I read the discussion about the lack of poems about historical figures started by dave with interest. I'll kick things off, I went through a bit of a historical phase at one time...

Nzinga Queen of Matamba

 

Oh glorious Nzinga, Ndongo’s royal princess

What indignity thou has suffered

Under Portugal’s cruel colonial rule

Yet you would not lie down nor be a slave

Instead building a new glorious kingdom

Free from war and the deprivations of slavery

 

Thou, greatest diplomat, did meet

In Angola, Portugal’s despised governor

And there baptised into a Christian faith

Became known as Dona Aña de Souza

But by your holy allies were betrayed

And from Ndongo and colonial troops did flee

 

Creating a new kingdom, Matamba

You built a powerful army to resist

A cruel empire that was soon to fall

Ana de Souza became Nzinga once again

But though Matamba’s markets thrived

Success came as a broker for slavery

 

 

Hrolf the Granger

 

Among all men there never was one braver

Than Rollo son of Rognvald of MÖre

The leader of a band of Viking raiders

Who in France in 911 came ashore

They laid siege to Chatres so goes the lore

Without success they sued for peace with Charles III

Who, great with wealth, in intellect was poor

He offered Rollo tracts of land but in return

Would call Rollo his vassal neighbour

And so Hrolf made his fortune secure

In what was Normandy in the future

                                                 His descendent would be William the Conqueror