Anhotep I, Ancient Egyptian Warrior Princess, Hyksos War, “cleansed Egypt of the Hyksos”.
Queen Boudicca, led the Iceni Rebellion against Rome, 1st century.
Relief of two Roman gladiatrices found at Halicarnassus, Roman Empire
Hua Mulan, Tang Dynasty China, disguised herself as a man to fight in her father’s stead. Inspired the Disney movie “Mulan”.
The Trung Sisters, 1st Century Vietnam, rebelled against the Chinese Empire.
Joan of Arc, the Hundred Years War. Led the French to victory against the English.
Tomoe Gozen, 12th-13th century Samurai. The woodblock print below depicts her beheading the Samurai Moroshige of Musashi at the Battle of Awazu.
Matilda of Tuscany, Middle Ages, Investiture Conflict, personal bodyguard of the Pope.
The Isabella de Carazzi and Diambra de Pettinella Duel, circa 1552.
Julie d’Aubigny, 17th century swordsmen and opera singer. Considered one of the greatest duelists in history.
Mary Read and Anne Bonney, 17th/18th century pirates.
Elizabeth “Lady Bare Knuckles” Stokes, popular bareknuckle boxer in Britain, early 18th century. Fought both men and women, was also noted for her skill with the broadsword and cudgel.
Hannah Snell, Royal Marine, Seven Years War, disguised herself as a man.
Deborah Sampson, American Revolution, disguised herself as a man. Removed a musket ball from her thigh with a knife.
The “Petticoat Duel” between Almeria Braddock and Mrs. Elphinstone, circa 1792.
Nadezhda Andreyevna Durova, most heavily decorated soldier in the Russian Cavalry during the Napoleonic Wars.
Pine Leaf, Crow Nation War Chief, 19th century
Harriet Tubman, American Civil War, spy, army scout, and co-commander of Union forces during the Combahee River Raid.
Loretta Valsaquez, American Civil War, Confederacy. Disguised herself as a man.
Frances Lousia Clayton, disguised herself as a man to fight with her husband, Union Army, American Civil War.
Cathay Williams, 38th Infantry (Buffalo Soldiers) during the late 19th century. Disguised herself as a man.
“Stagecoach” Mary Fields, Old West icon, once shot a man in the bum in a gunfight after he called her a nigger.
The Dahomey Amazon’s, West Africa 19th century. The most feared warriors of the Kingdom of Dahomey. Their favorite pastime was to decapitate their captured enemies.
Princess Pauline Metternich and Countess Kielmannsegg Duel of 1892
One of many “Soldateras” during the Mexican Revolution
Captain Flora Sandes, World War I, English woman who fought in the Serbian Army. Won the Serbia’s highest honor (the Order of the Karađorđe’s Star) after leading her company on a successful assault despite being wounded by a grenade and in a bout of hand to hand combat.
Edith Gerrud, the Jiu Jitsu Suffragist
Spanish Civil War.
Lydia Litvyak, Soviet Air Force, World War II: First female fighter ace, first kill scored by a woman, highest scoring female fighter pilot with 16 kills. Heroine of the Soviet Union.
Nancy Wake, World War II, commanded a 7,000 man resistance group in France. Was tortured by the Gestapo for 4 days and never talked. On the flip side she was known for interrogating enemy spies and getting them to talk, then executing them.
The 46th Taman Guards Night Bomber Group, a Soviet all female bomber group during World War II. Nicknamed “The Night Witches” by the Germans because of their stealthy bombing tactics.
Partisan Fighter, World War II
Lyudmilla Pavlichenko, Soviet Sniper during World War II, deadliest female sniper with 309 kills. Heroine of the Soviet Union.
Mariya Oktyabrskaya, Soviet tank driver during World War II, Heroine of the Soviet Union.
Capt. Kim Campbell, US Air Force, A10 Warthog pilot during the Iraq War, the pictures speak for themselves.
Rukhsana Kausar, defended her family from a band of terrorists with an axe and a captured assault rifle.
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