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by Teresa Cole (Author)
Exploring a selection of lives that disproves the stereotype of medieval women as subordinate to men.
The stereotypical medieval woman is a pious, helpless creature of little intelligence, and still less drive and ambition. Completely at the mercy of the men in her life, she was married young, had copious offspring and died, often in childbirth, to make way for another, younger model. At best she may have inspired music (made by men), art (made by men), or poetry (made by men), but clearly she were incapable of doing anything for herself. While this may have been true of many, it was certainly not true of the women featured here. Emma, Matilda and Eleanor were all queens of England wielding great influence in their time, while the Empress Matilda ruled northern Italy at the age of 16, and came close to seizing back the English crown, promised to her and then usurped by her cousin, Stephen. Matilda of Tuscany and Melisende of Jerusalem both ruled in their own right and with notable success. All these women had very clear ideas of what they wanted and how to get it, and all were prepared to use force to achieve their ends. They can truly be called formidable women of the Medieval World.Author Biography
Teresa Cole was a teacher for many years before turning to writing. She is the author of Henry V: The Life of the Warrior King & the Battle of Agincourt 1415 ("Cole understands the importance of drama ... a thorough account of Henry's life" - History of War Magazine), and three books about the Normans - The Norman Conquest: William the Conqueror's Subjugation of England, After the Conquest: The Divided Realm 1066-1135, and Anarchy: The Darkest Days of Medieval England. In a new departure, her latest book, Harry of England, looks at the lives and achievements of the eight kings of England who have borne the name Henry.
