Female Warriors, Vol. 1 (of 2): Memorials of Female Valour and Heroism, from the Mythological Ages to the Present Era.Clayton, Ellen C. (Ellen Creathorne)
History
Female Warriors, Vol. 1 (of 2): Memorials of Female Valour and Heroism, from the Mythological Ages to the Present Era.
Clayton, Ellen C. (Ellen Creathorne)
Amazons; Women -- Biography; Women soldiers
Most writers represent Artemisia as plunged in tears during her
widowhood; but there are some who, on the contrary, declare that she
made some important conquests at that time. Vitruvius relates that the
Rhodians, indignant that a woman should reign over Caria, despatched a
fleet to Halicarnassus to dethrone Artemisia. The queen commanded the
citizens to appear on the walls directly the Rhodians came in sight,
and to express, by shouts and clapping of hands, their readiness to
surrender. The enemy, falling into the trap, disembarked, and went with
all haste to the city, leaving their ships without even one man to
guard them.
Artemisia came out with her squadron from the little port, entered
the great harbour, and seized the Rhodian vessels. Putting her own
men on board she sailed to Rhodes, where the people, seeing their own
ships return adorned with laurel-wreaths, received them with every
demonstration of joy. No resistance was offered to the landing; and
Artemisia seized the city, putting to death the leaders of the people.
She caused a trophy to be erected, and set up two statues--one
representing the city of Rhodes, and the other an image of herself,
branding the former figure with a red-hot iron. Vitruvius says the
Rhodians were forbidden by their religion to destroy this memorial; so
they surrounded it by a lofty building which concealed it from view.
Her death, which took place the same year (B.C. 351) probably
reinstated the Rhodians in their liberty.
During the reign of Artaxerxes Nmenon, King of Persia, and brother
of Cyrus the younger, the province of Æolia was governed--under the
authority of Pharnabasus, satrap of Asia Minor--by Zenis the Dardanian.
When the latter died, Mania, his widow, went to Pharnabasus with
magnificent presents, leading a body of troops, and begged of him not
to deprive her of the government. Pharnabasus allowed her to retain the
province, and he had no reason to regret it. Mania acquitted herself
with all the prudence and energy which could have been expected from
the most experienced ruler. In addition to the customary tributes, she
added magnificent presents; and when Pharnabasus visited her province,
she entertained him with greater splendour than any of the other
governors throughout Asia Minor. She followed him in all his military
campaigns, and was of great assistance not only with her troops, but by
her advice. She was a regular attendant at all his councils, and her
suggestions contributed to the success of more than one enterprise. The
satrap knew how to estimate her merit; and the Governess of Æolia was
treated with greater distinction than any of her fellow-governors.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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