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During the medieval period in Western Europe, women were not typically known to serve as soldiers. It was a time when warfare was largely considered to be the domain of men, and women were expected to stay at home and tend to domestic duties.
However, that is not to say that women did not play a role in warfare during this time. Some women served as camp followers, providing support to the male soldiers in the form of cooking, cleaning, and nursing the wounded. Others served as spies, using their gender to gain access to enemy camps and gather intelligence.
There were also a few documented cases of women who dressed as men and fought on the front lines. Joan of Arc is perhaps the most famous example of this, as she donned men’s clothing and led French troops to victory against the English during the Hundred Years’ War.
While it was rare for women to serve as soldiers during the medieval period, those who did were no less brave and heroic than their male counterparts. They faced the same dangers and hardships of war, and their contributions should not be overlooked.
