-
1332 BCE
The Black Queen of Nubia
The Black Queen of Nubia is the first documented female leader to defeat a large power such as, Alexander the Great. -
1300 BCE
African Female Army
In 13 century BC Ramses II of Egypt documented the first account of female armies known to man. He crossed these armies in Africa. -
300 BCE
Queen Septia Balt Zappi
Queen Septia Balt Zappi had Palmyran troops which control much of Egypt, Syria and other lands, while simultaneously fighting off the crusades. -
246 BCE
Triu Thi Trinh
Triu Thi Trinh lead a Vietnamese rebellion with an upwards of 1000 mixed gender troops, fighting more than 30 battles against the Chinese. -
100 BCE
Celtic Women
Celtic women fought against the Romans killing more than 100,000 roman troops. -
Oct 9, 1400
Hua Mu-Lan
Hua Mu-Lan spent 10 years in the Chinese army fighting in over 100 battles as a man. -
Period: Jan 1, 1429 to May 10, 1429
Joan of Arc
One of the most infamous women of war is Joan of Arc, an 18 year old girl who lead a french regime against the British who was eventually executed for her opinions against the Catholic Church. -
Jan 1, 1500
Queen of the West
Grace O'Malley dubbed the "Queen of the West", impersonated men and took to both land and sea, raiding ships between Ireland and Spain. -
Christopher Columbus's contribution
In the late 1700's Christopher Columbus documented accounts of women soldiers in the battles between the Pizarro's and the Inca's. -
Period: to
American Revolution
Women were officially recognized as "helpers" in the military doing jobs such as, cleaning, cooking and nursing soldiers back to health. -
Battle of Waterloo
Numerous bodies of women were found among the dead soldiers at The Battle of Waterloo, one being Mary Dixon who had fought as a man for more than 16 years. -
Period: to
Civil War
As many as 400 women participated as "men" including Sarah Edmon serving as a male nurse, dispatch rider and spy. After the war was over Sarah accepted the first documented veterans assistance for women. -
Period: to
Women in the Workforce
Women continued to work as nurses and caretakers in the military, but as more men left for war women's wartime jobs became factory and manufacturing workers while men were away at war. -
WWII
During the last two years of WWII the United States Federal Government officially recognized women as soldiers and nurses. -
Department of Defense
In 1928 the Department of Defense released a statement saying that "All women will have the same rights, privileges and benefits as all militarized men." -
Edith Rogers
Congresswoman Edith Rogers enacted a bill after the bombing of Pearl Harbor to allow for all women's army corps.