Originally posted on Instagram 5th March 2022

Contrary to popular belief, women have been participating in combat for pretty much as long as combat has existed.

Indeed, the ancient world in particular boasted a host of women fighters, both individuals, and whole armies.

There are, of course, the famous examples: Boudicca, Zenobia, the legendary Amazons, Joan of Arc. But these warrior queens and martyrs are not the solitary exceptions to the rule; while not ‘common’ by any stretch, a woman on the battlefield was not as taboo as she seems.

There are many different definitions for the word ‘warrior’, and many of the women featured on this page could be considered some kind of warrior.

Sadly, this would make it far too hard to narrow down just three subjects, so we will be sticking to the more literal definition of a warrior for this month—i.e. women who partook in combat in some way.

Need I bring Amazons from Scythia to prove the courage of Women? Need I run to Italy for a Camilla to shew an instance of warlike courage? (…) other nations glory in their numberless stole of warlike Women.

‘Sophia’, in Woman Not Inferior to Man

See also:

• Blog post: Nusaybah bint Ka’ab
• Blog post: Black Agnes Randolph
• Bitesize History: The Dahomey Amazons