Bradamante, fictional character, a female Christian knight in Orlando furioso (1516) by Ludovico Ariosto. Her chaotic romance with the Saracen knight Ruggiero is a major element of the plot.
Bradamante, the sister of Rinaldo, is a skilled warrior who survives many dangers in pursuit of her beloved Ruggiero. Even though Ruggiero is baptized a Christian, Bradamante’s parents demand that she marry the noble Leo. She decides to wed whoever withstands her in battle—a challenge that only Ruggiero meets. Their union originates the ancestral line of the Este family, the author’s patrons.