Artemisia (300)

"I will attack the Greeks with my ENTIRE Navy!"

- Artemisia to Xerxes "If death comes, I'm ready."

- Artemisia

Artemisia  is the main antagonist in the 2014 film 300: Rise Of An Empire. She is the merciless and brutal leader of the Persian Navy and battles a Greek fleet at the same time the 300 Spartans make their last stand at Thermopile. She is loyal to Xerxes and seems to be goading him to wage war with the Greeks but also has feelings for her Greek counterpart Themistocles, leading to a forbidden attack them. Her character is based on the real life historical figure of the same name.

She is portrayed by Eva Green, who also portrays Angelique Bouchard and Ava Lord.

History
Born in Greece, Artemesia defected after corrupt Greek soldiers killed her family and raped her when she was but a child. Left scarred by these events, Artemesia joined the Persians and became the right-hand enforcer to Darius, and later his son and successor Xerxes, the latter of whom she helped mold into a "God-King" that would wage war on the Greeks.

Impressed by Themistocles' successful attacks against her forces, Artemesia brings him aboard her ship where they make love. She attempts to seduce him and convince him to join her, but he refuses. Hurt and angered by his rejection, she vows vengeance. In tne ensuing battles, Themistocles is believed killed, and Artemesia orders her men to retreat under this pretense.

After learning that Themistocles is alive, Artemesia disobeys Xerxes and leads her forces against him. However, reinforcements from Sparta leads to her defeat. Themistocles urges her to surrender, but Artemesia's lust for vengeance is too great and she attacks him, only for him to stab her through the chest with his sword. Just before she dies, Artemisia sees her king abandon her to save himself.