This was the same attitude that the Empress Matilda encountered when she fought for the English throne promised to her by her father. King Henry I of England's required oath of allegiance to her from his nobles was promptly broken when he died in 1135 A.D. Throughout her forties Matilda battled for her own, and her son's, inheritance but she needed her half–brother's military help. The father of Melisende of Jerusalem[3] trained her to rule the crusader kingdom but then found her a husband. Widowed in 1142, despite being nominally joint ruler with their son, she took control until her death aged about 60 years. Margery Kempe, who died after 1438, dictated her 'Book', describing her pilgrimages and spiritual experiences, in her sixties. She is a rare documented example of a woman from the merchant class. Queen Margaret of Anjou was 52 years old when she died in 1482. Her last years were spent in exile but she makes a powerful entrance to curse the regime in William Shakespeare's 'Richard III'. Shakespeare did not ignore older women and their rôles are meaningful. His glimpses of attitudes to women prevalent in his time are important as records are male dominated.
Other women could be quoted but common factors were their status in society, independent use of wealth, and willingness to work through men to attain their goals. Childbirth was time-consuming and could kill women. Both Tudor regnant queens were well educated, had wealth and status, but finding husbands was still an issue. Mary I's marriage caused revolt and catastrophic foreign involvement. She was devastated by being unable to have a son to continue her dynasty and safeguard her devotion to Catholicism. Her successor, Queen Elizabeth I, avoiding the situation, had a rôle model in Blanche Parry[4] , her confidante for 56 years, and who died unmarried aged 82 years in 1590. Nevertheless, Elizabeth still had to rule through a male council in which Sir William Cecil Lord Burghley, Blanche's cousin, was prominent and the succession to the throne was a continuing problem.
Despite difficulties of evidence, older women in history can be found. They were constrained by male dominance and attitudes to independent women. Lack of reliable contraception kept many married women almost constantly pregnant, though becoming a nun was a medieval alternative. Good health, and personal wealth, were crucial factors in women being able to choose independence when past the menopause. Other women, widowed by disease or war, had no choice but to support their families as best they could. All these women had to be strong to survive. Modern women are so fortunate to have choices and we need to extend them to all women and girls. Education has always been important in giving women a sense of their own worth. Contraception gives freedom of choice. Smaller families help to increase family income. We have far more than most women in the past but the examples of these feisty women can still inspire.
©Ruth E. Richardson 2013
Ruth E. Richardson (M.Phil.), is an archaeologist, historian, author, retired teacher / lecturer and supports women's education. She discovered new evidence about the upbringing of Queen Elizabeth I. She organised The Herefordshire Field-Name Survey, the first project to demonstrate the importance of such evidence nationally and internationally.
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[3] M.Tranovich, Melisende of Jerusalem, The World of a Forgotten Crusader Queen, East & West Publishing Ltd., London, 2011.
[4] R.E. Richardson, Mistress Blanche Queen Elizabeth I's Confidante, Logaston Press, 2007.
