The strong women behind the great men. They existed, and there were quite a few of them. Without them, the men would likely not have reached their full potential. Some men rose above their wives, abusing and exploiting them. Other men respected them, but due to the spirit of the times, only within certain limits. The legal system of their time played a part as well. Today, we would call it oppression, exploitation, or marital rape. Some women were torn between love and rebellion. Others saw it as their life's mission to fully submit to him. Some walked side by side, he just louder, she quieter. Despite the differences in their lives, they all shared one thing in common. While the men entered history more or less gloriously, their wives remained silent for a long time, almost forgotten, and their important roles were hardly acknowledged. While some broke through the societal walls of their time, it took time to tear down the walls of forgetfulness, to rescue these women from obscurity and to honor them.