Women played a greater role than might be expected in this elite warrior
society, as heiresses and chatelaines in charge of castles (see Documents
44–53). Since land was the basis of status and power, estates were
kept intact by being passed on to the oldest son rather than being divided
among all the children. In spite of high infant mortality and short
life expectancies, a family hoped that at least one son survived to inherit
lands and titles. Younger sons hoped to gain an estate of their own by
marrying an heiress. Consequently a young noblewoman (or later the
daughter of a prosperous merchant or peasant) might become a pawn in
the marriage game, if she brought land and treasure into a family as her
dowry. Of course, a few younger sons and daughters gained positions in
the court or the Church through their extraordinary personal skills.
A strong and clever woman acted for her husband when he was serving
his feudal lord in court or at war, and she might command the defense
of the castle or fortified manor house in his absences. Even in
peacetime, her responsibilities were heavy. She managed a large, selfsufficient
household, sometimes composed of hundreds of individuals,
which moved regularly from one manor to another. She oversaw the care
and education of children as well as the health and well-being of the
community. In an age when the only effective medicine came from the
herb garden, she was gardener and herbalist. She also provided for the
cultural life in the castle through music and dancing, pageants and oral
poetry.
If a woman’s husband died before a son came of age, she tried to maintain
control of the property against the encroachment of greedy uncles
and overlords. As a widow she kept part of her dowry.
An alternate career path for a woman lay in the Church, where as a
nun she escaped the dangers of childbirth. In the convent she could hold
any position except that of priest, and as an abbess or prioress she had
great power and responsibility.
World History
