March 8th is globally recognized as International Women’s Day and it celebrates and empowers women irrespective of ethnicity, nationality, race, colour, cultural, linguistic, social, economic or political status. Here are some brilliant women from history.
Artemisia I of Caria: Commander and Tactician
If you have seen the movie 300: Rise of an Empire, you no longer need an introduction for Artemisia. Born to King Lygdamis in the region of Halicarnassus, Artemisia was the queen of Caria. She played a vital role in the Battle of Salamis which occurred in 480 BCE. In the war, she fought for the Persians and left her mark in history as a legendary swordsman and a smart strategist. She was known for her conduct in battle and her wit. Herodotus of Halicarnassus and his report of the Battle of Salamis in his work, 'Histories', is the major source of her accomplishments in the Greco-Persian Wars. Other scholars like Polyaenus, Plutarch and Pausanias have also mentioned her. However, there is no mention in historical records after she accompanied Xerxes’ illegitimate sons to safety after the Battle of Salamis. Every record of Artemisia portrays her as a courageous and intelligent woman who was a precious resource to Xerxes on his conquest to invade Greece, excluding that of Thessalus, who portrayed her as a disreputable pirate and conspirator. In spite of all the controversies, Artemisia still remains a legendary warrior who inspires many today.
Grace O’ Malley: The Irish Pirate Queen
Grace O’ Malley was the daughter of Owen O’Malley, the captain who ruled Clew Bay on the West coast of Ireland. After her father died, she took control of the ships and became the captain of the clan. During those days, women were used as a means to establish the union through marriage to make men more powerful. But Grace subverted the whole notion. She married twice and twice did her power grow, and not of her husbands.
The story gets more interesting, her clan was one of the few who resisted the English invasion which was ordered and controlled by Queen Elizabeth I, who wished to extend the English control in Ireland. Grace plundered the English ships recklessly until the Queen sent Sir Richard Bingham to defeat her.
Even though she was brought down to her knees, she didn’t surrender. She used her wit and made a deal with Elizabeth I where she exchanged her services to England in return for releasing her son and returning her land back to her.
Till today, she is spoken of as the pirate queen who earned the Queen’s respect.
TRIỆU THỊ TRINH: A Symbol of Courage and Defiance
She was a woman warrior in Vietnam in the third century. During the Chinese occupation of Vietnam, she served as a symbol of strength, courage and resistance for her people. Being orphaned at a very young age, she was brought up by her brother in a small village occupied by the Chinese. All she dreamt of was her freedom from both the Chinese forces and those that pushed women into the domestic realm.
According to legend, she was over nine feet tall, a great leader who rode on elephants and marched towards the freedom that she desired for her and for her people. Her fearsome reputation preceded her that her enemies said that it was better to fight with a tiger than to fight with her. Ultimately, her rebel army was defeated by the Chinese forces, and she drowned herself and died. Today, she is remembered as a great leader who fought for freedom against the foreign rule and challenged the status quo and the patriarchy systems.
Lionhearted women who lived before us left us some valuable lessons. Now, it is time for us to follow in their footsteps and leave our footprints for the younger generation. This Woman’s Day, let’s celebrate the women we are and the women we will be in the future.
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