The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women

"The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women" is a 16th-century pamphlet by John Knox, advocating for gender-based political and religious leadership. Knox criticizes women, particularly queens and female rulers, arguing that they are inherently unfit to govern because of perceived moral and divine reasons. He fears that female authority threatens social order and divine law. The work reflects the gender biases and political tensions of the Reformation era, and it questions the legitimacy and morality of female rule, emphasizing the belief that leadership should be reserved for men.