In Stacy Schiff's Cleopatra we learn that Cleopatra was present on the battlefield at Actium, more precisely, on her flag ship at sea. I'm not sure if the boat actually went out and engaged with combatants but it is still quite an achievement. Something similar happened around 42BC during one of the battles which was an aftermath of Ceasar's assassination. This raises the question, how many female heads of state or at least very highly ranking have been on the battlefield. I can only think of Bodicea (not sure if she was queen) or Joan of Arc (definitely not a head of state). My mother mentioned Catherine the Great of Russia but I'm not sure if this is true.
Which female heads of state were present on the battlefield
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Joined May 2018
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Michigan
When Catherine the Great overthrew Peter III she first made a personal appeal to at least one army regiment. She then led them on a short march. Ultimately Peter III was arrested peacefully, signed an abdication document, and then was murdered. Catherine never came under fire.
Brunhilde of the Franks, circa 580, on at least one occasion was able to win over the hearts of a rebel army that was deployed against her. I don't think any real combat broke out, but the potential was there. She was a brave woman.
Brunhilde of the Franks, circa 580, on at least one occasion was able to win over the hearts of a rebel army that was deployed against her. I don't think any real combat broke out, but the potential was there. She was a brave woman.
Mandukhai led her smaller army to victory directly in several important battles on the steppe.
Nur Jahan rode into battle leading a unit atop an elephant.
Nur Jahan rode into battle leading a unit atop an elephant.
Does it mean we should only include the women who actually fought on the battleground?
We have accounts of so many female warriors who were either head of their states or high ranking officers in India.
Some of them are:
Rani Durgavati - Wikipedia
She was queen of Gondwana state. She was a fierce warrior who is said to have won 51 battles. She lost her final battle with mighty mughal army of emperor Akbar and preferred to do suicide instead of living with the shame of defeat.
Rudrama Devi - Wikipedia
She was a Kakatiya ruler. She led her army successfully in various battles. She used to dress like men and she lost her life in a combat.
Kittur Chennamma - Wikipedia
Queen Chennama of Kittur was a beautifu woman and was very fond of hunting and archery. She defeated British forces twice but in the third battle she was captured and imprisioned.
Velu Nachiyar - Wikipedia
She was head of small but prosperous Shivaganga estate. She was considered the first Indian to revolt against British. Ultimately she managed to keep her estate free for long time with the aid of great sacrifice of another female warrior Kuyili.
Abbakka Chowta - Wikipedia
Abbakka Chowta was rebellious by her nature and was queen of small but wealthy Ullal. Even with her minuscule army she managed to keep Portuguese army away. But in her last battle she was defeated due to her husband's treachery(they never got along well). She was imprisioned and killed while she was trying to escape ( believed her husband betrayed her again).
Keladi Chennamma - Wikipedia
Queen of Keladi kingdom battled against mughal emperor Aurangzeb and managed to defeat his army.
Nayakuralu Nagamma - Wikipedia
She was prime-minister of her state and according to the sources was very intelligent and brave.
Bibi Dalair Kaur - Wikipedia
She was head of a unit of Sikh female warriors who died while fighting Mughals.
Begum Hazrat Mahal - Wikipedia
She was .... of Awadh. She participated in 1857 rebellion and fought bravely on the battlefield. But ultimiately defeated and lived rest of her life in exile in Nepal.
There are more women whom I would like to include but the post will become too long. There were many female only army units in several Indian states.
The women listed above were not exactly head of large states but still they need to be remembered for their bravery. They were fighting against much more powerful enemies.
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Artemisia I of Caria : during the naval battle of Salamis c480BC, she personally commanded her contribution of five ships (source: Herodotus)
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India
You omitted Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi, who fought bravely against the British general Sir Hugh Rose in India's first war of Independence 1857-58. She was killed on the battlefield when riding her horse and surrounded by four British cavalrymen, but not before the siege of Jhansi fort was successfully defended by her for a long time.
These ...... were head of their state but did they actually wielded the weapons in the battlefield?
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Cornstalk's sister Nonhelema, known as the Grenadier Squaw. She stood about 6'6" and was quite impressive.
Great Warriors Path: Great Woman: Nonhelema of the Shawnee
Great Warriors Path: Great Woman: Nonhelema of the Shawnee
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The accounts don’t record if they held weapons, but they commanded armies in battle and the history of Liao records that it was custom for many Kitan women to be adept at shooting and riding, and it provides these two empresses as examples, so I would assume that they likely had some skill with weapons.
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the trung sisters of Vietnam , kicked Chinese troops in a personal and insistent manner
regarded as national heroines to this day
regarded as national heroines to this day
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Behind a screen
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A lot of the people in their Army were women too.
Also, Nzinga from Angola
Not ruling head of state, but the daughter of the first Tang Emperor of China: Princess Pingyang
Matilda of Boulogne, ruling Countess of Boulogne and Queen of England. She is often forgotten in history, even though she was highly capable and saved her husband's .... Note that I am not talking about the Empress Matilda, but about Stephen's wife.
According to legend, the Candace of Kush lined her battle troups up in such a way that Alexander the Great looked at them, saw it was too dangerous and moved on.
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Awesome
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- Isabella 1 Of Castile was often on military campaigns (Katherine Of Aragon was born on during one of them),
- Mary Queen Of Scotland,
- Elizabeth 1,
- Katherine Of Aragon was involved in the war with the Scottish at the start Of Henry 8's reign
- Mary Queen Of Scotland,
- Elizabeth 1,
- Katherine Of Aragon was involved in the war with the Scottish at the start Of Henry 8's reign
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Sydney
with Henry VIII absent on a continental campaign , Catherine of Aragon was on the war council before the battle of Flodden , advocating offense
she exhorted the troops with such a success that they overwhelmed the superior force of the Scots in the worst defeat they suffered
reputedly wanting to send the head of their dead king to Henry as a token of their victory
she exhorted the troops with such a success that they overwhelmed the superior force of the Scots in the worst defeat they suffered
reputedly wanting to send the head of their dead king to Henry as a token of their victory
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