Top Ten Women of Medieval Europe

Women of medieval Europe came to prominence primarily through family connections. For example, through marriage or motherhood or through their father�s inheritance when there were no male heirs, women rose above their culturally-restricted roles. Some women even reached the forefront of accomplishment or power through efforts of their own. Here are a few of these prominent European medieval women:

1.      Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans) is perhaps the best-known woman in the Middle Ages. She was a military leader and subsequently became a saint in the Roman Catholic tradition. To read more about Joan of Arc, here is a website:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_ of_Arc

2.     Eleanor of Aquitaine was Queen of France then Queen of England, but, in her own right, she was duchess of Aquitaine. She helped her sons rebel against their father (and her husband), Henry II of England. She served as regent in her husband�s absence, and, although imprisoned by Henry II, she outlived him and served (again) as regent in her sons� absence. To learn more about Eleanor of Aquitaine, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine

3.     Empress Matilda (Empress Maud). She was called Empress due to her first marriage to the Holy Roman Emperor. Her claim to the English throne, which her father had supported but which her cousin Stephen rejected when he seized the throne for himself, led to a long civil war. She was not successful in winning the crown of England, but her son, Henry II, did, succeeding Stephen. For more information, please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Maud

4.     Hildegard of Bingen was a remarkable woman and a �first� in many fields. She was a mystic, a writer, musician, and a religious leader. She is the earliest composer whose life history is known. For more info, see:   http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/med/hil degarde.html

5.     Theodora - Byzantine Empress was an actress, a dancer, who became mistress then wife of Justinian. She was crowned Empress upon Justinian succeeding to the throne in 527, making her the most influential and powerful woman in Byzantine history. She had a real effect on the political decisions of the empire, through her relationship with her husband, who treated her as an intellectual partner. She probably saved Justinian�s throne during the Nika riots by her intervention in 532. See:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodora, _Empress_of_Byzantium

6.     Isabella of France - She was Queen consort of Edward II of England. She conspired with her lover, Roger Mortimer, to depose and then murder Edward II. Her son, Edward III, was crowned king (he then executed Mortimer and banished Isabella). Edward III claimed the crown of France through his mother�s heritage, beginning the Hundred Years� War. For more info, see: http://wwwa.britannica.com/eb/article-9042852


7.     Amalasuntha � Queen of the Goths. Amalasuntha was the regent Queen of the Ostrogoths. Her murder became Justinian�s rationale for invasion of Italy and defeat of the Goths. There are only a few very biased sources for her life. Here�s more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalasunta

8.     Catherine of Valois - Her impact in history was through her marriage to Owen Tudor, and her role in the beginnings of the future Tudor dynasty. She was the daughter of the King of France (Charles IV) and she was wife of Henry V of England, who died before their marriage could unite France and England.   She then married Owen Tudor. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_of_Valois

9.     Hrotsvitha has been called the �first German poet�. She was a nun and a poet who wrote (in Latin) the first plays known to have been written by a woman. She was also a dramatist and a historian. See (in German) http://www.bautz.de/bbkl/h/hroswitha_v_g.shtml

10.      Christine de Pizan was an early feminist who challenged her culture�s stereotypes of women. She was a 15th Century writer in France and author of the Book of the City of the Ladies. See: http://www.pinn.net/~sunshine/march99/pizan3.html

There is another very interesting "Theophanu" (955-991).
A Byzantine Princess, probably the niece of John Tsimisces, Theophanu was married to the Holy Roman Emperor Otto II (955-983) and crowned Empress in Rome at her wedding. As the mother of her husband's son and heir Otto III, she became official regent during the minority of the young prince after Otto II's early death.
During her regency, both the HRE and the Byzantine Empire were ruled by members of the same family, certainly a unique occurence.(Missed chances?)
By all accounts Theophanu was an enormously capable ruler who managed to secure the throne for her under-aged son, whilst consolidating the power of the HRE at the same time.
She is buried in Cologne, Germany in the church of St.Pantaleon where annually on the anniversary of her death, a mass in both the Catholic and the Orthodox rite is celebrated.




Christ blesses Emperor Oto II and his wife Theophanu

Edited by Komnenos

pretender to the throne... not so much. She was her fathers designated heir and before his death his nobles swore to uphold her. A first(or almost first) in England.  Before this she was emperess to the holy roman emperor, very well educated and one tough cookie.

Matilda of Canossa:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_of_Tuscany

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredegund http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunhilda_of_Austrasia I've always found the rivalry between Fredegunde and Brunhilda truly fascinating.

Originally posted by Reginmund You're all forgetting about Anna Comnena, daughter and biographer of Alexius I Comnenos. An outstanding intellectual in her time, the history she wrote covering her father's reign is one the most significant primary sources to that particular period.

She is also regarded as the first female historian in the West.