Aethelflaed, ‘Lady of the Mercians’ (c. 870-918). Daughter of Alfred the Great and married to Aethelred, ruler of Mercia, she took over after her husband died. She was a capable leader and commander, and as well as campaigning against the Vikings with her brother Edward the Elder (and capturing Derby, Leicester and York from them), she sent expeditions into Wales and rebuilt Gloucester. Henry of Huntingdon even compared her favourably to Caesar. It’s a little tricky to tell how attractive she was exactly, but if power is the ultimate aphrodisiac…