Female Knights

          In our Medieval Literature class we have talked a lot about every person's place. It seems (from the few things we've read) that each person had a very specific place. I want to zone in on women at the time. We do not hear too much about women in Beowulf, or the poetry we've read. The little we did read made me think women were weak housewives. Meant to keep their cups full, and their house full of babies. I think, perhaps women were stronger than we, or the literature we've read, give them credit. After all, toward the end of the Middle Ages women could be Knights (Matthews).
          There were only two ways for a woman to become a Knight (Bundy). The first way was for their Knighted husband to die. At that point they took over all the duties of a Knight but were called "Lady" (Matthews). In France however the woman would be given the same title as her late husband or father. The title "Chevaleresse" was awarded to the wife or daughter of a dead Knight, and the title "ChevaliEre" to a woman who was knighted (Bundy).
           One event repeatedly came up as I was researching the subject. "The Order of the Hatchet". This was all about a group of women who had to defend their home town of Tortosa (Bundy). They were all made Knights by the Count of Barcelona. However, sadly the order died with it's original members (Freudenrich).
          Now-a-days women Knights are called Dames (Freudenrich). It isn't quite as groundbreaking today to be woman and be Knighted. Though it is a really cool picture. 


Work Cited
Abrams, Paul. Female Knight. DeviantArt.com. Deviant Art. Web. 19 Feb. 2016. <http://paulabrams.deviantart.com/art/Female-Knight-413037509>.
Bundy, Randal Mcniall, Sir. "Women Knights in the Middle Ages." Women Knights in the Middle Ages. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.
Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D. "How Knights Work" 22 January 2008.
HowStuffWorks.com. <http://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/knight.htm> 19 
February 2016

Matthews, Rupert. "Could a Woman Become a Knight in Medieval Times?" History Extra. 4 Jan. 2015. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.