Nyon - Lake Geneva. Respite Spot Yes and Not

 NYON

The town of Nyon is on Lake Geneva, between other major destination points: Geneva itself, and Lausanne. If you landed at Geneva, and are in your rental car after a long night flight, Nyon is probably too close for a stop. You may want to just drive a while. So use Nyon for your overnight on the way back to Geneva from Yverdon-les-Bains or Murten, on the way out. Who wants to go into a big city in the late afternoon.

Sail late into Nyon, Switzerland

See crew shells on the Lake, with the castle and a ferry in the background.

Rowing on Lake Geneva, Nyon, Switzerland

People fish from the rocks by the shore, on the promenade past at the Rive area of town.

Shore fishing, Nyon, CH

You may end up in a room like Guantanamo, however.

Narrow in Nyon

And still pay dearly for it - because you left the looking for a room so late ... yes, it is that narrow. Aargh. For that price??

Very narrow in Nyon

Narrow room in Nyon. But the bawth was clean, as was the room, so chalk it up.

Who needs plush

Nyon. Prepare also to be taken.

Scamtime. Switzerland is no different from anywhere else, including the US when it comes to taking advantage of passers-through, but prepare for this one:  an entrepreneur swipes your card, says --uh-oh -- not going through, tsk tsk.  We'll just have to try it again, and swipe.  Still no good, says he.  So you go to an ATM for the cash needed for what you want, no problem, and in the morning they say -- lucky us, the card went through! So you sign for what you had not paid for before, but when you get home, you see the items you paid cash for, added to your not-so-fritzed card.  Luckily, ours were minor.

Leaving Nyon

Yverdon - les - Bains - Castle, Baths, Mummies, Celts and Romans,

 Yverdon-les-Bains

Yverdun *

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At the southern end of Lake Neuenberg (Murten is to the northwest), is an old spa town with surprises in its castle.  See http://www.texetera.ch/english/testimonials/historic-buildings/yverdon-castle/ Listen to part of the audio guide there.  "Dun" or a variant of that means fort, or hill fort, from Celtic times.* Find romance also. The chapel at Savoy's castle is still used for weddings. See http://www.isyours.com/e/guide/arc_jurassien/yverdontown.html
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Yverdon-les-Bains Castle, Pierre II of Savoy after 1260, now a museum, CH.

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Yverdon still is a spa town. Go ahead: find a venerable tub and submerge, partially. Les bains - the baths. Thermal spa, sulphur water, magnesium; come here for healing.  People have for 6000 years. There is some therapeutic value to the soaking, but not the mystical scope as once believed, see ://www.wwdmag.com/Sulphur-Water-Solution-article3130/ Relax, revitalize, let impurities begone.
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Spa tub, museum, Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland

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Now think of the poultices and remedies you might try.
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This old Savoy Castle houses a manageable museum, that includes geographical and geological exhibits. We like the more modest museums.
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At this nice spa town, however, prepare to meet the grave-robbers from centuries ago and not so long ago, and gaze upon the fruits of their labors. Mummies apparently were quite the rage, see http://www.mummytombs.com/  The Yverdon mummy story is at http://www.musee-yverdon-region.ch/musee.php?include=collections&lng=en/  The artifacts date from the Ptolomaic era and are highly regarded by those who follow these things.
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Egyptian mummy of Nes-Shou, sarcophagus lid, 200 BC, pilfered out of its resting place for the amusement and edification of generations of gawkers.

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Why mummies here?  Mummies and healing. Use their parts, or grind their parts into a powder. Stir. Mix the powder from the ground mummy with honey and/or wine, apply it as a poultice or drink up.   Mummies were believed to have healing qualities, see http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/index/Castle_reveals_secret_of_severed_hand.html?cid=4109604/.  There was a market for parts. Find the history of the travels of a specific mummified hand at Gruyeres castle.  

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A Napoleonic expedition in the late 1700's got everyone interested and the craze began. Taking mummies was illegal, so parts were used. Parts were more easily smuggled, but clearly others found their way intact, across and into Switzerland and elsewhere. 
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Mummy, Nes-Shou, exposed, Yverdon, Switzerland. Full body scan. 

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The Swissinfo site says tar was used for embalming. 

Embalmed Nes-Shou mummy, unlidded, Yverdun CH

 



Smithsonian, however, describes a drying process preventin decay by using four salts found at the Nile, the combination known as natron.

. Palm  wine disinfected, frankincense perfumed.  See article by Owen Edwards at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/How-One-Mummy-Came-to-the-Smithsonian.html
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Even this site says he looks rather homesick  http://www.isyours.com/e/guide/arc_jurassien/yverdontown.html/.
Can we let him go home now?

The museum also features archeology, particularly Celtic artifacts.
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Artifacts: fine arts of Celts and Romans and many cultures at Yverdon

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And there is a collection of intricately carved furniture.

Carved furnishing, Yverdon. Do women figures predominate?

Chair,Yverdon Castle. Pestalozzi era?

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I have a vague recollection that this was this a chamber pot chair, where you lift the seat and sit.  No, perhaps not. Fancy chamber pot chairs usually have a panel at the front concealing the pot. 

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*   Etymology of dun.  Yverdon was the Celtic Ebre-dun-um.   Look up this discussion of word history in place names in Europe, as the "dun" became down, or thun, or don, as in London, at http://books.google.com/books?id=fxQLAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA233&lpg=PA233&dq=Yver+dun+fort+Switzerland&source=bl&ots=dOtX9L12MD&sig=WnbUBuI1r7Gx4EAejcbNGYko0hY&hl=en&ei=pPAmTPGrN8P98Abwr4jiDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAw#v=onepageq=Yver%20dun%20fort%20Switzerland&f=false

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Noviodunum has become the town of Nyon.

Frauenparkplatz; and Where the Buffalo Roam

 Murten and Wise Parking Arrangements

Avoid parking where you must anticipate your time away. Ticketing, and hiding the pay-go ticket machine around the corner so you think the parking is ok on the street where you are (NOT!) is, as here, a favorite municipal pastime.  Lots cost more, but you can enjoy your lunch.

Frauenparkplatz in Murten.  Ladies-only parking. A common-sense safety courtesy:  In Murten's facility, ladies can park cozily on the first level, at the street entrance, lots of lighting and a chance of people around.  With our Sir Daniel Galahad along, however, we happily spiraled downward instead. For any parking garage safety and efficiency in car-retrieval, write down your parking level and identification. Or take a picture at your level and spot and delete it when you don't need it. Before getting in your car, check under and all around, quick in and lock. As anywhere. Walk noisily so you do not surprise someone doing what some do.

Frauenparkplatz, Ladies-Only Parking, Murten CH

Roll down the window and inhale. Aah.  No parking fumes.  But, what the?

Egad!

Buffalo roaming, Murten-Yverdon Road, Switzerland

Les Buffalo! 

These are not the water buffalo whose milk has a high fat content and is added to some Swiss mozzarella cheese varieties, see ://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/12/world/europe/12swiss.html/.  These are the USA western plains variety.  Is their milk also used for cheese?

Known:  Their rumps make a nice salted meat product, and those and other parts provide variety steaks and burger, see http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T9G-3YCV00N-B&_user=10&_coverDate=04%2F30%2F2000&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1382446832&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=09b38e163f53418765a23f761044d3d4/.  

Salted buffalo rump? Air-cured. Bresaola. A new Swiss industry.  From its Italian roots to the Swiss, see ://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-bresaola.htm/

Yup. Sure is a buffalo. And a beauty, at that. Murten -Yverdon Road, Switzerland

Inhale? Are you kidding?

Buffalo dining, Murten -Yverdon Road, CH

Very fine milk, too.

Buffalo and Junior, Switzerland

Murten's Churches - Catholic, Protestant

There are two main churches in Murten: a Catholic, Late French Gothic (about 1478), and a Baroque Protestant German Church about 1710, the Deutsche Kirche (no surprise there).

Find a history of protestantism in Germany and Switzerland at ://www.isyours.com/e/guide/religion/christianism/protestantism.html/  In this town, they coexisted.  The Zurich theologian, Zwingli, shared the same motivations as Martin Luther, says the site.

In investigating old churches, watch in the later ones for the influx of ordinary people, bodies, faces.  It looks like the 1400's marked a change: regular folk replacing the saints, that had peopled the churches in the centuries before the 1400's or so.  Individual expressions, tastes on clothing, headwear.  Hardly inspiring in the sense of recalling to a worshipper the story of the martyrdom or whatever; but far more interesting.  This is not just a protestant trend:  look at this Catholic church in Sibenik, Croatia, with its human faces circling the exterior, at Sibenik, Cathedral of St. James, Croatia.

First, the German protestant church:  It had been a chapel dedicated to Saint Mary from 1518, and was repurposed. See www.igougo.com/journal-j23315-Murten-Medieval_Marvel.html#ReviewID:1182200/

Choir Stalls est. 1494, German Church, Murten, Switzerland

The pulpit in the Deutsche Kirche is hewn from a single tree trunk, oak we understand.  It dates from about 1484. Note the three dimensional areas. The pulpit looks alive, with branchings.

Pulpit, German Church, from a single treetrunk, Murten, Switzerland

German Church, Murten, Switzerland, Traditional stained glass

Then see the French Gothic church (Roman Catholic), dating from about 1481. It replaced an earlier St. Catherine's Chapel and has some replacement stained glass windows that are modern and very bright.


French Church, Roman Catholic, modern stained glass, Murten, Switzerland

Interior, Catholic French church, Murten.


French Gothic (Catholic) Church, interior, Murten, Switzerland

Ceiling medallion - researching which church.  See the Bern bear in the middle.

Battle of Murten: Ramparts, Roofs, Allotment Gardens

Murten:  Commerce, Ramparts, Secrets, Allotment Gardens

Murten has always served as a commercial crossroads.  The main square is busy. Fuchs is a big business, with several storefronts.

Murten, Switzerland, main square

Climb around the ramparts, however, and find locked doors with big keyholes.  Look in and find a nice room with an inviting door to the outer walkways - no access for you.

Murten, secret walled rooms, ramparts, Switzerland

Peer down the alley, where the houses share a party wall with the City Walls, and see a mannequin on the balcony staring back at you, there midway up, at the center; and then a nice chair on the cobbles for people-watching.  This is not a museum city. 

Murten, houses at the wall, alleyways, Switzerland

The Battle of Murten, see://www.muellerscience.com/ENGLISH/Switzerland.htm/.

In 1476, the Confederation was attacked by the Burgundians from the French side of things; and sent out runners to get help. The other Swiss groups indeed responded, and - to the surprise of the better-equipped Burgundians - the Swiss Confederation combined army won.  Here are cannonballs from that battle, still in the walls of Murten.

Cannonballs, embedded in City Walls, Murten, Switzerland

This angle showing cannonballs shows how high the walls are - remember that there are two to three story buildings on the other side, sharing the wall.  Houses, Inns, shops.   The Burgundians were driven into the lake, and tales are told of thousands drowning in armor; so that for years after, parts of bodies and equipment were coming up on shore.

Battle of Murten, cannonballs, Burgundians defeated, Switzerland

See the diorama of the battle at ://www.murtenpanorama.ch/en/schlacht/221.php/  This is also known as the Battle of Morat. See ://home.eckerd.edu/~oberhot/morat.htm

Murtensee, Lake Murten, beyond City Walls, Murten Switzerland

Go outside again, the other side from the cannonballs, and see nice gardens for vegetables and flowers all along the City Walls.  Even - what do you call those shaped wall plants climbing up?

Allotment gardens, outside City Walls, Murten, Switzerland

In many European cities, there will be an allotment garden area outside or in the town, where people get a small plot and set up a mini-house, not just for equipment, but also for a bed and a chair for a get-away.   Gardener's time off.

Allotment Garden house, Murten, Switzerland

Dizzying climb up to the ramparts, interior wooden stair.

Murten: Heraldry, Gates, Sgraffito

Walled City - Murten

Heraldry, Gates, Sgraffito

1.  City gates.  The entry ways show the depth of the walls. The walls are not always freestanding. Here, there are houses and businesses abutting, even part of it.  See the slant back at the facade of the building just through the gateway - its own kind of buttressing.  Many city walls have a second line of defense past the main gate, before entering the city: a second huge door, or iron portcullis to drop down the slots.  Some have a murder hole above, where defenders can rain down arrows, pitch, on those stuck in the midway before getting through to the town.

Note that an invader has successfully passed through and is waiting for lunch.

Murten, Switzerland, city gate with heraldry

This gate is sectioned into the big swinger, and then its own little door with its own little window - allows the watchmen to let one person in without the vulnerability of the entire gate opening; and the little window to check identities.  No body scanners yet.

2. Heraldry.  There is a heraldry motif on this gate to the city of Murten:  See  a red and white wavy line pattern, seen also on shutters, doors.

Look up heraldry to see meanings, if any. Or it is just personal taste spread about. The white (also silver, or "argent"), according to://www.fleurdelis.com/meanings.htm/ means peace and sincerity; the red ("gules") means "Warrior, martyr; Military strength and magnanimity." A wavy line means water, sea.  Fine:  this city knew many sieges, and it is on Lake Murten, or Murtensee.  The site also notes, however, that there is no one interpretation of any of this. 

3.  View from inside the city.  Here is the other side of the gateway, looking back at the tower and its warning bell, and a cafe next door.

There is ornamentation known as "sgraffito" on the cafe built into the wall, visible from the inside. 

Murten, Switzerland, gateway from inside the city

4. Sgraffito.  Sgraffito is a multiple-step decorative process, where one color of pigment is covered with another; sometimes a layer of plaster will be covered with another layer, then the top one is scratched deep enough to reveal the contrast beneath. See entire pictures on buildings; or designs that can be made to look like stonework, ironwork. Do an images search for sgraffito technique.

5.  Clockworks

Clockworks display, Murten, Switzerland (at ramparts area)

Murten - Walled City. Celt or Saintly Roots? Looks Celtic.

 MURTEN:  CELTIC ROOTS

among others

Names carry history within them.  Murten. The city of Murten, Switzerland, on the Murtensee.  Lake Murten. Murten. A name not glamorous in sound. Brings to mind an eccentric uncle, or friends of Lucy and Desi as in I Love, and not a name to draw you in off the roadway. 

Murten, Switzerland; battlements

Think again.  The roots of Murten are ancient.  Explore some possible connections:

1.  Early name migration to the British Isles.

Is there a connection to "Morton", coming maybe from "Moortown"; or "Marton" that tilts us toward "Martin."  All sound veddy British.  Morton alone is said to be English in origin, but only from the 19th Century, and this city in Switzerland goes for millennia before that: see all this at ://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/Morton/.

2.  Moors

We are interested in the "Moortown" idea because of the tradition of the blackamoor in Switzerland, see Moor as St. Maurice, patron saint of weavers in Bern; and on the district flag at Avenches, town to the south.  See Moor Motif in Switzerland.  His name also appears as St. Moritz, now of ski fame, Is this the same as St. Martin of Tours? Not by comparing biographies. See Martin at ://st-martins.net/martbio.htm/; and Maurice at A History of Christianity in Egypt, The Saints, at ://www.touregypt.net/chiste3.htm/.

St. Moritz, St. Maurice, was black - the Ethiopian commander of an African legion, from Thebes, in Egypt, that fought with the Romans, but was comprised Christians.  Maurice refused to attack a tribe that had Christians in it, and many were martyred for that refusal to follow orders.   Read the ancient Golden Legend about him, his name is also called Moris, at The Golden Legend, at ://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/golden277.htm. Does Murten, the lake as Murtensee or Lake Murten; and the walled town on its shores;  as a name have any connection with "Moortown", from something about the black Maurice-Moritz.

Here is a Star of David, as we know it, formed by a different color roof tile as seen from the ramparts.  This did not signify a Jewish population, apparently, but was a form used commonly by Christians and signified 

Murten, rooftop tile Star of David, Switzerland

the journey of the Magi at the time of the birth of Christ.  The five-pointed star has a long history, not just in Judaism.  Do not go to ://christianity.about.com/od/symbolspictures/ig/Christian-Symbols-Glossary/Christian-Stars.htm/ because you will be hit with ugly ads for teeth whiteners all across the top. Skip that one and go to something more exotic, like Religious Symbols at ://www.jesusfamilytomb.com/back_to_basics/alternative/secret/star.html/

3.  Celts

Looking elsewhere for Murten's roots, see Celtic civilization.  Here is the really ancient; and it is tied to many of us. See http://www.joellessacredgrove.com/Celtic/history.html/  They were here, there, everywhere, pre-Christian, shoved about by the Romans and Slavs and others ultimately, and many landed in the British Isles.

The British Isles - Gaelic; one form in Ireland, another in Scotland, and versions in the off-islands?  "Mor" in Scots Gaelic means great, or big.  "Ton" or tun or dun means fort.  So Morton or Murten as a place of a big fort makes sense.  May not be it, but at least we came up with some explanation for a dull-sounding name. Scroll down at the Celtic history site to find the Swiss material.

There is a big Moortown in Leeds, England, and that supports a Celtic background, not necessarily a black one.

Spiez, Schlosskirche, Castle Church, Lake Thun, Switzerland

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The gem of this castle complex is the old castle church, the Schlosskirche.  Irish missionaries arrived here about 500 AD - a Carolingian church, think Charlemagne era, was built in 762 AD.  This church probably dates from 900-1000 AD. S, but the square tower could be from the original church, ee ://www.sacred-destinations.com/switzerland/spiez-castle-church?source=ge

Schlosskirche, Tower, Castle Church, Spiez Castle complex, Swizerland

Early churches also served as refuges. Many had no windows, or very narrow ones at a higher height, not easy eye level, suitable for archers.

Schloss Kirche, Castle Church, Spiez, Lake Thun, Switzerland

Frescoes inside Schloss Kirche, or the Castle Church, are faded - Christ Enthroned - but lighting is provided.  Just put on the spotlights for yourself.  Turn the lights out when you leave.

Frescoes, Schloss Kirche, Castle Church, Spiez Castle, Lake Thun, Switzerland

Narrow doors also were a defensive measure in many early castles and churches.  Persons in armor had a difficult time passing through, and had to go single file.  Meanwhile, on the other side, waited the ....
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Narrow interior door, Castle Church, Schlosskirche, Spiez Castle, Switzerland

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See the dim insides, with no windows at eye level.  All the light just tumbles in at the altar.

Altar area view, Spiez, Schlosskirche, Castle Church, Lake Thun, Switzerland

Dignitaries had to be accommodated. 
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Bishop's Chair, the "Cathedra", or for other dignitary, Schlosskirche, Castle Church, Spiez Castle, Switzerland

Here, the Bishop's Chair, we believe. The enclosed foot and leg space would keep out drafts. No heating. Look at old pews as well - often high backed, with partitions and doors to the aisle.

But most of the oldest churches did not provide pews - just straw on the floor of a large milling-around area, where people stood, not sat. Later there may be individual chairs to move about.

Choir stalls, however, may have seating, including fold-up seats with little shelves you could arrange your behind upon, and look as though you were standing but you were really just butt-balancing.  People in the choir and doing the services were not free to leave at any time.  They needed support.

Crypt:  Always ask for one. The crypt here was locked.  Those tend to look alike, so we did not mind. Go down the old stairs, see the niches, the big coffin-holders, the sculptures on top of those within. Was this one different? We'll never know. In Germany, many crypts served as good bomb shelters.

This I hesitate to identify as part of the view from the Schlosskirche, because I am not sure. Is this later Murten, another town to the far west?  Need to check.  The Schlosskirche is on Lake Thun, with a lovely view of the little harbor there.  Spiez or Murten? We think this is Lake Thun, despite the lower mountains to the other side. But the roof tiles look Murten. Will get back to you.
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Spiez Castle, Lake Thun, Switzerland

Spiez, Castle at the Town on Lake Thun

The castle complex here at Spiez is located for maximum views of the lake, mountains and countryside. The castle itself, here (see the church at another post) shows the transition from defense to residence, old tower, later stately mansion. Rooms originate in the 1200's through the 1700's, but the castle itself dates from the 10th-11th Centuries. Fortified colonies here date to 1000 BC.

The name:  More Celtic connections - the name of the town came from the Gaelic word for corn, says this site. See ://www.swissqualityhotels.com/hotels/Switzerland/spiez/about.asp?_lang=en/ *

* Corn? We thought that crop was North or South American?

Spijates and Spiez.  The word is "spijates". Have to look that up.  Just did.  Can't believe all you read. Spijates here is defined as "thorn" and not corn at all.  And it is indeed Celtic, not Gaelic. See http://www.epinions.com/review/trvl-Dest-Europe-Switzerland/trvl-review-7D6D-9EC060-394B064F-prod1/  Isn't Gaelic later than Celtic?  Yes. Celts were all over Europe before being shoved into the British Isles, and finally the remotes of Ireland and Scotland. See their history at ://www.ibiblio.org/gaelic/celts.html

For looks at the relationship of Gaels and Celts, see ://www.ibiblio.org/gaelic/  There are six languages in the Celtic group. Gaelic is English for a cluster of three of them:  the Irish, the Manx, and the Scots.

Spiez Castle, residence side, Lake of Thun, Switzerland

Spiez Castle, Tower, Lake Thun, Switzerland

The tower is Romanesque with 13th Century Graffiti, we now learn, but did not see.  Is that it above the window, preserved? This site calls it medieval castle with baroque style, but that can't be right.  Centuries separate medieval from baroque. Fine to say originated as medieval, later redecorated in baroque.  See //www.interlaken.ch/erlebnisse/sommer/kultur/schloss-spiez.html?L=3

Castle Thun at War; Metalwork. Castle Chillon. Armor for Women and Men, Castle Defenses

Part III. Women in War 

Men in War

Metalwork, War, Culture

Without the forge, the smith, there could have been no weapons or defenses as effective as were developed in medieval-renaissance times.  Look at the detail work on the mechanisms, the suits of armor for both women and men here at the Chillon Castle.  The woman's is (obviously) third from right. Room for the busty-chesty (not quite Rubenesque, who would have come later) and with an efficient, tidy, defined waist. 

Woman's armor, among the men's, Chillon Castle, Switzerland, 3d from right.

How was the metalwork done. Forges used to be commonplace. See a forge, for farm implements - like scythes - at ://www.beautifuliron.com/vienna_techmuseum.htm/. For a history of medieval technology, see ://www.engr.sjsu.edu/pabacker/history/middle.htm/  It sounds like a short step from the sharp heavy blade of the scythe to the fine steel of the sword, but the differences in tempering, honing, took centuries. Locks, bolts, hinges, not just the swords and armor, all needed for survival. Anything could be a weapon. See ://www.medieval-castle-siege-weapons.com/weapon-of-medieval-times.html/

Iron bolt, door, Thun Castle, Switzerland

The sword - mastery of it began in childhood, with gradual strength building so that the young adult and adult eventually had the shoulder, back, core and arm, hand and wrist strength to wield the 4-foot blade, length estimated here.
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Medieval Sword, looks about 4-foot in length, to handle. Thun Castle Museum, Switzerland.

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Castle stairs as a defense.  The coiled stairs to the tall towers wound up to the right, so that the attacker coming up the stairs (assuming a right-handed assailant) could not swing his sword from his strong side.  The defender, however, looking down at the attacker, had the room and advantage of a full right-arm swing at him.  Ropes were used to thread through as railings, so that if attacked, the rope could be severed and not interfere with the sword's action. A metal railing would obstruct.

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Castle tower staircase, winding up to the right.Thun Castle, Switzerland. The defender above had full arm swing down, for the sword. The attacker's right arm, as he fought his way up, would be constricted. 

Armor.  Armor that covered the entire body was designed for equestrian use. Thus, it is logical that a woman could play that part as needed, and did. Some armor has a female appearance.  It takes time to recognize it, however, because we are not taught that role in history classes. It takes seeing. Then do the research and find that it was so.

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Woman's armor, Thun Castle, Switzerland.

Other armor has no such suggestion, just accommodations for different body types.  These do not look at all female.
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Suits of men's armor, Thun Castle, Switzerland

Now look back at the woman's armor, in its position next to the man's at Thun Castle Museum.  The two are intentionally juxtaposed to show the difference. See Women and Knighthood in the Middle Ages at http://www.heraldica.org/topics/orders/

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Armor for the woman, front angle in context with armor for the man; Thun Castle Museum, Switzerland

Women in war.  Not unusual. Done as needed, and done as the skills and interest warranted.  Then quietly slipped out of the history books as her cultural role became as constricted as the castle coiling staircases, deny the one trying to get up.

Medieval Female Knights.

There were female orders of knights.  See Women Knights at ://www.heraldica.org/topics/orders/wom-kn.htm/.   Read about the Order of the Hatchet in Catalonia (Spain) 1149 AD - and the women who defended Tortona against the Moors.  A dame so admitted to the order received benefits, tax exemptions, "and took precedence over men in public assemblies." They were called cavalleros or knights - the author suggests using cavalleras,

Read on there about the Order of the Glorious Saint Mary in 1223, where women of Bologna were granted the rank of militessa. Pope Sixtus dissolved this group in 1558.

On and on.  Netherlands, England, military orders, the female grand-cross. Modern military orders include the French Legion of Honor where the women are called "chevaliers".  Take a day with the heraldica site.  Order thee some armor, lass.