Crusades-Encyclopedia Women and the Crusades

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Many women participated in the Crusades and contributed much to Crusading efforts. Yet they have rarely gotten their due until recent years during which the study of gender, as it related to the Crusades, has become increasingly popular. Provided here are links and information about the women who took part in the Crusades, medieval commentary on their presence and contributions, and the work of modern scholars on the issue.

Women of the Crusades

Articles

Related Links

Medieval and Renaissance Collegium The Great Crusades: A Woman's Role University of Michigan

Link to this website's section on Women's Religious Orders During the Crusading Movement

Eleanor of Aquitaine

Queen Melisende

Adele of Blois

Queen Sibylla

On the Alexiad of Anna Comnena Dickson College

Link to this website's section on Women Warriors During the Crusades

Queen Urraca

David J. Duncan Scholarly Views of Shajarat:Al-Durr: A Need For Concensus Chronicon

Anna Comnena

Lady Alice Knyvet

Bibliography

Maria Comnena

Valerie Eads- Medieval Women and War Cites specific sources on Women in the Crusades

Lyn Reese Women and the Crusades From the Women in World History Website

Hildegard of Bingen

Shagrat-al Durr

Andrew Holt "The Snare of the Devil" Women, Sin, and Crusades Propaganda Crusades-Encyclopedia

Sybilla of Flanders

Therasia of Portugal

Eleanor of Castile

Primary Sources

Berengaria of Navarre

Anna Comnena The Alexiad Internet History Sourcebooks

Catarina Benincasa

Matilda of Tuscany

Peter of Blois Letter to Queen Eleanor, 1173 Internet History Sourcebooks

Yvetta- [a.k.a. Joveta] Daughter of Baldwin II of Jerusalem

Theodora Comnena-

Sibylla, Ex-Queen of Jerusalem Letter to Frederick I (1189) Hanover Historical Texts Project

Joanna of Sicily

Blanche of Castile

Helena of Milly

Joan of Arc Letter to the Hussites, March 23, 1430. Trans. Alan Williamson.This is a letter dictated by Joan of Arc threatening to lead a crusade army against the Hussites.

Stephanie of Milly

Juliana of Caesaria

Isabelle of Toron

Alice of Armenia

Matilda de Braose

Countess Blanche of Champagne

Virgin Mary