Onna-bugeisha

“The picture above is a vintage photograph of an onna-bugeisha, one of the female warriors of the upper social classes in feudal Japan.

Often mistakenly referred to as “female samurai”, female warriors have a long history in Japan, beginning long before samurai emerged as a warrior class. However, they did fight alongside of samurai warriors. They were wives, widows and daughters who answered the call of duty to protect their families, households and honor in times of war.

Onna Bugeisha were the exception, rather than the rule, but they still played an important role nonetheless. One famous example is empress Jingu, who reportedly lead a successful conquest against Korea in 200 AD without shedding a single drop of blood (or so the legends say).”

Source: Unknown. Sorry.

Lozen

Lozen was a warrior and prophetess of the Chihenne Chiricahua Apache who fought in the Apache wars of the 19th century.

Lozen was born into the Chihenne during the late 1840’s in a region of Arizona and northern Mexico known at that time as Apacheria. From an early age she rejected traditional women’s duties, preferring to ride horses and receive warrior training from her brother Victorio.

By the 1870s the Chihenne had been moved to the harsh conditions of the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona. By this time Victorio had become a chief of the Chihenne and described Lozen as his right hand. They led their followers in a breakout from the reservation in 1877 and began a rampage of attacks against Americans who had appropriated their homeland around Black Mountain.

Lozen became known as a ‘shield for her people’ who protected Apache bands from attack. She rode on horseback armed with a rifle and a knife. She was also believed to have mystical powers that allowed her to foresee the enemy’s movements and no band under her leadership was ever caught by the Americans.

In 1880, following a a solo mission to escort a new mother through enemy territory, Lozen received word that Victorio had been killed in an ambush along with hundreds of others. She returned to assist in leading the remnants of her people and also fought alongside Geronimo in the final campaign of the Apache wars.

Lozen was never captured, but was a member of the final group of free Apache’s who surrendered in 1866. Like many other Apache’s she was imprisoned and ultimately died of tuberculosis. Her legacy as the Apache’s famous warrior woman is respected even today.

Polish Soldiers

Polish female soldiers during the Polish-Soviet war in 1920

Sourced from Enigma.

The Bluebird Brigade

“Members of the Bosnian government Army’s female unit, the “Bluebird Brigade” at their bombed-out base near Sarajevo on October 10, 1992. Many of the women in the unit are widows of soldiers who have died in the war.”

Photo by Morten Hvaal /Felix Features.

Member of a Vietnamese Militia

“A woman in the militia helps defend Binh Da hamlet, one of many northern villages whose inhabitants readily took up arms during the Vietnam War (1968).

She carries an m44 Mosin Nagant.”

Photograph by Mai Nam. Sourced from 336BC.

Ching Shih

Ching Shih was a legendary Pirate Queen who terrorized the China Sea in the early 19th century and is regarded as one of the most successful pirates in all of history. 

Shih’s early life was spent working as a prostitute in Canton until she was kidnapped by pirates. In 1801 she married the pirate Zheng Yi, who was a member of a notorious crime family. Shih fought actively alongside Zheng Yi as he amassed one of the largest pirate forces in China, known as the Red Flag Fleet.

When Zheng Yi died in 1807, Shih quickly maneuvered herself into becoming the new leader using her good relationships with the fleet’s captains and by marrying Zheng Yi’s adopted nephew, Chang Pao.

Once in control of the fleet Shih set up about unifying it with a rigorously enforced code of conduct. The code punished disobedience with beheading, forbade stealing publicly owned money, and set up a system to redistribute loot to help fund the needs of the fleet. The code also punished pirates committing rape, adultery or sex out of wedlock with death.

Under Shih’s leadership the Red Flag Fleet established dominance over many coastal villages, some of whom were heavily taxed, but in turn the fleet was forbidden from attacking allied settlements. Shih’s fleet numbered over 300 Junks (ships) and tens of thousands of sailors, which included men, women and children. Reports from the British admiralty at the time called Ching Shih  “The Terror of the South China Sea".

The Chinese navy lost 63 ships trying to defeat the Red Flag Fleet and even the hired navies of Portugal and Britain proved useless. In 1810 an amnesty was offered to all pirates which Ching Shih took advantage of and retired. She kept her amassed wealth and used it to open a gambling house. She died in 1844, at the age of 69.

Zaynab

This guest post was previously submitted anonymously to The Female Soldier tumblr blog in 2014:

Zaynab was an early follower of the Bab, a Shi'ite reform movement that laid the foundations for the later Baha'i Faith. Her story is recorded in The Dawn-Breakers, one of the key religious texts of the Baha'is. 

A Bab'i insurrection was taking place across Iran due to the heavy handed suppression of the movement by the Shah, whose regime regarded them as heretics. A small town in northwestern Iran called Zanjan became a stronghold of the Bab'is, which brought it under attack by the Iranian army. 

After several of the men of the 2,000 strong Bab'i garrison had died, Zaynab donned men’s wear, a sword, shield, and musket, and joined in defense of her faith. From The Dawn-Breakers:

“ Further evidence of the spirit of sublime renunciation animating those valiant companions was afforded by the behaviour of a village maiden, who, of her own accord, threw in her lot with the band of women and children who had joined the defenders of the fort. Her name was Zaynab, her home a tiny hamlet in the near neighbourhood of Zanjan. She was comely and fair of face, was fired with a lofty faith, and endowed with intrepid courage.

The sight of the trials and hardships which her men companions were made to endure stirred in her an irrepressible yearning to disguise herself in male attire and share in repulsing the repeated attacks of the enemy. Donning a tunic and wearing a head-dress like those of her men companions, she cut off her locks, girt on a sword, and, seizing a musket and a shield, introduced herself into their ranks. No one suspected her of being a maid when she leaped forward to take her place behind the barricade.

As soon as the enemy charged, she bared her sword and, raising the cry of "Ya Sahibu'z-Zaman!” flung herself with incredible audacity upon the forces arrayed against her. Friend and foe marvelled that day at a courage and resourcefulness the equal of which their eyes had scarcely ever beheld. Her enemies pronounced her the curse which an angry Providence had hurled upon them. Overwhelmed with despair and abandoning their barricades, they fled in disgraceful rout before her

Italian Partisan

A member of the pro-Allied Partisan Resistance in Italy during World War 2.

Source: http://www.teenagefilm.com/archives/archive-fever/italian-partisans-wwii/

Mariya Dolina

Mariya Dolina was a Soviet pilot who served with the distinguished Borisov Guards dive bomber regiment during the Second World War.

Beginning her military service in July 1941, aged only 18, she initially flew biplanes before moving on to Petlyakov Pe-2 medium range bombers (pictured). Despite describing herself as “impulsive and excessively restless”, she became one of the best pilots of her unit.

During her military career she carried out 72 sorties and dropped a total of 45 tons of bombs on the enemy. On June 2 1943 her plane was hit by enemy anti-aircraft guns, disabling an engine and setting the plane on fire. Despite having lost her fighter escort her crew continued to successfully bomb the target and on the way back engaged 6 German fighters, 2 of which they destroyed.

By the end of the war Dolina had advanced to the rank of Guards Captain and was acting squadron commander of the Borisov Guards. She was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in recognition of her accomplishments.

Russian Machine Gunners

“Russian machine gunners with a Degtyaryov light machine gun smile for the camera during the Siege of Leningrad, one of the longest and most destructive sieges in history and overwhelmingly the most costly in terms of casualties. Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Russia, Soviet Union. January 1943. Image captured by B. Vasyutinskiy.”

Source: bag-of-dirt

Anne Bonny and Mary Read

Anne Bonny and Mary Read were a famous duo of female pirates who had a violent career in the early 18th century.

Both had unusual teenage years. Anne ran away from Ireland to the Bahamas married to a pirate named John Bonny, although she quickly moved through a string of lovers before setting sail on the Revenge, captained by John “Calico Jack” Rackam. While ostensibly onboard as Rackam’s lover, Anne fought in battles dressed as a man and acquired a bloodthirsty reputation, once stabbing a sailor who complained about her gender.

From the age of 13 Mary Read had been disguised as a boy to serve as a ‘powder monkey’ on a British man-of-war, and later served on a Dutch ship headed to the West Indies. Captured by pirates, she became part of Rackam’s crew, where she met Anne who learned her true identity.

The two became close friends (and possibly lovers), who fought side-by-side in battle wielding pistols and machetes. They served in Rackam’s crew during the height of his campaign in 1720, during which they captured 7 boats and 2 sloops.

This came to an end that October, when their ship was attacked by a ship commissioned by the Governor of Jamaica. The attack came at night when most of the crew were too drunk to fight and the Revenge was quickly disabled. Anne and Mary however refused to surrender and faced off against the enemy crew, but were only able to hold them off for a short time.

The two were sentenced to death in Jamaica but were given a stay of execution as both claimed to be pregnant. Mary died in prison, and Anne’s ultimate fate is unknown.

WAAF Intelligence Officer

“A WAAF intelligence officer debriefs a bomber crew following an operation.”

Source: Imperial War Museum

Monica Lin Brown

Monica Lin Brown is a United States Army medic who became the second woman since World War II to receive the Silver Star, the United States’ third-highest medal for valour.

Brown was awarded the medal for her actions in Afghanistan in April 2007 where her convoy was hit by a roadside bomb. Brown braved heavy gunfire to drag soldiers to safety from a burning Humvee and used her body to shield the wounded while mortar rounds fell nearby. Her sergeant who was providing covering fire said that he saw enemy bullets “literally missing her by inches”.

Five US soldiers owe their lives to her actions.

Margaret Corbin

Margaret Corbin was a woman who fought in the American Revolutionary War during which she manned a cannon with her husband, John.

Margaret and John were married in 1772 and three years later when the war began John enlisted in the First Company of Pennsylvania Artillery. Margaret chose to accompany John and assisted him in his work as a matross, loading and firing cannons.

On November 16, 1776 the pair fought in the defense of Fort Washington, where 600 American soldiers fought 4000 Hessian troops in the service of the British. During an assault by the Hessians, John was killed and Margaret took his place operating the cannon. She continued to fire the cannon repeatedly until her arm, chest, and jaw were hit by enemy fire.

Following the battle Margaret was left disabled from her injuries, however in 1779 she became the first woman to receive a military pension from Congress. She was enrolled in the Corps of Invalids and became part of the garrison at West Point, New York. Discharged in 1783, she lived in Westchester County, New York, until her death in 1800 aged 48.

[Read more about Margaret Corbin]

Tarenorerer

Tarenorerer, also known as ‘Walyer’ was a Tasmanian resistance leader in the early 18th century.

In her teens Tarenorerer was abducted by Aborigines who sold her to European sealers on the Bass Strait Islands where she lived for several years. During this time she became proficient in speaking English, and also learned how to use firearms.

In 1828 Tarenorerer escaped and returned to northern Tasmania, where she assembled warbands of both men and women from disenfranchised Aboriginal groups. She trained her forces to use muskets and how to attack enemies when they were vulnerable during reloading.

Her forces launched raids on European settlers (and possibly rival Aboriginal groups as well), making a point of killing their livestock. She was known for directing attacks from high ground, from which she would yell abuse at settlers and dare them to attack.

The raids lasted for two years until Tarenorerer’s capture in 1830. She attempted escape but failed and was kept in isolation for fear she would incite revolt. She died in captivity from influenza on 5th June,1831.

[Read more about Tarenorerer]

Amanirenas

Amanirenas was a kandake, or queen mother, of the Kingdom of Kush in northeast Africa from between c. 40 B.C to 10 B.C.

When in 24 B.C. the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar demanded taxes from the Kushites, Amanirenas responded by leading an army of 30,000 men into Roman-controlled Egypt.

Amanirenas was noted for leading from the front, fighting side-by-side with her own soldiers. She was blinded in one eye after she was wounded by a Roman.

Her initial campaign was hugely successful, defeating three Roman cohorts and sacking a number of Roman forts across southern Egypt. As a further insult Amanirenas had several statues of Caesar defaced or destroyed.

The war continued for three years, with the Kushites being driven back by the Romans, but at a heavy cost to both sides.The eventual peace treaty favoured the Kushites, granting them land and an exemption from future taxation.

Mary

“Mary, a pilot of the Air Transport Auxiliary, in her gear and Spitfire, c. 1944”

Source: Demons

The Mino

The Mino, or “Our Mothers”, were an all-female military regiment of the Dahomey Kingdom in western Africa during the 17th to 19th centuries. They were initially established as a royal bodyguard armed with muskets. They were later developed into a fully-fledged militia who were deployed in Dahomey’s war against the neighbouring kingdom of Savi in 1727.

The Mino came to be a semi-sacred order, recruited from foreign captives, Dahomian free women and the king’s own wives. Subject to intense physical training and armed with Danish guns, the Mino developed a reputation as disciplined but ferocious fighters who beheaded their enemies on the battlefield.

By the mid-19th century the regiment numbered in the thousands and made up a third of the Dahomey army. In 1890 the Mino were deployed in the First Franco-Dahomean War. The French sustained heavy losses to the Mino and French Foreign Legionnaires later wrote of the “incredible courage and audacity” of the ‘Dahomey Amazons’.

Despite this, Dahomey’s forces were ultimately crushed by the French use of machine guns, cannons and cavalry. The last Mino is believed to have been a woman named Nawi who died in 1979.

Agustina de Aragón

Agustina de Aragón was a heroine of the Spanish War of Independence and the Peninsular War against France. She is most famous for her bravery at the Siege of Zaragoza.

In 1808, Zaragoza was one of the last cities in northern Spain not to have fallen to the forces of Napoleon and was ill-prepared for a siege. Agustina, a civiilian at the time, was present during the French attack of the Portillo gateway. Broken by the French onslaught, the Spanish began to retreat. With the French troops just a few yards away, Agustina ran forward, loaded a cannon and lit the fuse, shredding a wave of attackers at point blank range. Inspired by her act of bravery, the Spanish forces rallied and assisted her in repelling the attackers.

While this heroic defense bought time for Zaragoza, the siege was only broken for a matter of weeks, after which the French returned and this time were successful in taking the city. Agustina was captured and saw her own son killed by French guards. She later mounted a daring escape and became a low-level rebel leader for the guerrilleros, harassing the French with hit-and-run raids.

Her forces joined the alliance against the French led by the Duke of Wellington. The only female officer in Wellington’s army, Agustina eventually rose to the rank of Captain and acted as a front line battery commander at the Battle of Vitoria, which led to the French being driven out of Spain. 

Following the war she married and later in life became a familiar sight in Zaragoza as a respectable old lady wearing medals. She died in 1857 aged 71.

Elizabeth Ann Rowe

“On 28 May 1980 Midshipman Elizabeth Ann Rowe became the first of 55 women to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy, the first in the Academy’s long history. Photo from the 1980 “The Lucky Bag,” Navy Department Library.”

Source: Naval Historical Foundation