Joan of Arc is most famous for her transgressive role that subverted gender expectations, but she wasn’t the first. There are several women who led armies before Joan of Arc that you probably didn’t know about. Throughout the Medieval Period, war periodically threatened societies, and women often seized the opportunity to break free from patriarchal constraints and rise above them. Here are some of those women who led armies before Joan of Arc.
5. Matilda of Tuscany
As one of the most important governing figures of the Italian Middle Ages, Matilda of Tuscany reigned in a time of constant battles, political intrigues, and excommunications by the Church. Even before she became a ruler, she made it clear she would not be governed, repudiating her husband in a marriage arranged by her regent mother. But that’s not all. Matilda was intelligent and had a powerful army behind her, proving herself a formidable military leader, and frequently donned her armor to lead troops against Henry IV. By the 1100s, she was the most powerful ruler in Italy besides the Pope.
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4. Tomoe Gozen
Another one of the many women who led armies was Tomeo Gozen. While most of Japan’s fearsome samurai warriors were men, the legend of Tomeo Gozen shows that women are just as fearsome. Not only was she a female samurai, but she was an elite warrior as well, one that many feared. In fact, she quickly became one of Lord Minamoto’s trusted military leaders, a man who was a powerful clan general. Supposedly, Tomeo Gozen led 1,000 men into battle and carried a katana sword, which is usually reserved for men.
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3. Margaret of Anjou
Margaret of Anjou, the Lancastrian matriarch, is another woman who led armies before Joan of Arc. She was the wife of King Henry VI of England and contended for the throne during the Wars of the Roses. Interestingly enough, Margaret often assumed command of the Lancastrian forces herself and actually led the army to victory personally at the Second Battle of St. Albans in 1461.
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2. Lagertha
Lagertha was a warrior-queen of the legendary Viking King Ragnar Loðbrok. She bore him a son and two daughters, but even still, she fought frequently by her husband’s side in numerous battles and even ruled his kingdom as his equal. Even after their separation, Lagertha came to Ragnar’s aid, helping him win a civil war with a fleet of 200 ships. Stories also say that she killed her husband and ruled on her own.
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1. Khawla bint Al-Azwar
Last but not least is one of the best women who led armies before Joan of Arc, Khawla bint Al-Azwar, one of the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad, and daughter of the chief of the Banu Asad tribe. For most of her career, she concealed her identity out of fear of prejudice, but her ferocity and skill often led her to be mistaken for Khalid ibn Walid, the general of the entire military campaign. Her skills and effort have created a lasting impact. For example, the United Arab Emirates’ first female military staff training college is called Khawlah bint Al Azwar Training College.
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