Agnes Hotot facts for kids

Agnes Hotot lived around the year 1395. She was an English noblewoman, meaning she came from an important family. Agnes became famous for something very unusual for her time: she won a fight using a lance against a man.

According to old stories, Agnes took her father's place in a special fight called a duel. Her father had become sick. Agnes dressed up like a man and kept her identity a secret. She only showed who she really was after she knocked her opponent off his horse! Later, when Agnes married into the Dudley family, they created a new family symbol, called a crest. This crest showed a woman wearing a war helmet, remembering Agnes's brave act.

Some newer versions of Agnes Hotot's story have changed over time. These stories sometimes mix her tale with a local ghost legend. In these versions, Agnes is seen as a good daughter whose father was not so honorable. She steps in when her father pretends to be sick to avoid a fight.

Her Famous Duel

Agnes Hotot was the young daughter of Sir John Hotot. She was set to inherit her family's property.

Her father, Sir John, had an argument with a man named Ringsley. To settle their disagreement, they decided to have a lance fight. This was a type of duel where two people on horseback charged at each other with long spears.

Just before the fight, Agnes's father became very ill with gout, a painful joint condition. To prevent her family from losing land or honor, Agnes made a brave choice. She put on her father's armor and went to the tourney, which was a medieval competition. She fought in his place.

Agnes managed to knock Ringsley off his horse. While he was on the ground, she took off her helmet. She let down her hair to show everyone that she was a woman. Some stories even say she removed part of her armor to prove her identity.

A Family's Special Symbol

In 1395, Agnes Hotot married into the Dudley family. They lived in a place called Clapton in Northamptonshire.

To celebrate Agnes's victory in the lance fight, the Dudley family created a brand new family crest. This special symbol showed "a woman's bust," meaning the upper part of a woman's body. Her hair was messy, and she wore a helmet with the chin strap down. The Dudley family proudly displayed this crest for many years. A monk in the village of Clapton wrote down Agnes's amazing story.

In this medieval illustration of a jousting tournament, two contestants ride towards each other with lances raised.

Modern Stories About Agnes

Over time, newer stories about Agnes Hotot have appeared. These often combine her tale with a local legend called "Skulking Dudley." This legend is about a man from the Dudley family who supposedly caused trouble in the 1300s. He was said to haunt the villagers of Clopton in the early 1900s.

In these modern versions, Agnes is the daughter of Skulking Dudley. Her father offends another landowner. Then, he pretends to be sick to avoid the duel. Agnes steps in to save her family's honor. In some of these stories, she might even lose the fight. However, her opponent discovers she is a woman, spares her life, and they end up getting married.