Before Wonder Woman, there were thousands of real female warriors all over the world that paved the way for strong independent women of today. These female warriors used their strength (both physical and mental) to join wars, rebellions, and battles during times when women were largely undervalued. What we’ve learned from reading about all these fierce ladies is: Do not underestimate women!
The Onna-Bugeisha: The Japanese Female Samurai
Today, samurai warriors are usually thought of as being men, but there was a group of female samurai before these men known as Onna-bugeisha. They fought alongside their male counterparts in battle and were held to the same standards.
Tomoe Gozen was one particularly badass female samurai who organized battles with her battlefield talent and intelligence. She specialized in katana fighting and horseback riding. Eventually, her skills and fearlessness earned her the title of general. The Onna-Bugeisha are the picture of strength and bravery. Women rock!
Ana Nzinga: The Protector
Ana Nzinga was a queen of the African state now known as Angola in the early 1600s. She protected her people against rival attacks by forming alliances with Portugal. Eventually, her allies turned on her and she escaped to another kingdom where she slowly rebuilt her army from runaway slaves and African soldiers.
She finally organized a peace treaty with Portugal. This queen used intelligence, planning, and perseverance to bring peace to her people. She used her position of power and spent her entire life fighting for peace for Angola.
Khutulun: The Wrestler Princess
Khutulun was the great-great-granddaughter of Ghengis Khan and made a name for herself as a wrestler of great strength. In the 13th century, no man or woman could beat this “wrestler princess”.
She made lots of money wrestling, but also fought alongside her father on the battlefield. Marco Polo compared her speed on the battlefield to a hawk with its prey. A dominant wrestler, talented horseback rider, and fearless fighter; what can’t this woman do?
Rani Velu Nachiyar: The Tamil Warrior
Rani Velu Nachiyar was one of the first women to join the fight against British colonialism in India. When she was just a child she learned to use weapons, practice martial arts, and shoot a bow and arrow.
If that’s not impressive enough, she also formed an army to avenge her husband and daughter’s deaths and successfully destroyed her enemies. She was an influential fighter for India and an inspiration to women everywhere!
Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc is perhaps one of the most famous women warriors in history. She convinced the men in charge to let her command a French army with no military training.She was a natural military leader, leading French troops against the English to victory.
As she collected victories, she gained more and more respect as a military leader. In the Hundred Years’ War, she disguised herself as a man for an entire year, fighting bravely alongside her troops. She was captured and killed at only 19 years old, but she is now regarded as a patron saint of France.
