Medieval and Renaissance France - Women's History
Women of France in the Middle Ages - Carolingian and Frankish Women of Medieval times.
Brunhilde
A Visigoth princess, she married a Frankish king, then revenged her murdered sister by starting a 40-year war with a rival kingdom. She fought for her son, grandsons and great-grandson, but was finally defeated and the kingdom lost to the rival family.
A Visigoth princess, she married a Frankish king, then revenged her murdered sister by starting a 40-year war with a rival kingdom. She fought for her son, grandsons and great-grandson, but was finally defeated and the kingdom lost to the rival family.
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine, queen of France and England through her two marriages and ruler of her own territories by right of birth, was one of the most powerful women of the world in the twelfth century. This profile highlights her key contributions.
Eleanor of Aquitaine, queen of France and England through her two marriages and ruler of her own territories by right of birth, was one of the most powerful women of the world in the twelfth century. This profile highlights her key contributions.
Emma, Queen of Franks
Wife of Lothair, King of Franks, rumor had her poisoning her son, Louis V, and thus bringing to an end the Carolingian dynasty. But the charge is likely false.
Wife of Lothair, King of Franks, rumor had her poisoning her son, Louis V, and thus bringing to an end the Carolingian dynasty. But the charge is likely false.
Fredegund
She worked her way up from servant to mistress to queen consort, and then ruled as her son's regent. She talked her husband into murdering his second wife, but that wife's sister, Brunhilde, queen of the neighboring kingdom, wanted revenge -- and so followed forty years of war. Fredegund is chiefly remembered for her assassinations and other cruelties.
She worked her way up from servant to mistress to queen consort, and then ruled as her son's regent. She talked her husband into murdering his second wife, but that wife's sister, Brunhilde, queen of the neighboring kingdom, wanted revenge -- and so followed forty years of war. Fredegund is chiefly remembered for her assassinations and other cruelties.
Joan of Arc and Catherine of Siena
Francis C. Lowell in 1896 compared Joan of Arc and Catherine of Siena, religious mystics who lived at about the same time.
Francis C. Lowell in 1896 compared Joan of Arc and Catherine of Siena, religious mystics who lived at about the same time.
Louise of Savoy
A biography of Louise of Savoy, influential French royal who was the mother of a king of France, and served as regent for her son.
A biography of Louise of Savoy, influential French royal who was the mother of a king of France, and served as regent for her son.
Marguerite of Navarre - Margaret of Navarre - Marguerite of Angoulême
A biography of Marguerite of Navarre, Renaissance woman writer.
A biography of Marguerite of Navarre, Renaissance woman writer.
Carolingian Woman's Counsel
Summary of writings of Dhuoda, an educated woman of the ninth century, defending the religious basis of patriarchy as she instructs her son.
Summary of writings of Dhuoda, an educated woman of the ninth century, defending the religious basis of patriarchy as she instructs her son.
Dhuoda
Poet in the ninth century. Translations, background and bibliography.
Poet in the ninth century. Translations, background and bibliography.
The Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux: Prayer Book for a Queen
A fourteenth century prayer book of Jeanne d'Evreux, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's online exhibits.
A fourteenth century prayer book of Jeanne d'Evreux, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's online exhibits.