The image of medieval women in society was much different than that told in stories and histories (which were mainly written by men.) While the men are regarded as being endowed with force and intelligence, women are portrayed as helpless creatures who had nothing else to do than sew and sigh all day long, waiting for their knights to come back home. It may be true that the knights held the power, but women’s role in society as well as in her family was certainly different from what the stories and romantic poets depict.

When the husband was at home, the chores were split between the woman and the man, with the woman taking care of the family, surveying the slaves and attending guests and the man looking after the businesses, rivalries and finances. However, there were great periods of time (months, sometimes even years), when the knights will not come home. Then, the wife was both wife and husband and took care of everything – servants, finances, even politics. There were even times when women have put aside their gorgeous dresses to mount on the horse and become medieval warriors, defending their homes or fighting back sieges that were threatening the castle.

While this was the role of women in medieval society, there were also women who refused to conform to the status of knight wife or daughter of a landlord. Their dream was to become women knights and join in battle. As hard as it may be for a modern reader to believe, there actually were women knights who took part in wars and for whom fighting was their second nature. Dressed up and disguised as men, they have trained in the art of sword”wom”manship and have fought in many battles.

Like in the male case, there were two ways in which a woman could obtain the title of knight. The first one was to be hold land under the knight’s fee or to enter an order of the knights. Both ways were used by women to become knights with full rights.

Female Orders of Knights

In Catalonia there existed the order of Hatchet for women knights. In Italy it was the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the women having that order were called militissa. In England, there was the Garter Order for royal women and wives of knights, yet women who did not have a high social rank have also entered the order.

In France, two there were special words to name the wife of a knight – chevalière and the woman knight – chevaleresse. A special case is that of Joan of Arc, who even though it is reported to have worn the armor and mounted dressed as a man, has not receive any order or rank. This is maybe explict through the fact that she did not fight or actually killed an enemy, and she did not use the sword. But she did inspire and lead, much like a military general.

So, if you are a woman, put on your shining armor and fit into a medieval knight costume and be a glorious heroine this Halloween!

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