What was life like for noble women in the Middle Ages?
Noble Women. Large families were the norm in the Middle Ages as the mortality rate for children and babies was so high. Many Noble woman made arrangements for the care of their children in case they themselves died during childbirth. The life expectancy of a woman in the Middle Ages was just forty years.
How was the marriage of a wealthy woman celebrated in medieval times?
A wealthy marriage of a Noble woman was celebrated by nine days of easting and jousting. After marriage Noble women of the Middle Ages were expected to run the households but their main duty was to provide children. Large families were the norm in the Middle Ages as the mortality rate for children and babies was so high.
What was it like to be a noblewoman?
Noblewomen could do so many things and they would learn a lot before they got married but they wouldn't get anything in return. A noblewomen also had limited rights and was forced to work and do everything she was told to do by her husband, since she was his property.
What were the duties of the young noble women?
The duties of the young noble women would be to look after clothes and the assist ladies with their dressing and coiffure. Some housewifely duties such as preserving fruits and household management would be taught, to prepare them for their duties as a married woman.
What did the noblewomen do in medieval times?
ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF NOBLEWOMEN Their role was to help their husband run the estates. The "lady" became "lord of the manor" while her father or husband was off fighting. Sometimes the women might even go to war to defend her estate, if necessary. Noblewomen ran the estate while the men were at battle.
How were noblewomen treated in the Middle Ages?
Throughout the Medieval period, women were viewed as second class citizens, and their needs always were an afterthought. They were either held to be completely deceitful, sexual, innocent, or incompetent.
What were ladies called in medieval times?
Women held the positions of wife, mother, peasant, artisan, and nun, as well as some important leadership roles, such as abbess or queen regnant. The very concept of woman changed in a number of ways during the Middle Ages, and several forces influenced women's roles during their period.
What did noblewomen do for fun?
Hobbies for respectable noblewomen would include reading and needlework. Singing and playing music were also popular and acceptable pastimes for these refined noble ladies.
Why was virginity so important in medieval times?
Virginity was both enticing and frightening. A maiden was admired for her chastity and pure thoughts. She retained the innocence that other women had lost. On the other hand, a maiden was not considered to have had any essential experiences of being a woman.
How do you address a woman in medieval times?
The female form is Madame in address, though the title is "Lady" as in "Lady Jane". "Lady" could also be a formal and respectful address, in the manner of Sir or Madame. My Lord/My Lady: The form of address for any noble or "lord of the Church" such as a Bishop.
What jobs did noblewomen have?
A noblewoman's job was to take care of a household and to have children. Noblewomen had no rights, as they were the property of their husband. A noblewoman was also not allowed to choose their husband. The noblewoman's father will choose for her.
What was considered attractive in medieval times?
Generally, the fashionable lady's look for the bulk of the medieval period was as follows- high forehead, plucked eyebrows, small even teeth, a fair complexion, long neck, narrow chest, low sloping shoulders, high small waist and in some cases, a prominent stomach.
What was beautiful in medieval times?
A high forehead was considered beautiful and regal. Many women plucked their hairlines to create a large looking forehead. Pink lipstick was often worn to make the skin appear paler. Although in different periods of the Middle Ages lipstick was forbidden and only worn by prostitutes.
How do I become a noble woman?
Here are some of the most common traits that noble women possess:She Is Wise. ... She Is Gentle. ... She Provides For Her Family. ... She Is A Caring Mother. ... She knows what her partner wants. ... She Is A Hard Worker. ... She Is A Critical Thinker. ... She Knows How To Listen.More items...•
Could you have fun in the Middle Ages?
Songs and stories were very popular during The Middle Ages. People would entertain themselves with song, dance, music and stories. Wandering entertainers, called minstrels or troubadours, would travel from village to village providing such entertainment – particularly music – for the local people.
What did kids play with in the Middle Ages?
They played with wooden swords, toy soldiers, riding sticks and other warlike toys. Peasant boys sometimes made their own toys, such as play weapons out of sticks and floating boats from hollowed out bread loaves. Spinning tops were popular, as were games of tug-of-war and leapfrog.
What did nuns do in the Middle Ages?
Nuns took vows of chastity, renounced worldly goods and devoted themselves to prayer, religious studies and helping society's most needy. Many nuns produced religious literature and music, the most famous amongst these authors being the 12th century CE abbess Hildegard of Bingen.
What were women's roles like in the Middle Ages?
The vast majority of people in the Middle Ages worked the land, and women were just as active as men in agricultural activities. But we do know of women who were also writers, artists, and active as tradespeople in a family business.
What responsibilities did a wife have in her household in the Middle Ages?
The woman's job was to take care of the home, help her husband at his work, and produce children. Power writes, “the great majority of women lived and died wholly unrecorded as they labored in the field, the farm, and the home” (Loyn, 346).
Lady Godiva
The legend of Lady Godiva is well known to many, no doubt due to artists such as John Collier who were so taken with her story that they represented the legend in their paintings and sculptures.
Louise of Savoy
Louise of Savoy was born into the higher echelons of the French royal court during the 15th century and established her place in history as the mother of the King of France, Frances I and a prominent ancestress of the line of Bourbon French Kings and the illustrious House of Savoy.
Teresa of Ávila
Teresa of Ávila was born in Spain in the early 16th century, the daughter of a wealthy merchant who purchased a knighthood and established his family within the noble classes.
Marie de France
The written work of Marie de France left a more indelible legacy than the woman behind the pen, whose precise name and biography have been lost to the mists of time.
How were women's lives determined in the Middle Ages?
X. The lives of women in the Middle Ages were determined by the Church and the aristocracy. The medieval Church provided people with the 'big picture' of the meaning of life and one's place in it; the aristocracy ensured that everyone stayed in their respective places through the feudal system of government which divided society into three classes: ...
Who were the most powerful women in the Middle Ages?
Two of the most powerful women of this era were Eleanor of Aquitaine (l. c. 1122-1204 CE) and her daughter Marie de Champagne (l. 1145-1198 CE). Eleanor was one of the most powerful political figures – male or female – in the Middle Ages as a whole. She was the wife of Louis VII of France (r. 1137-1180 CE) from 1137 CE until the marriage's annulment in 1152 CE when she married Henry II of England (r. 1154-1189 CE). Eleanor took part in the Second Crusade along with her ladies-in-waiting, managed her own estates and finances, and was an important patron of the arts, especially of romantic literature.
What was the view of women as temptresses?
Accordingly, women were at once denied the same social status as men while legally being recognized as a man's partner, helpmate and, under certain conditions, even his equal. The view of women as either evil temptresses or virginal goddesses left no middle ground for a reasoned perception of woman-as-individual. In the Early Middle Ages, the woman-as-temptress model prevailed as clergy emphasized Eve's role in the fall of man. From the 12th century CE during the High Middle Ages onwards to the end, the Cult of Mary was more popular and so the perception of women improved.
What was the role of Mary in the Middle Ages?
The Cult of the Virgin Mary was not new to the Middle Ages. Mary had been declared the Mother of God by the Church in 431 CE at the Third Ecumenical Council. Mary's high standing, however, did little to elevate women's status in society. The Church both demonized and elevated women through the dichotomy of the biblical tale of Eve – who caused humanity's fall from grace in the Garden of Eden – and that of the Virgin Mary whose son was believed to have redeemed that fall. Women were simultaneously considered the source of all the ills of the world and the means of that world's redemption through the birth of Jesus Christ.
Why was the Cult of Mary so popular?
From the 12th century CE during the High Middle Ages onwards to the end, the Cult of Mary was more popular and so the perception of women improved. Even so, women were still collectively demonized even at the height of the cult's popularity for failing to mirror the Virgin Mary's perfection.
Why are women not mentioned as often as men in legal matters in the Middle Ages?
Once the girl was married, her husband controlled her interests and was responsible for her behavior and, for this reason, women are not mentioned as often as men in legal matters in the Early Middle Ages. The woman's husband would be sued if a woman transgressed, not the woman herself.
What was the hierarchy of medieval society?
The hierarchy of medieval society was rigidly maintained , and one very rarely rose above the station one was born into. There was no middle class and the only hope for a woman to better her situation, without marrying, was to enter a nunnery. It is possible, as some scholars have suggested, that there were women who chose this route in hopes of education, but if so they were largely disappointed.
What would a noblewoman be served by her ladies in waiting?
A noblewoman would be served by her ladies in waiting. She would be assisted with her dress for the day
What would a noblewoman be expected to oversee?
A Noblewoman would be expected to oversee the education of the upper class girls who had sent to their households
What was the role of a married noble woman in the Middle Ages?
Married Noble Women of the Middle Ages. After marriage Noble women of the Middle Ages were expected to run the households but their main duty was to provide children. Large families were the norm in the Middle Ages as the mortality rate for children and babies was so high.
What were noble women taught?
Time would be spent learning how to dance and ride. Archery were also taught to young noble women.
What did the Noble Woman of the Middle Ages dye her hair yellow with?
To retain the appearance of youth a Noble woman of the middle Ages might even dye her hair yellow with a mixture of saffron, cumin seed, celandine and oil. Face make-up was applied to acquire a pale look.
What was the dowry in the Middle Ages?
Noble women of the Middle Ages were expected to bring a dowry to the marriage. A dowry was an amount of money, goods, and property that the. bride would bring to the marriage. The law gave a husband full rights over his wife, whether she was a Noble woman or a commoner. She effectively became his property.
What was the name of the building in the castle that noble families lived in?
Those noble families living in castles usually lived in the building in the castle called the keep . It was usually a massive building intended to be the last resort in a siege, and included such areas as large grain storage places, in addition to the owner's apartment.
Why were marriages arranged for noble women?
Marriages would be arranged to bring prestige or wealth to the family of noble women. Marriage for love was a. rare occurrence.
What did manor houses look like?
Some manor houses were fortified, and such buildings looked rather like castles to the modern eye. They were simpler and smaller than castles, however, and intended primarily to be homes and only secondarily for defense. They often had moats, but not the interior courtyards within curtain walls that typified castles.
What was the role of noble women in the Middle Ages?
Although, noble women had a specific role in the Middle Ages they could not make decisions of importance. Their role was to help their husband run the estates. The "lady" became "lord of the manor" while her father or husband was off fighting.
What were noble women's rights?
Noblewomen had very limited rights. Women were considered chattel and couldn't own property or inherit land. The land was usually inherited by the eldest son in a family. Women had the heavy disadvantage that they could only inherit if they had no living brothers in most places, as land and title went to the eldest son in most places.
Why did noble women go to war?
Sometimes the women might even go to war to defend her estate, if necessary. Noblewomen ran the estate while the men were at battle. The main duty of the noble woman was to give her husband a son. She would usually have 6 to 8 children as most of them didn't live past the age of three.
Why were marriages arranged in the Middle Ages?
Marriages were frequently arranged so that both families involved would benefit. Marriages would be arranged to bring wealth to the family of noblewomen. Marriage for love was a rare occurrence. Noblewomen of the Middle Ages were expected to bring a dowry to the marriage. A dowry was an amount of money, goods, and property that the bride would bring to the marriage. The law gave a husband full rights over his wife, whether she was a Noblewoman or a commoner. She effectively became his property. However, before the women gets married, she was sent to her relatives for training. She was expected to know how to spin, weave, and supervise servants.
What is the unfair life of a noble woman?
Noblewomen could do so many things and they would learn a lot before they got married but they wouldn't get anything in return. A noblewomen also had limited rights and was forced to work and do everything she was told to do by her husband, since she was his property. Her marriage wouldn't even be by her choice, it would be arranged by her parents which is unfair. The young girl would be forced to get married when she might not even want to.
What was the dowry of the Middle Ages?
A dowry was an amount of money, goods, and property that the bride would bring to the marriage. The law gave a husband full rights over his wife, whether she was a Noblewoman or a commoner. She effectively became his property. However, before the women gets married, she ...
Where is Eleanor of Castile's tomb?
One of the twelve monuments honoring Eleanor of Castile. This one is in Geddington, Northamptonshire. Eleanor’s tombs also demonstrate the extravagance of royal women’s burials, which was meant to promote a greater image of the king and the monarchy.
Why were royal women praised?
Royal women were praised largely for their ability to maintain the dynastic line of succession through the birth of legitimate sons, regardless of their own political triumphs. Focusing on motherhood and connections to men greatly impacted the lasting feminine memories and legacies of these politically active women.
How did the death memorials affect women?
And second, it undermined their actual authority and political achievements. This was often done at the request of the reigning male authority, whether it be their husbands, sons, or their political rivals. However, men were not the only participants in rewriting women’s legacies. Eleanor of Aquitaine, for example, notoriously belittled the post-mortem legacy of her husband’s mistress, Rosamond Clifford. She did this by commissioning Rosamond’s tomb inscription to read, in part, “…she who used to smell sweet, still smells—but not sweet.”
How many tombs did Eleanor have?
The numerous monuments dedicated to her, which include three tombs and twelve large crosses, were part of an elaborate attempt to manipulate her legacy. As was a common practice for the nobility in the Middle Ages, Eleanor’s body was separated into pieces after her death.
What was Eleanor's role in the Queen's life?
During her life, Eleanor was condemned by her contemporaries as being a greedy foreigner. She was put in charge of acquiring land estates for the Crown, and she did this with great zeal. But one epitaph, written shortly after her death by the Archbishop of Canterbury, accused the queen of usury for inheriting Christian debts owed to Jewish financiers and, in turn, taking the indebted Christians’ lands. The queen’s perceived greed was also noted by her contemporaries; her household staff was notorious for carrying out acts of intimidation solely to meet her ends. For instance, when the church of Stockport had a vacancy, Eleanor requested one of her clerks to be the replacement. When Eleanor found out that her wishes were not fulfilled, she had her bailiff harass the lord of Stockport for seven years. This included confiscating his property and forcing him to pay fines.
What does the inscription on Matilda's epitaph say about her legacy?
The inscription on her epitaph praises the traditional accomplishments of Anglo-Norman aristocratic women, while minimizing her actual authority. Two lines from Matilda’s epitaph are now infamous in regards to her legacy; they read:
What were the virtues of the Virgin Mary?
Her virtues of intersession, piety, mercy, and motherhood lent themselves easily to those of medieval queens. The Virgin Mary was understood to have received her majesty from her son, and by emulating the Virgin, queens could hope for greater power and influence by giving birth to healthy sons.
What did noble women wear in the Middle Ages?
The women wore a smock-like dress that was held together at the shoulders by fibulae. A shawl was worn over it, which could also cover the head. The noblewoman wore a belt with a bag attached to it around her waist.
What did noble women wear?
In the High Middle Ages, noblewomen wore half-shoes and short boots made of leather or brocade fabric. Under no circumstances however should the female wearer’s foot be visible, this was considered to be offensive. The shoes were closed with braces or cords on the inside and were usually pointed to the toes. From the 12th century, the poulaine entered into the fashion of European noble’s shoes, presumably from the Orient. The stuffed tops of the shoes were worn longer and longer over time, sometimes resulting in ridicule. It was also considered particularly chic to wear two different coloured shoes. In order to protect the shoes from mud, they also wore so-called pattens under the shoes (A kind of additional platform sole).
Why did noble women change their clothes?
Mainly due to Roman influences, the clothes of the noblewoman changed afterwards. The typical smock-like dress has been replaced by dresses with long, wide-cut skirts and tight-fitting sleeves. As before, the nobles continued to wear wool and linen, but the expensive silk fabric became increasingly popular with the nobility and kings. No wish was left unfulfilled: The precious silk fabric, also called purple in the Middle Ages, came in every imaginable colour. The Merovingian Queen Arnegundis, for example, was buried in 570 wearing a purple undergarment and a brown silk upper garment embroidered with gold thread.
Why did noble women wear expensive robes?
For the privileged, the wearing of expensive robes served not only to make them “look good”, but also increased the wearer´s prestige. Especially from the late Middle Ages, the more precious the fabric, the higher the status of the noblewoman wearing it. It is therefore not surprising that any change in fashion was shaped usually by the nobility.
What was the fashion of the 14th century?
In the 14th century, clothing fashion changed considerably. The noblewoman’s upper and undergarments were now worn tighter. The dress now featured the so-called “devil’s windows” – wide recesses on the side of the dress, which revealed a lot of the physique thanks to the tight undergarments. In addition, the first button strips were added to the dresses.
Why did the fashion of the nobles change in the Middle Ages?
This is because the working population needed clothes that were practical, resilient and comfortable. On the other hand, only the wealthy could afford expensive fabrics, colours or elaborate cutting techniques that require a lot of fabric.
What was the name of the cape that women wore?
Already in the 13th century the so-called “Heuke” emerged. This was a cape that was usually placed over the head by women and remained open at the front. The Heuke was worn by wealthy women until the 17th century, but mostly as part of the overall outfit. In addition, the mantle was created, a circular sleeveless cloak without a hood, which was closed with a clasp.
What is the Middle Ages?
The Middle Ages is the middle period of the three traditional divisions of Western history: classical antiquity, the medieval period, and the modern period. The medieval period is itself subdivided into the Early, High, and Late Middle Ages . Population decline, counterurbanisation, the collapse of centralized authority, invasions, ...
What countries were part of Europe in the Middle Ages?
Map of Europe in 1360. Strong, royalty-based nation states rose throughout Europe in the Late Middle Ages, particularly in England, France, and the Christian kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula: Aragon, Castile, and Portugal.
What were the major developments in the military sphere during the Late Middle Ages?
One of the major developments in the military sphere during the Late Middle Ages was the increased use of infantry and light cavalry. The English also employed longbowmen, but other countries were unable to create similar forces with the same success. Armour continued to advance, spurred by the increasing power of crossbows, and plate armour was developed to protect soldiers from crossbows as well as the hand-held guns that were developed. Pole arms reached new prominence with the development of the Flemish and Swiss infantry armed with pikes and other long spears.
What was the main unifying factor between Eastern and Western Europe before the Arab conquests?
Christianity was a major unifying factor between Eastern and Western Europe before the Arab conquests, but the conquest of North Africa sundered maritime connections between those areas. Increasingly, the Byzantine Church differed in language, practices, and liturgy from the Western Church. The Eastern Church used Greek instead of the Western Latin. Theological and political differences emerged, and by the early and middle 8th century issues such as iconoclasm, clerical marriage, and state control of the Church had widened to the extent that the cultural and religious differences were greater than the similarities. The formal break, known as the East–West Schism, came in 1054, when the papacy and the patriarchy of Constantinople clashed over papal supremacy and excommunicated each other, which led to the division of Christianity into two Churches—the Western branch became the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern branch the Eastern Orthodox Church.
What was the style of art in the Middle Ages?
The Late Middle Ages in Europe as a whole correspond to the Trecento and Early Renaissance cultural periods in Italy. Northern Europe and Spain continued to use Gothic styles, which became increasingly elaborate in the 15th century, until almost the end of the period. International Gothic was a courtly style that reached much of Europe in the decades around 1400, producing masterpieces such as the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. All over Europe secular art continued to increase in quantity and quality, and in the 15th century the mercantile classes of Italy and Flanders became important patrons, commissioning small portraits of themselves in oils as well as a growing range of luxury items such as jewellery, ivory caskets, cassone chests, and maiolica pottery. These objects also included the Hispano-Moresque ware produced by mostly Mudéjar potters in Spain. Although royalty owned huge collections of plate, little survives except for the Royal Gold Cup. Italian silk manufacture developed, so that Western churches and elites no longer needed to rely on imports from Byzantium or the Islamic world. In France and Flanders tapestry weaving of sets like The Lady and the Unicorn became a major luxury industry.
What were the kings of England doing in the 10th century?
Efforts by local kings to fight the invaders led to the formation of new political entities. In Anglo-Saxon England, King Alfred the Great (r. 871–899) came to an agreement with the Viking invaders in the late 9th century, resulting in Danish settlements in Northumbria, Mercia, and parts of East Anglia. By the middle of the 10th century, Alfred's successors had conquered Northumbria, and restored English control over most of the southern part of Great Britain. In northern Britain, Kenneth MacAlpin (d. c. 860) united the Picts and the Scots into the Kingdom of Alba. In the early 10th century, the Ottonian dynasty had established itself in Germany, and was engaged in driving back the Magyars. Its efforts culminated in the coronation in 962 of Otto I (r. 936–973) as Holy Roman Emperor. In 972, he secured recognition of his title by the Byzantine Empire, which he sealed with the marriage of his son Otto II (r. 967–983) to Theophanu (d. 991), daughter of an earlier Byzantine Emperor Romanos II (r. 959–963). By the late 10th century Italy had been drawn into the Ottonian sphere after a period of instability; Otto III (r. 996–1002) spent much of his later reign in the kingdom. The western Frankish kingdom was more fragmented, and although kings remained nominally in charge, much of the political power devolved to the local lords.
What was the beginning of the Middle Ages?
The most commonly given starting point for the Middle Ages is around 500 , with the date of 476 first used by Bruni. Later starting dates are sometimes used in the outer parts of Europe. For Europe as a whole, 1500 is often considered to be the end of the Middle Ages, but there is no universally agreed upon end date.
Changing Attitudes Toward Women
Women's Rights
- Throughout the Middle Ages, lower-class women were bakers, brewers, milkmaids, barmaids, artisans, weavers and, primarily, tenant farmers who worked alongside their husbands and children in the fields. The feudal system dictated that the land belonged to the lord, who rented it to his tenants – the serfs – who were bound to that land. The lord cont...
Legal & Economic Status
- An emphasis on tradeduring the High Middle Ages provided greater opportunity for women. During this period, in Spain and France initially, the middle class began to emerge as merchants amassed enough wealth to be able to influence political matters. The medieval guild had a great deal to do with the emergence of the middle class and also was responsible for increased right…
Depiction & Involvement in Art
- By the time of the High Middle Ages, when the Cult of the Virgin Mary was increasing in popularity, more noble women were exercising power and some to such an extent as to significantly change their culture's perception of women. Two of the most powerful women of this era were Eleanor of Aquitaine (l. c. 1122-1204 CE) and her daughter Marie de Champagne (l. 1145-1198 CE). Eleano…
Role in Society
- While women in abbeys, nunneries, and at court in the Late Middle Ages were finding new freedom in expression and greater acceptance among men, women of the bourgeoisie were facing renewed restrictions. Women in guilds in the Late Middle Ages found less and less work as guilds began to deny them membership and male co-workers made their lives more difficult. Wo…
Conclusion
- Women in medieval times were not the passive victims of the religious and political patriarchy, no matter how often that claim is repeated. Women frequently found ways around the obstacles placed in their path or forged new paths when a challenge proved too great. They took over their husband's businesses and ran them successfully, continued to work in guilds, or even formed th…