It seems to me that women are often overlooked when it comes to history. Sure, there are many notable exceptions like Emily Pankhurst, Boadicea or Madam Curie but, when you think of the number of people who have come and gone over the millenia, the vast majority of those noted in history are men.
With that in mind, I thought we could do with a thread for the lesser known yet deserving women who have done more than to simply deserve a tiny historical footnote.
So without further ado, here is my historical heroine.
I first heard of 'Black Aggie' when I was but a nipper running around (as we say in Scotland) wi' a snottery nose and the erse hingin oot ma breeks.
She was a ghost. She lived in a secret passageway that linked the old castle ruins to some secret entrance in the high street. Watch oot or Black Aggie'll get ye! All of that was complete nonsense and, given the name, you might think she was a nasty old witch. It was only when I was a bit older and developed an interest in history that I found out who she really was.
Far from being some ugly old crone, some accounts describe her as a raven haired beauty - others because of her dark complexion. Whatever explanation, she was 'Black' Agnes Randolph, wife of Patrick de Dunbar Earl Of March. As you will see from the link provided, she not only led the way and held out against a five month seige of Dunbar Castle but she did it with mighty amounts of wit and sarcasm. She not only claimed victory but she belittled and demeaned the beseigers at every opportunity. They must have been infuriated.
If there were such things as ghosts, Black Agnes, I have no doubt, would not be a malavolent spirit but would be our once and future countess, ready to rise from the dead to defend the castle and town from any accursed invaders.
www.wildernessscotland.com
With that in mind, I thought we could do with a thread for the lesser known yet deserving women who have done more than to simply deserve a tiny historical footnote.
So without further ado, here is my historical heroine.
I first heard of 'Black Aggie' when I was but a nipper running around (as we say in Scotland) wi' a snottery nose and the erse hingin oot ma breeks.
She was a ghost. She lived in a secret passageway that linked the old castle ruins to some secret entrance in the high street. Watch oot or Black Aggie'll get ye! All of that was complete nonsense and, given the name, you might think she was a nasty old witch. It was only when I was a bit older and developed an interest in history that I found out who she really was.
Far from being some ugly old crone, some accounts describe her as a raven haired beauty - others because of her dark complexion. Whatever explanation, she was 'Black' Agnes Randolph, wife of Patrick de Dunbar Earl Of March. As you will see from the link provided, she not only led the way and held out against a five month seige of Dunbar Castle but she did it with mighty amounts of wit and sarcasm. She not only claimed victory but she belittled and demeaned the beseigers at every opportunity. They must have been infuriated.
If there were such things as ghosts, Black Agnes, I have no doubt, would not be a malavolent spirit but would be our once and future countess, ready to rise from the dead to defend the castle and town from any accursed invaders.
Scotland's Historic Women: Black Agnes
Black Agnes and her deeds at Dunbar Castle have gone down in history. But why is this heroic Scottish woman so well regarded by Scots?
www.wildernessscotland.com
