Brita Olofsdotter
Encyclopedia
Brita Olofsdotter was a Finnish soldier of the Swedish cavalry
. She is the likely first confirmed female soldier in Sweden, as well as the first confirmed Swedish example of the historical phenomena of women impersonating men to gain access to professions barred to their gender.
Olofsdotter was from Finland and was the widow of Lars Simonsson. She dressed as a man and enlisted during the war in Livonia
, where she served in the cavalry and was killed in battle. The 16 June 1569, John III of Sweden
ordered Gabriel Christiensson to investigate the matter, and gave the order that her remaining salary should be paid to her family.
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
. She is the likely first confirmed female soldier in Sweden, as well as the first confirmed Swedish example of the historical phenomena of women impersonating men to gain access to professions barred to their gender.
Olofsdotter was from Finland and was the widow of Lars Simonsson. She dressed as a man and enlisted during the war in Livonia
Livonia
Livonia is a historic region along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. It was once the land of the Finnic Livonians inhabiting the principal ancient Livonian County Metsepole with its center at Turaida...
, where she served in the cavalry and was killed in battle. The 16 June 1569, John III of Sweden
John III of Sweden
-Family:John married his first wife, Catherine Jagellonica of Poland , house of Jagiello, in Vilnius on 4 October 1562. In Sweden, she is known as Katarina Jagellonica. She was the sister of king Sigismund II Augustus of Poland...
ordered Gabriel Christiensson to investigate the matter, and gave the order that her remaining salary should be paid to her family.