| Legacy |
| 500 B.C. Myrene Although the origins of the Witchblade remain under speculation, Witchblade Watchers have traced its use back through ancient history. Most certainly its first great wielder was the Gorgon Amazons' mightiest queen, Myrene. Myrene succeeded in raising a cavalry of 30.000 women and conquered a stupendous amount of territory, including parts of Syria and Egypt. Depending upon the source, she is described as a benevolent conqueror or an incredibly vicious warlord -- which is consistent with a Wielder who may not be able to control the Witchblade's penchant for blood lust. When Myrene died, she was buried near Troy with the Witchblade still on her wrist. 480 B.C. Artemisia It is believed that the Witchblade was later exhumed by Artemisia I, the female advisor to Xerxes, ruler of the Persian empire. With the help of the Witchblade, Artemisia lead successful naval attacks on the Greeks in 480 B.C. 45 B.C Cleopatra The Witchblade was next attained by the Romans, where it resided until Caesar deigned to present it to the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra VII around 45 B.C. And though she wore the Witchblade with great success, making her irresistible to men and invincible as Queen, the fickle weapon betrayed Cleopatra in the end and fell from her wrist in her greatest time of need, just as Octavian demanded her surrender. For the next 100 years, the Witchblade was most likely on display in Rome along the many of Cleopatra's treasures. But as the Roman Empire expanded under Claudius, surely the Witchblade played its part, though no "true" wielders have been identified during this period. It is thought that Claudius himself may have tried to wield the Blade, and we know that it traveled in his possession on his conquests in Britain. 61 A. D. Boudicca It was in ancient London where the Celtic warrior Queen Boudicca acquired the Witchblade when she sacked the city in 61 A.D. Queen Boudicca tried and failed to wield the Witchblade, but understanding its powers -- at least in part -- she resolved to keep the strange gauntlet in her possession until the time when the rightful wearer would appear. 70 A.D. 250 A.D. 1199 A.D. 1428 A.D. 1481 A.D. 1519 A.D. 1690 A.D. 1854 A.D. 1900 A.D. 1936 A.D. 1940 A.D. 1950 A.D. 1959 A.D. Dominique Boucher By the early �50s, Kenneth Irons was in possession of the Witchblade and searching for a Wielder whom he could control. While living in France, Irons moved in the upper echelon of Parisian society and consorted with the cr�me of money, power and beauty. One member of this desirable pack, an ambitious former model named Dominique Boucher, was especially intriguing to him. Irons promised her wealth and power beyond her wildest dreams if she would wear a piece of jewelry for him. Dominique put the bracelet on and tasted its mystical gifts and - because she was chosen by Irons as a Wielder and not the Blade itself - its horrors. She wore it anyway, addicted to the power it gave her and believing that Irons would love her as long as it was on her arm. It is no secret that Irons amassed trememdous wealth during the period Boucher wore the Blade, and they traveled the world together, tasting its rarest riches. But Boucher suffered unknown torment while she and the Blade were one. At last, the Witchblade discarded her as a pretender - in Irons' words, "like a damaged doll." By then, she and Irons were through, and he took the Blade back from her, determined to find and control a "real" Wielder. 2000 A.D. |