War is not for women some claim. However, in most cases women participated in the wars. At one time even women's military corps were formed. After all, the legend of the Amazons, the female warriors, was famous in antiquity.
A purely female military corps was also that of the "Amazons of Dahomey". The real name of the corps was N'Nonmiton, which in the local language means "our mothers". Dahomey, today's Benin, Africa, was once a powerful kingdom until their submission to the French colonialists.
The history of the black Amazons begins in the 17th century. There are various versions of how the body was formed. According to some sources the women were originally elephant hunters who evolved into bodyguards of the local king. Another version states that, according to the law, men were not allowed to stay in the royal palace after sunset and so, as the king needed bodyguards, women took over this role.
After all, some Amazons came from the royal wives, that is, the king's harem. However, western explorers and travelers gave the body the name Amazons. Women serving in the corps were forbidden to marry or have children. Many do not retain their virginity. in 1863 the British explorer Burton visited Dahomey and saw the Amazons.
“You can tell they're women just by their breasts. They are muscular and strong,” he wrote. Iron discipline prevailed in the corps and women underwent intensive training. They were trained to endure pain, while also performing 10-day training in the jungle with only a machete as a weapon. In battle they were expected to fight to the death, and were merciless to their opponents, often dismembering them and taking their heads or more obscure body parts as booty.
It is estimated that in the mid-19th century women made up 1/3 of Dahomey's army. In battle, they stood in the center of the line, covering the king if he was present. The Amazons were equipped with muskets, wooden scalpers and machetes. Later they were armed with Winchester rifles.
When they came out of the palace, a slave marched in front of them with a bell that was ringing. The men were supposed to look the other way and not look at the Amazons who were passing by.
In 1890 the first Dahomey - France war broke out. King Beanzin used the Amazons in battle. French soldiers were initially hesitant to shoot women. But when they saw how these women were fighting, they changed their minds. Finally, the intervention of the famous Foreign Legion was needed for the French to prevail. The second war broke out in 1892 and ended in 1894.
The women fought heroically again, but Dahomey was defeated. However, many Frenchmen who after the victory tried to use the captured Amazons as concubines died ignominiously in bed. The last Amazon died in 1979.