. A discontinuation of a certain production will and could, harness the power for its collectibles to cost more. According to the Psychology of Spending, the monetary means or sense of superiority means a lot to the public. We are more than anxious enough to buy the newest trends without a second thought. If the new trend costs more than our capabilities, we will have to worry about the possibility of not ‘being in style’. The article’s outline of the economy during 2000 would be changed in today’s time. Our nation is experiencing a new, inaccurate development in which prices are increased due to the war. We, as consumers, have changed our buying habits a little bit but not much compared to the purchases made in 2000. Newer, faster, and cheaper products have caught our attention and the internet’s flourishing marketplace has given all consumers – wealthy and lower income- the same opportunity to buy these goods. As a mechanism to the psychological attachment to more money means more power, we can conclude that all high-end products are being purchased about 2% from the higher-income families. A majority of these implications can trigger a more thorough understanding of why the lower-income families are attempting to buy these products as well. None the less, their ability to manufacture or overproduce these products has lost its initial marginal utility it once had. In today’s society, these products do not create a ‘high’ as they once did. The consumers know that anyone can buy it at any price. Discount retailers have placed some sophisticated names on the shelves to attract their income counterparts for more information. We can expect this to continue until many consumers decide that their labels mean nothing – naturally. Some of the best products are left to the generic manufacturers whom will need those materials for a competitive advantage. As remarkable as this change is to our society, the distinctive features of these high-end products are slowly leaving the market. Imitative strategies have stripped the meaning of ‘brand’ and consumers are still buying these products without regard to their tastes. More than enough companies are losing the whole perspective of re-establishing their economic strategy to remain at the top of their industry. We can only wish for our buying habits to sway into finding a more distinguished product to assist in our highs. Â  

Women of the Tenth Century Notable Medieval Women

In the tenth century, a few women achieved power but almost entirely through their fathers, husbands, sons, and grandsons. Some even served as regents for their sons and grandsons. As Europes Christianization became nearly complete, it was more common for women to achieve power by founding monasteries, churches, and convents. Womens value to royal families was mainly as childbearers and as pawns to move around in dynastic marriages. Occasionally, women (like Aethelflaed) led military forces, or (like Marozia and Theodora) wielded direct political power. A few women (like Andal, Lady Li, and Hrosvitha) achieved prominence as artists and writers. Saint Ludmilla:  840 - 916 Ludmilla raised and educated her grandson, a duke, and the future Saint Wenceslaus. Ludmilla was key in the Christianization of her country. She was murdered by her daughter-in-law Drahomira, a nominal Christian. Ludmilla was married to Borivoj, who was the first Christian Duke of Bohemia. Ludmilla and Borivoj were baptized about 871. Conflict over religion drove them from their country, but they were soon recalled and ruled together for seven years more.  Ludmilla and Borivoj then resigned and turned over rule to their son Spytihnev, who died two years later. Another son Vratislav then succeeded. Married to Drahomira, a nominal Christian, he left his eight-year-old son Wenceslaus to rule. Wenceslaus had been raised and educated by Ludmilla. Another son (perhaps a twin) Boreslav the Cruel was raised and educated by his father and mother. Ludmilla continued to influence her grandson, Wenceslaus. Reportedly, pagan nobles stirred up Drahomira against Ludmilla, resulting in the murder of Ludmilla, with Drahomiras participation. Stories say she was strangled by her veil by noblemen at Drahomiras instigation. Ludmilla is venerated as a patron saint of Bohemia. Her feast day is September 16. Father: Slavibor, Prince of Psov(?)Mother: unknownHusband: Borivoj (Boriwoi), Duke of BohemiaChildren:Spytihnev (Spitignev)Vratislav (Wratislaw, Radislav) I, Duke of Bohemia; married DrahomiraGrandchildren:Boreslav (Boleslaw, Boleslaus) I the CruelSaint Wenceslaus (Wenceslas, Vyacheslav) I, Duke of BohemiaStrezislava of Bohemia (?) Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians: ? - 918 Aethelflaed was a daughter of Alfred the Great. Aethelflaed became a political and military leader when her husband was killed in battle with the Danes in 912. She went on to unify Mercia. Aelfthryth (877 - 929) She’s known mainly as a genealogical link of Anglo Saxon kings to the Anglo-Norman dynasty. Her father was Alfred the Great, her mother Ealhswith, and her siblings included Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, Aethelgifu, Edward the Elder, Aethelweard. Aelfthryth was raised and educated with her brother, Edward, a future king. She was married to Baldwin II  of Flanders in 884, as a way of solidifying an alliance between the English and the Flemish to oppose the Vikings. When her father, Alfred, died in 899, Aelfthryth inherited several properties in England from him. She donated several of these to the abbey of St. Peter in Ghent. Aelfthryths  husband Baldwin II died in 915. In 917, Aelfthryth had his bodied moved to the abbey of St. Peter. Her son, Arnulf, became the count of Flanders after his fathers death. His descendant Baldwin V was the father of  Matilda of Flanders  who married William the Conqueror. Because of Aelfthryths heritage as a daughter of the Saxon king, Alfred the Great, the marriage of Matilda to the future Norman king, William, brought the heritage of the Saxon kings back into the royal line. Husband: Baldwin II, Count of Flanders, son of  Judith of France, who had briefly been a stepmother and then sister-in-law to Aelfthrgyths father, Alfred the Great (married 884)Children: Arnulf I of Flanders, Adalulf, Count of Boulogne, Ealswid, Ermentrud Also known as:  Eltrudes (Latin), Elstrid Theodora: ? - 928 She was a senatrix and serenissima vestaratrix of Rome. She was the grandmother of Pope John XI; her influence and that of her daughters was called the Rule of the Harlots or the pornocracy. Not to be confused with the Byzantine empress Theodora.  This Theodora’s alleged lover, Pope John X, whose election as Pope she supported, was allegedly murdered by Theodora’s daughter, Marozia, whose father was Theodora’s first, Theophylact. Theodora is also credited as the grandmother of Pope John XI and great-grandmother of Pope John XII. Theodora and her husband Theophylact were key influences during the papacies of Sergius III and Anastasius III. Later stories associated Sergius III with  Marozia, daughter of Theophylact and Theodora, and claim that the future Pope John XI was their illegitimate son, born when Marozia was only 15 years old. When John X was elected Pope it was also with the support of Theodora and Theophylact. Some stories claim that John X and Theodora were lovers. Husband: TheophylactDaughter: MaroziaDaughter: Theodora (confused by historian Edward Gibon with her mother)Rumored to be the mistress of Pope John X and Pope Sergius III An example of historians judgment of Theodora and Marozia: Towards the beginning of the tenth century a powerful noble, Theophylact, aided by his beautiful and unscrupulous wife, Theodora, secured control of Rome. Their daughter  Marozia  became the central figure of a corrupt society which completely dominated both the city and the papacy. Marozia herself married as her third husband Hugh of Provence, then king of Italy. One of her sons became pope as John XI ( 931-936), while another, Alberic, assumed the title of prince and senator of the Romans and ruled Rome, appointing four popes in the years 932 to 954. (from: John L. Lamonte,  The World of the Middle Ages: A Reorientation of Medieval History, 1949. p. 175.) Olga of Russia: about 890 - 969 Olga of Kiev was the first known woman to rule Russia, the first Russian ruler to adopt Christianity, the first Russian saint in the Orthodox Church. She was the widow of Igor I, regent for their son. She is known for her role in bringing Christianity to official status in Russia. Marozia: about 892-about 937 Marozia was the daughter of the powerful Theodora (above), as well as allegedly mistress of Pope Sergius III. She was the mother of Pope John XI (by her first husband Alberic or by Sergius) and of another son Alberic who stripped the papacy of much secular power and whose son became Pope John XII.  See her mother’s listing for a quote about Marozia. Saint Matilda of Saxony: about 895 - 986 Matilda of Saxony was the Empress of Germany (the Holy Roman Empire), married to the Holy Roman Emperor Henry I. She was the founder of monasteries and builder of churches. She was the mother of Emperor Otto I, Duke Henry of Bavaria, St. Bruno, Gerberga who married Louis IV of France and Hedwig, whose son Hugh Capet founded a French royal dynasty. Raised by her grandmother, an abbess, Saint Matilda of Saxony was, as were so many royal women, married off for political purposes. In her case, it was to Henry the Fowler of Saxony, who became King of Germany. During her life in Germany Saint Matilda of Saxony founded several abbeys and was noted for her charity. Her feast day was March 14. Saint Edith of Polesworth: about 901 - 937 Daughter of Hugh Capet of England and widow Sigtryggr Gale, King of Dublin and York, Edith became a nun at Polesworth Abbey and Tamworth Abbey and abbess at Tamworth. Also known as:  Eadgyth, Edith of Polesworth, Edith of Tamworth One of perhaps two Ediths who were daughters of King Edward the Elder of England, the history of Saint Edith is ambiguous. Attempts to trace her life identify the mother of this Edith (Eadgyth) as Ecgwyn. Saint Ediths brother, Aethelstan, was King of England 924-940. Edith or Eadgyth was married in 925 to Sigtryggr Gale, King of Dublin and York. Their son Olaf Cuarà ¡n Sitricsson also became King of Dublin and York. After her husbands death, she became a nun and, eventually, abbess at Tamworth Abbey in Gloucestershire. Alternatively, Saint Edith may have been a sister of King Edgar the Peaceful and therefore an aunt of Edith of Wilton. After her death in 937, Saint Edith was canonized; her feast day is July 15. Edith of England: about 910 - 946 Edith of England was the daughter of King Edward the Elder of England, and the first wife of Emperor Otto I of Germany, One of two Ediths who were daughters of King Edward the Elder of England, the mother of this Edith (Eadgyth) is variously identified as Aelflaeda (Elfleda) or Edgiva (Eadgifu). Her brother and half-brothers were kings of England: Aethelstan, Aelfweard, Edmund I and Eadred. Typically for the female offspring of royal rulers, she was married to another expected ruler, but far from home. She married Otto I the Great  of Germany, later Holy Roman Emperor, about 929. (Otto married again; his second wife was  Adelaide.) Edith (Eadgyth) is interred at St. Maurice Cathedral, Magdeburg, Germany. Also known as: Eadgyth Hrosvitha von Gandersheim: about 930 - 1002 Hrotsvitha of Gandersheim wrote the first plays known to be written by a woman, and she is the first known European woman poet after Sappho. She was also a canoness and a chronicler. Her name translates as strong voice. Also known as: Hroswitha, Hrostsvit, Hrotsvithae, Hrosvitha of Gandersheim Saint Adelaide: 931 - 999 Empress Adelaide was Western empress from 962 (consort of Otto I) and later was regent for Otto III from 991-994 with her daughter-in-law Theophano. Daughter of Rudolf II of Burgundy, Adelaide was married to Lothair, king of Italy. After Lothair died in 950 —perhaps poisoned by Berengar II who seized the throne for his son—she was taken a prisoner in 951 by Berengar II who wanted her to marry his son. Otto I the Great of Saxony rescued Adelaide and defeated Berengar, declared himself king of Italy, and then married Adelaide. His first wife was  Edith, daughter of Edward the Elder. When he was crowned as Holy Roman Emperor on February 2, 962, Adelaide was crowned as Empress. She turned to religious activity, promoting monasticism. Together they had five children. When Otto I died and her son, Otto II, succeeded to the throne, Adelaide continued to influence him until 978. He married  Theophano, a Byzantine princess, in 971, and her influence gradually superseded that of Adelaide. When Otto II died in 984, his son, Otto III, succeeded him, though he was only three years old. Theophano, the childs mother, was in control until 991 with Adelaides support, and then Adelaide ruled for him 991-996. Michitsuna no haha: about 935 – about 995 Japanese poet who wrote The Kagero Diary, documenting life in the Japanese court. The diary is known for its critique of marriage.  Her name means â€Å"Mother of Michitsuna.† She was the wife of a Japanese official whose descendants by his first wife were rulers of Japan. Michitsunas diary stands as a classic in literary history. In documenting her own troubled marriage, she helped document that aspect of 10th century Japanese culture. The Kagero Diary (The Gossamer Years) Theophano: 943? – after 969 Theophano was the wife of Byzantine emperors Romanus II and Nicephorus II, and regent for her sons Basil II and Constantine VIII. Her daughters Theophano and Anna married important 10th-century rulers -- the Western emperor and Vladimir I the Great of Russia. Theophanos first marriage was to the Byzantine Emperor Romanus II, whom she was able to dominate. Theophano, along with a eunuch, Joseph Bringus, essentially ruled in her husbands place. She was alleged to have poisoned Romanus II in 963, after which she served as regent for her sons Basil II and Constantine VIII. She married Nicephorus II on September 20, 963, barely a month after he became emperor, displacing her sons.  He ruled until 969 when he was assassinated by a conspiracy that included John I Tzimisces, whose mistress she had become.  Polyeuctus, the patriarch of Constantinople, forced him to banish Theophano to a convent and punish the other murderers. Her daughter Theophano (below) married Otto II, the Western emperor, and her daughter Anna married Vladimir I of Kiev. (Not all sources agree that these were their daughters.) An example of a highly-charged opinion of Theophano—a few quotes from the lengthy  The World of the Middle Ages: A Reorientation of Medieval History  by John L. Lamonte, 1949 (pp. 138-140): he death of Constantine VII was caused in all probability by poison administered to him by his son, Romanus II, at the instigation of his wife Theophano. This Theophano was a notorious courtesan, the daughter of a tavern keeper, who had won the affection of the young Romanus, a dissipated and generally worthless youth, so that he married her and associated her on the throne. With her father-in-law removed and her debauched husband on the throne, Theophano took into her own hands the reins of power, ruling with the advice of the eunuch Joseph Bringas, an old functionary of Constantines.... Romanus departed this world in 963 leaving Theophano a widow at the age of twenty with two small sons, Basil and Constantine. What could be more natural than that the widowed empress should seek a supporter and helpmate in the gallant soldier? Bringas attempted to assume the custody for the two young princes at the death of their father, but Theophano and the patriarch engaged in an unholy alliance to confer the government on the hero Nicephorus†¦. Theophano saw herself now the wife of a new and handsome emperor. But she had been duped; when the patriarch refused to recognize Tzmisces as emperor until he had driven from the Sacred Palace the adulteress . . . who had been the chief mover in the crime he cheerfully repudiated Theophano, who was banished to a nunnery (she was then 27 years old). Emma, Queen of Franks: about 945 – after 986 Emma was married to Lothaire, King of the Franks. Mother of King Louis V of the Franks, Emma is alleged to have poisoned her son in 987. After his death, Hugh Capet succeeded to the throne, ending the Carolingian dynasty and beginning the Capetian. Aelfthryth: 945 - 1000 Aelfthryth was an English Saxon queen, married to King Edgar the Peaceable. After Edgar’s death, she may have helped end the life of her stepson Edward the Martyr so that her son could become King as Aethelred (Ethelred) II the Unready.  Aelfthryth  or Elfrida was the first queen of England known to have been crowned with that title. Also known as:  Elfrida, Elfthryth Her father was Earl of Devon, Ordgar. She married Edgar who died in 975 and was his second wife. Aelfthryth is sometimes credited with organizing, or being part of, a 978 assassination of her stepson Edward the Martyr so that her 10-year-old son Ethelred II the Unready could succeed. Her daughter, Aethelfleda or Ethelfleda, was abbess at Romsey. Theophano: 956? - 991 This Theophano, possibly the daughter of the Byzantine empress Theophano (above) and emperor Romanus II, married the western emperor Otto II (Rufus) in 972. The marriage had been negotiated as part of a treaty between John Tzmisces, ruling for the princes who were Theophanos brothers, and Otto I. Otto I died the next year. When Otto II died in 984, his son, Otto III, succeeded him, though he was only three years old. Theophano, as the childs mother, was in control until 991. In 984 the Duke of Bavaria (Henry the Quarrelsome) kidnapped Otto III but was forced to turn him over to Theophano and her mother-in-law  Adelaide. Adelaide ruled for Otto III after Theophano died in 991. Otto III also married a Theophano, also of Byzantium. This Theophanos sister, Anna (below), married Vladimir I of Russia. Saint Edith of Wilton: 961 - 984 The illegitimate daughter of Edgar the Peaceable, Edith became a nun at the convent at Wilton, where her mother (Wulfthryth or Wilfrida) was also a nun. King Edgar was forced to do penance for kidnapping Wulfthryth from the convent.  Wulfthryth returned to the convent when she was able to escape, taking Edith with her. Edith was reportedly offered the crown of England by nobles who had supported one half-brother, Edward the Martyr, against her other half-brother, Aelthelred the Unready. Her feast day is September 16, the day of her death. Also known as:  Eadgyth, Ediva Anna: 963 - 1011 Anna was a Byzantine princess, probably the daughter of the Byzantine Empress  Theophano (above) and Byzantine Emperor Romanus II, and thus the sister of Basil II (though occasionally identified as Basils daughter) and, sister of the western empress, another Theophano (also above), Basil arranged for Anna to be married to Vladimir I of Kiev, called the Great, in 988. This marriage is sometimes credited for Vladimirs conversion to Christianity (as has the influence of his grandmother, Olga). His previous wives had been pagans as he had been before 988.  After the baptism, Basil tried to back out of the marriage agreement, but Vladimir invaded the Crimea and Basil relented. Annas arrival brought significant Byzantine cultural influence to Russia. Their daughter married Karol the Restorer of Poland. Vladimir was killed in an uprising in which some of his former wives and their children participated. Sigrid the Haughty: about 968 – before 1013 Legendary queen (perhaps mythical), Sigrid refused to marry King Olaf of Norway because it would have required her to give up her faith and become Christian. Also known as:  Sigrid the Strong-Minded, Sigrid the Proud, Sigrà ­Ãƒ ° Tà ³stadà ³ttir, Sigrà ­Ãƒ ° Stà ³rrà ¡Ãƒ °a, Sigrid Storrà ¥da Most likely a legendary character, Sigrid the Haughty (once assumed to be an actual person) is noted for her defiance. The chronicle of King Olaf of Norway says that when it was arranged for Sigrid to marry Olaf, she refused because it would have required her to convert to Christianity. She helped organize opponents of Olaf who, later, defeated the Norwegian King. According to the stories that mention Sigrid, she was married to Eric VI Bjornsson, King of Sweden, and was the mother of Olaf III of Sweden and of Holmfrid who married Svend I of Denmark. Later, perhaps after she and Eric divorced, she is supposed to have married Sweyn of Denmark (Sveyn Forkbeard) and is cited as the mother of Estrith or Margaret of Denmark, who married Richard II the Good of Normandy. Aelfgifu about 985 - 1002 Aelfgifu was the first wife of King Aethelread Unraed (Ethelred) the Unready, and probably the mother of his son Edmund II  Ironside who briefly ruled as King of England. Also known as:  Aelflaed, Elfreda, Elgiva Aelfgifus life shows one fact of womens existence in the tenth century: little is known of her besides her name. The first wife of Aethelred the Unready (from Unraed meaning bad or evil counsel), her parentage is disputed and she disappears from the record early in his long conflict with the Danes which resulted in the overthrow of Aethelred for Sweyn in 1013, and his subsequent brief return to control 1014-1016.  We dont know for sure whether Aelfgifu died or whether Aethelred put her aside for his second wife,  Emma of Normandy  whom he married in 1002. While the facts arent known for certain, Aelfgifu is usually credited as the mother of Aethelreds six sons and as many as five daughters, one of whom was the abbess at Wherwell. Aelfgifu was thus probably the mother of Aethelreds son Edmund II Ironside, who ruled briefly until Sweyns son, Cnut (Canute), defeated him in battle. Edmund was allowed by the treaty to rule in Wessex and Cnut ruled the rest of England, but Edmund died in the same year, 1016, and Cnut consolidated his power, marrying Aethelreds second wife and widow,  Emma of Normandy. Emma was the mother of Aethelreds sons Edward and Alfred and daughter Godgifu. These three fled to Normandy where Emmas brother ruled as Duke. Another Aelfgifu is mentioned as the first wife of Cnut, mother of Cnuts sons Sweyn and Harold Harefoot. Andal: Dates Unsure Andal was an Indian poet who wrote devotional poetry to Krishna. A few hagiographies survive of Andal, a poet in Tamil Nadu who wrote devotional poetry to Krishna in which her own personality comes alive at times. Two devotional poems by Andal are known and are still used in worship. Adopted by her father (Perilyalwar or Periyalwar) who finds her as a baby, Andal avoids earthly marriage, the normal and expected path for women of her culture, to marry Vishnu, both spiritually and physically. She is sometimes known by a phrase which means she who gave garlands that had been worn. Her name translates as savior or saint, and she is also known as Saint Goda. An annual holy day honors Andal. The Vaishnava tradition honors Shrivilliputtur as the birthplace of Andal. The Nacciyar Tirumoli, which is about the love of Andal for Vishnu and Andal as beloved, is a Vaishnava marriage classic. Her exact dates are unknown but are likely to have been the ninth or tenth centuries. Sources include: Phillip B. Wagoner. Tidings of the King. 1993.Joseph T. Shipley. Encyclopedia of Literature. 1946. Lady Li: Dates Unsure Lady Li was a Chinese artist from Shu (Sichuan) who is credited with beginning an artistic tradition by tracing on her paper window with a brush the shadows cast by the moon and bamboo, thus inventing monochromatic brush painting of bamboo. The Taoist writer Chuang-tzu also uses the name Lady Li for a parable about clinging to life in the face of death. Kang-i Chang.  Women Writers of Traditional China: An Anthology of Poetry and Criticism. 1999. (mentions Lady Li briefly)Marsha Weidner.  Flowering in the Shadows: Women in the History of Chinese and Japanese Painting.  1990. Zahra: Dates Unsure She was the favorite wife of Caliph Adb-er-Rahman III. She inspired the palace of al-Zahra near Cordoba, Spain. Ende: Dates Unsure Ende was a German artist, the first known female manuscript illustrator.