Women Warriors - Medieval
During medieval times, a number of women achieved fame by their participation or leadership in time of war. Notable warrior women include Joan of Arc, Eleanor Aquitaine who accompanied her first husband on crusade, Elizabeth I, and others. Here are the stories of some of the warrior women of medieval times.
Aethelflaed
Daughter of Alfred the Great, she led the Mercian Army and helped build Mercia's defenses against the Danish invaders.
Daughter of Alfred the Great, she led the Mercian Army and helped build Mercia's defenses against the Danish invaders.
Amalasuntha - Queen of the Goths
Regent Queen of the Ostrogoths, her murder became the rationale for Justinian's invasion of Italy and defeat of the Goths. Unfortunately, we have only a few very biased sources for her life, but this profile attempts to read between the lines and come as close as we can to an objective telling of her story.
Regent Queen of the Ostrogoths, her murder became the rationale for Justinian's invasion of Italy and defeat of the Goths. Unfortunately, we have only a few very biased sources for her life, but this profile attempts to read between the lines and come as close as we can to an objective telling of her story.
Brunhilde
A Visigoth princess, she married a Frankish king, then revenged her murdered sister by starting a 40-year war with a rival kingdom. She fought for her son, grandsons and great-grandson, but was finally defeated and the kingdom lost to the rival family.
A Visigoth princess, she married a Frankish king, then revenged her murdered sister by starting a 40-year war with a rival kingdom. She fought for her son, grandsons and great-grandson, but was finally defeated and the kingdom lost to the rival family.
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine, queen of France and England through her two marriages and ruler of her own territories by right of birth, was one of the most powerful women of the world in the twelfth century. This profile highlights her key contributions.
Eleanor of Aquitaine, queen of France and England through her two marriages and ruler of her own territories by right of birth, was one of the most powerful women of the world in the twelfth century. This profile highlights her key contributions.
Elizabeth I of England
From your About Guide to Women's History: the life and writings of Queen Elizabeth I of England.
From your About Guide to Women's History: the life and writings of Queen Elizabeth I of England.
Fredegund
She worked her way up from servant to mistress to queen consort, and then ruled as her son's regent. She talked her husband into murdering his second wife, but that wife's sister, Brunhilde, queen of the neighboring kingdom, wanted revenge -- and so followed forty years of war. Fredegund is chiefly remembered for her assassinations and other cruelties.
She worked her way up from servant to mistress to queen consort, and then ruled as her son's regent. She talked her husband into murdering his second wife, but that wife's sister, Brunhilde, queen of the neighboring kingdom, wanted revenge -- and so followed forty years of war. Fredegund is chiefly remembered for her assassinations and other cruelties.
Queen Isabella I of Spain
Queen of Castile and Aragon, she ruled equally with her husband, Ferdinand. She's known in history for sponsoring Christopher Columbus' expedition that discovered the New World; read about other reasons she's remembered.
Queen of Castile and Aragon, she ruled equally with her husband, Ferdinand. She's known in history for sponsoring Christopher Columbus' expedition that discovered the New World; read about other reasons she's remembered.
Margaret of Anjou
A profile of Margaret of Anjou, Queen of England who took an active part in her husband's administration and led the Lancastrians in the early years of the War of the Roses.
A profile of Margaret of Anjou, Queen of England who took an active part in her husband's administration and led the Lancastrians in the early years of the War of the Roses.
Mary I
Daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, Mary's reign in England attempted to restore Roman Catholicism. The execution of Protestants as heretics earned her the sobriquet "Bloody Mary."
Daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, Mary's reign in England attempted to restore Roman Catholicism. The execution of Protestants as heretics earned her the sobriquet "Bloody Mary."
Empress Matilda (Maud)
Matilda of England, widow of Emperor Henry V, was named by her father, Henry I, as queen of England. But her cousin Stephen took power instead, and Matilda (or Maud) then had to fight for her crown.
Matilda of England, widow of Emperor Henry V, was named by her father, Henry I, as queen of England. But her cousin Stephen took power instead, and Matilda (or Maud) then had to fight for her crown.
Anna Nzinga
A profile of Anna Nzinga, warrior queen in what is today Angola, who led a resistance campaign against the Portuguese and against slave trading.
A profile of Anna Nzinga, warrior queen in what is today Angola, who led a resistance campaign against the Portuguese and against slave trading.