List of women warriors in folklore

For the mythology and culture of female warriors, seeFemale warrior (disambiguation).

This is a list of women who engaged in war, found throughoutmythologyandfolklore,studied in fields such as literature, sociology,psychology,anthropology,film studies,cultural studies,andwomen's studies.Amythologicalfigure does not always mean afictionalone, but rather, someone of whom stories have been told that have entered the cultural heritage of a people. Some women warriors are documented in the written or scientific recordand as such form part of history (e.g. theAncient BritonqueenBoudica,who led theIceniinto battle against theRomans). However, to be considered a warrior, the woman in question must have belonged to some sort of military, be it recognized, like an organized army, or unrecognized, likerevolutionaries.

The Swedish heroineBlendaadvises the women of Värend to fight off the Danish army in a painting by August Malström (1860).

The female warrior samuraiHangaku Gozenin a woodblock print by Yoshitoshi (c. 1885).

The peasantJoan of Arc(Jeanne d'Arc) led the French army to important victories in the Hundred Years' War. The only direct portrait of Joan of Arc has not survived; this artist's interpretation was painted between AD 1450 and 1500.

Pirates and seafarers

• Anne BonnyandMary Readsailed alongsideCalico Jack.On 22 October 1720, their ship was attacked by privateer Jonathan Barnet. Bonny and Read alongside the crew are captured after a short battle.
• Ching Shih,legendary "Pirate Queen" of China, famous for commanding over 300 ships and an army of 20,000 to 40,000 pirates. She lived during the 18th and 19th centuries.
• Gráinne O'Malley,legendary "Pirate Queen" of Ireland. She lived during the 16th century.
• Muirisc,daughter ofÚgaine Mór(Hugony the Great), the sixty-sixth high king of Ireland, c. 600 BC to AD 500.
• Jeanne de Clisson,French Breton pirate who sided with the English during the Hundred Years war as an act of revenge for the execution of her husband by the French King.
• Rachel Wall,an American pirate with her husband George Wall she and her crew had captured 12 boats killed 23 sailors between 1781 and 1782 before retiring but was caught trying to steal and was executed on 8 October 1789 by hanging

Africa

Angola

• Nzinga of Ndongo and Matambafought and held off Portuguese control of present-dayAngolafor over thirty years during the early 17th century.

Benin history

• TheDahomey Amazons(orN'Nonmiton,meaningour mothersin theFon language), were aFonall-female military regiment inDahomey,an African kingdom (c. 1600–1894) located in the area of the present-day Republic ofBenin.They were so named by Western observers and historians due to their similarity to the semi-mythicalAmazonsof ancientAnatoliaand theBlack Sea.

Berber history

• Kahinaoral-Kāhina(Classical Arabicfor "female seer"; modernMaghreb Arabicl-Kahna,commonly romanised asKah(i)na,also known asDihyaorKahya) was a 7th-century femaleBerberreligious and military leader, who led indigenous resistance to Arab expansion in Northwest Africa, the region then known asNumidia,known as theMaghrebtoday. She was born in the early 7th century and died around the end of the 7th century probably in modern-dayAlgeria.

Burkina Faso

• Yennengawas a legendary warrior woman skilled in spear and bow, considered by theMossi peopleas the mother of their empire.

Egypt

The warrior goddessSekhmet,shown with her sun disk and cobra crown

• Anktmay have originated inAsia Minor.WithinEgyptshe was later syncretized asNeith(who by that time had developed aspects of a war goddess).
• Cleopatra VIIwas aHellenisticco-ruler of Egypt with her father (Ptolemy XII Auletes) and later with her brothers/husbandsPtolemy XIIIandPtolemy XIV.Her patron goddess wasIsis,and thus during her reign, it was believed that she was the re-incarnation and embodiment of the goddess of wisdom.
• Sekhmetis a warrior goddess depicted as a lioness, the fiercest hunter known to the Egyptians.
• Though her reign was primarily peaceful, the pharaohHatshepsutfought in several battles during her younger years.
• Nefertiti,wife of the pharaohAkhenaten,has been at times depicted as smiting enemies in a manner similar to how a male ruler typically would.
• Ahhotep,wife ofSeqenenre Tao II,was believed to have been in command of the army while her son Ahmose I was still young.

Kongo

• Aqualtunewas a princess of Kongo who led an army of ten thousand in theBattle of Mbwila,where she was captured. She was enslaved and carried to Brazil, where according to legend she escaped and founded the runaway slave settlement ofQuilombo dos Palmares,or Angola Janga.

Somalia

• Arawelowas a legendary ancientSomaliqueen. The queen defied gender roles of the time. During her reign, Arawelo's husband objected to her self-ascribed role as the breadwinner to all of society, as he thought women should restrict themselves to merely domestic duties about the house and leave everything else to men. In response, Arawelo demanded that all women across the land abandon their womanly role in society, and started hanging men by their testicles.

Ethiopia

• Gudit(Ge'ez: Yodit, Judith) is a semi-legendary, non-Christian,Beta Israel,queen (flourished c.960) who laid waste toAksumand its countryside, destroyed churches and monuments, and attempted to exterminate the members of the ruling Axumite dynasty. Her deeds are recorded in the oral tradition and mentioned incidentally in various historical accounts.

Ghana (then Gold Coast)

• Yaa Asantewaawas the Queen Mother of Ejisu (AsanteConfederacy)—now part of modern-dayGhana.In 1900 she led the Ashanti rebellion known as theWar of the Golden Stoolagainst British colonialism.

Hausa history

• Amina Sukhera(also called Aminatu) was a Muslim princess of the royal family of the kingdom ofZazzau,in what is now northeastNigeria,who lived c. 1533 – 1610. Her military achievements brought her great wealth and power; she was responsible for conquering many of the cities in the area surrounding her seat.
• SarraouniaMangou, chief/priestess of the animist Azna subgroup of theHausa,who fought French colonial troops of theVoulet–Chanoine Missionat theBattle of Lougou(in present-dayNiger) in 1899. She is the subject of the 1986 filmSarraouniabased on the novel of the same name by Nigerien writerAbdoulaye Mamani.

Yoruba mythology and history

• Oyais theOrishaof theNiger River.She is thewarrior-spirit of the wind, lightning, fertility, fire, andmagic.It is believed that she creates hurricanes and tornadoes, and serves as guardian of theunderworld.Prior to her post-mortemdeification,the historical Oya was a queen of theOyoclan as the consort ofShango,its reigning king. She is often depicted with leopard-like spots, these being eitherwar paintor ritualscarification.This is done for propaganda purposes, as theLeopardis famous in Yoruba folklore for its cunning.
• Efunroye Tinubuwas a powerful titled aristocrat inColonial Nigeria.As the firstIyalodeofEgbaland,she and her private battalion fought against theDahomeyanswhen they invadedAbeokutain the 1850s and the 1860s.

Nubia/Kush (Sudanese) history

• The legendaryCandace of Meroe(a title, her real name never given) was a warrior queen in theAlexander Romancewho causedAlexander The Greathimself to retreat upon witnessing the army she'd gathered. This however may be classified a non-historical account because Alexander never reached Sudan.
• Amanirenas,however, was a historical holder of the title of Candace who fought against the Romans after their conquest of Egypt.

Americas

Depiction of the Aztec goddessItzpapalotlfrom the Codex Borgia.

Native Americans

• Nonhelemawas aShawneechieftess and sister ofCornstalk.She was known by white settlers as the Grenadier or Grenadier Squaw because of her height. She promoted an alliance with the Americans on the frontier in Ohio.
• Woman Chief(c. 1806 – 1858) was aCrowchief and war leader in the mid-19th century. Born to theGros Ventrepeople, she was adopted into the Crow. She gained renown in battles and raids, and assumed leadership of her lodge when her father died, becoming a leading chief. She married four wives and later participated in peace negotiations after the 1851Treaty of Fort Laramie.
• Running Eagle:she became a Blackfoot (Piegan) warrior after her husband was killed by the Crow.
• Colestah:In the 1858 battle of Spokane Plains in Washington, Yakama leader Kamiakin's wife Colestah was known as a medicine woman, psychic, and warrior. Armed with a stone war club, Colestah fought at her husband's side. When Kamiakin was wounded, she rescued him, and then used her healing skills to cure him.
• Buffalo Calf Road Woman:In the 1876 battle of the Rosebud in Montana, Buffalo Calf Road (aka Calf Trail Woman), the sister of Comes in Sight, rode into the middle of the warriors and saved the life of her brother. Buffalo Calf Road had ridden into battle that day next to her husband Black Coyote. This was considered to be one of the greatest acts of valor in the battle.
• Moving Robe Woman:One of the best-known battles in the annals of Indian-American warfare is the 1876Battle of the Greasy Grassin Montana where Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer was defeated. One of those who led the counterattack against the cavalry was the woman Tashenamani (Moving Robe).
• Lozen(c. 1840 – 17 June 1889) was a female warrior and prophet of the ChihenneChiricahuaApache.She spent most of her adult life fighting theApache Warsalongside her brotherVictorioand the legendaryGeronimo.

Aztec mythology

• Itzpapalotlis a fearsome skeletal warriorgoddesswho ruled over the paradise world ofTamoanchan.

Tupi mythology

• Iarawas a very skilled warrior who aroused the envy of her brothers. She accidentally kills them when they decide to attack her, so she is punished by her father by being drowned, but she is saved by the moon goddess, Jaci, and is transformed into a mermaid.

American Civil War

• Frances Claytondisguised herself as a man to serve in theUnion Armyin theAmerican Civil War.
• Sarah Pritchard,who fought with the 26th Infantry of the Confederate Army alongside her husband, until wounded. She was sent home, whereupon she switched sides and fought guerrilla style for the Union.
• Harriet Tubmanescaped slavery and then led other escaped slaves into the northern union states and Canada. Tubman became the first woman to lead an armed assault during the American Civil War.

American Old West

• Calamity Janewas afrontierswomanand professionalscoutbest known for her claim of being a close friend ofWild Bill Hickok.She gained fame fighting Native Americans.

American Revolution

• Deborah Sampson,first known female to fight in the American military (after disguising herself as a man)
• "Molly Pitchers",patriot women who operated artillery fend off the British during the war for independence
• Sally St. Clair,Creole woman killed during the Siege of Savannah
• Tyonajanegen,recognized by the United States military as the first Native American woman to serve American Colonial forces during theBattle of Oriskany6 August 1777

Mexican Revolution

• La Adelitais a folk song about afemale soldier in the revolutionwho fell in love withFrancisco I. Madero.Today, Adelita has become an archetype of women warriors in Mexico, and a symbol of action and inspiration.

Argentina – Bolivia

• Juana Azurduy de Padillawas a military leader during theArgentine War of IndependenceandBolivian War of Independence.She was appointed commander of the patriotic Northern Army of the Revolutionary Government of the United Provinces of theRio de la Plataafter the death of her husband.
• María Remedios del Vallealso known as the "Madre de la Patria" (Mother of the Homeland) was anAfro-Argentinesoldier who participated in theArgentine War of Independenceand eventually got recognized with the rank of captain in the army.

Brazil

• Maria Quitéria,dressed as a man, enlisted in the forces fighting for Brazilian Independence. Once discovered, she was promoted to cadet and afterwardsalferez.Her courage was recognized by the EmperorPedro I.
• Anita Garibaldi,fought on theRagamuffin War
• Maria Bonita,a member of aCangaçoband, marauders and outlaws who terrorized the Brazilian Northeast in the 1920s and 1930s. Maria Bonita means "Beautiful Maria". She has the status of a 'folk heroine' in Brazil.

East Asia

Historical Mongolia

• Khutulunwas a 13th-century Mongol princess, the daughter of the Mongol leaderQaiduKhan and a great-great-granddaughter ofGenghis Khan.According to legend she was a skilled warrior and wrestler who vowed that she would only marry a man who could defeat her in wrestling. Although no man was ever able to out-wrestle her, Khutuln ended up marrying a warrior named Abtakul (possibly to squelch rumors about an incestuous relationship between her and her father). Her story was made famous by foreign chroniclersMarco Polo,andIbn Battuta,both of whom had heard of Khutuln's legend on their travels through Asia.

Historical China

• Hua Mulanwas a (possibly legendary) woman who went to war disguised as a man, and was able to return home after years of war without being found out.
• Ng Muiwas a Shaolin monastery abbess who created a kung fu system especially suitable for women.
• Yim Wing-chun,often cited inWing Chunlegends as the firstWing Chunmaster outside the monastic tradition, was a pupil of Ng Mui.
• Fu Haowas one of the many wives of King Wu Ding of the Shang Dynasty and, unusually for that time, also served as a military general and high priestess.
• Mother Lübegan a peasant rebellion.
• Li Xiudefeated rebels as a military commander.
• Lady of Yuewas a famous swordswoman.
• Qin Liangyufought battles with her husband.
• Liang Hongyuwas a Chinese general of the Song Dynasty.
• Sun Shangxiang,who is often depicted as a tomboy, was the sister of the warlord Sun Quan. She received extensive martial arts training, and her maidservants were armed with weapons, which was odd for her time.
• Lady ZhurongIt's unknown whether she existed, but she was the only woman portrayed in theRomance of the Three Kingdomswho took part in fighting in the war during thethree kingdomsperiod alongside her husband.
• Mu Guiyingwas a woman who commanded the armies against barbarian invaders
• Princess Pingyangformed a rebel army to assist her father in overthrowing the Emperor, and was declared 'no ordinary woman' upon her death.
• Ching Shih(1775–1844) prominent pirate in middle Qing China, early 19th century. A brilliant Cantonese pirate, she commanded over 300 junks crewed by 20,000 to 40,000 pirates – men, women, and even children. She challenged the empires of the time, such as the British, Portuguese, and the Qing dynasty. Undefeated, she would become one of China and Asia's strongest pirates, and one of world history's most powerful pirates. She was also one of the few pirate captains to retire from piracy.
• Ruler of Women's Countryis the ruler of a nation in Xiliang with an all-female population.
• Ani Pachena Tibetan freedom fighter

Historical Japan

• Empress Jingūwas a Japanese empress who led an army.
• Hangaku Gozenwas anonna-bugeisha( "woman warrior" ).
• Tomoe Gozen(c. 1157–c. 1247) was anonna-bugeisha.
• Marishi-Tenthegoddessofheaven,who was adopted by warriors in the 8th century as a protector andpatron goddess.While devotions to Marishi-ten predateZen,they appear to be geared towards a similar meditative mode to enable the warrior to achieve a more heightened spiritual level. They lost interest in the issues of victory or defeat (or life and death), thus transcending to a level where they became so empowered that they were freed from their own grasp on mortality. The result was that they became better warriors.
• Kaihime(presumably born 1572) was said to have fought during the Siege of Odawara and to have personally crushed a rebellion, earning her father the respect ofHideyoshi Toyotomi.However, historians aren't entirely sure if she truly did accomplish those events.

Korea

• Wonhwa,women warriors ofSilla,most probably only legendary

Southeast Asia

Historical Indonesia

• Cut Nyak Dhien,(1850–1908), leader of the Acehnese guerrilla forces during theAceh War.Following the death of her husbandTeuku Umar,she led guerrilla actions against the Dutch for 25 years. She wasposthumouslyawarded the title ofNational Hero of Indonesiaon 2 May 1964 by the Indonesian government.
• Cut Nyak Meutia,(1870–1910), commander of the Achenese guerrilla forces during theAceh War.Together with her husband,Teuku Cik Tunong,they worked hand in hand with theAcehneseto fight against the Dutch invasion.
• AdmiralKeumalahayati,(fl.16th century), an admiral in the navy of theAceh Sultanate,which ruled the area of modernAceh Province,Sumatra,Indonesia.She was the first woman admiral in the modern world (ifArtemisia Iis not included). Her troops were drawn from Aceh's widows and known as the "Inong Balee", after the Inong Balee Fortress near the city ofBanda Aceh.
• Martha Christina Tiahahu,(1800–1818), aMoluccanfreedom fighter andNational Heroine of Indonesia.Born to a military captain, Tiahahu was active in the military from a very young age. She joined the war led byPattimuraagainst theDutch colonial governmentwhen she was 17, fighting in several battles.
• Nyi Ageng Serang,(1752–1838), born under the name Raden Ajeng Kustiyah Wulaningish Retno Edhi, was a commander during theDiponegoro War.The name Nyi Ageng Serang was given to her after her father died of disease and she took over his position.At the beginning of Diponegoro War in 1825, 73-year-old Nyi Ageng Serang commanded the force on a stretcher to helpPangeran Diponegorofighting the Dutch. One of her best-known strategies was the use oflumbu(greentaroleaves) for disguise.
• Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi,was a Javanesequeen regnantand the thirdMajapahitmonarch, reigning from 1328 to 1350. She appointedGajah Madaas prime minister and pursued massive expansion of the empire. In 1331, she led the empire's army personally to the battlefield with the help of her cousin,Adityawarman,to crush the rebellion in Sadeng and Keta.

Historical Malaysia

• Walinong Sari,(ca. 4th–5th century AD) was a legendary princess ofInderapura,in theOld Pahang Kingdom.She was known for her beauty and strong character. She was an expert in weaponry likeKris,spears and swords, and was also renowned for her mastery ofsilat,the Malay martial art.
• Tun Fatimah,(ca. 1488–1500s AD) a well-known queen ofJohor-RiauKingdomand daughter ofTun Mutahir,the Malaccanbendahara(prime minister) who lived in during the 16th century. She was one of Malacca'sSultan Mahmud Shahspouses.She was known to help the army to lead the Malays in their fight against the invadingPortuguese forcesin the early 16th century.
• Siti Wan Kembang,(17th century) was legendary queen who reigned over a region on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. She was a warrior queen and engaged in battle on horseback with a sword accompanied by an army of female horse-riders.

Historical Philippines

• Queen Sima,(ca. 637 AD) The legendary Queen of lowerCotabatoknown for her sense of justice and respect for the law.
• Urduja,(ca. 1350–1400 AD) a legendarywarriorprincess who is recognized as a heroine inPangasinan,Philippines. The name Urduja appears to beSanskritin origin, and a variation of the name "Udaya", meaning "arise" or "rising sun", or the name "Urja", meaning "breath". A historical reference to Urduja can be found in the travel account ofIbn Battuta(1304 – possibly 1368 or 1377 AD), aMuslimtraveler fromMorocco.
• Gabriela Silang,(1731–1761), led insurgents from Ilocos during the Philippine Revolution against Spain, after the death of her husband,Diego Silang.She was captured by Spanish colonial forces in September 1761 and executed in the town square of Vigan, reportedly after watching the executions of all her men.
• Bulaw is a brave and proficient swordswoman in Subanon indigenous narratives. She is the daughter of the Subanen chief Gomotan Sangira.
• There are various women warrior deities in theindigenous Philippine folk religions.In Sebwano and Hiligaynon religious narratives, Ynaguiguinid is the goddess of war. In Tagalog religious narratives, Mayari is the moon goddess of revolutions. In Bicol religious narratives, Haliya is masked moon warrior goddess.

Historical Thailand

Memorial of Queen Suriyothai in the Ayutthaya Province, Thailand.

Monument to Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Sunthon in the Phuket Province, Thailand.

• Somdet PhraSri Suriyothai(Thai:สมเด็จพระศรีสุริโยทัย) was a royalconsortduring the 16th centuryAyutthayaperiod ofSiam(now Thailand). She is famous for having given up her life in the defense of her husband, KingMaha Chakkraphat,in a battle during theBurmese-Siamese War of 1548.For the movie, seeThe Legend of Suriyothai.
• Thao Thep Kasattri (ท้าวเทพกระษัตรี) and Thao Sri Sunthon (ท้าวศรีสุนทร) werestylesawarded toThan PhuyingChan (ท่านผู้หญิงจัน), wife of the then recently deceased governor, and her sister,KhunMuk (คุณมุก), who defendedPhuket Provincein the late 18th century. According to popular belief, they repelled a five-weekinvasion by Burmesein 1785, by dressing up as male soldiers and rallying Siamese troops. Chan and Muk were later honored by KingRama Iwith theThai honorificThao,asThao Thep KasattriandThao Sri Sunthon,respectively.The "Heroine's Monument" honouring them is situated on the main highway (402) between thePhuket International AirportandPhuket town.

Historical Vietnam

• TheTrung Sisters,(c. 12 – 43 AD), known inVietnameseasHai Bà Trưng( "the two Trưng ladies" '), and individually asTrưng Trắc(Traditional Chinese:Trưng sườn;pinyin:Zhēng Cè) andTrưng Nhị(Traditional Chinese:Trưng hai;pinyin:Zhēng Èr), were two first century AD women leaders who repelled Chinese invasions for three years, winning several battles against considerable odds, and are regarded as national heroines ofVietnam.
  • Phùng Thị Chínhwas a Vietnamese noble woman who fought alongside the Trưng sisters. Legend says she gave birth on the front lines and carried her newborn in one arm and a sword in the other as she fought to open the ranks of the enemy.
  • Lê Chân,general of Trưng Sisters.
• Triệu Thị Trinhonce said "I'd like to ride storms, kill sharks in the open sea, drive out the aggressors, reconquer the country, undo the ties of serfdom, and never bend my back to be the concubine of whatever man."
• Tây Sơn Ngũ Phụng Thư (Five Phoenix women generals ofTay Son dynasty):
  • Bùi Thị Xuân,(? – 1802), wife of general Trần Quang Diệu.
  • Bùi Thị Nhạn,(? – 1802), wife of EmperorQuang Trung.
  • Trần Thị Lan,(? – 1802), wife of general Nguyễn Văn Tuyết.
  • Huỳnh Thị Cúc,(? – 1802)
  • Nguyễn Thị Dung,(? – 1802), wife of general Trương Đăng Đồ.

Europe

Boudicaand Her DaughtersnearWestminster Pier,London, commissioned byPrince Albertand executed byThomas Thornycroft

Britons, Roman Britain, and history of Anglo-Saxon England

Four historical women:

• Boudicawas aqueenof theBrythonicCelticIcenipeople ofNorfolkin EasternBritainwho led a major uprising of the tribes against the occupying forces of theRoman Empire.
• Ethelfleda(alternative spelling Aethelfled, Æthelfleda, Æthelflæd) (872/879 – 918), Queen ofMercia,called "Lady of the Mercians". Daughter ofAlfred the Great,she succeeded to Mercian power upon the death of her husbandAethelred, Ealdorman of Mercia(883–911), in 911. She was a skilled military leader and tactician, who defended Mercia against neighboring tribes for eight years.
• Gwenllian ferch GruffyddwasPrincess consortofDeheubarthin Wales. Often accompanying her husband on "lightning raids,"in 1136 she raised an army herself and led the forces in the battle nearKidwelly Castle.Though defeated, her patriotic revolt inspired others in South Wales to rise.Their battle cry became, "Revenge for Gwenllian!"
• Jane InglebyofRipley Castlewas an Englishrecusantwho fought for theroyalistsalongside her brother,Sir William Ingleby, 1st Baronetat theBattle of Marston Moorduring theEnglish Civil War.Following their loss, she retreated to Ripley Castle, where she heldOliver Cromwellat gunpoint overnight in the library.

Two legendary women:

• Queen Cordelia(on whom the character in Shakespeare'sKing Learis based), battled her nephews for control of her kingdom.
• Queen Gwendolenfights her husbandLocrinusin battle for the throne of Britain. She defeats him and becomes queen.

Celtic mythology and Irish mythology

• Andrasteis aCelticwargoddessinvokedbyBoudicawhile fighting against theRoman occupation of Britainin AD 61.
• Medb(also: Medhbh, Meadhbh, Meab°, Meabh, Maeve, Maev) isqueenofConnachtin theUlster CycleofIrish mythology.As recounted inThe Cattle Raid of Cooley,she started war with Ulster.
• Scathachis a legendary Scottish woman warrior who appears in theUlster Cycle.She trainsCuchulainn.
• AifeisScathach's rival in war; she becomes the lover ofCuchulainnand gives birth to his sonConnla.
• Liath Luachra,two characters of the same name in theFenian Cycle.
• Muirisc,legendary warrior princess, daughter ofÚgaine Mór(Hugony the Great), the sixty-sixth high king of Ireland.
• Triple warrior goddess:Morrígan,Badb,andMacha(could also includeNemainandAnann)
• OnSt Kilda,one of the most isolated islands ofScotland,legends exist of afemale warrior.A mysterious structure is known asTaigh na Banaghaisgeich,(literally, 'House of the Female-Hero'), the 'Amazon's House'. AsMartin Martin,who travelled there in 1697 recorded:

This Amazon is famous in their traditions: her house or dairy of stone is yet extant; some of the inhabitants dwell in it all summer, though it be some hundred years old; the whole is built of stone, without any wood, lime, earth, or mortar to cement it, and is built in form of a circle pyramid-wise towards the top, having a vent in it, the fire being always in the centre of the floor; the stones are long and thin, which supplies the defect of wood; the body of this house contains not above nine persons sitting; there are three beds or low vaults that go off the side of the wall, a pillar betwixt each bed, which contains five men apiece; at the entry to one of these low vaults is a stone standing upon one end fix’d; upon this they say she ordinarily laid her helmet; there are two stones on the other side, upon which she is reported to have laid her sword: she is said to have been much addicted to hunting, and that in her time all the space betwixt this isle and that of Harries, was one continued tract of dry land.

Similar stories of a female warrior who hunted the now submerged land between the Outer Hebrides and St Kilda are reported fromHarris.

Historical Czech Lands

• The story of Šárka and Vlasta is a legend dealing with events in the "Maidens' War"in 7th-centuryBohemia.

England

• Margaret of Anjou,wife ofHenry VI,emerged as thede factoleader of theLancastriansduring theWars of the Roses.She introduced conscription, amassed armies, tortured and burnt to death Yorkist knights and won several battles before ultimately being defeated by theYorkists.

Bronze statue of Jeanne Hachette in Beauvais, by Gabriel-Vital Dubray

• Catherine of Aragonwas Queen Regent, Governor of the Realm andCaptain Generalof the King's Forces from 30 June 1513 – 22 October 1513 whenHenry VIIIwas fighting a war in France. WhenScotlandinvaded, they were crushingly defeated at theBattle of Flodden,with Catherine addressing the army, and riding north in fullarmourwith a number of the troops, despite being heavily pregnant at the time. She sent a letter to Henry along with the bloodied coat of the King of Scots,James IV,who was killed in the battle.

Duchy of Brittany

• Joanna of Flanders(c. 1295 – September 1374), also known as Jehanne de Montfort and Jeanne la Flamme, was consortDuchess of Brittanyby her marriage toJohn IV, Duke of Brittany.She was the daughter ofLouis I, Count of NeversandJoan, Countess of Rethel,and the sister ofLouis I, Count of Flanders.Joanna organizedresistanceand made use of diplomatic means to protect her family and her country. In the siege of Hennebont, she took up arms, dressed in armor, and conducted the defence of the town. She eventually led araidof soldiers outside the walls of the town and demolished one of the enemy's rear camps. She was an earlier patron for women, and a possible influence toJoan of Arc.

Illyria

• Teutawas anIllyrianqueen and is frequently evoked as a fearsome "pirate queen" in art and stories.

The Netherlands

• Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaer(1526–1588) became a legendary folk hero for her fearless defense of the city against the Spanish invaders during thesiege of Haarlemin 1573.

Albania

• Nora of Kelmendi(17th century), is also referred to as the "HelenofAlbania"as her beauty also sparked a great war. She is also called the AlbanianBrünhildetoo, for she herself was the greatest woman warrior in the history ofAlbania.
• Tringe Smajl Martini,a young girl in war against theOttoman Empirearmy after her father Smajl Martini, the clan leader was kidnapped. She never married, never had children, and did not have any siblings. In 1911, theNew York Timesdescribed Tringe Smajli as the "Albanian Joan of Arc".
• Shote Galica(1895–1927), remarkable warrior of the Albanian insurgent national liberation with the goal of unification of all Albanian territories.

Historical France

• Jeanne Hachette(1456 –?) was a French heroine known asJeanne Fourquetand nicknamedJeanne Hachette('Jean the Hatchet').
• Joan of Arc(Jeanne d'Arcin French) asserted that she had visions from God which told her to recover her homeland from English domination late in theHundred Years' War.The uncrownedKing Charles VIIsent her to thesiege at Orléansas part of a relief mission. She gained prominence when she overcame the dismissive attitude of veteran commanders and lifted the siege in only nine days. She was tried and executed for heresy when she was only 19 years old. The judgment was rejected by the Pope and she was declared innocent 24 years later (andcanonizedin 1920).

Greek mythology

Amazonpreparing for the battle (Queen Antiope or Armed Venus) -Pierre-Eugène-Emile Hébert1860National Gallery of Art

• TheAmazons(inGreek,Ἀμαζόνες) were a mythical and ancient nation of female warriors.Herodotusplaced them in a region borderingScythiainSarmatia.The histories and legends inGreek mythologymay be inspired by warrior women among theSarmatians.
• Artemis(LatinDiana) is the Greek goddess of the hunt, daughter ofZeusandLetoand twin sister toApollo.She is usually depicted bearing a bow and arrows.
• Atalantais one of the few mortal heroines inGreek mythology.She possessed great athletic prowess: she was a skilled huntress, archer, and wrestler, and was capable of running at astounding speeds. She is said to have participated in theArgonautexpedition, and is one of the central figures in theCalydonian Boarhunt. Atalanta was renowned for her beauty and was sought by many suitors, includingMelanionorHippomenes,whom she married after he defeated her in a foot race. According to some stories, the pair were eventually turned into lions, either byZeusorAphrodite.
• Athena(Latin:Minerva) is the goddess ofwisdom,war strategy, and arts and crafts. Often shown bearing a shield depicting the gorgon Medusa (Aegis) given to her by her fatherZeus.Athena is an armed warrior goddess, and appears in Greek mythology as a helper of many heroes, includingHeracles,Jason,andOdysseus.
• Enyo,a minor war goddess, delights in bloodshed and the destruction of towns, and accompaniesAres—said to be her father, in other accounts her brother—in battles.
• Hippolytais a queen of theAmazons,and a daughter ofAres.It was her girdle thatHerculeswas required byEurystheusto obtain. He captured her and brought her toAthens,where he gave her to the ruler,Theseus,to become his bride.
• Penthesilea,in a story by the Greek travellerPausanias,is the Amazonian queen who led theAmazonsagainst the Greeks during theTrojan War.In other stories, she is said to be the younger sister ofHippolyta,Theseus's queen, whom Penthesilea had accidentally slain while on a hunt. It was then that she joined theTrojan Warto assuage her guilt. She was killed and mourned byAchilles,who greatly admired her courage, strength, and skill.

Historical Republic of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania

• Emilia Plater(Emilija Pliaterytė) – Polish-Lithuanian commander in theNovember uprisingagainst Russia in the 19th century, who became a symbol of resistance and was immortalised in a poem byAdam Mickiewicz.She was a Polish-Lithuanian noble woman and a revolutionary from the lands of the partitioned Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. She fought in the November Uprising and is considered a national hero inPoland,LithuaniaandBelarus,which were former parts of the Commonwealth. She is often referred to as the LithuanianJoan of Arc,while actually her most widely known portrait is often mistaken for a picture of Joan of Arc herself in worldwide popular culture (as in the seriesCharmed), despite the fact that "Joan of Arc" isanachronisticallyportrayed in Emilia's 19th-century clothing.
• Grażyna(Gražina) – a mythical Lithuanian chieftainess Grażyna who fought against the forces of the medieval Order of theTeutonic Knights,described in an 1823 narrative poem,Grażyna,byAdam Mickiewicz.The woman character is believed to have been based on Mickiewicz's own sweetheart fromKaunas,Karolina Kowalska. The name was originally conceived by Mickiewicz himself, having used the root of the Lithuanian adjective gražus, meaning "beautiful".

Portuguese legend

• Brites de Almeida,akaPadeira de Aljubarrota(Baker Woman of Aljubarrota) was a Portuguese legendary figure associated with Portuguese victory at Aljubarrota Battle over Spanish forces in 1385 near Aljubarrota, Portugal. She supposedly killed seven Spanish invaders by throwing them inside an oven.
• Deu-la-Deu Martins,the heroine of the North. The Castilian had besieged the town of Monção for many weeks and inside the town walls, provisions were almost depleted. Knowing that the invaders also were demoralized that the town resisted for so long and without provisions themselves, Deu-la-deu ( "God gave her" ) made loaves of bread with the little flour that remained in Monção and threw the loaves at the invaders from the walls, shouting at them defiantly "God gave these, God will give more". As a result, the Castilians gave up the siege believing that still there was a lot resistance and infinite provisions within the town walls.

Italian history, folklore and Roman mythology

• Bellonais the Roman goddess of war: the Roman counterpart to the Greek war goddessEnyo.She prepared the chariot of her brotherMarswhen he was going to war, and appeared in battles armed with a whip and holding a torch.
• Bradamanteis the sister ofRinaldo,and one of the heroines inOrlando InnamoratobyMatteo Maria BoiardoandOrlando FuriosobyLudovico Ariostoin their handling of theCharlemagnelegends. Bradamante and her lover Ruggiero were destined to become the legendary ancestors of the royalHouse of Estewho were the patrons to both Boiardo and Ariosto. Bradamante is depicted as one of the greatest female knights in literature. She is an expert fighter, and wields a magical lance that unhorses anyone it touches. She is also one of the main characters in several novels includingItalo Calvino's surrealistic, highly ironic novelIl Cavaliere inesistente(The Nonexistent Knight).
• Marfisa(or Marphisa) is another warrior woman in the Italian epic ofOrlando InnamoratoandOrlando Furioso.
• Camillawas the Amazon queen of the Volsci. She was famous for her footspeed;Virgilclaims that she could run across water and chase down horses. She was slain by Arruns while fightingAeneasand the Trojans in Italy.
• Matilda of Tuscany(1046–1115) was a powerfulfeudal,Margrave of Tuscany,ruler in northern Italy and the chief Italian supporter ofPope Gregory VIIduring theInvestiture controversy;in addition, she was one of the few medieval women to be remembered for her military accomplishments, thanks to which she was able to dominate all the territories north of the Church States.
• Cia Ordelaffi(1351–1357) Marzia degli Ubaldini was an Italian noblewoman from Forlì came in help of Lodovico Ordelaffi during the battle of Dovadola (part of the Guelphs and Ghibellines war). In 1357 she took part in the defense of Cesena during theForlivesi crusadeinduced by Pope Innocent VI.
• Caterina Sforza(1463–28 May 1509), was an Italian noble woman and Countess of Forlì and Lady of Imola first with her husband, Girolamo Riario, and, after his death, as a regent of her son, Ottaviano. The descendant of a dynasty of notedcondottieri,Caterina, from an early age, distinguished herself by her bold and impetuous actions taken to safeguard her possessions from possible usurpers, and to defend her dominions from attack, when they were involved in political intrigues that were a distinguishing in Italy. When Pope Sixtus IV died, rebellions and disorder immediately spread through Rome, including looting of his supporters' residences. In this time of anarchy, Caterina, who was in her seventh month of pregnancy, crossed the Tiber on horseback to occupy the rocca (fortress) of Castel Sant'Angelo on behalf of her husband. From this position, and with the obedience of the soldiers, Caterina could monitor the Vatican and dictate the conditions for the new conclave. Famous was also her fierce resistance to the Siege of Forlì byCesare Borgiawho finally was able to capture her dressed in armor and a sword in hand. Caterina's resistance was admired throughout all Italy; Niccolò Machiavelli reports that many songs and epigrams were composed in her honour. She had a large number of children, of whom only the youngest, CaptainGiovanni dalle Bande Nere,inherited the forceful, militant character of his mother. In the following centuries Caterina was remembered in the folklore asTigre di Forlivo(The Tiger of Forlì).
• Caterina Segurana(1506 – 15 August 1543), was an Italian woman from theCounty of Nicewho distinguished herself during theSiege of Niceof 1543 in whichFranceand theOttoman Empireinvaded theDuchy of Savoy.Caterina Segurana, a common washerwoman, led the townspeople into battle.
• Clorindais a valiant Saracen knight and the beloved of Tancred inTorquato Tasso'sLa Gerusalemme liberata.
• Dina and Clarenzawere two women ofMessinawho defended their city from an attack byCharles of Anjouduring theWar of the Sicilian Vespers.
• Fantaghiròis the main character of an ancient Tuscany fairy tale namedFanta-Ghirò, persona bella,an Italian fable about a rebellious youngest daughter of a warrior king, a warrior princess.Italo Calvinocomments on a variant of the tale in his collection ofFiabe italiane.
• Kinzica de' Sismondi,Pisaheroine, probably a legend.

Historical Russia

• White Tightsare anurban legendaboutBalticfemalesniperssupposed to have fought against Russian forces in various recent conflicts.
• ThePolenitsaПоленица_(мифология)areAmazon-like warrior females of the old Russian heroepics(byline).
• Olga of Kyivthe first woman ruler ofKievan Rusand led a war against theDrevlians.
• Lyudmila Pavlichenkowas a sniper inworld war 2she is the deadliest woman sniper in the world.

Serbia

• Milunka Savićwas a Serbian warheroinewho fought in theBalkan Warsand inWorld War I.According to some sources, she is the most-decorated female combatant in the recorded history of warfare.

Scandinavian folklore and Germanic paganism

• Blendais the heroine of a legend fromSmåland,who leads the women ofVärendin an attack on a pillaging Danish army and annihilates it.
• Freyjais afertility goddess,the sister of the fertility godFreyrand daughter of the sea godNjörðr.Freyja is also a goddess of war, battle, death,magic,prophecy,and wealth. Freyja is cited as receiving half of the dead lost in battle in her hallSessrúmnir,whereasOdinwould receive the other half. Some scholars argue that Freyja,Frigg,andGefionareAvatarsof each other. She is also sometimesassociated with the Valkyries and disir.
• ShieldmaidensinScandinavian folklorewere women who did not have the responsibility for raising a family and could take up arms to live like warriors. Many of them figure inNorse mythology.One of the most famous shieldmaidens isHervorand she figures in the cycle of the magic swordTyrfing.
• TheValkyriesinNorse mythologyare female divine shieldmaidens, who serveOdin.The name meanschoosers of the slain.
• Þorgerðr Hölgabrúðr and Irpaare two goddesses, described as sisters, that appear at theBattle of Hjörungavágrto assist the fleet ofHaakon Sigurdssonagainst theJomvikings.The two goddesses produce harsh thunderstorms, ferocious squalls, and shoot arrows from their fingertips, each arrow described as killing a man, resulting in the defeat of the Jomvikings.
• Brunhild,in theNibelungen,is "a royal maiden who reigned beyond the sea:

"From sunrise to the sundown no paragon had she.
All boundless as her beauty was her strength was peerless too,
And evil plight hung o'er the knight who dared her love to woo.
For he must try three bouts with her; the whirling spear to fling;
To pitch the massive stone; and then to follow with a spring;
And should he beat in every feat his wooing well has sped,
But he who fails must lose his love, and likewise lose his head. "

• InThe saga of Hrolf Kraki,Skuld(not to be confused with theNornof the same name) was a half-elven princess who raised an army of criminals and monsters to take over the throne of her half-brotherHrolfr Kraki,using necromancy to resurrect any fallen soldiers before she personally saw to Kraki's end.
• Lagertha:Lagertha was, according to legend, a Viking shieldmaiden and ruler from what is now Norway, and the onetime wife of the famous Viking Ragnar Lodbrok. Her tale, as recorded by the chronicler Saxo in the 12th century, may be a reflection of tales about Thorgerd (Þorgerðr Hölgabrúðr), a Norse deity.

Spain

The Defence of SaragossabyDavid Wilkie,1828.Agustina, maid of Aragon,fires a gun on the French invaders at Saragossa.

• Agustina de Aragón('Agustina, maid of Aragon', also known as "the Spanish Joan of Arc" ) was a famous Spanish heroine who defended Spain during theSpanish War of Independence,first as a civilian and later as a professional officer in the Spanish Army. She has been the subject of much folklore, mythology, and artwork, including sketches byGoya.Her most famous feat was at the bloodysieges of Saragossawhere, at the moment the Spanish troops abandoned their posts not to fall to nearby French bayonets, she ran forward, loaded a cannon, and lit the fuse, shredding a wave of attackers at point blank range. The sight of a lone woman bravely manning the cannons inspired the fleeing Spanish troops and other volunteers to return and assist her.
• Ana María de Soto,was the first female marine (infante de Marina) in the world. She joined theArmadaat the age of 16, in 1793, posing as a man, with the name of Antonio Maria de Soto, embarking on the frigate Mercedes. She fought in the battles of Banyuls-sur-Mer,Roses,Cape St. VincentandCádiz.She was noticed as a woman during a routine medical recognition, and given the rank and salary of sergeant, in 1798. She was authorized to use the marines' colours and sergeant's chevrons in her woman clothes.
• La Galana ('Juana Galán') was another woman who fought in theSpanish War of Independence.She defended Valdepeñas, armed with a baton and aided by the rest of the women in the village because there were not enough men inValdepeñasdue to the war circumstances. They threw boiling water and oil through the windows. French soldiers were delayed in arriving at theBattle of Bailenbecause of this, so Spanish forces won. Also seeValdepeñas Uprisingfor more information about thisguerrilla action.
• La Frailalived inValdepeñasasJuana Galándid. During theSpanish War of Independenceoffered food and rest in Valdepeñas' hermitage to the French soldiers. When they were sleeping, La Fraila (which is an alias and her actual name is unknown) closed the doors and set the hermitage on fire using gunpowder as vengeance of her son's death by the French army. She died in the fire as well.
• María Pita.She defendedA CoruñaagainstSir Francis Drake'sarmy.

West Asia

Antiquity Arabia

• Queen Mavia(r 375–425) was anArabwarrior-queen,who ruled over theTanukhids,a confederation of semi-nomadicArabs, in southernSyria,in the latter half of the fourth century.She led her troops in a rebellion againstlate Roman rule,riding at the head of her army intoPhoeniciaandPalestine.After reaching the frontiers ofEgyptand repeatedly defeating the Roman army,the Romans finally made a truce with her on conditions she stipulated.
• Queen ZenobiaofPalmyra

Islamic Arabia

• Khawlah bint al-Azwarwas the daughter of one of the chiefs ofBani Assadtribe, and her family embraced Islam in its first days. The recorded history of that era mentions repeatedly the feats of Khawla in battles that took place in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine. In one instance, she fought in disguise as a man to rescue her brother Derar after the Romans captured him. The Romans eventually lost the battle and fled. When her identity was discovered, the commander of the Muslim army was very impressed with her courage, and he allowed her to lead the attack against the fleeing Romans; they were defeated and the prisoners were all released. In another battle in Ajnadin, Khawla's spear broke, and her mare was killed, and she found herself a prisoner. But she was astonished to find that the Romans attacked the women camp and captured several of them. Their leader gave the prisoners to his commanders, and ordered Khawla to be moved into his tent. She was furious, and decided that to die is more honorable than living in disgrace. She stood among the other women, and called them to fight for their freedom and honor or die. They took the tents' poles and pegs and attacked the Roman guards, keeping a formation of a tight circle, as she told them. Khawla led the attack, killed the first guard with her pole, with the other women following her. According to Al Wakidi, they managed to kill 30 Roman soldiers, five of whom were killed by Khawla herself, including the soldier who wanted to rape her. She was a brunette, tall, slim and of great beauty, and she was also a distinguished poet.
• Nusaybah bint Ka’ab,also known asUmm Ammarah(Ammarah's mother), a Hebrew woman by origin from theBanu Najjartribe, was an early convert to Islam. Nusaybah was attending theBattle of Uhudlike other women, and her intention was to bring water to the soldiers, and attend the wounded while her husband and son fought on the side of the Muslims. But after the Muslim archers disobeyed their orders and began deserting their high ground believing victory was at hand, the tide of the battle changed, and it appeared that defeat was imminent. When this occurred, Nusaybah entered the battle, carrying a sword and shield. She shielded Muhammad from the arrows of the enemy, and received several wounds while fighting. She was highly praised by Muhammad on her courage and heroism. During the battle her son was wounded and she cut off the leg of the aggressor.
• Hind bint Utbah,was a former opponent ofMuhammadin the late 6th and early 7th centuries whom later converted to Islam. She took part in theBattle of Yarmoukin 636, fighting the Byzantine Romans and encouraging the male soldiers to join her,which became one of major key to Muslim victory over Byzantines in theLevant.
• Asmā' bint Abi Bakr,she was one ofAbu Bakr As-Siddiq,the firstRashidunCaliph's daughter. She also took part in theBattle of Yarmoukand was one of the key instrumental of Byzantine's army defeat.Al-Waqidi wrote that the Quraysh women fought harder than the men. Every time the men ran away, the women fought, fearing that if they lost, the Romans would enslave them.
• Ghazala,one ofKharijiteleaders againstUmayyadrule. She made the notorious Umayyad-Iraqi generalHajjāj ibn-Yūsufflee, and take refuge in his palace inKufa.Ghazāla also led her male warriors in prayer as well as recited two of the longest chapters from the Quran during the prayer in the Mosque.
• Delhemmawas a Muslim commander during theArab–Byzantine wars.Her real name is Fatima bint Mazlum fromBanu Kilabtribe.

Mesopotamian mythology

• Ishtaris theAssyrianandBabyloniancounterpart to theSumerianInannaand to the cognatePhoeniciangoddessAstarte.Anunit,AtarsamainandEstherare alternative names for Ishtar. Ishtar is a goddess of fertility, sexual love, and war.In the Babylonian pantheon, she "was the divine personification of the planet Venus".
• Semiramiswas a legendary Assyrian empress-regnant who first came to prominence for her bravery in battle and greatly expanded her empire.

Old Testament

• Deborah,a prophetess mentioned in theBook of Judges,was a poet who rendered her judgments beneath apalm treebetweenRamahandBethelin the land ofBenjamin.After her victory overSisera,general of King Jabin's Canaanite army, there was peace in the land for forty years.
• Jael– Deborah had prophesied that the honor of defeating Jabin's army would go to a woman. Sisera himself escaped the defeat and fled some distance, seeking concealment in the tent of Jael, who killed him (cf.Judith).

Persian mythology and history of Iran/historical Persia

• Apranikwas aSasanianmilitary commander. She commanded the army ofYazdegerd IIIagainst theArab invasion of 651 AD.
• Artemisia I of Cariawas a queen of the ancient Greek city-state of Halicarnassus and of the nearby islands of Kos, Nisyros and Kalymnos, within the Achaemenid satrapy of Caria, in about 480 BC. She was of Carian-Greek ethnicity by her father Lygdamis I, and half-Cretan by her mother. She was the first woman admiral. She fought as an ally of Xerxes I, King of Persia against the independent Greek city states during the second Persian invasion of Greece. She personally commanded her contribution of five ships at the naval battle of Artemisium and in the naval Battle of Salamis in 480 BC. She is mostly known through the writings of Herodotus, himself a native of Halicarnassus, who praises her courage and the respect in which Xerxes held her.
• Gordafaridis one of the heroines in theShāhnāmeh.She was a champion who fought againstSohrab(another Iranian hero who was the commander of theTuranianarmy) and delayed the Turanian troops who were marching on Persia.
• Banu Goshaspis an important heroine in Persian mythology.She is the daughter ofRustamand the wife of the heroGiv.
• Banu Khorramdinfought against the occupying Arab forces of theAbbasid Caliphatewith her husband,Babak Khorramdin,leader of theKhorram-Dinān.
• Tomyrisreigned over theMassagetae,an Iranian people fromScythianpastoral-nomadic confederation ofCentral Asia.Tomyris led her armies to defend against an attack byCyrus the Greatof theAchaemenid Empire,and, according toHerodotus,defeated and killed him in 530 BC.

Phoenician mythology

• AshtartPhoenician"ʻštrt" (ʻAshtart); and Hebrew עשתרת (Ashtoreth, singular, or Ashtarot, plural); Greek (Astarte) is the Phoenician counterpart to theSumerianInannaand to the cognate Babylonian goddess Ishtar as well as the Greek Aphrodite. She is a goddess of fertility, sexual love, and war. Ashtoreth is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as a foreign, non-Judahite goddess, the principal goddess of the homeland of the Phoenicians which is in modern-dayLebanon,representing the productive power of nature.Herodotuswrote that the religious community of Aphrodite originated in Phoenicia (modern day Lebanon) and came to Greeks from there. He also wrote about the world's largest temple of Aphrodite, in one of the Phoenician cities.
• Tanitis a Phoenician lunar goddess, worshiped as the patron goddess at Carthage. Her shrine excavated at Sarepta in southern Phoenicia (Carthage) revealed an inscription that identified her for the first time in her homeland (Phoenicia of the Levant) and related her securely to the Phoenician goddess Astarte/Ashtart. In Egyptian, her name means Land of Neith, Neith being a war goddess. Long after the fall of Carthage, Tanit is still venerated in North Africa under the Latin name of Juno Caelestis, for her identification with the Roman goddess Juno. Hvidberg-Hansen (Danish professor of Semitic philology), notes that Tanit is sometimes depicted with a lion's head, showing her warrior quality. In modern times the name, with the spelling "Tanith", has been used as a female given name, both for real people and, more frequently, in occult fiction. From the 5th century BC onwards, Tanit is associated with that of Ba`al Hammon. She is given the epithet pene baal ( "face of Baal" ) and the title rabat, the female form of rab (chief).

Israel and Jewish diaspora

• Sarah Aaronsohnwas a spy that formed a Jewish spy network calledNilito assist theUnited KingdominWW1against theOttoman Empireshe was later captured by Ottoman forces in 1917

South Asia

Image ofDurga,shown riding her tiger and attacking the demonMahishasura.

• Akkadevi(11th century) was a princess of theChalukyadynasty ofKarnatakaand governor of an area known as Kishukādu. She was known as a capable general who laid siege to the fort of Gōkāge or Gōkāk to quell a rebellion.
• Nayakuralu Nagamma(12th century) was a statesperson to King Nalagama, the ruler ofPalnaduinGuntur District,known as a key participant in theBattle of Palnadu.
• Razia Sultana(r 1236–1240), usually referred to in history as Razia Sultan or Razia Sultana, was the Sultana of Delhi in India from 1236 to 1240. She was of Mamluk ancestry and like some other Muslim princesses of the time, she was trained to lead armies and administer kingdoms if necessary. Razia Sultana, the fifth Mamluk Sultan, was the very first woman ruler in Muslim history.
• Rani Rudrama Devi(1259–1289) was one of the most prominent rulers of theKakatiya dynastyon the Deccan Plateau, is one of the few ruling queens inIndian history.She was born, as Rudrama, to King Ganapathideva (or Ganapatideva, or Ganapathi Devudu). As Ganapathideva had no sons, Rudrama was formally designated as a son through the ancient Putrika ceremony and given the male name of Rudradeva. When she was only fourteen years old, Rani Rudrama Devi succeeded her father. Rudramadevi was married to Veerabhadra, Eastern Chalukyan prince of Nidadavolu.
• Rani Mangammal(1689–1704) was a queen regent on behalf of her grandson, in the Madurai Nayak kingdom in present-day Madurai, India, towards the end of the century. She was a popular administrator and is still widely remembered as a maker of roads and avenues, and a builder of temples, tanks, and choultries with many of her public works still in use. She is also known for her diplomatic and political skills and successful military campaigns. The capital of Madurai Kingdom during her times was Tiruchy.
• RaniVelu Nachiyar(Tamil: இராணி வேலு நாச்சியார்) was an 18th-century Indian Queen from Sivaganga. Rani Velu Nachiyar was the first Queen to fight against the British in India, even preceding the famous Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi. She was the princess of Ramanathapuram and the daughter of Chellamuthu Sethupathy. She married the king of Siva Gangai and they had a daughter – Vellachi Nachiar. When her husband Muthuvaduganathaperiya Udaiyathevar was killed, she was drawn into battle. Her husband and his second wife were killed by a few British soldiers and the son of the Nawab of Arcot. She escaped with her daughter, lived under the protection of Hyder Ali at Virupachi near Dindigul for eight years. During this period, she formed an army and sought an alliance with Gopala Nayaker and Hyder Ali with the aim of attacking the British. In 1780, Rani Velu Nachiyar fought the British with military assistance from Gopala Nayaker and Hyder Ali and won the battle. When Velu Nachiyar finds the place where the British stock their ammunition, she builds the first human bomb. A faithful follower, Kuyili douses herself in oil, lights herself and walks into the storehouse. Rani Velu Nachiyar formed a woman's army named "udaiyaal" in honour of her adopted daughter – Udaiyaal, who died detonating a British arsenal. Nachiar was one of the few rulers who regained her kingdom and ruled it for 10 more years.
• Chand Bibi(1550–1599), also known as Chand Khatun or Chand Sultana, was an Indian Muslim woman warrior. She acted as the Regent of Bijapur (1580–90) and Regent of Ahmednagar (1596–99). Chand Bibi is best known for defending Ahmednagar against the Mughal forces of Emperor Akbar.
• Abbakka Ranior Abbakka Mahadevi was the queen ofTulu Naduwho fought the Portuguese in the latter half of the 16th century. She belonged to theChowta dynastywho ruled over the area from the temple town ofMoodabidri.InDakshina Kannada'sBantwal taluk,a historian has erected a museum in the memory of a 16th-century warrior queen. The man behind the museum, called Tulu Baduku Museum, is Prof. Thukaram Poojary and his subject is Rani Abbakka Chowta of Ullal. The only woman in history to confront, fight and repeatedly defeat the Portuguese, Rani Abbakka's unflagging courage and indomitable spirit are at par with the legendary Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi, Rani Rudramma Devi of Warangal and Rani Chennamma of Kittur. Yet, little is written about her or her incredible story in the history books.
• Tarabai(1675–1761) was a queen of theMaratha Empirein India. She was the queen regent forShivaji II.From 1700-1707, Tarabai single-handedly directed the defense of Marathas againstMughal Empire.She also founded the Maratha kingdom ofKolhapurand was active in Maratha politics for a long time.
• Bibi Dalair Kaurwas a 17th-century Sikh woman who fought against theMughal Empire.
• Bibi Sahib Kaur(1771–1801) was aSikhprincess and elder sister of Raja Sahib Singh ofPatiala.Her brother recalled her after her marriage and appointed her prime minister in 1793. She led armies into battle against theBritishand was one of few Punjabi Sikh women to win battles against a British general.
• Mai Bhagowas a Sikh woman who led Sikh soldiers against the Mughals in 1704. She is known for leading a small force of 40 Sikh warriors to repulse a much larger Mughal army in theBattle of Muktsar.She is revered as a saint inSikhism.
• Onake Obavva(18th century) was a woman who fought the forces of Hyder Ali single-handedly with a masse (Onake) in the smallkingdom of Chitradurgain theChitradurga districtof Karnataka, India. She is considered to be the epitome of Kannada women pride, with the same standing as Kittur Chennamma and Keladi Chennamma.
• Kittur Chennamma(1778–1829) was the queen of the princely state ofKitturinKarnataka.She is known for having led an armed rebellion against theBritish East India Companyin 1824 in defiance of thedoctrine of lapsein an attempt to maintain Indian control over the region. Her legacy and first victory are still commemorated in Kittur, during the Kittur Utsava of every 22–24 October.
• Begum Hazrat Mahal(1820–1879) was a warrior who rebelled against the British East India Company during theIndian Rebellion of 1857and participated in the attack onShahjahanpur.
• Rani Lakshmibai(1828–1858) known as Jhansi Ki Rani, was the queen of theMaratha-ruledthe princely state of Jhansi, was one of the leading figures of theIndian Rebellion of 1857,and a symbol of resistance to British rule in India.
• Jhalkaribai(1830–1858) was an advisor and soldier in Rani Lakshmibai's army. She is known for having disguised herself as the Queen and fought on her behalf, on the front, allowing the Queen to escape safely out of the fort, at the height of theSiege of Jhansi.
• Avantibai( –1857) was a warrior who raised an army of 4000 and defeated British forces in a battle inMandla district,Madhya Pradeshduring the India Rebellion of 1857.
• Uda Devi( –1857) was a warrior who fought in the Battle ofSikandar Baghin November 1857, part of the India Rebellion of 1857.
• Rani Durgavati(1524–1564) was a Queen ofGondwanaknown for resisting the invasions ofBayazid Baz Bahadur Khanof theMalwa Sultanateand Mughal emperorAkbar.
• Keladi Chennamma(1677–1696) was the daughter of Siddappa Setty ofKundapur.She became the queen ofKeladi Nayakadynasty who fought the Mughal Army of Aurangzeb from her base in the kingdom of Keladi in theShimoga districtof Karnataka State, India. Her rule lasted for 25 years and Keladi kingdom was probably the last to lose autonomy to Mysore rulers and subsequently to British.
• Belawadi Mallamma,to defend her husband's kingdom, she fought against the Maratha kingShivaji Maharaj.
• Unniyarcha:She was a chekava/Ezhavawoman warrior fromKeralafamous for her valour and beauty.

Hinduism Mythology

• Durga(Sanskrit:"the inaccessible"or "the invincible",Bengali:দুর্গা) is a form ofDevi,the supremegoddessofHinduism.According to the narrative from theDevi Mahatmyaof theMarkandeya Purana,the form of Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight a demon. The nine-day holiday dedicated to Durga,TheDurga Puja,is the biggest annual festival inBengaland other parts of Eastern India and is celebrated by Hindus all over the world.
• Kālī(Sanskrit:काली,IPA:[kaːliː];Bengali:কালী;Punjabi:ਕਾਲੀ;Sinhala:කාලි;Telugu:కాళికాదేవి;Kannada:ಕಾಳಿ ಮಾತಾ;Tamil:காளி), also known asKālikā(Sanskrit:कालिका,Bengali:কালিকা), is theHindugoddessassociated with empowerment,shakti.The name Kali comes fromkāla,which means black, time, death, lord of death, and thus another name forShiva.Kali means "the black one". Although sometimes presented as dark and violent, her earliest incarnation as a figure of annihilation still has some influence. In Kāli's most famous myth,Durgaand her assistants, theMatrikas,wound the demonRaktabija,in various ways and with a variety of weapons in an attempt to destroy him. They soon find that they have worsened the situation, for, with every drop of blood that is spilled from Raktabija, he reproduces a clone of himself. The battlefield becomes increasingly filled with his duplicates.Durga, in need of help, summons Kāli to combat the demons. It is said, in some versions, that the Goddess Durga actually assumes the form of Goddess Kāli at this time. Kali destroys Raktabija by sucking the blood from his body and putting the many Raktabija duplicates in her gaping mouth. Pleased with her victory, Kali then dances on the field of battle, stepping on the corpses of the slain. Her consort Shiva lies among the dead beneath her feet, a representation of Kali commonly seen in her iconography asDaksinakali.
• Other warrior goddesses includeChamunda( "the killer of demon Chanda and Munda" ) and the goddess groupMatrikas( "Mothers" ).
• Vishpala(inTheRigveda) is a warrior queen who, after having lost a leg in battle had an iron prosthesis made. Afterwards, she returned to fight.

Central Asia

Afghanistan

Malalai of Maiwand

• Malalai of Maiwandis a nationalfolk heroofAfghanistanwho rallied localPashtunfighters against the British troops at the 1880Battle of Maiwand.

See also

• List of female action heroes
• Woman warrior
• Timeline of women in early modern warfare
• Women warriors in literature and culture
• List of female action heroes and villains
• Amazons

Further reading

• Addison, Catherine. «The Maiden on the Battlefield: War and Estrangement in Southey’s Joan of Arc». In:Romanticism on the Netno 32-33 (2003).https://doi.org/10.7202/009262ar
• Clover, Carol J. "Maiden Warriors and Other Sons." The Journal of English and Germanic Philology 85, no. 1 (1986): 35–49. Accessed 28 June 2020. jstor.org/stable/27709600.
• Koser, Julie. Armed Ambiguity: Women Warriors in German Literature and Culture in the Age of Goethe. EVANSTON, ILLINOIS: Northwestern University Press, 2016. Accessed 28 June 2020. jstor.org/stable/j.ctv47w31v.
• Milligan, Gerry.Moral Combat: Women, Gender, and War in Italian Renaissance Literature.Toronto; Buffalo; London: University of Toronto Press, 2018. Accessed 28 June 2020. jstor.org/stable/10.3138/j.ctt22rbk05.
• Weaver, Elissa B. "Review" [Reviewed Work: The Fortunes of the Warrior Heroine in Italian Literature: An Index of Emancipation. by Margaret Tomalin]. In:Renaissance Quarterly36, no. 3 (1983): 456–59. Accessed 28 June 2020. doi:10.2307/2862185.