Power and Politics

This chapter, aimed at a general audience, forms part of the exhibition book published to accompany the British Library's 'Medieval Women: In Their Own Words' Exhibition (October 2024-March 2025). The author of this chapter, Louise Wilkinson, served on the exhibition's advisory board. This chapter explores the roles played by women who were queens and by aristocratic, peasant and urban women in power and politics in medieval Europe. Its published version is illustrated with a rich range of images from contemporary manuscripts/documents and artefacts. Text copyright rests with the contributor. The volume copyright rests with the British Library. All Rights Reserved.