Book Launch Guest Post: Trailblazing Medieval Women, by Ashley Sarah Firth

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 The lives of remarkable, trailblazing medieval women who refused to be written out of history. In a world dominated by men, they defied convention, challenged gender expectations, and carved out legacies as rulers, consorts, warriors, authors, and visionaries.

Trailblazing Medieval Women is my first book, and it grew out of the research I undertook for my PhD. As I worked through my sources, I became increasingly aware of just how many women defied the gender expectations of their day and, at times, the men who were theoretically placed above them. 

Their stories often brought to mind my own grandparents: to the outside world, my grandfather appeared to be in charge, yet behind closed doors, it was my grandmother who truly wore the trousers. That contrast led me to think more deeply about the gap between theory and practice in medieval gender roles, a theme I later explored with my students during my time as a university lecturer.

It was not difficult to find examples of trailblazing women for my book. The deeper I delved, the more figures I uncovered who became prime candidates for inclusion. The list seemed never-ending, and I found it incredibly difficult to make my selection.

Interestingly, that process did not begin at my desk, but in a theatre while watching SIX the Musical. One of the characters asks if anyone knows the names of the wives of Henry VI or Henry VII. When I put the same question to my companions, their uncertainty reflected a wider lack of awareness about medieval queens, and medieval women more generally.

That moment stayed with me and shaped my approach: I wanted to introduce readers to compelling figures who remain largely unknown outside academic circles.

The wives of Henry VI, Margaret of Anjou, and Elizabeth of York, consort to Henry VII, became my starting point. These two women had very different experiences of queenship. Margaret found herself at the centre of the Wars of the Roses, with a weak and mentally ill husband who lost the crown for himself and effectively disinherited their son. 

She found the strength and fortitude her husband lacked and pursued her son’s claim to the English throne. Elizabeth of York, on the other hand, was the wife of a strong and effective king. She was a potential threat to Henry’s kingship, but instead offered legitimacy to her husband’s position. Quiet and demure, she avoided the political spotlight, perhaps learning from the example of her mother, Elizabeth Woodville.

Marriage of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville (Wikimedia Commons)

Elizabeth Woodville’s own story demonstrates how disruptive female influence could be. A widow with two children from the knightly class, Elizabeth’s marriage to King Edward IV was highly controversial. Elizabeth and her numerous relations challenged the status quo at the English court, which fostered resentment. 

Another woman embroiled in the Wars of the Roses was Elizabeth of York’s mother-in-law, the formidable Margaret Beaufort. Margaret’s power and influence were unparalleled; it was she who was ultimately responsible for securing the succession of her son, Henry VII. Through lineage, strategy, or sheer force of will, these women helped shape the course of English history at a pivotal time.

Having taught undergraduate modules on early medieval Britain, I have always been fascinated by the story of Æthelflæd, the daughter of King Alfred the Great. After the death of her husband, Æthelflæd ruled the kingdom of Mercia during a time of Viking incursions and even performed the role of military commander. 

Many other women also undertook military roles; Matilda of Tuscany is another example, whom I was pleased to discuss in my book. Matilda was a wealthy heiress in her own right, forced to fight for her inheritance against the might of the Holy Roman Emperor. The story of Sikelgaita, wife of the Norman Robert Guiscard, is remembered for rallying fleeing troops with the striking command ‘Halt! Be men!’ She offers a remarkable example of a trailblazing woman. Her story was recorded by Anna Comnena, a female writer who also earned a place in the book.

 
Anna, the first female Byzantine historian, provides a rare insight into the workings of the Byzantine court. As the daughter of the emperor, she enjoyed access to the most influential figures in Byzantine society, and her work remains invaluable to medieval historians. At the French court, Christine de Pizan also challenged gender limitations, earning distinction as the first recorded female author to make a living solely from her writing. 

She composed works intended for French royalty and offered political commentary on current events. Across the Channel, her near contemporary, Margery Kempe, was determined to have her story committed to writing. A self-proclaimed mystic, Margery attracted the attention of authorities for her unusual displays of piety during a time of growing anxiety about religious dissent.

Winchester Cathedral, the final resting place of Emma of Normandy(Author’s Photo)

Some women were incredible politicians who rejected gendered limitations. Emma of Normandy was the only woman to be crowned queen of England twice, first as the wife of Aethelred II the ‘Unready’ and then as King Cnut. Her experience and influence at the English court partly explain why Cnut sought her as a bride. Empress Matilda, the heiress of her father, Henry I, found that her cousin Stephen had snatched the throne. 

Not content to remain sidelined, she fought for her inheritance, plunging England into a brutal civil war. Her daughter-in-law, Eleanor of Aquitaine, was a wealthy heiress in her own right and the only woman to have been both queen of France and England, through her marriages first to Louis VII and then to Henry II. In her twenties, she embarked on the Second Crusade, and later in life exercised considerable political influence both as Henry’s consort and as the mother of his successors, Richard the Lionheart and King John. 

Few women could boast greater courage than Isabella of France, who, after launching an invasion of England in 1326, deposed her husband, Edward II. These medieval women demonstrate the power women could wield when given the right opportunity, circumstances, and skills.

Joan of Arc, victorious over the English, returns to Orleans
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jean-Jacques_Scherrer_-_Jeanne_d%27Arc,_victorieuse_des_anglais,_rentre_%C3%A0_Orl%C3%A9ans_et_est_acclam%C3%A9e_par_la_population.png

I wanted to include at least one household name, and I could think of no better example than Joan of Arc, a medieval woman who rejected the limitations placed upon her because of her sex. It continues to fascinate me how a French girl of relatively humble origins rose to such prominence, playing a key role in the coronation of the French king. 

It is little wonder that her story continues to captivate audiences today.
Trailblazing medieval women can be found in all corners of society, from those born to be queens to the middling classes and even among the poor. As the study of women’s history continues to expand, so too does our understanding of their contributions. The more closely we look, the more clearly it becomes that these women were not exceptions, but an integral part of the medieval world and their stories deserve to be far better known.

Ashley Sarah Firth

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About the Author

Ashley Sarah Firth holds a BA (Hons), MA, and PhD in medieval history from the University of Huddersfield. Her research focuses on the history of women, medieval gender and the Crusades. Formerly a university lecturer, she taught a wide range of topics from the Anglo-Saxon period to the Stuart era. Now a full-time historian, author and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Huddersfield, Ashley is dedicated to bringing the stories of the past, especially those of overlooked women, to life for a wider audience. She lives in Manchester with her husband, their two children, and three dogs, where her love of history continues to inspire her writing and research. You can find out more about Ashley on her website: https://manchistorian.com/. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.and Bluesky @drashleyfirth.bsky.social