Centurion Shieldmaidens and Handmaidens
The female equivalent of Knights and Squires. When a young Centurion woman turns 12 she goes through a Coming of Age ceremony in which she must make a choice; she may choose to become a Handmaiden and train to be a warrior, she may choose to become an Artisan and learn an important skill, or she may choose to be a Maidservant and live to serve others. If she becomes a handmaiden she will eventually be promoted up to a Shieldmaiden (if she proves worthy and most do). Handmaiden training is similar to Squire training but handmaiden training does spend more time focused on defensive tactics for defending the high ground or defending the castle walls. They spend more time practicing with ranged weapons such as bows or in using siege weapons but they do practice hand to hand combat with an emphasis on tactics to be used against larger and stronger opponents (since they are much more likely to be fighting a man than fighting another woman). For this reason the women still carry and use fransiscas in order to gain the initiative against an opponent. They train to throw it faster than a man can draw his bow so she can disrupt his aim and she throws it against a saber wielding Hungarian so that she can attack first while he is trying to dodge.
A Shieldmaiden's standard equipment is a mail hauberk with an attached breastplate (shaped to her body) and shoulder guards (because Hungarians like to slash downward on the women because they are shorter),
A conical helmet with nose guard,
A large buckler (a parma or Roman round shield about 36 inches in diameter but smaller than the traditional round shields used in the early middles ages by the Franks and the Vikings which were 48-54 inches across).
A Gladia (a lighter, thinner version of the gladius designed for women to use).
A recurve bow
A Francisca
Structure
It parallels the structure of the knights. The Dame of the Castle is the senior Shieldmaiden and as such she ranks second over all the Centurions in the castle after her husband. There is a seniority system in place so that Shieldmaidens who are more senior may give orders to knights who are more junior.
Public Agenda
Same as the Order
History
Founded when the Order of the Centurions was founded.
Ethics
Very High
Priesthood
Retired Shieldmaidens may become priests but this is generally rare unless her husband is dead. Retired Shieldmaidens are more likely to become castle stewards (Doma) tasked with overseeing the daily operations of the castle if their husbands are alive.
Sta Fortis, Numqam Dedite (Stand Strong, Never Surrender)
Type
Military, Knightly Order
Training Level
Professional
Veterancy Level
Veteran
Leader
Parent Organization
Location
Related Items
Related Ethnicities
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