Nicholaa De La Haye And Agnes Of Dunbar

Heroines of the Medieval World by Sharon Bennett Connolly discusses many women but the two women that stood out amongst the rest were Nicholaa de la Haye and Agnes of Dunbar (Black Agnes). Even though these women existed during different times they both defended their castles and refused to surrender. Furthermore, when their fathers died the position that their father had went to their husbands and not to them. On top of these similarities both of these women were women warriors. Nicholaa was a women warrior because she participated in battle, held a high position in society, such as Sheriff of Lincoln, and she was determined. Nevertheless, Agnes of Dunbar was a women warrior because she participated in battle and was determined. Being that

Nicholaa de la Haye and Agnes of Dunbar were women warriors and shared many similarities they stood out amongst the rest of the women.
Both Nicholaa and Agnes kept defending their castles and never surrendered. For instance, Connolly writes “The castle was under siege for forty days, but the tenacious Nicholaa held out” (168). This section from the text reveals that Nicholaa refused to surrender since she defended the castle for 40 days without hesitation. Similarly, to Nicholaa, Agnes defended the castle and never surrendered to the greater power. For example, Connolly also wrote “When Salisbury demanded that Agnes surrender, she is said to have responded ‘Of Scotland’s King I haud my house, He pays me meat and fee, And I will keep my gude and house, while my house will keep me.’ … Eventually, Agnes’s resistance proved too much for the English army, and, after nineteen weeks, on 10 June 1338, they lifted the siege” (175, 176). This quotation demonstrates how Agnes refused to surrender to the English and that she never gave up since the battle lasted for nineteen weeks.
Likewise, both of these women were succeeded for their father’s position when the father died since their husbands received the position.

An example, of this is when Connolly states “As her father had died in 1169, the position of constable of Lincoln Castle was passed through Nicholaa to her husband, as well as her lands in England and Normandy” (168). This line highlights how Nicholaa was succeeded for her father’s position since she was a girl and so the position went to her husband instead. Likewise, Patrick, Agnes’s husband, received Agnes’s father’s earldom instead of Agnes. For example, Connolly states “When Agnes’s father died in 1332, she was succeeded by her brother Thomas, who was killed just weeks later…. on John’s death, the earldom of Moray would pass to Agnes’s husband in right of his wife” (174). This quote reveals that just like Nicholaa, Agnes was or her succeeded for her father’s position since it went to her husband instead of her.

The biggest similarity that Nicholaa and Agnes share is they are both women warriors. Nicholaa was a women warrior because she was determined to protect the castle. For instance, Connolly

wrote
“She offered the keys of the castle to the king, claming she was unable to continue with the office of castellan due to her great age… When Nicholaa spoke of her ‘great age’ she wasn’t exaggerating. She was probably around sixty years old at the time … Louis himself travelled to Lincoln to request the surrender of the castle, promising Nicholaa there would be no reprisals, no one would be hurt. Nicholaa refused and settled in for another long siege” (170).

This quotation demonstrates how despite her old age she was still determined to defend the castle and not surrender. She was also a women warrior because she participated in battle. Connolly once said “However, he did not count on the tenacity of Nicholaa and her deputy, Sir Geoffrey de Serland, who rallied their troops and resisted the combined Anglo- French forces of the Comte de Perche, and awaited reinforcements” (171). This highlights how Nicholaa not only participated in battle but that she ralied her troops also. Moreover, she was also a women warrior because she held a valuable position in society. Connolly mentions that Nicholla held the “position of Sheriff of Lincoln in her own right, despite the fact her son Richard was now a grown man and able to inherit the position” (170). This particular line shows that Nicholaa was able to hold the position of Sheriff of Lincoln because she earned it.
Not only was Nicholaa a women warrior but Agnes was a women warrior as well because she participated in battle and she was determined.

In Heroines of the Medieval World Connolly mentions “Agnes deliberately allowed herself to be besieged to give the Scottish forces time to rally and organize a resistance to the English invasion. Even so, it must have been a terrifying sight for the countless to look out from the battlements and see an army approaching… they could beat the countess and her reduced garrison” (175). This shows how Agnes participated in battle and even sacrificed herself for the greater of the nation. Moreover, Anges was a women warrior because she was determined and didn’t want to surrender. Connolly writes “The struggle against the English continued for several more years … Black Agnes passed into legend, her tenacity and stalwart defense of Dunbar Castle a shining example of what a mere woman can be capable of achieving” (177). This line emphasizes that due to Agnes determination she became an example of what women can

be.
Both Nicholaa and Agnes participated in battle when they defended the castles. Additionally, both of these women were surpassed by their husbands to receive their fathers position after the father died. At the same time, Nicholaa was a women warrior because she was determined to defend the castle. Nicholaa was also a women warrior because she participated in battle and held a valuable position in society. Additionally, Agnes was a women warrior because she was also determined to defend the castle and she participated in battle. The similarities found between these two women and them being woman warriors make them unique compared to the other women mentioned in Heroines of the Medieval World.