#marchofthematriarchs

Up next for #matriarchymarch is the Chinese Warrior, Wang Cong'er. She started out as a preformer skilled in martial arts and acrobatics. Wang would eventually join and become a leader of the White Lotus Society (a rebel group opposing the Qing Dynasty). Her mastery of both the physical and mental demands of King Fu was extremely rare for a woman to take up at the time, and earned her a lot of respect among her peers. Her husband was a government official, and secret member of the WLS, who was killed alongside many other members after plans to launch an attack against the government were leaked by a spy. Wang was suicidal with grief, spent time in a monastary, and eventually returned to lead the WLS to both honor and avenge her husband. Wang was much loved among the WLS. She was a brilliant commander who excelled at guerilla warfare, and would lead her troops from the front. However, Wang wasn't infallible, and after being ambushed by the Qing army and suffering severe loss, she was faced with deciding between dishonor in capture, or death. It's said she chose death, jumping from a cliff with the WLS banner in her hands, followed by her companions. She was 22. Despite the failure of the rebellion, Wand is remembered for her heroics, resourcefulness, and courage. Her legend would live on and inspire future rebellions, eventually leading to the end of the empire. It's debated whether or not the story of Mulan was based in part on the life of Wang Cong'er. #marchofthematriarchs #matriarchy #badasswomen #femmefatal #femalewarrior #mightygirl #girlsempowergirls #herstory #womenofhistory #womenshistory #womenshistorymonth #portrait #rebel #womenpaintingwomen #womenempoweringwomen https://www.instagram.com/p/BukicZhFIcg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=17te9iyzull5p

Up next for #matriarchymarch is Saint Joan of Arc aka The Maid of Orleans. At a young age she claimed to have visitations by Saint Margret, Saint Catherine of Alexandria, and Michael the Archangel, all of whom instructed her to support Charles VII and the recovery of France from English domination. Charles would send Joan onto the siege of Orleans as part of the relief army, and aided in lifting the siege after only nine days. Joan took part in several other swift victories against the English, leading to Charles's coronation, and boosting French morale, as well as Joan's reputation as a French heroine. Joan was eventually captured by the Burgundy army (French nobles allied with England), and handed over to the English where she was put on trial for a variety of charges. She was declared guilty and on May 30th 1431 she was burned at the stake. Joan was only nineteen. In 1456 an investigation was launched into the proceedings against Joan by Pope Callixtus III, who debunked the charges against her, declared her innocent, and proclaimed her to be a martyr. She would become a symbol for the Catholic League in the 16th century, and a national symbol of France by decree of Napoleon Bonaparte. She was cannonised as a saint in 1920. #marchofthematriarchs #matriarch #womenshistory #herstory #history #womenshistorymonth #saint #girlsempowergirls #heroines #femalewarrior #martyr #solider #hope #mightygirl #womenempoweringwomen #rolemodel #portrait #womenpaintingwomen https://www.instagram.com/p/Bup1dnxlWAP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=45jspibanh1d

Today's #matriarchymarch portrait is of the child saint, Maria Goretti. Born in 1890 to impoverished farmers in Italy, her father died when she was only nine, forcing her family to live and work for another farming family. Maria took over the domestic duties while her family worked in the fields, leaving her alone. As it happened, one day the 22 year old son of her host family found her alone and made advances. She refused, and he tried to dominate Maria, who fought back. She was stabbed fourteen times. Later her family found her and took her to the hospital, but she had been mortally wounded and died despite the best efforts of the surgeons. It's said Maria forgave her murderer before she passed away. Her assailant was tried and convicted for his crimes, serving a 27 year sentence. When he was released, he begged Maria's mother for forgiveness (which she granted), and later became a lay brother to a monestary. Maria was only 11 years old when she died, making her one of the youngest saints to be cannonised by the Catholic Church. Her feast day is held on July 6th, and she's known as the patron saint over victims of rape, crime victims, chasity, young women, forgiveness, and the impoverished. #marchofthematriarchs #saint #catholicsaints #tragedy #child #mightygirl #girlpower #womenempoweringwomen #herstory #history #womenshistory #womenshistorymonth #victim #womenpaintingwomen https://www.instagram.com/p/BunqYajl1MI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1snh9ylrkgype

Today's #matriarchymarch portrait is of Ching Shih. She went from being a prostitute to marrying the pirate Zheng Yi, who granted her an equal partnership over his fleet of 200 ships. Yi hailed from a long lineage of pirates, and he commanded a great deal of respect from others. Shih was strategic, and advised her husband to unite the other pirate fleets of the South China Sea together under his leadership, creating the legendary Red Flag Fleet. Only six years I to the marriage Shih became a widow. She was able to quickly rally support through her adopted son and her husband's family in order to keep leadership of the fleet. She was known to protect any town that paid tribute to her fleet, while massacring any who opposed her. This included going ashore to kill all adult men, while nailing the feet of resisters to the docks and beating them. Shih would also punish any of her crew who stole, disobeyed orders, or raped female captives. Her crew was able to marry if it was consensual, elevating their bride's status within the fleet and giving them duties to preform. Funds were recorded and distributed evenly among the fleet, with 20% going to the ship responsible for capture. In the end, Shih parlayed with the Imperial Chinese government who wanted her fleet to stop pirating. She was able to get a pardon for all but 400 of her crew, which included them being able to keep their wealth. Her relationship with her adopted son was absolved in this deal, enabling her to marry him. They both became members of the Chinese aristocracy by imperial decree. Shih lived to a ripe old age, and died at home surrounded by her family, including a son and grandchildren. #marchofthematriarchs #womenshistorymonth #womenshistory #womenofhistory #girlpower #mightygirl #femmefatal #herstory #pirate #portrait #womenpaintingwomen #womenempoweringwomen https://www.instagram.com/p/Buia0HIl3hQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=o6clk1da23pi

Today's #matriarchymarch is Princess Olga of Kiev. After the death of her husband she became Regent of Kiev, founded the first legal reforms recorded in Eastern Europe, defended her city from a siege, and evaded marriage proposals in order to preserve the power of the throne for her son. Olga was pursued by the very people who slaughtered her husband in battle. The Drevlian Prince Mal sent twenty men to plead his case for him, and Olga had them all buried alive. She then sent word to the prince she accepted his proposal, asking for his best statesmen to come to escort her into the Drevlian kingdom. Once they arrived she offered them rest and respite, then had them locked into a bath and burned alive. After all this she invited the remaining Drevlian to a funerary feast honoring her late husband, where her servants murdered over 5,000 of her 'guests'. Princess Olga was the first ruler of her countryman to convert to Christianity, though it wouldn't be until her grandson's time that the entirety of the kingdom would convert. She became the first Russian saint if the Orthodox Church, and us know as patron saint of widows and converts. #marchofthematriarchs #herstory #heroines #girlpower #femmefatal #mightygirl #womenshistory #womenshistorymonth #princess #matriarch #grudge #saint #sorrynotsorry #womanscorned #history #girlsempowergirls #portrait #womenpaintingwomen https://www.instagram.com/p/BugctyXFZQh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=yn2ljht8nmvy