Brita Olofsdotter (died 1569), was a Finnish soldier of the

Swedish cavalry This is a list of Swedish cavalry regiments, battalions, corps and companies that have existed in the Swedish Army. They are listed in three ways, first by the actual units that have existed, then by the various names these units have had, and la ...

. She is the likely first confirmed female soldier in Sweden, as well as the first confirmed Swedish example of the historical phenomena of women impersonating men to gain access to professions barred to their gender. Olofsdotter was from Finland and was the widow of Nils Simonsson. She dressed as a man and enlisted during the Livonian War, where she served in the cavalry and was killed in battle. On 16 June 1569,

John III of Sweden John III ( sv , Johan III, fi, Juhana III; 20 December 1537 – 17 November 1592) was King of Sweden from 1569 until his death. He was the son of King Gustav I of Sweden and his second wife Margaret Leijonhufvud. He was also, quite autonomous ...

ordered Gabriel Christiensson to investigate the matter, and gave the order that her remaining salary should be paid to her family.

References

* Eva Borgström : Makalösa kvinnor; könsöverskridare i myt och verklighet (Marvelous women; transgender in myth and reality), , Alfabet. (2002) * Wilhelmina Stålberg: Anteckningar om svenska qvinnor (Notes of Swedish women) 16th-century births 1569 deaths Female wartime cross-dressers Finnish women in war Swedish soldiers Women in 16th-century warfare Women in war in Sweden 16th-century Swedish military personnel {{Sweden-mil-bio-stub