Women in the Middle Ages:

Women and/in Religion

These sites are in alphabetical order and do not reflect any kind of hierarchy. They are selected to complement the medieval and medieval women episodes of Dr. John Lienhard's The Engines of Our Ingenuity from the University of Houston's KUHF Public Radio station, and to assist in further research. Links to an Engines page are often indicated with three blue bullets, thus: .

-- Sherron Lux, Medievalist and Librarian

This page last updated July 2004

General/Group:

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Specific/Individual:

      Angela of Foligno (c.1248-1309):  

    • UPDATED LINK! Links and tidbits on the Italian mystic Angela of Foligno (c.1248-1309), from Dorothy Disse's Other Women's Voices, include a brief biography as well as links to online translations of Angela's writings and secondary sources, as well as to bibliographies to print works by and about her.
    • NEW LINK! The Catholic Encyclopedia gives this short biography of Blessed Angela.

      Bartolomea Ricciboni (c.1369-1440):  

    • UPDATED LINK! Bartolomea Ricciboni links and tidbits, from Dorothy Disse's Other Women's Voices, includes a brief biography as well as links to online information about this 15th-century Dominican nun, as well as to bibliographies to print works by and about her.

      Beatrijs of Nazareth (c.1200-1268):  

    • UPDATED LINK! Beatrijs of Nazareth (c.1200-1268) links and tidbits, from Dorothy Disse's Other Women's Voices, include a brief biography as well as links to online translations of writings by Beatrijs and secondary sources about her, as well as to bibliographies to print works by and about her.

      Birgitta of Sweden (c.1303-1373):  

    • UPDATED LINK! Find links and tidbits on Birgitta of Sweden at Dorothy Disse's Other Women's Voices, which includes a brief biography as well as links to online biographies, original Latin and English translations of Birgitta's writings, and secondary sources, as well as to bibliographies to print works by and about her, including editions and secondary sources.
    • UPDATED LINK: See the Bridget of Sweden Glossary entry at the ECOLE site.
    • The Internet Medieval Sourcebook provides a full text of St. Bridget's Revelations to the Popes in translation, along with notes and background material.
    • NEW LINK! Dennis Quinn of the Claremont Graduate School writes a Review Article: St. Bridget of Sweden, Her Life and Legacy.

      Catherine of Siena (1347-1380):  

     St. Clare of Assisi (1193/4-1253)

    • UPDATED LINKS: A short biography of Saint Clare of Assisi is provided by The Poor Clares, the Order St. Clare founded.
    • UPDATED LINK! Clare of Assisi links and tidbits, from Dorothy Disse's Other Women's Voices, include a brief biography as well as links to online translations of writings by St. Clare and secondary sources about her, even to frescoes of her attributed to Giotto, as well as to bibliographies to print works by and about her.
    • Christian history enthusiast James E. Kiefer offers "Clare of Assisi, Nun", with a short biography, prayer, and appropriate Bible references. This page is part of Kiefer's Biographical Sketches of Memorable Christians of the Past.
    • St. Clare's Prayer to Our Lord, with a very brief biography, is available through Brother John Raymond's Prayer Pages at The Monks of Adoration: A Catholic Community.

      St. Clotilde (c.474-545):  

    • UPDATED LINK:Find a brief entry at the ECOLE site on St. Clotilde, who converted her husband, King Clovis, to Christianity.

      St. Cuthburga (d.725):  

    • UPDATED LINK: ECOLE offers a tidbit on St. Cuthburga, founder and first abbess of Wimborne.

      Margareta Ebner (c.1291-1351):  

    • UPDATED LINK! Find links and tidbits about little-known (today) German nun and visionary Margareta Ebner at Dorothy Disse's Other Women's Voices, including a brief biography as well as links to other online information about Margareta, in addition to bibliographies to print works by and about her, including translations and secondary sources.

      Elisabeth of Schonau (1128/9-1164/5):  

      Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231):  

      Euphrosyne of Polotsk (d.1173):  

    • UPDATED LINK: From the ECOLE site, here's a brief biography of Euphrosyne of Polotsk, recluse and founder of a monastery at Seltse.

      Fateema (c.609/10-633):  

    • UPDATED LINK: From the ECOLE site, here's a brief biography of Fateema, Muhammed's favorite daughter and one of Islam's principle female figures.

      Gertrud of Helfta (c.1256-1302):  

       Hadewijch of Antwerp (mid 1200s):  

    • UPDATED LINK! Hadewijch of Antwerp links and tidbits, from Dorothy Disse's Other Women's Voices, include a brief biography as well as links to online original Middle Dutch and translated writings by "the love mystic" and secondary sources about her, as well as to bibliographies to print works by and about her.
    • This tidbit on Hadewijch from Early Music by Women Composers includes English translations of selections of several of her sacred poems. (It also includes a tiny tidbit on Queen Blanche of Castile.)

      Heloise (1100/01-1163/4):  

    • UPDATED LINK! Heloise links and tidbits, from Dorothy Disse's Other Women's Voices, include a brief biography as well as links to online original Latin and translations of writings by Heloise and secondary sources about her and her times, as well as to bibliographies to print works by and about her.
    • Read the account of Heloise's lover and mentor; Peter Abelard's Historia Calamitatum, translated by Henry Bellows in 1922, is online through Paul Halsall's Internet Medieval Sourcebook.
    • A letter which Heloise wrote to Abelard after having read his Historia Calamitatum is in translation at McMaster University.

      Hilda of Whitby (614-680):  

    • UPDATED LINK: Here's a brief biography of abbess and scholar Hilda of Whitby, from the ECOLE site.
    • Christian history enthusiast James E. Kiefer offers "Hilda of Whitby, Abbess and Peacemaker", a short biography with prayer, from his Biographical Sketches of Memorable Christians of the Past.

      Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179):  

    • See her biography at St. Hildegard from The Catholic Encyclopedia.
    • NEW LINK! Here's a brief biography of Hildegard from the ECOLE Glossary.
    • UPDATED LINK! Hildegard of Bingen links and tidbits, from Dorothy Disse's Other Women's Voices, include a brief biography as well as links to online original Latin and translated writings by "the Sybil of the Rhine" and to some of her illuminations and secondary sources about her, as well as to bibliographies to print works by and about her.
    • Nancy Fierro of Mt. St. Mary's College has a fine article on the background of Hildegard's music, "Hildegard of Bingen: Symphony of the Harmony of Heaven", with a Discography following. (Note: Discography last updated 1997)
    • For more information on Hildegard von Bingen, see these links from Norma Gentile on Hildegard's musical notation, artwork, chant texts, and articles.
    • Christian history enthusiast James E. Kiefer offers "Hildegard of Bingen, Visionary", with a short biography, brief discussion of some of her ideas, prayer, and appropriate Bible references. This page is part of Kiefer's Biographical Sketches of Memorable Christians of the Past.
    • Sarah Whitworth's Early Music by Women Composers includes an annotated Hildegard Discography, which includes notes on her writings as well as some illustrations.

      Hroswitha (c.932-c.1002):  

    • See the online Catholic Encyclopedia for a biography of Hroswitha.
    • "Hroswitha", Episode 294 of Engines of Our Ingenuity, looks briefly at the 10th-century Saxon nun who not only wrote comedies based on saints' lives, but was also a mathematician and astronomer.

      Hypatia of Alexandria (c.370-415):  

      St. Isabel of France (1225-1270):  

    • The Catholic Encyclopedia provides a good biography of St. Isabel of France, sister of Louis IX and founder of a convent, the Monastery of the Humility of the Blessed Virgin.

      Joan of Arc (1412-1431):  

      Julian of Norwich (c.1342-aft.1416):  

    • For a brief biography and discussion of Julian's writings, see Juliana of Norwich at The Catholic Encyclopedia.
    • NEW LINK! ECOLE provides another brief biography of Julian.
    • UPDATED LINK! Links and tidbits on Julian of Norwich from Dorothy Disse's Other Women's Voices includes a brief biography as well as links to online biographies, editions and translations of Julian's writings, and secondary sources, as well as to bibliographies to print works by and about her, including editions and secondary sources.
    • Christian history enthusiast James E. Kiefer offers "Dame Julian of Norwich, Contemplative", a brief biography and discussion of her work, with prayer and appropriate Bible references. This page is part of Kiefer's Biographical Sketches of Memorable Christians of the Past.
    • CCEL provides the full text of Julian's mystical Revelations of Divine Love.

      Khadija, wife of Muhammad, c. 565-623:  

      Margery Kempe (c.1373-aft.1429):  

    • UPDATED LINK! Margery Kempe links and tidbits, from Dorothy Disse's Other Women's Voices, includes a brief biography as well as links to online biographies, translations of Margery's writings, and secondary sources, as well as to bibliographies to print works by and about her.
    • Christian history enthusiast James E. Kiefer offers "Margery Kempe, Mystic", a very brief biography.
    • UPDATED LINK: See Margery Kempe from the "Travelling to Jerusalem" seminar site (University of Colorado) for a brief biography, brief itinerary of her Jerusalem pilgrimage, a translation of the appropriate chapters, maps, student papers, bibliography, and links.

      Marguerite d'Oingt (d.1310):  

    • UPDATED LINK! Marguerite d'Oingt (d.1310) links and tidbits, from Dorothy Disse's Other Women's Voices, include a brief biography as well as a link to an online translation of part of Marguerite's writings, as well as to bibliographies to print works by and about her.

      Marguerite Porete (d.1310):  

    • UPDATED LINK! Marguerite Porete links and tidbits, from Dorothy Disse's Other Women's Voices, includes a brief biography as well as links to online biographies, translations of this Belgian mystic's writings, and secondary sources, as well as to bibliographies to print works by and about her.

      Abbess Maria Gonzalez de Aguero (fl. early 1300's):  

      Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the most important female in Christianity & Islam:  

      Mechthild of Magdeburg (c.1210?-1282?):  

    • UPDATED LINK! Links and tidbits on the visionary and poet Mechthild of Magdeburg, from Dorothy Disse's Other Women's Voices, include a brief biography as well as links to online translations of writings by Mechthild and secondary sources about her, as well as to bibliographies to print works by and about her.

      St. Olga (c.879/90-969):  

    • UPDATED LINK: Read a brief biography of Olga, probably the first Russian saint. ECOLE provides the biography, as well as a link to an anonymous American icon of St. Olga.

      Radegund the Deaconess (518-587):  

    • NEW LINK! Links and tidbits on Radegund, from Dorothy Disse's Other Women's Voices, include a brief biography along with links to online translations of writings by Radegund and secondary sources about her, as well as to bibliographies to print works by and about her.
    • UPDATED LINK: ECOLE provides a brief biography of Radegund the Deaconess, scholar and peacemaker.
    • Onnie Duvall of Utah Valley State College provides biography and historical background for Radegund the Deaconess, also called Radegund of Poitiers.

      St. Scholastica (late 5th-early 6th c.?):  

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Created April 1998 by Sherron Lux

Last UPDATED July 2004

sherronclg@hotmail.com

Thanks to Graphica Medii Aevi for graphics.