Queen Didda
Also called: Didda · Topic: Early Medieval North India: Harsha to the Rajputs · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 3 "Empires and Kingdoms: 6th to 10th Centuries"
Meaning
Queen Didda was a powerful ruler of Kashmir in the late 10th century. She first ruled on behalf of her young son and grandsons. She then ruled as queen herself, from about 980 until her death in 1003. Kalhana's Rajatarangini says she held power through alliances and by ruthlessly removing rivals, even members of her own family. She shows that women could rule in early medieval India.
Example
Kalhana says Didda had rival nobles removed, and even her own grandsons, to keep the throne. Yet she also founded towns and built and restored temples. Before she died, she made her nephew Sangramaraja her heir.