War is associated with men. It is – generally speaking – men who make war. History books about war are therefore usually about men. Kings, generals, officers and sometimes ordinary soldiers. But very rarely about women.
Even so, women – historically as well as today – are affected by war as much as men. It is therefore time to draw attention to the role of women during armed conflicts; the women who stayed at home to take care of home and children. The women who accompanied their husbands to war. Women who themselves participated in battle. Women who experienced horrors as prisoners of war.
We will meet queen Margrete who united Sweden, Denmark and Norway in a union and defense alliance, Emerentia Pauli, who led the defense of Gullberg’s fortress in Sweden when the Danes attacked, Kristina Gyllenstierna who held Stockholm against Christian II, Ulrika Eleonora Stålhammar who dressed as a man and enlisted in the army and Lovisa von Burghausen who became a Russian prisoner of war. We will learn about the lives of the women who followed their men into the field, those who stayed behind – and you can read about the Viking-age shieldmaidens here.
Join me in exploring a topic that usually gets far too little attention!