When we think of the Middle Ages, images of chivalrous knights, powerful kings, and pious monks often come to mind. But a groundbreaking new exhibition at the British Library in London is shedding light on the remarkable women who shaped this era, revealing their often-overlooked contributions and the surprising agency many exercised in their daily lives.
Uncovering Hidden Histories
“Traditional histories have focused on male history, on the stories of kings and wars, and the kind of major events from which women were excluded,” explains lead curator Eleanor Jackson. But as a recent digitization project at the library revealed, there is a wealth of material illuminating the rich and varied lives of women between the 12th and 16th centuries.
The exhibition, titled “Medieval Women: In Their Own Words,” brings together an astonishing array of documents and artifacts that paint a vivid picture of women’s experiences during this period. From a shakily signed letter by Joan of Arc requesting military aid, to the first autobiography in English penned by a woman named Margery Kempe, to a tiny ABC primer belonging to a young girl in 1445, these items offer intimate glimpses into the lives and minds of medieval women.
Leading Ladies
One of the most striking revelations is the prominent roles some women played in politics and warfare. The exhibition features gold coins likely used by Margaret of Anjou to fund her army during the Wars of the Roses, when she led the Lancastrian side on behalf of her husband, King Henry VI.
“The more that we’ve investigated, the more [we have found] that women in the past at times exerted more agency than we’ve given them credit for,” notes Julian Harrison, the library’s curator of medieval manuscripts.
Mastering Medicine and the Arts
Women also made their mark in fields like medicine and the arts. One manuscript depicts a woman in flowing medieval garb applying glass “cupping” domes to a male patient—a wellness treatment still in use today. Another showcases the masterful poetry of Christine de Pizan, considered Europe’s first professional female author.
But it wasn’t just famous figures who exercised agency. Everyday items like cosmetics recipes and farm payroll records show that women across society found ways to assert themselves. In one 1483 document from rural Essex, female farmhands are recorded as earning 3 pence per day during the harvest, while their male counterparts made 4 pence—an early example of the gender pay gap at work.
Oppression and Resilience
Of course, many women still faced severe oppression and control by men. The exhibition doesn’t shy away from this darker side of the era, such as the harrowing tale of Marta, an enslaved Russian woman sold in 1450s Venice, likely to become her new owner’s sexual slave. Shockingly, one of the people profiting from her sale was another woman.
“You have a woman thousands of miles away from home, with absolutely no control over her destiny, but another woman’s making a profit out of her,” Harrison reflects somberly. “I’m proud that we’ve been able to recover the story and at least give her some kind of precedence, hundreds of years later.”
Rewriting History
By spotlighting these underrepresented histories, “Medieval Women: In Their Own Words” challenges entrenched notions about the lives and status of women in the Middle Ages. It invites us to reconsider the stories we tell about the past and to recognize the ways in which women have always found means to make their voices heard.
As curator Jackson puts it: “The sources that survive show a real richness of women’s lives and culture from the period. It shows their contributions right across society, that they weren’t silent, and their lives were rich and interesting.”
The exhibition is a tangible step toward writing women back into the historical narrative, ensuring that their remarkable achievements and struggles are remembered and honored. It will be on display at the British Library in London until 2 March 2025.
