Women, Violence and the Control of Sexuality in Early Modern Western Mediterranean Armies

Women's presence in warfare and armies was commonplace in early modern Europe. Whether within armies, in transit areas, military lodgings, permanent military residences, or in besieged cities, it is possible to find their traces. Yet while there are numerous studies of these women’s lives and experiences in central and northern Europe, research for southern European regions remains scarce. This project therefore aims to study the roles and experiences of non-elite women who lived in or came into close contact with armies in sixteenth-century Italy by examining practices, discourses and representations of sexuality and violence. Due to the protracted wars and occupations that unfolded in the Italian Peninsula during the 16th century, the region provides an ideal setting for this research. In particular, VICONS-EMMA will focus on the presence of Spanish soldiers as they provide a crucial perspective for understanding the social impact of both short and long-term military occupations, particularly considering that many Italian states eventually hosted permanent Spanish garrisons. The project employs a mixed methodology, integrating qualitative analysis of legal and theoretical military texts, visual sources and, most importantly, archival records to uncover the voices of these women. This approach will deepen the understanding of sexuality and violence in the complex era of the Reformation/Counter Reformation and open up new debates between Gender and Military History. The project features a major outreach strategy that seeks not only to raise awareness of the importance of women's role in early modern warfare, but also to encourage debate about sexual violence in contemporary military contexts. It will enable the Experienced Researcher (ER) to expand her methodological tools and skills for consolidating a permanent academic position and significantly improve the ER's employability in non-academic job markets such as Public History and historical consultancy.