FReeper Canteen ~ Part VIII of Women Warriors:European Women Leaders ~ March 9, 2004

GenderGap.com ^ | March 9, 2004 | LaDivaLoca

[LaDivaLoca]

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Part VIII: European Women
Leaders and Defenders

Throughout the middle ages noble women vigorously, and often successfully, defended their own or their male relatives, lands and castles.

Around 890 AD Thyra, Queen of Denmark, ruled in her husband's absence. She led her army against the Germans who invaded Sleswick and Jutland and over a 3 year period built the Danneverke, a great wall which was Denmark's major defense for centuries and portions of which still exist.

In 945 Igor of Russia was killed by the Drevelians during a tax revolt. His wife, Olga, raised an army which attacked Drevelian strongholds forcing them to cease their revolt and pay taxes.

In 1075 Emma, Countess of Norfolk held Norwich Castle against repeated attack and siege. When it became evident that the castle could not be taken the Countess was offered safe conduct for herself, her troops and her possessions to join her husband who had fled to France. She accepted and relinquished the castle.

Urraca, Queen of Aragon became sole ruler of Leon-Castile in 1094 when her husband died. She married Alfonso of Aragon in 1098 and spent the remaining 13 years of her reign at war with him to protect the inheritance rights of her son by her first marriage. Both she and her half-sister Teresa who ruled in Portugal personally led their armies into battle.

In Italy, Alrude, Countess of Bertinoro, led an army to break the siege of Aucona in 1172. She forced the Imperial forces to abandon the siege and engaged in several battles on her return to her castle.

Nicola de la Haye, was the daughter of Baron de la Haye, hereditary castellan of Lincoln. She successfully defended the town against several rebel raids and in 1216 was made sheriff of Lincolnshire.

Jeanne of Navarre (1271-1304) ruler of Navarre, Brie and Champagne and wife of King Philip the Fair of France led her army against that of the Count de Bar when he attempted to rebel against her. Although Philip was entitled by marriage to claim rulership over Jeanne's lands he never did so.

In 1334 Lady Agnes Randolph, wife of Patrick, Earl of Dunbar and March, held the castle of Dunbar against the forces of the Earl of Salisbury for more than 5 months. (Click on picture for link to additional information)

During the wars of Brittany in the mid 1300's, several women defended their lands on the battlefield. One of the best known was Jane, Countess of Montfort, who personally led her troops in defeating Charles of Blois at Hennebonne. She later fought a sea battle off the coast of Guernsey. Charles' wife, Jeanne de Penthierre, took to the battlefield to free him after he was taken prisoner by the English. Jeanne de Belleville, whose husband Oliver III of Clisson was beheaded by Charles of Blois, led her troops in sacking several towns loyal to Charles. She later obtained 3 ships from Edward III of England which she used to sink French merchant and military vessels. She kept her two young children with her on her military campaigns until she eventually retired and remarried.

Phillippa of Hainault, queen of Edward III of England, was named regent while he fought the French. In 1346 she led an army of 12,000 soldiers against the invading Scots and captured David Bruce, their king.

Margaret of Denmark (1353-1411) became ruler of Denmark and nominal Queen of Norway on the death of her son Olaf II in 1387. Denmark, Norway and Sweden were at war and Margaret led her armies against key cities and fortresses, eventually forcing the Swedes and Norwegians to withdraw from Denmark. She was elected Queen of Norway in 1388. The following year she was offered the Swedish throne after she defeated the Swedish king and took him prisoner. She persuaded the Diets of the three countries to accept her grand-nephew, Eric of Pomerania, as heir to their thrones. In 1397 she forged the Calmar Union, uniting the three nations under a single monarchy and becoming the most powerful ruler in Scandinavian history.

Jacqueline of Bavaria, Countess of Holland, Hainault and Zealand (1402-1437) became ruler of her lands when her father died on May 13, 1417. Her most powerful vassal, the lord of Arkell, rebelled against the rule of a 15 year old woman and led a revolt to overthrow her, laying siege to the fortified city of Gorkum. Jacqueline led an army of 300 ships and 6,000 knights to relieve Gorkum. She personally led her reserve troops in a charge against the castle gate and defeated Arkell's forces.

In 1429 Isabella of Lorraine led an army to free her husband Rene, Duke of Anjou, who had been imprisoned by the Duke of Burgundy. She later took to the field to fight for Rene's recognition as King of Sicily. Her daughter Margaret of Anjou (1430-1482) married Henry VI of England and defended the Lancastrians during the War of the Roses. Leading her armies she defeated both the Duke of York and the Earl of Warwick. In 1471 she landed at Weymouth expecting to join her forces with those of Jasper Tudor, but his army was delayed and Margaret's greatly outnumbered forces were defeated at Tewkesbury. She fled the battlefield on foot carrying her infant son and eventually escaped with him to Flanders. She raised a new army and returned to England where she fought for a number of years before being captured by the Yorkists, who allowed Louis XI of France to ransom her after obtaining her oath that she would cease fighting.

Isabella I of Castile (1451-1504), wife of Ferdinand of Aragon and queen regent of Spain, who sponsored Columbus' voyage and brought the Inquisition to her country, led her armies into battle early in her reign to protect her succession. Later during the conquest of the Moors, she sometimes rode into battle or mounted sieges with and without Ferdinand, but she was better known as a genius at military tactics and supplying armies in the field.

In 1524 the King of France and the Constable de Bourbon were at war. The King's armies laid siege to Marseilles. Ameliane du Puget, the governor's daughter, led a troop of women who broke the siege. They dug a mined trench known as the Tranchee des Dames which became the modern day Boulevard des Dames.

Lady Ann Cummingham led a cavalry troop of men and women in the Battle of Berwick on June 5, 1639.

In 1643 during the English Civil War, Blanche the Countess of Arundel, defended Wardour Castle against a Parliamentarian army while Brilliana the Countess of Harley, who was pregnant at the time, defended Brampton Castle against the King's army.

Next Tuesday, Part IX of Women Warriors:
Women Soldiers and Sailors

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Good Morning Your Honor!

[The Mayor]

and to you Sir!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thanks for your poem!

[Conspiracy Guy]

You are most welcome.

[tomkow6]

 

SALUTE!

 

[tomkow6]

Good morning, LaDiva! Good morning, Canteen Crew! Good morning, EVERYBODY!

GOOD  

MORNING

TROOPS!

Me for PREZ! VOTE !!!

[tomkow6]

 

Today's FEEBLE

YOKE:

Five cannibals get appointed as programmers in an IT company.
During the welcoming ceremony the boss says: "You're all part of our team
now. You can earn good money here, and you can go to the company canteen
for something to eat. So don't trouble the other employees". The cannibals
promise not to trouble the other employees.

Four weeks later the boss returns and says: "You're all working very hard,
and I'm very satisfied with all of you. One of our developers has
disappeared however. Do any of you know what happened to her?" The
cannibals disown all knowledge of the missing developer.

After the boss has left, the leader of the cannibals says to the others:
"Which of you idiots ate the developer?"

One of the cannibals raises his hand hesitantly, to which the leader of the
cannibals says: "You FOOL! For four weeks we've been eating team leaders,
managers, and project managers and no-one has noticed anything, and now
YOU ate one developer and it got noticed. So hereafter please don't eat a person who is working.

[tomkow6]

 

Chicagoland Weather

 

March 09, 2004
Chicago, IL
Sunrise	6:10 AM (CST)
Sunset	5:46 PM (CST)
Hrs. of Daylight	11 Hrs., 36 Mins

Currently
31°

Cloudy

	Hi: 38

	Lo: 24

5 Day Forecast

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

SUN

PM Showers

High:	47
Low:	31

Cloudy

High:	37
Low:	17

Sunny

High:	40
Low:	27

Showers/Wind

High:	45
Low:	34

Partly Cloudy

High:	39
Low:	27

[tomkow6]

COUNTDOWN TO OPENING DAY

27

[beachn4fun]

GOOD MORNING DIVA. Thanks for the history lesson. Gee, the guys think women are BAD today! How'd they like to face some of the women you've featured here?

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. Good morning to our

Military. And, our allies! Thank you for all you do. Thank you for doing what others refuse to do. Because of you the world is a safer place. Because of you, our children and grandchildren may one day travel without fear around the world. Because of you we are one step closer to Peace on Earth!

Before I have to get on with today's business, I leave you with my contribution to today's Humor Hour

One day, the president of the company came upon a young man who was expertly counting out a large wad of the firm's cash. The boss asked, "Where did you get your financial training, young man?" "Yale," the young man answered proudly. "Ah, a fellow Ivy Leaguer! What's your name?" "Yack Yackman."

(submitted by AJ Smargon in the Reader's Digest)

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Good Morning Canteen crew! Good morning troops! Thanks for all you do. Thank you for fighting for freedom!

Here are a couple of songs by my Dad's group...I hope you like them! Have a great day!

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

EARLY IN THE MORNING

[StarCMC]

	*HENRY, FREDERICK F. Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company F, 38th Infantry Regiment.  Place and date: Vicinity of Am-Dong, Korea, 1 September 1950.  Entered service at: Clinton, Okla.  Birth: Vian, Okla.  G.O. No.: 8, 16 February 1951.  Citation: 1st Lt. Henry, Company F, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action.  His platoon was holding a strategic ridge near the town when they were attacked by a superior enemy force, supported by heavy mortar and artillery fire. Seeing his platoon disorganized by this fanatical assault, he left his foxhole and moving along the line ordered his men to stay in place and keep firing. Encouraged by this heroic action the platoon reformed a defensive line and rained devastating fire on the enemy, checking its advance. Enemy fire had knocked out all communications and 1st Lt. Henry was unable to determine whether or not the main line of resistance was altered to this heavy attack. On his own initiative, although severely wounded, he decided to hold his position as long as possible and ordered the wounded evacuated and their weapons and ammunition brought to him. Establishing a l-man defensive position, he ordered the platoon's withdrawal and despite his wound and with complete disregard for himself remained behind to cover the movement. When last seen he was single-handedly firing all available weapons so effectively that he caused an estimated 50 enemy casualties. His ammunition was soon expended and his position overrun, but this intrepid action saved the platoon and halted the enemy's advance until the main line of resistance was prepared to throw back the attack. 1st Lt. Henry's outstanding gallantry and noble self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty reflect the highest honor on him and are in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the U.S. Army. HERNANDEZ, RODOLFO P. Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company G, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team.  Place and date: Near Wontong-ni, Korea, 31 May 1951.  Entered service at: Fowler, Calif.  Born: 14 April 1931, Colton, Calif.  G.O. No.: 40, 21 April 1962.  Citation: Cpl. Hernandez, a member of Company G, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy.  His platoon, in defensive positions on Hill 420, came under ruthless attack by a numerically superior and fanatical hostile force, accompanied by heavy artillery, mortar, and machine gun fire which inflicted numerous casualties on the platoon. His comrades were forced to withdraw due to lack of ammunition but Cpl. Hernandez, although wounded in an exchange of grenades, continued to deliver deadly fire into the ranks of the onrushing assailants until a ruptured cartridge rendered his rifle inoperative. Immediately leaving his position, Cpl. Hernandez rushed the enemy armed only with rifle and bayonet. Fearlessly engaging the foe, he killed 6 of the enemy before falling unconscious from grenade, bayonet, and bullet wounds but his heroic action momentarily halted the enemy advance and enabled his unit to counterattack and retake the lost ground. The indomitable fighting spirit, outstanding courage, and tenacious devotion to duty clearly demonstrated by Cpl. Hernandez reflect the highest credit upon himself, the infantry, and the U.S. Army. If there be any glory in war, let it rest on the shoulders of men like these" -- Audie Murphy Thank you to all the military heroes, past and present, who have given me my freedoms.  You are my heroes and I pray for God's blessings on you today.  You will not be forgotten.

Graphics and information from the Medal of Honor website.

[StarCMC]

Great thread Diva! HUGS!

[beachn4fun]

SIS!

Look what I found in the latest issue of RD.....

"Somebody complimented me on my driving today, " Mojo told her friend. "I found a note on my windshield that read, 'Parking Fine.'" Did someone steal your story?

(names changed to protect those devoid of humor)

[beachn4fun]

Good morning tom.......are you going to behave today and no going nakid in the Canteen? Or are you going to be a little stinker?

[beachn4fun]

EG. How's it going today?

[StarCMC]

Hey CG -- Good to see ya!

GREAT poem!

Roll Tide!!

[beachn4fun]

Good morning to you Mr. Tonk. A little something for you......

[Conspiracy Guy]

Roll Tide Roll! When is September?

CG

[tomkow6]