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| > > Celts and Romans | > > > Vikings and Saxons | Women as Warriors from 3500BC to the 20th Century |
| The Rig-Veda, an ancient sacred poem of India, written between 3500
and 1800 BC recounts the story of a warrior, Queen Vishpla, who lost her
leg in battle, was fitted with an iron prosthesis, and returned to
battle. (source
Prosthetic
History Page) Between 1570 and 1546 BC Queen Aahhotep I (or Ahhotep or Ahotep) of Egypt led armies against Thebes and helped to unite Egypt under one rule. (sources Women in Early World History, Ancient Egyptian History Dynasties XII to XVII and History of the Copts) On the walls of Hittite fortresses dating to 1300 BC paintings of woman warriors carrying axes and swords. The Biblical Judge, Deborah, was a war leader during the occupation of Canaan 1250 -1050 BC. (info given by Deborah Lethann@mail.com ) Zabibi and her successor Samsi reigned as Arabian warrior queens from approximately 740 to 720 BC. Both commanded armies containing large numbers of women. (info given by Linda falconfyre@earthlink.net) |
 from The bronze age in the Netherlands - Haute Marne, bronze cuirass for a woman -11th - 8th century B.C. (info given by grainne@peak.org) |
| In 529 BC Queen Tomyris of the Massagetai defeated the
Persians (source
Ancient
History Sourcebook) The Greeks had legends of the a group of women warriors called the Amazons. (see also Historial Interpretations of the Amazons and The Amazons of Greek Mythology) It has been suggested that these legends may have been based on Scythian women of the 4th and 5th Centuries BC. Archeological finds of Scythians have included female skeletons with bows, swords, and horses. (see also Statues of Sauromatian and Sarmatian Women and Chieftain or Warrior Priestess) Other possible origins suggested include the River Thermodon in Northern Turkey and Libya. See also Ancient Graves of Warrior Women Offer Hints of Amazons and The Graves of the Scythian Warrior-women In 39 AD Trung Trac and Trung Nhi led a Vietnamese uprising against the Chinese. They gained control of 65 citadels and reigned as queens until 43 AD. Their mother Tran Thi Doan (also known as Lady Man Thien) trained them in military skills and led troops to support them. Phung Thi Chinh also took part in the battles of 43AD and delivered her child at the battlefront. Other women involved in the fighting included Hoang Thieu Hoa, General Le Chan, Thanh Thien Princess and Cao Thi Lien (info given by Moogie - moogie@nondescript.net) Trieu Thi Trinh fought against the Chinese in Viet Nam in 248AD. (info given by Moogie - moogie@nondescript.net) In 200AD, Japan was ruled by a warrior-priestess-queen Himoko (or Pimiko). (source Women in Feudal Japan) In 366AD Empress Jingo Kogo led a Japanese invasion of Korea. (source Women in Feudal Japan) Empress Jingo was pregnant when she invaded Korea and therefore had to have adjustable armour made (info given by Elizabeth etweb@senet.com.au) Between 373 and 380 AD Queen Mavia she led the Saracen into battles against Rome in Palestine, Phoenicia and Egypt. (see also Women in Early World History) In the 5th Century Hua Mu Lan also known as Fa Mulan joined the Chinese army and fought for ten years. (see also Women in Early World History) "The daughter of Gregory (the Roman praefect), a maid of incomparable beauty and spirit, is said to have fought by his side: from her earliest youth she was trained to mount on horseback, to draw the bow, and to wield the cimeter; and the richness of her arms and apparel were conspicuous in the foremost ranks of the battle" in Tripoli in 647 A.D (info given by Moogie moogie@nondescript.net. Source "The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire" by Edward Gibbon) A'ishah Bint Abi Bakr fought at the 'Battle of the Camel' near Basra in 656AD. In 661AD Empress Saimei led a naval expedition to Paekche. (source Women in Feudal Japan) Dihya al-Kahina (or Dahia, Damia, Diah, Kahena, Cahena, A-Cahina, Cohen, Cohena) was a warrior queen who led Berber troops against invading Arabs around 694AD. (source Resources and background on a Jewish Berber leader and Judaic/Berber Alliance under Queen Kahena - info given by Moogie - moogie@nondescript.net) |
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