Warrior
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[[Image:Trak peltasta.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Drawing of a [[Thracians|Thracian]] peltast of 400 BC]]
[[Image:Mattei Athena Louvre Ma530.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The warrior goddess [[Athena]] - Musée du Louvre]]
According to the ''[[Random House Dictionary]]'', the term '''warrior''' has two meanings. The first [[Literal and figurative language|literal]] use refers to "a person engaged or experienced in [[war]]fare." The second [[Literal and figurative language|figurative]] use refers to "a person who shows or has shown great vigor, courage, or aggressiveness, as in politics or athletics." <ref name=dictionarydef >{{Citation
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==Overview==
In [[tribe|tribal]] societies engaging in [[endemic warfare]], warriors often form a [[caste]] or class of their own. In [[feudalism]], the [[vassals]] essentially form a military or warrior class, even if in actual warfare, peasants may be called to fight as well. In some societies, warfare may be so central that the entire people (or, more often large parts of the male population) may be considered warriors, for example in the Iron Age [[Germanic tribe]]s or the Medieval [[Rajput]]s.
Professional warriors are people who are paid money for engaging in military campaigns and fall into one of two categories: [[Soldiers]], when fighting on behalf of their own [[state]]; or [[mercenary|mercenaries]], when offering their services commercially and unrelated to their own nationality. The classification of somebody who is involved in acts of violence may be a matter of perspective, and there may be disagreement whether a given person is a [[hooligan]], [[gangster]], [[terrorism|terrorist]], [[rebel]], [[freedom fighter]], [[mercenary]] or a [[soldier]].
==Warrior code==
{{main|Warrior code}}
In many societies in which a specialized warrior class exists, specific codes of conduct ([[ethical code]]s) are instituted in order to ensure that the warrior class is not dangerous to the rest of society. Warrior codes often have common features and usually value [[honour]] in the forms of [[faith]], [[loyalty]] and [[courage]]. Examples include the [[Middle Ages|medieval]] [[knight]]s' code of [[chivalry]], the [[Kshatriya]] code of [[Dharma]] in [[India]] and [[Japan]]ese [[samurai]] [[Bushido]]. See also [[noblesse oblige]].
==Warrior cultures==
A '''warrior culture''' is a [[culture]] that heavily emphasizes [[battle]] and [[war]] and greatly prizes feats of arms. Warrior cultures often incorporate a [[cult of personality]] around military leaders, are ruled by an elite warrior class, and have a warfare based economy.
Examples of societies in history that could be designated as warrior cultures include:
* [[Apache]]
* [[Ancient Macedonians]]
* [[Afghan]] or [[Pashtoon]]
* [[Anglo-saxons]]
* [[Arumer Black Heap]] under [[Pier Gerlofs Donia]], [[Frisia]]
* [[Aztec warfare|Aztecs]]
* [[Barbadian]]
* [[Caribs]]
* [[Celts]]
* [[Christian]] [[Knight]]s
* [[Chekavar]] from [[Kerala]], [[India]]
* [[Cheyenne]] [[Dog Soldiers]]
* [[Cossack]]
* [[Crimean Khanate|Crimean Tatars]]
* [[Dani people]]
* [[Franks]]
* [[Germanic Peoples]]
* [[Haida]]
* [[Huns]] under [[Attila the Hun|Attila]]
* [[Jurchen]]
* [[Kshatriyas]] of [[India]]
* [[Maori]]
* [[Maratha clan system]]
* [[Masai]]
* [[Matabele]]
* [[Mongols]] under [[Genghis Khan]]
* [[Nairs]] of [[India]]
* [[Perbun]]
* [[Rajput]]
* [[Ancient Rome|Romans]]
* [[Scythians]]
* [[Sambal people]] of the [[Philippines]]
* [[Samurai]]
* [[Sparta]]
* [[Tuareg]]
* [[Turkish people|Turks]]
* [[Velama]]
* [[Vikings]]
* [[Yanomami]]
* [[Zulu|The Zulu]] under [[Shaka Zulu| Shaka]]
* Kaerians
[[Feudal]] societies are not always warrior cultures, since although feats of arms are prized, there is not necessarily an emphasis on [[battle]] and [[war]]. In some [[feudal]] societies, the soldiery was provided through [[conscription]] of the peasant class.
==Women as warriors==
{{main|History of women in the military}}
{{see|List of women warriors in folklore, literature, and popular culture}}
In many societies women have been considered innocent bystanders in war, alongside children. In such cases, fighting women is considered dishonorable. Most warriors have been men, however, there are many notable female warriors.
In Ancient Egypt, the earliest of recorded histories of human culture, [[Ahhotep I]] and [[Hatshepsut]] are documented as warrior queens. Others in various early cultures are documented as well.
[[Amanirenas]], a warrior queen of [[Nubia]] led her forces to attack Roman territory in Africa. After an initial victory when her forces sacked a Roman town, she was defeated and surrendered. <ref>http://www.jstor.org/pss/716999</ref> <ref>[http://afraf.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/XXVIII/CIX/55.pdf African Affairs - Sign In Page<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Since [[Eurypyle]], [[Deborah]], and [[Vishpala]] there have been references to women warriors throughout history. [[Boudica]] lead an enormous army that is well documented. See the list provided above for many more. Yet until modern times, however, warrior women mostly have been noted by historians as an exception or a curiosity. One example of a group of fighting women is the legend of the [[Amazons]], that is recorded in myths.
Today, women are recruited to serve in the military in most countries, while only a few countries permit women to fill active combat roles, including [[Sweden]], [[Canada]], [[Denmark]], [[Finland]], [[Germany]], [[Norway]], and [[Switzerland]]. However, in other countries women do end up in combat situations.
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==References==
*Shannon E. French, ''Code of the Warrior - Exploring Warrior Values Past and Present'' (2003).
==See also==
William Stanley
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*[[Amazons]]
*[[Ashigaru]]
*[[Berserker]]
*[[Cheema]]
*[[Dog soldier]]
*[[Eagle warrior]]
*[[Ghazw]]
*[[Gladiator]]
*[[Hajduk]]
*[[Hersir]]
*[[Hoplite]]
*[[Hwarang]]
*[[Impi]]
*[[Jatt]]
*[[Jaguar warrior]]
*[[Janissary]]
*[[Knight]]
*[[Kshatriya]]
*[[Maratha]]
*[[Boyar (caste)| Boyar]]
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*[[Ansar]]
*[[Mandalorians]]
*[[Montenegrins]]
*[[Ninja]]
*[[Phalangite]]
*[[Persian Immortals]]
*[[Pirates]]
*[[Pronoia]]
*[[Rajput]]
*[[Ranger]]
*[[Ronin]]
*[[Sacred Band of Carthage]]
*[[Samurai]]
*[[Shieldmaiden]]
*[[Spahi]]
*[[Sohei]]
*[[Timariots]]
*[[Uhlan]]
*[[Viking]]
*[[Xia (philosophy)|Xia]]
*[[Yamabushi]]
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[[Category:Warrior code]]
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