The power of the Persian Empire covered almost all of Asia. Neighboring states simply had nothing to oppose to the Ahmenids, who backed every word with a huge army under the command of experienced military leaders. To the surprise of archaeologists, DNA tests of the buried warriors of two thousand years ago revealed that already at that time women were not inferior to men on the battlefield. Despite the fact that few people have heard of the Persian Amazons, their bravery and fighting abilities are quite worthy of a separate story.
Tomiris, the warrior queen
Tomiris is considered the most ferocious woman who ever lived. This beauty had zero tolerance for those who risked encroaching on her territory, or on her throne. A wise, savagely cruel girl became famous for military victories. In addition, Tomiris was known for inventive torture - for example, the queen forced the unwanted to commit self-castration.
Banu, Babak's wife
In 816 A. D. Banu and her husband Babak led the resistance to the rule of the Arab Caliphate, which seized their tribal territory. Banu was a very skilled archer and a fine yet brutal commander. They held out for 23 years in their mountain fortress, the walls of which the enemy could not crush. Without losing a single battle, Banu and Babak were betrayed by a trusted person and surrendered to the enemy.
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Khawla bint al-Azwar
Khawla bint al-Azwar was a healer for an army of Muslims who sought to spread the word of Allah throughout Persia in the 7th century AD. During the raging battle against the Byzantine Empire, Khavla's brother fell: beside herself with grief, the girl threw off the clothes of a healer, hid her face under a green scarf, grabbed the scimitar and fearlessly rushed into the thick of the battle. Her pressure was so terrible that the Byzantines backed away, and the enthusiastic associates of Khavla turned the tide of the battle in their favor.
Apranik, Sassanid warrior
The daughter of a Persian general grew up in the sounds of battle. Apranik followed in her father's footsteps and became a professional soldier, without any patronage rising from a simple soldier to a commander. In the battles against the Righteous Caliphate, the girl took command of the remnants of the Sassanid military forces and for several years exhausted the enemy with sudden lightning attacks.
Samsi, Arabian Queen
Queen Samsi of Arabia went down in history as a fearless warrior, with whom even the great kings of neighboring Assyria reckoned. Samsi established a trade route to this powerful state and swore allegiance to its rulers. But even such a position was not enough for the girl: Samsi teamed up with Damascus to oust the Assyrians from the region. The bloody war ended in complete defeat for Damascus, and Samsi was captured. Instead of executing the girl, the Assyrians returned her to the throne, showing their respect for such incredible courage.
Panthea, Commander of the Immortals
Panthea was considered one of the most successful commanders in the army of Cyrus the Great. After Cyrus conquered the Babylonian Empire, Panthea organized an elite squad of Immortals, whose fighters instilled awe in their enemies with their mere appearance. The detachment always had exactly 10,000 soldiers: those who died in battle were immediately replaced by new trained soldiers.
Zenobia
Zenobia ruled Palmyra in the 1st century AD. and was at that time one of the few who dared to challenge the authority of Rome. With clever political tricks, Zenobia was able to deliver a painful blow to the great empire, leaving half the country without food supplies. The Queen maintained relations on an equal footing with the military and political leaders of neighboring countries, which at that time was an unprecedented achievement for a woman.