Here are a couple more interesting characters.
First, another great swordsman, though from a rather late period, he led a life similar to many of the medieval and ancient heroes.
Sir Richard Francis Burton 19th Century - CG
was an English
explorer,
translator, writer,
soldier,
orientalist,
ethnologist,
linguist, poet,
hypnotist,
fencer and
diplomat. He was known for his travels and explorations within Asia and Africa as well as his extraordinary knowledge of languages and cultures. According to one count, he spoke 29 European, Asian, and African languages.
[1] Richard Francis Burton - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
You can still buy his excellent, highly informative and still not completely dated book on Swords on Amazon.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Book-Sword-293-Illustrations/dp/0486254348/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223001446&sr=8-1"]Amazon.com: The Book of the Sword: With 293 Illustrations: Sir Richard F. Burton: Books[/ame]
and a few more of histories overlooked female warriors and pirates
Queen Teuta of Illlyria CN3rd Century BCIllyrian Female pirate queen and naval commander
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teuta Ethelfleda 872-918 AD LG
Female Saxon warrior, military leader, anti-Viking and privateer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethelfleda Anne Dieu-le-Veut
Female French pirate 17th Century CN
"In 1683, Anne's husband was killed in a bar fight by the famous buccaneer
Laurens de Graff. She challenged Laurens to a duel to avenge her husbands death (other sources claims she heard him insult her), and while Laurens drew his sword, Anne drew her gun."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Dieu-Le-Veut Mai Bhago (late 17th century) LG
Female Sikh warrior and military leader
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mai_Bhago
And finally, arguably the greatest king England ever had... before there even was an England
Alfred the Great LG 849-899 AD
King of Wessex
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_the_Great
__________________
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