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Female Fighters

Battle between Greeks and Amazons

The 2nd cent. relief from Halicarnassus showing two female gladiators, Amazon and Achillia<br />
<br />
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiatrix

Marble relief from Halicarnassus, commemorating the release from service of two female gladiators, Amazon and Achillia<br />
<br />
British Museum

Roman statue believed to depict a female gladiator holding some form of blade weapon.<br />
<br />
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiatrix

Fourth-century AD mosaic from Villa del Casale, Sicily, of female athletes

Greek Amazons.<br />
<br />
From a book found by Olivier Dupuis, entitled "Erste Theil der Hoffhaltung des türckhischen Keysers und othomannischen Reichs" a translation" by Nikolaus Höniger from an earlier work(*). It was printed in 1596<br />
(*) The original title was "Estat de la court du Grant Turc, l'ordre de sa gendarmerie, et ses finances, avec ung brief discours de leurs conquestes depuis le premier de ceste race" and was published in 1542. The author, Antoine Geuffroy, was a knight of Saint John of Jerusalem. (http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k201042s)"

Roman de la Rose 1230AD

Roman de la Rose 1230AD

Roman de la Rose 1230AD

Roman de la Rose 1230AD

Roman de la Rose 1230AD

Ms I.33 late 13th century.

Livre des ansienes estoires 1285

Image taken from Smithfield Decretals [Decretals of Gregory IX].<br />
<br />
Originally published/produced in France?; 1300-1340

Peterborough Psalter, c. 1300

Judicial duel between man and woman taken from Talhofer 1467

Woman in combat from a 15th century Swiss Chronicle

Jeanne d'Arc, 15th century painting.<br />
<br />
http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_d%E2%80%99Arc

Agnes Hotot Dudley and The House of Dudleys of Northamptonshire

Louise Labé: A rope maker's daughter, ca 1542.<br />
<br />
Visit the great source: http://esfinges1.wix.com/e/apps/blog/women-fighters-from-history-louise-labe?fb_action_ids=10154066711115416&fb_action_types=og.likes<br />
<br />
Although her father was himself illiterate, he had Louise educated like her brothers in Classical and modern languages, and in fencing and equitation. <br />
<br />
Her half-brother François was a fencing master, and Louise was an accomplished fencer in her own right, as amply documented by contemporary writers. Indeed a number of poems praise her brilliant performances in the lavish tournament of 1542.

This is a picture of famous Gesche of Meiburg who in 1615 defended her city Braunschweig from the city walls, reportedly with a war sword, but often depicted with arquebusier and sometimes a proto-sabre of some form. She injured and killed many of the attackers and came to symbolize women's willingness to defend their cities, spread through broadsheets distributed throughout the 17th century. <br />
<br />
Women regularly took part in war in defensive actions to defend themselves, their homes and their towns, either side-by-side with men or when there were none present; on their own. Offensively they were normally restricted to supporting functions, but there are plenty of stories of women secretly taking part of crusades, jousting and also several noblewomen leading armies. The concept wasn't so extreme as queens from time to time had to serve this function, although it wasn't complication-free either. But as there were models from the highest ranks of society, these things mirrored down through various levels of society. <br />
<br />
Furthermore several women are also known to have received martial training. It was of course unusual and against the norm, but not forbidden and also fascinating because of this.<br />
<br />
Examples of this are e.g Mary of Pozzuoli:<br />
<br />
"From Petrarch to Cardinal Giovanni Colonna. 23 November 1343<br />
Of all the wonders of God,'who alone doeth great wonders,' he has made nothing on earth more marvelous than man. Of all we saw that day, of all this letter will report, the most remarkable was a mighty woman of Pozzuoli, sturdy in body and soul. her name is Maria, and to suit her name she has the merit of virginity. Though she is constantly among men, usually soldiers, the general opinion holds that she has never suffered any attaint to her chastity, whether in jest or earnest. Men are put off, they say, more by fear than respect.<br />
<br />
Her body is military rather than maidenly, her strength is such as any hardened soldier might wish for, her skill and deftness unusual, her age at its prime, her appearance and endeavor that of a strong man. She cares not for charms but for arms; not for arts and crafts but for darts and shafts; her face bears no trace of kisses and lascivious caresses, but is ennobled by wounds and scars. Her first love is for weapons, her soul defies death and the sword."<br />
<br />
Another example is Louise Labé, A rope maker's daughter, ca 1542<br />
<br />
"Although her father was himself illiterate, he had Louise educated like her brothers in Classical and modern languages, and in fencing and equitation. Her half-brother François was a fencing master, and Louise was an accomplished fencer in her own right, as amply documented by contemporary writers. Indeed a number of poems praise her brilliant performances in the lavish tournament of 1542."<br />
<br />
More fencing related we also have the wife of Lienhart Sollinger who travelled with him, arranging a Fechtschule in Straßburg in 1587, where she fought and both gave and received wounds.<br />
<br />
More reading on the topic can be found in Hacker's and Vining's "A Companion to Women's Military History"

Il pomo d'oro, the Golden Apple<br />
By Ludovici Ottavio Burnacini, 1667<br />
<br />
From an early 17th cent opera first performed in Vienna in 1668. It was so long it took two days to perform, and this is one of the 24 sets.<br />
<br />
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Il_pomo_d%27oro

Bare knuckle prize fighting<br />
by John Collet, 1768

Women practicing fencing. Embroidery. Dating unknown, but likely 1900s.

Angelo's Fencing-Academy, 1816

For the Esfinges ladies: On Lady Fencers by Myra Dane and Mary Howarth 1899.

"Les femmes et l'escrime" , gravure de Michelet d'aprés dessin de Draner 1889

Das historische Schaufechten des Wiener Fechtclubs Haudegen, 1895

Das historische Schaufechten des Wiener Fechtclubs Haudegen, 1895

Fechtmeister Sulivan und seine Schülerin Peto Aranka im Passagepanoptikum zu Berlin, 1897

Les Femmes de L'Avenir

Damen Fechten

Damen Schaufechten in Oxford, 1898

Damen-Turnier in Wien, Musikvereinsgebäude, 1884

Ladies' Fencers' Club New York.<br />
<br />
New York City - Healthful Diversion for Women - The Ladies Class of The Fencers' Club, in West Twenty-Fourth Street.<br />
<br />
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. Published March 31, 1888

Bare-knuckle boxing match on April 1884 between Hattie Stewart and Anna Lewis.

"The Boxing Baroness" from 1819, by Williams, Charles (London, active, 1797 - 1830). It represents one of the most remarkable early works of art dealing with the sport of boxing. Fashionably dressed in the mode of 1819, the etching depicts a woman in full pugilistic stance. Even more remarkable is that this etching portrays an actual boxer. Lady Barrymore, who was married to the Seventh Earl Barrymore. Both the Earl and his wife were amateur boxers. <br />
<br />
Lady Barrymore was widowed at quite an early age but continued to fight on alone. She is reported to have led quite a riotous life, dying of drink in Charles Court, Drury Lane, in 1832.<br />
<br />
http://www.fscclub.com/history/knuckle-e.shtml

Lady Boxers<br />
<br />
http://thegypsychef.co.uk/tag/female-boxing/

Black Friday 18th November 1910: This was the first time that Suffragette protests were met with violent physical abuse, however it was generally supported by the British population, who at the time were relatively opposed to women’s franchise. Two women died as a result of police violence, and around two hundred women were arrested.

Ju-Jitsu for Women trained at London School, early 1900s.

Mrs Garrud demonstrating her Ju-Jitsu skills against a ‘policeman’.

The Newest Suffragette Terror

The latest move of the militant suffragettes is to learn the art of jiu-jitsu with the object of resisting the police. Twenty-five of them are studying under an instructress, who mantains that some of her pupils have already punished rude males.<br />
<br />
New York Times, April 11, 1909

Edith Margaret-Garrud - The Suffragette that Knew Jiu-Jitsu. The Arrest. By Arthur Wallis Mills, originally published in 1910 in Punch Magazine and The Wanganui Chronicle.jpg

Hints To The Lady Fencer. 1906

New York City Fencers Mary McMillen & Jane Carlton-1934

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