Who Is The Greatest Female Warrior In History?

While women have traditionally been stereotyped as the “gentler” sex, history is witness to the fact that many women across cultures and centuries have played major roles in battles and wars. Even though the overwhelming majority of warriors have historically been male, we have to give due credit to the female warriors who fought in battles alongside their male counterparts even in the most difficult situations. Along with the tough war situations, these brave ladies also to challenge the strict gender roles prevalent in society. Among the many female warriors known for their bravery, who is the greatest female warrior in history? Read on to discover!

1. Lozen

Birthday: 1840

Born In: United States

Died On: 17 June 1889

Famous As: Warrior

A warrior and prophet of the Chihenne Chiricahua Apache, Lozen was the sister of Victorio, a prominent chief. She was a skilled warrior who was able to use her powers to learn the movements of the enemies. At the end of the Apache Wars, she was taken a prisoner and died soon after.

2. Boudica

Also Known As: Boudicca, Boadicea, Buddug

Birthday: 30

Born In: Britannia

Died On: 61

Famous As: Queen of the Iceni Tribe

A queen of the British Celtic Iceni tribe, Boudica led an uprising against the conquering forces of the Roman Empire in AD 60 or 61. After the death of her husband, she had to take charge to defend her territories from enemy rulers.  She is considered a British folk hero for her brave albeit unsuccessful attempt.

3. Joan of Arc

Also Known As: Jeanne d’Arc, The Maid of Orléans, Saint Joan of Arc

Birthday: 06 January 1412

Born In: Domrémy-la-Pucelle, France

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Died On: 30 May 1431

Famous As: Saint

Born in a peasant family in France, Joan of Arc grew up to be a bold woman who played a major role during the Lancastrian phase of the Hundred Years’ War. She went to the Siege of Orléans as part of a relief army. Owing to her bravery, she is considered a heroine of France.

4. Lyudmila Pavlichenko

Also Known As: Lyudmila Mikhailovna Pavlichenko, Lyudmila Mikhailovna Belova

Birthday: 12 July 1916

Born In: Bila Tserkva, Ukraine

Sun Sign: Cancer

Died On: 27 October 1974

Famous As: Sniper

Nicknamed “Lady Death,” Lyudmila Pavlichenko was a Soviet sniper in the Red Army during World War II. She is credited with 309 confirmed kills and is considered the most successful female sniper in recorded history. During the later part of her career, she trained other Red Army snipers.

5. Nakano Takeko

Birthday: 12 July 1847

Born In: Edo, Japan

Sun Sign: Cancer

Died On: 10 October 1868

Famous As: Warrior

A Japanese female warrior of the Aizu Domain, Nakano Takeko fought during the Boshin War. She served as the leader of an ad hoc corps of female combatants during the Battle of Aizu. She fought brandishing a naginata, a Japanese weapon. She died in battle and became a folk heroine.

6. Grace O’Malley

Also Known As: Gráinne Mhaol, Granuaile, Gráinne Ní Mháille

Birthday: 1533

Born In: Umhaill, Ireland

Died On: 18 June 1603

Famous As: Pirate

A well-known historical figure in 16th-century Irish history, Gráinne Ní Mháille was the daughter of Eoghan Dubhdara Ó Máille. Following the death of her father, she took over the active leadership of the lordship. She was twice married and had at least four children. Her first husband was murdered and she sought revenge by killing his murderers.

7. Rani Lakshmibai

Also Known As: Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi

Birthday: 19 November 1828

Born In: Varanasi, India

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Died On: 18 June 1858

Famous As: Queen of Jhansi State

An Indian queen of the Maratha princely state of Jhansi in North India, Rani Lakshmibai was one of the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Following the death of her husband, who had been the Maharaja of Jhansi, she assumed control of the army and became an active participant in the Indian Rebellion against the British.

8. Zenobia

Also Known As: Septimia Zenobia

Birthday: 240

Born In: Palmyra, Syria

Died On: 274

Famous As: Queen

A third-century queen of the Palmyrene Empire in Syria, Zenobia became the regent of her son Vaballathus following the death of her husband, Odaenathus. As she held the de facto power, she launched an invasion that brought most of the Roman East under her rule. She was a cultured monarch and maintained a stable administration.

9. Khutulun

Also Known As: Aigiarne, Aiyurug, Khotol Tsagaan, Ay Yaruqhutulun, Aigiarne, Aiyurug, Khotol Tsagaan, Ay Yaruq

Birthday: 1260

Born In: Chagatai Khanate

Died On: 1306

Famous As: Kaidu’s daughter

Mongol noblewoman and wrestler, Khutulun was the most famous daughter of Kaidu, a cousin of Kublai Khan. She often accompanied her father on military campaigns. She was her father’s favorite child and he often sought advice and political support from her. She died in 1306.

10. Artemisia I of Caria

Born In: Halicarnassus, Greece

Famous As: Queen

A queen of the ancient Greek city-state of Halicarnassus, Artemisia I of Caria fought as an ally of Xerxes I, King of Persia during the second Persian invasion of Greece. As a leader, she commanded her own fleet of five ships at the naval battle of Artemisium and in the naval Battle of Salamis.

11. Fu Hao

Also Known As: Lady Hao, Mu Xin

Born In: China

Died On: 1200

Famous As: Military general

One of the many wives of King Wu Ding of the Shang dynasty, Fu Hao  also served as a military general and high priestess. However, since she lived before the invention of paper, most of the records of her military achievements have perished. It is believed from the existing evidence that she played important roles in both ritual matters and battles.

12. Trưng Trắc

Also Known As: Trung Trac

Birthday: 13 September 14

Born In: Mê Linh, Vietnam

Sun Sign: Virgo

Died On: 05 March 43

Famous As: Military Leader

Vietnamese military leaders Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị were two sisters who ruled for three years. The Trung Sisters rebelled against the first Chinese domination of Vietnam in AD 40. The women were highly educated and excelled in both literature and martial arts. They both died in battle, achieving legendary status as national heroines.

13. Lady Trieu

Also Known As: Triệu Thị Trinh, Bà Triệu

Birthday: 08 November 226

Born In: Jiuzhen, Vietnam

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Died On: 248

Famous As: Warrior

A female warrior in 3rd century Vietnam, Triệu Thị Trinh fought hard to resist the Chinese state of Eastern Wu during its occupation of Vietnam. A brave and ambitious woman, she led her army against the Chinese troops. She is a celebrated heroine in Vietnamese folklore.

14. Tamar of Georgia

Also Known As: Tamar the Great

Birthday: 1160

Born In: Mtskheta, Georgia

Died On: 18 January 1213

Famous As: Queen

The Queen of Georgia from 1184 to 1213, Tamar presided over the apex of the Georgian Golden Age. She was the first woman to rule Georgia in her own right. She was a member of the Bagrationi dynasty. She has been idealized and romanticized in  Georgian arts and historical memory.

15. Cynane

Birthday: 357

Born In: Greece

Died On: 323

Famous As: Military personnel

A half-sister to Alexander the Great, Cynane was the daughter of Philip II and Audata, an Illyrian princess. She was trained in “the arts of war” in the Illyrian tradition by her mother. She was widowed young and dedicated herself to the training of her daughter, Adea or Eurydice.