Women in Medieval Europe - Essay Example

Feminist medievalists many hundreds of them have an association, a journal, bibliographic projects, and even long-standing research collaborations (Susan, 1987). In some cases they are peculiarly handicapped, approaching distant past through incomplete and intransigent sources that were, with few exceptions, created and preserved by men. (Rosenthal, 1990). Few of the great examples of that time are Eleanor of Aquitaine organized a rebellion against her husband, King Henry 11 of England. Christine de Pisan, a Frenchwoman, was married at the age of 15 and became a widow at the age of 25.

She then made her living as a writer. Although few women fought in battle, they often had to organize the defense of a castle. The Countess of Buchan defended Berwick Castle so fiercely against King Edward one of England that, when he finally overcame her soldiers, he hung her over the battlements in an iron cage. Women could become honorary members of certain knightly orders. A knight's wife looked after the children and organized tasks such as cooking and making clothes. She also hired the laborers, supervised the stewards, sold the produce and kept the accounts.

Men often died before their wives so that a woman would often find herself managing an estate. Queen of England; she was Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, which gave her significant power as a wife and mother. She served as regent in her husband's absence, helped ensure significant royal marriages for her daughters, and eventually helped her son's rebel against their father, Henry II of England, her husband. She was imprisoned by Henry, but outlived him and served, once again, as regent, this time when her sons were absent from England.

When someone says the word marriage today we think about two people who are in love and who want to spend the rest of their lives with each other. Marriage is a serious commitment, one that isn't taken lightly for most people. One wouldn't likely marry a stranger they just met for instance. In the Medieval Times, however, marriage was quite different. Women didn't have a choice as to who they would marry. There were strict rules for whether or not a divorce was allowed. Despite the differences in various aspects of marriage, the marriage ceremony has stayed rather similar over the years.

We also carry on some of the same traditions in today's society.