A number of women followed armies in the Middle Ages to supply the soldiers, and to support them by washing their clothes and caring for their wounds. Some women fought with the soldiers. Others accompanied their spouse or a friend. The presence of women on the Crusades is very commonly contrasted with their attendance in other wars, probably because they were attracted to a long expedition to visit the famous holy places as a pilgrimage rather than a short journey in their own land. Girls chose to follow their friends into distant places to look after them, and wives to accompany their men. Some women on these expeditions traveled with the army out of a desire for adventure and certain of them became famous as commanders of military units or of whole armies. A queen could be required by the circumstances even to conduct a war during the absence of her spouse on a Crusade or when he was imprisoned. A noblewoman could exercise her higher command by transferring the leadership of military operations to a more experienced commander. She could put on her own armor and personally command her soldiers in the everyday actions of warfare. She could defend the fortress in which she dwelled at the time of a siege. And there were many opportunities and much demand for women of loose morals during medieval hard times.

During the Crusades

During the First Crusade women fought as early as the battle of Dorylaeum on 1 July 1097. They greatly assisted the cavalry that day, by bringing water to the warriors, and by emboldening them in the attack and the defense. Ecclesiastics, women, and children were killed by the enemy during this battle. During the siege of Antioch a woman was killed by an enemy arrow in the camp of Bohemond of Taranto.