Internet Medieval Sourcebook Selected Sources: Sex and Gender
Contents - Women's Roles
- General
- Women in Religion
- Women as Writers
- Women in Politics
- Noblewomen
- "Middle" Class Women
- Towns Women
- Peasant Women
- Jewish Women
- Women at Home
- Women at Work Outside the Home
- Women in Business Activities
- Woman and Misogyny
- Men's Roles
- Constructions of Sexuality and Gender
- General
- Legal Control of Sexualuty
- Theological Norms
- Homoerotic/Transgendered Subcultures
- Marriage
- General
- Theology
- Law and Marriage
- Married Lives
Women's Roles- General
- Claudia Rapp and Johannes Prieser-Kapeller, eds..Mobility and Migration in Byzantium; A Sourcebook [At Vr-elibrary.de] PDF [Internet Archive versionhere]
Five hundred pages of translations into English on sources about migration in Byzantium. Includes both internal migration, and sections on Jews, Slavs, Armenians, Varangians (Norse), Catalans, Turks, and in relation to the Crusades. Gender-related migration is also covered.
- Women in Religion
- Monastic Matrix [At St Andrews]
A collection of resources for the study of women's religious communities, 500-1500. This includes a database of 1146 women's communities and aDocuments page, with documents from women's communities at Laycock (13th century), San Sisto (13th century), Santa Francesca Romana (15th century). - Socrates Scholasticus:The Murder of Hypatia.
A leading female philosopher, Hypatia was murdered by a Christian mob in Alexandria, urged on by St. Cyril. - Gregory of Nyssa (c.335-d.c.395):Life of Macrina, trans. W.K. Lowther Clarke. Full text.
One of the most important lives of a female saint. This is an account of Gregory's strongminded sister, Macrina (c.327-379). - Life of Matrona of Perge, d.c. 510-515, trans Khalifa Ben Nasser, [full text of MetaphrasticLife: selections fromVita Prima].
An example of a "transvestite" saint who was also a historical figure. - Holy Women of Byzantium: Ten Saints' Lives in English Translation To access chapter files individually seehere [Was At Dumbarton Oaks, now Internet Archive]
Complete texts of translations of female saints lives.
The texts are all in PDF form.- Front Matter, General Introduction, Acknowledgments, List of Abbreviations
- A. Nuns Disguised as Monks
- 1. Life of St. Mary/Marinos / translated by Nicholas Constas
- 2. Life of St. Matrona of Perge / Jeffrey Featherstone and Cyril Mango /
- B. Female Solitaries
- 3. Life of St. Mary of Egypt / Maria Kouli
- 4. Life of St. Theoktiste of Lesbos / Angela C. Hero /
- C. Cenobitic Nuns
- 5. Life of St. Elisabeth the Wonderworker / Valerie Karras
- 6. Life of St. Athanasia of Aegina / Lee Francis Sherry
- 7. Life of St. Theodora of Thessalonike / Alice-Mary Talbot
- D. Pious Housewives
- 8. Life of St. Mary the Younger / Angeliki E. Laiou
- 9. Life of St. Thomaïs of Lesbos / Paul Halsall
- E. A Saintly Empress
- 10. Life of St. Theodora of Arta / Alice-Mary Talbot
- The Life of Liutberga, 9th Century, trans, Jo Ann McNamara. Full text.
- Jacobus de Voragine,The Golden Legend (Aurea Legenda) 1275, As englished by William Caxton, 1483
The full text of the 7 volume Temple Classics edition, available in large volume files, and individual feast/saint files, inlcuding a number of women saints. - Life of Irene, Abbess of the Convent of Chrysobalanton, trans. Jan Olof Rosenqvist.
- Life of Mary the Younger, d.c. 903, trans Paul Halsall, [First five chapters, and concluding prayer].
- Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents [Was At Dumbarton Oaks, now Internet Archive]
A Complete Translation of the Surviving Founder's Typika and Testaments. Edited by John Thomas and Angela Constantinides Hero with the assistance of Giles Constable. To access chapter files individually seehere - Ancrene Wisse, In Middle English, with some Latin. [At Google Books]
A collection of rules and advice for English nuns. - Rule of the Lady Hospitallers of the Royal Monastery of Sigena, 1188, in Latin, [At Internet Archive, from Kansas]
The Royal Monastery of Sigena was an institution of Lady Hospitallers and enjoyed a great deal of independence and influence. It would appear that its Rule was the work of Sancha, Queen of Aragon. - Women as Writers
- Bibliography of Works by and About Women Writers of the Middle Ages (Robbins Library)
- Epistolæ: Medieval Women's Letters [At Columbia] [Internet Archive backuphere]
Epistolæ is a collection of medieval Latin letters to and from women. The letters collected here date from the 4th to the 13th centuries, and they are presented in their original Latin as well as in English translation. - Egeria.Description of the Liturgical Year in Jerusalem: Translation [At Oxford]
- Egeria (4th Century):Journal of the Jerusalem Liturgical Year [Latin and English][At Oxford]
- Egeria: Description of the Liturgical Year in Jerusalem: Translation 4th Century [At Oxford]
- Egeria: Travelogue, Translated by M.L. McClure, The Pilgrimage of Etheria, (New York, 1915) [At Internet Archive, was at Yale]
- Egeria: The Pilgrimage of Etheria, ed. and trans M.L. McClure and C. L. Feltoe, London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1919. [At CCEL]
- Saint Brigid of Ireland (ascribed):The Heavenly Banquet [Was At Eircom, now Internet Archive]
- Hrotsvitha of Gandersheim (c.930/40-c-2):St. John. [At Internet Archive, from Millersville]
See alsoCatholic Enclopedia: Hroswitha - Hrotsvitha of Gandersheim (c.930/40-c.1002):The Plays of Roswitha
- Hrotsvitha, ca. 935-ca. 975:The plays of Roswitha translated by Christopher St. John, with an inroduction by Cardinal Gasquet and a critical preface by the translator.(London, Chatto & Windus, 1923) [repr. 1966] [Internet Archive]
Including Full texts ofGallicanus andDulcitius - Huneberc of Heidenheim:The Hodoeporican of St. Willibald, 8th Century
- Huneberc of Heidenheim.Prologue to the Hodoeporicon of St. Willibald. c. 750-75CE. Alternate trans. by Thomas Head
- Anna Comnena (1083-after 1048):The Alexiad. [Full text]
The account of her father, the Byzantine Emperor Alexius I, by Princess Anna Comnena is perhaps the most important historical work by a woman writer written before the modern period. - Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179):Lyrics, Latin and English. [Was At irupert, now Internet Archive].
- Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179):Visions from Scivias, English. [At Columbia] [Internet Archive versionhere]
- See also theHildegard of Bingen page [At Internet Archive, from Millersville]; and theCatholic Encyclopedia article.
- Heloise:Letter to Abelard, trans. C.K. Scott Moncrief. The text is also available inLatin. [At Georgetown]
- St. Clare of Assisi (1194-1253):Letters to St. Agnes of Prague [At MIT] [Internet Archive versionhere]
- Hadewijch of Antwerp, d.c. 1260. [Wikiquote]
The page contains links to five of her letters and four of her poems. - Blessed Cecilia Cesarine, O.S.B.The Legend of St. Dominic [Was at OP, now Internet Archive]
- Marguerite Porète:The Mirror of Simple Souls, (written 1296/1306) PDF [At Internet Archive]
Porète's book, a mystic account of the ascent of the soul, was condemned in 1306, and was burned in her presence! - Marguerite Porète:The Mirror of Simple Souls, (written 1296/1306), Chaps 119-122. PDF [At Colorado] [Internet Archive versionhere]
- Marguerite Porète:The Mirror of Simple Souls, (written 1296/1306), Chaps 1-14. [At Kenyon] [Internet Archive versionhere]
- Catherine of Siena (1347-1380):Dialogue of the Seraphic Virgin, 1370, full text now available [At CCEL].
- Angela, of Foligno, 1248?-1309.The book of divine consolation of the Blessed Angela of Foligno, Translated from the Italian by Mary G. Steegmann. Introd. by Algar Thorold.(London, Chatto and Windus; New York, Duffield & co., 1909)
- Christine de Pizan Digital Scriptorium [Johns Hopkins]
- Christine de,Pizan (c.1363-c.1431):The book of the Duke of true lovers: now first translated from the Middle French of Christine de Pisan ; with an introduction by Alice Kemp-Welch ; the ballads rendered into the original metres by... (London : Chatto and Windus, 1908) [Project Gutenberg]
- Christine de Pizan:Treasure of the City of Ladies (1405), full text in French [Project Gutenberg]
- Christine de Pizan:Treasure of the City of Ladies (1405), full text in English [Internet Archive borrow facility]
- Julian of Norwich Page. [At Luminarium]
- Julian of Norwich:Shewings [Full Text] See alsoCatholic Encycloped-Juliana of Norwich
- The Book of Margery Kempe [At TEAMS]
- Margery Kempe:The Book of Margery Kempe: The Birth of Her First Child and Her First Vision. [At luminarium.org]
see theLuminarium: Margery Kempe Page [with a picture of Margery] - Margery Kempe:The Book of Margery Kempe: Her Pride and Attempts to Start a Business. [At luminarium.org]
- Margery Kempe:The Book of Margery Kempe: Margery and Her Husband Reach a Settlement. [At luminarium.org]
- Margery Kempe:The Book of Margery Kempe: Pilgrimmage to Jerusalem. [At luminarium.org]
- Margery Kempe:Treatise of Contemplation, from herBook as reprinted inThe Cell of Self-Knowledge. [At CCEL]
For many centuries this was the only well-known part of Margery's writing. - Margery Kempe (1413-1415):Book of Margery Kempe. (Text--Butler-Bowden translation of Chapter 26-34, 37-41) [At Internet Archive was at Traveling to Jerusalem/U Sth Colorado]
- Marie de France:Lays. [Project Gutenberg]
- Laura Certa:Letter to Bibulus Sempronius 13 January 1488 [At Internet Archive, from CCNY]
- Women in Politics
- Regino of Prüm:Canon 19 on Women in Law Courts (early 10th century), trans Charles West. [At Turbulent Priests] [Internet Archive versionhere]
- Peter of Blois:Letter 154, to Queen Eleanor, 1173, trans. M. Markowski
- Johann Nider:On Joan of Arc, (d. 1438).
- Joan of Arc:Letter to the King of England, 1429.
- The Trial of Joan of Arc, 1431
- Nicolas, Nicholas Harris:The Privy Purse Expenses of Elizabeth of York: The Wardrobe Accounts of Edward IV [Internet Archive/R3]
Nicolas's introductory memoirs of Yorkist royalty, with commentary on the Ricardian controversies of the time; the privy purse expenses of Elizabeth of York. To come: the Wardrobe Accounts. A lengthy series of documents, consisting of 24 interlinked files.
- Noblewomen
- "Middle" Class Women
- Towns Women
- Peasant Women
- Jewish Women
- Women at Home
- Women at Work Outside the Home
- Trial of Jacqueline Felice: A Woman Doctor, 1322,copyrighted
- Women in Business Activities
- Women and Misogyny
Men's Roles- Charters relating to Judicial Duels, 11th - 12th Century, trans. Richard Barton
- Duel between Engelardus and the monks of Saint-Serge of Angers, c.1100
- Abbots Daibert and Otbrannus prevent a battle between their monks, 27 and 28 April, 1064
- Trouble between St Martin of Tours and Holy Cross of Talmont leads to a judicial battle, 1098
- Abbot Robert of Mont-Saint-Michel seeks the right to determine where duels are held.
- Statuta Armorum (The Statutes of Arms), c. 1260
An attempt to forbid jousting, etc. - To Cry a Joust: Abillement for the Joust 15th Century [Was At Chronique, now Internet Archive]
SeeKnighthood, Chivalry & Tournaments Resource Library [Was At Chronique, now Internet Archive] - Challenge of John Astley, Squire, to Philip Boyle, Knight of Aragon On the occasion of his knighting, 1442 [Was At Chronique, now Internet Archive]
- A Joust: Pierre de Masse's Challenge [Was At Chronique, now Internet Archive]
Constructions of Sexuality and Gender- General
- Legal Control of Sexuality
- Justinian I:Novel 77, [538 CE] and Novel 141, [544 C]. [At PWH]
Includes texts of earlier Roman legislation on homosexuality. - Theodore of Studium (d.826):Reform Rules, contains interesting references toadelphopoiia and dangers of monastic friendships.
- Regino of Prüm (early 10th century):Ordo for a Bishop's Visitation of his Diocese (Reginonis Prumiensis Libri Duo de Synodalibus Causis et Disicplinis Ecclesiasticis). [At After Empire] [Internet Archive versionhere]
There's a high level of interest in sins related to sex, marriage, divorce and homosexuality.
- Theological Norms
- Homoerotic/Transgendered Subcultures
Marriage- General
- Theology
- Law and Marriage
- Corpus Iuris Civilis: The Digest and Codex on Marriage. See alsoCatholic Encyclopedia: History of Marriage
- Codex Justinianus:Protection of Freewomen Married to Servile Husbands, c. 530 [Vll.24.i.]
- Codex Justinianus:Children of the Unfree, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxi.]
- Codex Justinianus:Children of Mixed Marriages, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxiv.]
- The Contract of Marriage, in theEcloga of Leo III, (726).
- A Husband's Endowment Of His Future Wife On Their Betrothal - Southern Burgundy, 994.
- Council Legislation on Marriage.
- Tables of Kindred and Degrees - both Roman and German methods of calculation.
- Peasant Servitude and Obligations: Rulings by Louis VI and Louis VII of France (12th Century), trans. Richard Barton.
- Disputing and Dispute Resolution in Monastic Charters from the Vendômois, c. 1040-1118, trans. Richard Barton.
14 documents from theCartulaire de la Trinité de Vendôme with reference to monastic life, rural life, dispute resolution, duels. - The Law of Brusthem, 1175, on a mixed marriage between a slave and a freewoman.
- Gratian: On Marriage.
- Innocent III (r.1198-1216):Letters on Marriage, and Women, 1203-1204
- Manorial Marriage and Sexual Offense Cases.
- Pope Urban IV (1261–1264) or Pope Clement IV (1265–1268):De Sinu patris andAudi filia et 1260s [Wikisource]
Letters urging an unnamed nobleman to return to his wife, possibly in reference to the Cypriot queen Plaisance of Antioch and her lover John of Jaffa. - Church Courts Pursue Adulterers, 1289
- Robert of Flamborough:Summa Confessorum: on Luxuria..
- Married Lives
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