Comanche Women | More BRUTAL than the Men

”Comanche women defended their lifestyle to its end just as eagerly and ferociously as the men.” ~ T.R. Fehrenbach

The women of the Comanche held distinctly different tribal roles than the male warriors. But I would argue that as terrifying as the men were as raiders, the women played an even more brutal role in camp. Historical accounts often treat women as an afterthought. The conflicts that are written about are between male warriors. Women are resigned to the shadows of history. They were rarely written about but when they were, the consistencies in the accounts paint a clear image. Comanche women could be unbelievably brutal. To the warriors they offered immense support. Among themselves they competed in a complex hierarchy. Captives left in their care, especially girls, were often horribly abused. When prisoners were brought to camp the women took their time with torture. Many people have long and disturbing histories for how they would treat their enemies but there are few others I would want to be brought to less than the Comanche women.

RESOURCES

‘Big Wonderful Thing’ Excerpt: “Savage Ware Fare” by Stephen Harrigan

Burning Through Texas by Mike Coppock

The Comanches: A History of a People by T.R. Ferenbach

Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gywnne

Indian Depredations in Texas by J.W. Wilbarger

Memoirs of Mary A. Maverick: A Journal of Early Texas arranged by Mary A. Maverick and her son Madison Maverick

[datesanddeadguys]

Thank you for watching! I have a few more videos planned on the Comanche before I wrap up the series. What stories would you like to hear next? Let me know here.

[SadieYak]

Hey! I'm a member of the Comanche nation, and I really appreciate you telling these stories. Sometimes it's hard to think about the things my ancestors went through and did to others, but I think it's important to keep telling the stories. I look forward to all your videos!

For people calling me a pretendian because I look white - DNA combination can be a weird thing. But I'm Comanche, Quahadi band, last name Chebahtah.

[timothybrimm]

My wife is a direct decendant of Cynthia Ann Parker and very proud of her lineage, so am I, I am a fifth generational descendant of the "Bird"clan Cherokee and we love the stories about different native American nations !

[janbarstow]

My ancestor, Mary Gass, was captured by Indians as a child. She apparently was traded to another tribe further away. A fur trader with a tame bear told of seeing a white female captive in his travels up north. Mary was easy to spot because she was blond. The trader joined several others in a rescue team to go find her. The Indians knew the trader with his performing bear and that created enough of a ruse to distract them while the rescuers waited in the woods nearby. Eventually Mary (with the trader’s help) was able to wander away. She ended up marrying one of her rescuers and so continued my family line.

The family story is that he let the Indians take turns riding the trained bear, and later the bear ran into the woods with Mary, but that part may be added for drama. It was a performing bear though, so who knows.

[Mickster]

Worked in a factory and saw the rivalry and pecking order amongst women... if you think women can be bad to men, see how they treat other women who step out of line.... NASTY😮

[itiswhatitis]

something tells me i was born in the right place at the right time

[The_ZeroLine]

As almost every kid learns in school, fighting back always makes life easier than not. So, of course, the results of Rachel’s fights make complete sense.

[scottgg]

I'm married to a Mexican woman born in El Paso. Pretty sure she's a Comanche at this point.

[judithcampbell]

I've only gotten into 2 fights for my entire life. I remember both of them even though they happened long ago. We were girls in school, grade 4-5. She called me a bad name so after school I found confronted her. We fought, I won, but a few years later I ran into her. We became friends. It's strange how things happen. Thank you 💛 for amazing video and great content!

[johnsonandsons]

Great video as always! I live smack dab in the middle of Comancheria, and you are correct. If you could go back in time, and find yourself in the middle of this place, and suddenly come across the tracks of many unshod ponies, you would head the opposite direction with great haste.

[MikeS-umnm]

I actually met my best friend, at Summer Camp. in 1969. Funny enough, the camp was Indian themed, with group names like The Pow wows, Braves and Chiefs. We were 9 years old and got into an argument when I was secretly balancing potato chips on his crew cut hair, during lunch. The other kids were laughing at him and he turned his head to see what was behind him and the chips fell off. He hit me. I hit back, and it was on! Two 9 year olds, trying to murder each other! The Councilors broke up the fight and wouldn't let us go swimming unless we agreed to be "buddies" (the Camp had a Buddy System, while fun swimming, for safety). We reluctantly agreed and by the end of a one hour Fun Swim, we became best friends for life. Sadly he has passed and I miss him more than I can tell. I know it's a far cry from the story in this video, but thought it was appropriate since the question WAS asked.

[brianmitchellfolk]

Great storytelling! Thank you again. I did have a fight with a bully when I was about 14 years old. After that, we became friends. It seems strange to me now but it has changed my behavior when it comes to bullies because I no longer respond with fear. It was a great lesson.

[chanceco.]

As a man of European heritage, these videos have opened my eyes to the fact that the cruelty, savagery, ect... wasn't all one sided like the Maryland school system taught me it was, Native Americans did their share too.
I'm ready for the nasty comments, bring it on.

[iqqmmcu]

I had a friend that was a drug counselor. He said when a man got mad, he would break everything in the room. When a women got mad she would try and break everything on you.

[zlatanclovecic]

Thank you so much for your work. It's like light in the darkness of simplified cultural phrases and false political claims. Please keep going.

[johndudleywillis]

Excellent. I am a PHD historian in other subjects, but YOU did a great job here! John Dudley Willis in Kentucky

[rctube]

Real history is much more interesting than the fables we're told.

[dalizardboi]

I love this channel, the stories you tell feel so much more like a campfire retelling. Scary things Comanches did.

[Barukh]

Finally! I really wish you'd upload more often. These are great before bed time. Cheers from Brazil!

[nopessssks]

Another great episode. Really gave me some strong visuals.

He really digs into the details of old accountings/reports during that time period and translates it into a modern, digestible language that leads to a great story.