Noblewomen, aristocracy and power in the twelfth-century Anglo-Norman realm

This electronic version has been made available under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND) open access license. The first major work on noblewomen in the twelfth century and Normandy, and of the ways in which they exercised power. Offers an important reconceptualisation of women's role in aristocratic society and suggests new ways of looking at lordship and the ruling elite in the high middle ages. Considers a wide range of literary sources such as chronicles, charters, seals and governmental records to draw out a detailed picture of noblewomen in the twelfth-century Anglo-Norman realm. Asserts the importance of the life-cycle in determining the power of aristocratic women. Demonstrates that the influence of gender on lordship was profound, complex and varied. Front Matter 1 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Tables and figures 9 Preface 10 Abbreviations 12 Introduction 14 Literary sources 24 Power and portrayal 26 Patronage and power 43 Noblewomen and power 64 Countesses 66 Witnessing 94 Countergifts and affidation 120 Seals 135 Women of the lesser nobility 165 Royal inquests and the power of noblewomen 178 Conclusion 208 Appendix 1 Catalogue of seals from the twelfth and early thirteenth centuries 216 Appendix 2 Noblewomen in the Rotuli de Dominabus 244 Bibliography 260 Index 282