This Is My Design

Thomas Benjamin Kennington, Pandora, 1908

By james.from.mars

woodland_mum

“She arrived in the Vichy region of France in August 1941 under the cover story of being a war correspondent for the New York Post newspaper. In Toulouse, she established a resistance network called HECKLER, which gathered information about German troop movements and helped downed British pilots escape to safety, then she traveled to Lyon, where she helped coordinate activities of the French Resistance. Hall was forced underground after America entered the war, but continued operating in France for another 14 months. She became adept at changing her appearance on a moment’s notice, and was known by multiple aliases. “To a certain extent, was invisible,” says Craig Gralley, author of Hall of Mirrors: Virginia Hall: America’s Greatest Spy of World War II. “She was able to play on the chauvinism of the Gestapo at the time. None of the Germans early in the war necessarily thought that a woman was capable of being a spy.”

Hall’s extraordinary effectiveness amazed the SOE commanders and helped change their minds about women operating in combat zones; twelve months after Hall began working undercover, the SOE finally decided to send more female agents into the field. Her efficiency also drew attention from the enemy forces, however, and it wasn’t long before the Gestapo was on the hunt for "the Limping Lady,” who they knew only from a composite sketch. Their internal communications declared: “She is the most dangerous of all Allied spies. We must find and destroy her.” With Gestapo agents — including notorious investigator Klaus Barbie, who would later be awarded the Iron Cross for torturing and executing thousands of resisters — closing in on her after the Germans seized control of Vichy France in November 1942, Hall was forced to flee to Spain.”

Hussite female soldiers - Zealous and ferocious

In the early 15th century, a theologian named Jan Hus advocated for reform within the Catholic Church. In 1415, he was arrested and burned at the stake for heresy. This triggered a revolt in Bohemia, present-day Czech Republic, and marked the beginning of the Hussite wars, the Hussites being the ones who followed the teachings of Jan Hus. 

The doctrine of the moderate Hussites could be summed by the Four Articles of Prague:

“-The word of God should be preached freely

 -Communion should be administered in both kinds (i.e., both bread and wine, rather than bread only) to laypersons as well as to clerics,

 -Worldly possessions of the clergy should be abolished

-Public sins should be exposed and punished.”

The radical Hussites wanted more complete social changes, such as for instance stripping the nobles of their power.

Women were actively involved in the Hussite movement and fought in the ranks. The Hussite leader Jan Žižka employed anyone who was willing to fight, male or female. Multiple reasons drew women to this movement. First of all a desire for a spiritual quest and being closer to God. Secondly, though the preachers weren’t advocating gender equality, they offered opportunities for women to be involved in public and religious life. They furthermore disapproved the tendency to regard women as sexual objects only.

In 1420, open conflict began between the Hussite and King Sigismund of Hungary. According to chronicler Lawrence of Březová, whose work is considered reliable by historians, women participated in digging a protective moat around Prague. He also tells that Hussites, including women, gathered “burning and destroying churches, monasteries, vicarages and conquering and burning castles, towns and fortresses”. 

On may 7, the main Prague castle was surrendered to King Sigismund. Jan Žižka led the Hussites on a march to Prague. Many women, equipped with lances and maces, went with him. In other instances, women worked to rebuild fortifications. They also acted on their own initiative and removed enemy sympathizers from areas where they could do damage.

Women also fought in the first major battle of the revolution at Vítkov Hill.  Lawrence of Březová tells how three Hussite women saved the day against a larger army, one of them ignoring her male comrades who wanted to retreat and went out from behind the defensive wall: 

“And when the enemy wanted to ascend the wall made of stone and earth, two women and a virgin with sixteen men, who remained in the fortress, manfully defended it with stones and pikes, because they had no arrows, catapults, nor powder. Therefore one of these women, although unarmed, overcame the strategy of the males. Not wanting to withdraw her feet from where she stood, she said: “It is not fitting for a faithful Christian to retreat before Antichrist”. And fighting manfully she was killed and gave up her spirit”.

This battle ended in a Hussite victory. In general, the Hussite women were often accused of being the most ferocious and zealous fighters and refused to spare their enemies.

In the same year, Hungarian troops captured 156 Hussite women with their hair cut, armed with swords and stones and wearing male clothes. Another contemporary, Andrew of Brod wrote that Hussite women rode their horses like men, fought like them and were only found to be female after being wounded and disarmed. In 1422, the Hussite women fought openly alongside the men. The last references to Hussite women in battle dates from 1428. 

Here’s the link to my Ko-Fi if you want to support me.

Bibliography:

“Hussite wars”, Encyclopaedia Britannica

Klassen John, Paces Cynthia, “Hussite wars, women in”, in: Higham Robin, Pennington Reina (ed.), Amazons to fighter pilots, biographical dictionary of military women, vol.1

Klassen John, “Women and religious reform in medieval Bohemia”

(Marie-Antoinette Lix in uniform)

Marie-Antoinette Lix - Heroine of the Franco-Prussian war

Marie-Antoinette Lix (1839-1909) was born in Colmar to a military family. Her father had served in emperor Napoleon I’s army and taught her military skills. She excelled in horse-riding, fencing and shooting, After studying in a religious institution, she worked for a prestigious family in Poland.

In 1863, an insurrection against the Russian presence broke out in Poland. Marie-Antoinette joined the fight against the Russians and became lieutenant of the Polish uhlans. She was, however, captured and was granted freedom only because she was French and had to promise to never come back to Poland. She thus returned to her homeland in 1866 and worked for the postal services. 

The Franco-Prussian war began on July 19, 1870. Marie-Antoinette was determined to fight for her country, but was denied admission in the regular troops. She thus decided to join the Franc-tireurs ( French for “free shooters”), irregular soldiers deployed by France. She rose to the rank of lieutenant and was ultimately named Commander of the Franc-tireurs corps of the Vosges. She notably distinguished herself during the battle of Bourgonce on October 6, 1870 and tended to the wounded after the fighting was done.

Marie-Antoinette wasn’t the only woman to fight openly among the Franc-tireurs. If some women had followed their husbands as nurses, others fought actively. A certain Madame N. became a sublieutenant in her husband’s company, a company in the Jura was also led by a female lieutenant. Women also fought side by side with their husbands on October 13,1870 at Rambervilliers and defended the barricades and their children at Pouilly (October 30, 1870). They also followed the army as sutlers and on many occasions risked their lives to rescue soldiers on the field. Some of them found themselves engaged in fighting and were decorated for their bravery.

Explorer and author Jeanne Dieulafoy (1851-1916) also fought alongside her husband. Another notable female soldier was Marie Favier (born in 1843) who joined the Army of the Vosges as a volunteer and rose to the grade of sublieutenant. She was gifted a saber at Autun in December 1870 in recognition of her courage. 

(Portrait of Marie Favier in uniform)

(Marie Favier’s saber)

After the French defeat, Marie-Antoinette went back to civilian life. In recognition for her actions, a sword of honor was commissioned for her by the ladies of Colmar and Strasbourg.

(Marie-Antoinette Lix’s sword of honor)

 She wrote four patriotic novels and was finally admitted to a public hospital in 1898 where she died in 1909 at the age of 70. 

References:

“Des cantinières et des femmes héroïques en 1870-71″

Dirou Armel, “Les francs-tireurs pendant la guerre de 1870-1871”

Fleurence L. H., “La geste passionnée de Marie-Antoinette Lix”

Kraft Olivier, J'accuse Gambetta et les républicains

“MME. JANE DIEULAFOY DEAD.; Explorer and Author Fought Franco-Prussian War”

“Marie-Antoinette Lix”, Musée des Armées

“Marie-Antoinette Lix, la femme soldat”, Colmar, la mémoire des pierres

Grace O’Malley - Terror of the seas

Gráinne Ní Mháille, more often called Grace O’Malley (circa 1530–1603), also nicknamed as Gráinne Mhaol (“the bald Grace”) because she kept her hair short, was an Irish pirate.

Grace’s father was a powerful chieftain who owned a large fleet for both trading and raiding. In 1546, she was married to Donal-an-Cogahaidh (Donal of the Battles), heir apparent of the O’Flahertys of Ballinahinch, thus linking their two powerful families. Grace gave birth to a daughter and two sons, but her husband died in battle. She avenged him, leading the O’Flahertys in a raid during which she showed great courage and captured her enemies’ island bastion.

Irish law, however, forbade her to take the clan’s leadership and her husband’s cousin succeeded him. Grace took the O’Flaherty men that were still loyal to her and returned to her father’s territory. She then began her career as a pirate and quickly established a reputation as a skilled admiral, using her knowledge of the coves and reefs of western Ireland. She raided merchant fleets in the seas between Scotland, England and the Continent. Grace was so successful that she even managed to recruit men from enemy clans.

Grace then strengthened her territory by marrying , another important chieftain: Richard-an-Iarainn,”Richard-In-Iron”, Burke. It was said that she stipulated that the marriage was for a year only and that each party would then be able to withdraw if needed. She reportedly waited until she had control of his lands, took over his castle and shouted from the battlements “I dismiss you!”. The two nonetheless remained married, at least in name only.

Grace and Richard had a son together, named Tibbott-ne-Long (”Toby of the ships”) because a was born at sea. The day after Grace had given birth, her ship was reportedly attacked by Turkish corsairs. Her men were overwhelmed and called for her. She got out of bed and said “May you be seven times worse in one year, seeing you can’t manage for even one day without me”. She then grabbed two blunderbusses and fired them at the Turkish, saying “Take this from an infidel hand!” She then managed to capture the enemy ship.

In 1577, she was captured by the Great Earl of Desmond, but was released 18 months later, with the condition that she would help to curb her husband who was involved in a rebellion. She, however, took advantage of the situation to join forces with him.

Richard died in 1583. Grace pursued her activities, but was captured again in 1586 and freed when her son-in-law exchanged himself for her. Her son Owen was later murdered by Richard Bingham, the British governor of Connacht. Grace rose against him, calling on Scottish mercenaries. She led deadly ambushes, appearing and disappearing as she came.

In 1592, Bingham raided her territory at Clare Island and captured her fleet. She escaped to Ulster where she took refuge with the local clans. Grace decided to petition queen Elizabeth I. In July 1593, she sent a letter asking that her two surviving sons might hold their lands by the right of English law. She also pleaded the queen to “grant her some reasonable maintenance for the little time she has to live”. She promised in return to “invade with sword and fire all your Highness enemies”. The queen sent her 18 “Articles of Interrogatory” that Grace filled. 

She was then summoned to Greenwich Palace. The queen reportedly offered her a fancy handkerchief. Grace used it to whip her nose and then threw it into the fire. A courtier called her on her behavior, saying that in England no one threw handkerchiefs into the fire but she answered: “ What? You save a dirty piece of cloth? The queen may do this, but not I”.

Elizabeth granted her the pension and asked that her son Tibbott-ne-Long, who was held by Bingham, should be set free. In 1595, Bingham was recalled in disgrace. So Grace, who was at that time more than 60, went back to pirating. She ultimately remembered her commitment to the queen and put her son Tibbott-ne-Long in charge of her fleet, asking him to fight for Elizabeth. She died the same year as the queen, in 1603.

Bibliography:

Druett Joan, She-captains, heroines and hellions of the sea

Sjoholm Barbara, The pirate queen: in search of Grace O’Malley and other legendary women of the sea

Sook Ducombe Laura, Pirate women, the princesses, prostitutes and privateers who ruled the seven seas

Joan of Arc appreciation post. 1. by Paul Antoine de la Boulaye. 2. by Albert Lynch. 3. by Gilbert Anthony Pownall 4. by Sir John Everett Millais.

You see, I've come to burn your kingdom down

okay: joancore

Oh, to be a bad ass woman with swords and daggers!

Two women fencing, ca. 1885. Tintype. | src George Eastman Museum

Paul Antoine de la Boulaye - Femme à l'épée (1909) (detail)

“ “When we women too are armed and trained, we will be able to prove to all men that we have hands and feet and hearts like yours. And though we may be delicate and soft, some men who are delicate are also strong, and some who are coarse and rough are cowards. Women have not yet realized this, for if they should decide to do so, they would be able to fight you until death.”-Veronica Franco, 1546–1591, Venetian courtesan and writer.

This portrait is by Tintoretto, during her lifetime, and she writes about having it painted, so I’m deliberately using it as being most likely the way she wanted to be known. “

If you want to learn more about her check out her wiki page.

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