Proposal Example #1

by Michael Markowski

        The topic of Medieval Women evokes historical generalizations across the spectrum. The negativity of “medievalism” looms over the last century or so of scholarship that has found much positive in the Middle Age. The medieval writer and government advisor, Peter of Blois (fl. 1170s-1200), did not directly address the topic of women but in a few places, did address particular women and related issues. Familiarity with his writings invites a case study concerning the status of medieval women.

          Peter of Blois’ fame comes from his letter collection, which was very popular and influential from the 12th to the 16th centuries. Collecting and publishing letters was once a common activity, resulting in the genre of belles letters. Peter of Blois addressed two letters directly to women, and a few letters dealt with pressing issues about women, notably about Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine and her revolt against her husband and the King of England, Henry II. The evidence in these letters could support a number of inquiries into topics like medieval marriage, views about forced marriages, women and individualism, misogyny, gender bias and politics, royal patronage, intellectual theories about women’s status. This project will inquire into the view and treatment of women that emerges from the letter collection, since it was the most influential work of Peter of Blois, and because his letter collection reflects normative and generally-held views in the 12th-century western Europe.

        Secondary sources have become plentiful over the past decades on many topics dealing with medieval women, particularly beginning with Eileen Power’s work. But few sources examine Peter of Blois’ letters, no doubt, because of the lack of a critical edition of the letter collection, pointed out by Richard Southern among others. Having a good foundation in the manuscripts should solve this problem, given the small number of letters at issue.