Legend of the Crown: The Art of African Great Kings and Queens

Twenty-three artists were commissioned by Anheuser-Busch over a 25-year span, to create works for the Legend of the Crown collection. Each painting depicts an African leader and celebrates his or her impact on history.

Here are the 30 paintings that were created for the collection.

Hatshepsut The Ablest Queen of Far Antiquity (1503-1482 BC) by Dean Mitchell

For 33 years Hatshepsut was the ablest queen as she withstood male rivals after her father appointed her heiress to the throne. She was the leader of the world’s leading nation of the time. To increase her popularity she had spectacular temples and pyramids erected, of which many still stand today.

Tiye The Nubian Queen of Egypt (circa 1415-1340 BC) by Leonard Jenkins

Tiye The Nubian Queen of Egypt changed the course of history. Amenhotep III, the young Egyptian ruler was so taken by her beauty and intellect he defied his nation’s priests and customs by proclaiming her the commoner his Great Royal spouse. He included her in political and military decisions and treated her as his equal.

Akhenaton Pharaoh of Egypt (1375-1358 BC) by Barbara Higgins Bond

He was the first ruler in recorded history to believe in the concept of the One God. Akhenaton built the finest city in the desert where he lived with his wife, Queen Nefertiti. They changed Egyptian culture so radically that their impact was felt for centuries.

Makeda Queen of Sheba (960 BC) by Debra Edgerton

Makeda was married to King Solomon of Israel and was known for giving him great gifts from her famed journey to visit the Judean monarch. She also gave him a son, Menelek who looked so much like his grandfather that Solomon rechristened him and renamed him David after his father King David.

Thutmose III Pharaoh of Egypt (753-712 BC) by Antonio Wade

Thutmose was known for giving those he conquered the choice to join his kingdom. For the first time in history the entire Nile Valley, from the Mediterranean to the borders of modern Ethiopia, was united under one monarch. By 743 BC the majority of the Egyptians looked upon Thutmose as the ruler of Egypt and Kush.

Taharqa King of Nubia (710-664 BC) by John Thomas Biggers

During his 25-year reign, Taharqa controlled the largest empire in ancient Africa. The numbers and majesty of his building projects were legendary with the greatest being the temple at Gebel Barkal in the Sudan.

Hannibal Ruler of Carthage (247-183 BC) by Charles Lilly

Regarded as one of the greatest generals of all time, Hannibal and his army conquered major portions of Spain and Italy, while coming close to defeating the Roman Empire. For more than 2000 years Hannibal has been recognized for destroying a much larger Roman force while seemingly being trapped.

Nefertari Nubian Queen of Egypt (192-1225 BC) by Steve Clay

Nefertari is heralded as the queen who wed for peace. While her marriage to King Rameses II of Egypt began as a political move to share powers, it grew into one of the greatest royal love affairs in history and ended the 100-year war between Nubia and Egypt.

Cleopatra VII Queen of Egypt (69-30 BC) by Ann Marshall

The most famous of seven matriarchs to bear this name, Cleopatra rose to the throne at seventeen. In a quest to elevate Egypt to world supremacy, she enlisted two Roman leaders—Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Neither fulfilled her dreams before their own deaths prompting Cleopatra took her own life.

Tenkamenin King of Ghana (1037-1075 AD) by Alexander Bostic

Through careful management of gold trade across the Sahara, Tenkamenin’s empire flourished economically yet his greatest strength was in government. He listened to his people and provided justice for all of them. His principles of democratic monarchy and religious tolerance make him one of the great models of African rule.

Mansa Kankan Musa King of Mali (1306-1337) by Barbara Higgins Bond

Mansa Musa distinguished himself as a man who did everything on a grand scale. He was a scholar and imported noteworthy artists to heighten the cultural awareness of his people. After leading a successful pilgrimage across the Sahara he won international prestige for Mali as one of the world’s largest and wealthiest empires.

Sunni Ali Beer King of Songhay (circa 1442-1492) by Leo Dillon

Sunni Ali Beer built the largest most powerful empire in West Africa during his 28-year reign. With a remarkable army,he won many battles, conquered many lands, seized trade routes and took villages to build the Songhay empire into a major center of commerce, culture and Moslem scholarship.

Alfonso I King of the Kongo (circa 1486-1543) by Carl Owens (1929-2002)

Afonso I was a visionary who saw his country as a unified Christian nation equipped with advanced knowledge and technology. He encouraged Christianity, made it possible to practice new skills in masonry, carpentry and agriculture. He established a modern school system and was the first ruler to resist slave trade.

Askia Muhammaed Toure King of Songhay (1493-1529) by Leo Dillon

A devout Muslim, Askia “The Great” ruled and administered Songhay strictly according to Islamic law. He united the entire central region of the Western Soudan, and established a governmental machine that is still revered today for its detail and efficiency.

Idris Alooma Sultan of Bornu (1580-1617) by Charles Lilly (1949-)

Idris Alooma was a devout Muslim. He replaced traditional law with Muslim law, and made a pilgrimage to Mecca. The trip provided religious and military significance, for he returned with Turkish firearms. After building a strong army Idris Alooma conquered the Bulala, establishing a dominion and peace that lasted fifty years.

Nzingha—Amazon Queen of Matambo (1582-1663) by Dorothy Carter

Nzingha was an astute diplomat and excellent military leader. After settling disputes and waging long wars, Nzingha allied her nation with the Dutch, marking the first African-European alliance against a European oppressor.

Queen Amina of Zaria (1588-1589) by Floyd Cooper

A brilliant military strategist she fought many wars and won them all. Amina is credited with building the famous Zaria wall. She is remembered today as “Amina, Yar Bakwa ta san rana,” meaning “Amina, daughter of Nikatau, a woman as capable as a man.”

Shamba Bolongongo African King of Peace (1600-1620) by Roy LaGrone

Hailed as one of the greatest monarchs of the Congo, King Shamba had no greater desire than to preserve peace. Shamba was also known for promoting arts and crafts, and for designing a complex and extremely democratic form of government, which represented all Bushongo people.

Osei Tutu King of Asante (circa 1650-1717) by Alfred Smith

Osei Tutu was the founder and first ruler of the Asante nation, a great West African kingdom now known as Ghana. He tripled the geographic size of Asante and the kingdom was a significant power that endured for two centuries.

Nandi Queen of Zululand (1778-1826 AD) by HM Rahsaan Fort II

Married to the King of Zululand, Nandi gave him a son, Shaka but was banished because the king’s other wives were jealous. Nandi made many sacrifices for her son and raised Shaka as royalty. He later became the greatest of all Zulu kings. Today Zulu people use her name to refer to a woman of high esteem.

Moshoeshoe King of Batsutoland (circa 1786-1870) by Jerry Pinkney

Moshoeshoe ruled the country he founded for half a century. He was a wise and just brilliant King in diplomacy and battle. He united many diverse groups into a stable society with law and order. He knew that peace made prosperity possible and often avoided conflict through skillful negotiations.

Shaka-King of the Zulus (1787-1828) by Paul Collins

A strong leader and military innovator, Shaka is noted for revolutionizing 19th century Bantu warfare. Over the years Shaka’s troops earned such a reputation that many enemies would flee at the sight of them. The Shaka’s nation now encompasses the present day Kwazwu-Natal, South Africa.

Khama III The Good King of Bechuanaland (1819-1923) by Carl Owens

Khama was highly regarded as a peace-loving ruler intent on technological advancements including building schools, scientific cattle-feeding and the introduction of a mounted police force, which practically eliminated crime. England honored him with approval to remain free from Bechuanaland.

Ja Ja King of the Opobo (1821-1891) by Jonathan Knight

After escaping slavery Ja Ja prospered as an independent trader. He became a ruler of his people and eventually king of his own territory, Opobo. Ja Ja fiercely resisted outside influence which led to his exile at age 70 to the West Indies by the British. He never saw his kingdom again.

Samory Toure The Black Napoleon of the Sudan (1830-1900) by Ezra Tucker

When Samory Toure’s native Bissandugu was attacked and his mother taken captive, he was allowed to take her place. He then escaped and joined the army of King Bitike Souane of Torona. He was soon made king and defied French expansionism in Africa, earning the name “The Black Napoleon of the Sudan.”

Mwana Ngana Ndumba Tembo—Ruler of the Angolan Tchokwe (1840-1880 circa) by Kenneth Calvert

Ndumbo Tembo maintained the Tchokwe sovereignty and protected its resources by securing an autonomous territory that severely restricted European access. Ndumba Tembo’s work allowed the Tchokwe to retain their independence.

Benhanzin Hossu Bowelle—The King Shark (1841-1906) by Thomas Blackshear II

Benhanzin was the most powerful ruler in West Africa at the end of the 19th century. To defend his nation’s sovereignty, he maintained a physically fit army. He was a lover of the humanities and is credited with the creation of some of the finest songs and poetry of Dahomey.

Menelek II King of Kings of Abyssinia (1844-1913) by Dow Miller

Menelek joined together several independent kingdoms that were often at odds with each other into one strong stable empire known as the United States of Abyssinia (Ethiopia). A stunning victory over Italy in the Battle of Adwa in defense of his own country placed him among the great world leaders in history.

Nehanda of Zimbabwe (1862-1898) by Lydia Thompson

Nehanda was one of Zimbabwe’s youngest and most influential religious leaders. She declared war when the English invaded their country. She was captured and executed for ordering the killing of a cruel Native Commander. She remains the single most important person in the modern history of Zimbabwe.

Yaa Asantewa Queen of Ghana (1863-1923) by Barbara Higgins Bond

Queen Mother Yaa Asantewa led her nation in the last Ashanti war against the British. Her name will always be remembered because of her agitation, the return of Prempeh was converted into stirring demands for independence.