It’s been ages since I covered proper history in Fem Friday. Here are some excellent fightin’ women of the past. Enjoy!

Did you know about the tradition of women samurai? Neither did I until this week, but here is the story of such a woman, Lady Gozen, from 12^th century. She was married to the guy who sent her to war as his first captain, which maybe looks a bit like favouritism on the surface of things, but sounds like she acquitted herself excellently:

Lady Gozen was more than a defending wife. She was onna bugeisha, a female consummate warrior. She was either the wife or an attendant of her master Minamoto Yoshinaka, who sent her into battle as his first captain. She was a strong archer and swordsman (she fought with a man’s katana), and could skillfully handle unbroken horses down steep descents. She was known as one warrior worth a thousand.

http://darlingmagazine.org/lady-of-legacy-tomoe-gozen/

I’ve recently enough finished Herodotus’ Histories, which whilst a bit of a slog recommended Artemisia to me. I’m not especially sure I’d want her on my team, because she seemed pretty open to taking down anyone who interfered with her direct advantage, but I guess you don’t get to be a woman commander in the Persian army c.480 BC by being nice to people. Here’s a page that compiles everything Herodotus has to say about Artemisia:

There is no reason for me to mention any of the other commanders, except for Artemisia. I consider her to be a particular object of admiration because she was a woman who played a part in the war against Greece. She took power on the death of her husband, as she had a son who was still a youth. Because of her courage and spirit she went to war although she had no need to do so.

http://www.stoa.org/diotima/anthology/artemisia.shtml

Alex.