Women, Armies, and Warfare in Early Modern Europe

John A. Lynn II examines the important roles of women who campaigned with armies from 1500 to 1815.

John A. Lynn II (Author)

9780521722377, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 1 September 2008

252 pages, 25 b/w illus.
22.6 x 15 x 1.8 cm, 0.34 kg

' … examines the role of women who campaigned with armies from 1500–1815 and argues that their contribution was integral to the pillage economy that kept troops in the field.' Annual Bulletin of Historical Literature

Women, Armies, and Warfare in Early Modern Europe examines the important roles of women who campaigned with armies from 1500 to 1815. This included those notable female individuals who assumed male identities to serve in the ranks, but far more numerous and essential were the formidable women who, as women, marched in the train of armies. While some worked as full-time or part-time prostitutes, they more generally performed a variety of necessary gendered tasks, including laundering, sewing, cooking, and nursing. Early modern armies were always accompanied by women and regarded them as essential to the well-being of the troops. Lynn argues that, before 1650, women were also fundamental to armies because they were integral to the pillage economy that maintained troops in the field.

1. Situating the story: armies, communities, and women
2. Camp women: prostitutes, 'whores', and wives
3. Women's work: gendered tasks, commerce, and the pillage economy
4. Warrior women: cultural phenomena, intrepid soldiers, and stalwart defenders.

Subject Areas: Gender studies: women [JFSJ1], Military history [HBW], Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900 [HBLL], Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH], European history [HBJD]