Women in the Piast Dynasty: A Comparative Study of Piast Wives and Daughters (C. 965-C.1144) (East Central and Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 450-1450)

"This book analyses the role of women in the Polish Piast dynasty from c. 965 to c.1144. It discusses gender expectations and the literary topoi employed to describe rulers' wives and daughters as well as showing their importance in religious donations, the creation of dynastic memory, and naming patterns, as well as examining Piast women's involvement in female monasticism. Pac takes a comparative approach to these themes, analysing Polish sources alongside sources from other areas of early and high medieval Europe"--ISBN : 9789004507029 "This book analyses the role of women in the Polish Piast dynasty from c. 965 to c.1144. It discusses gender expectations and the literary topoi employed to describe rulers' wives and daughters as well as showing their importance in religious donations, the creation of dynastic memory, and naming patterns, as well as examining Piast women's involvement in female monasticism. Pac takes a comparative approach to these themes, analysing Polish sources alongside sources from other areas of early and high medieval Europe"-- Provided by publisher Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations Note to the Text Introduction The Image of Piast Wives in Gallus Anonymous’ Chronicle Women and the Piast The Question of Nunneries in Early Piast Poland Women and Naming Patterns in the Piast Dynasty Conclusions Bibliography Index of Historical Figures Index of Modern Authors This is the first comprehensive study of the role of women in the Polish Piast dynasty from 965 until c.1144, comparing them with female members of other contemporary medieval dynasties.