What is a female sultan called?

What Do You Call a Female Sultan?

It's a question that often stirs confusion: what do you call a woman who rules as a sultan? Many might say “Sultana,” but that term can be misleading. In historical context, “Sultana” typically referred to the wife of a sultan — not a sovereign in her own right. A true female ruler wasn’t merely a consort; she was a sovereign, and she demanded a title to match her authority.

One of the most compelling examples is Razia, who ruled the Delhi Sultanate in the 13th century. She didn’t take a feminine variation of the title — she claimed the full title of al-Sultan al-Muazzam Raziyat al-Din bint al-Sultan, meaning “The Great Sultan, Raziyat al-Din, daughter of the Sultan.” Her coins bore this very title, a powerful statement of legitimacy in a male-dominated political world.

This wasn’t just semantics — it was sovereignty made tangible. By calling herself Sultan, not Sultana, Razia asserted her equal status to male rulers. Her reign wasn’t an anomaly but a bold challenge to convention, proving that power wasn't defined by gender but by authority and recognition.

So, what do you call a female sultan? The answer lies in history: she is a Sultan — full stop. The title doesn’t need softening or feminizing. When a woman held the throne, she ruled as sultan, wielding the same power, bearing the same title, and leaving a legacy that defied the limits imposed by tradition.