Female Knights of the Middle Ages

While female knights were rare in the Middle Ages, they did exist. Though many records have been lost to time, there are records of women being knighted.

Knights in Medieval Times

The Middle Ages, also called the medieval era, is the name of the period in Europe from about the 5th century to the 15th.

During the Middle Ages, the title of “knight” was a title of lower nobility given to mounted warriors. A knight was required to be a skilled equestrian and mounted fighter, and was often a vassal of a lord.

Different chivalric orders had many different rules and traditions throughout medieval times. Some of these orders admitted women at some point in their history.

The Order of the Garter

The Most Noble Order of the Garter was founded by King Edward III in the 14th century. It still exists today as the oldest and most prestigious order in the United Kingdom, with no more than 24 members, or “Companions,” at an given time.

Between about 1358 and 1488, 68 women were knighted and appointed Ladies of the Garter. Some of the appointed women were either royalty of the wives of knights, but some were neither, indicating that they were knighted on their own merits.

Italy’s Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary was a military order founded in Italy in 1261. The order appointed women, who were granted the title “militissa.”

Due to the actions of some of the founding members, the order became known for corruption and carelessness, and was nicknamed the “fratres gaudentes,” or “jovial brothers” in Latin. It was suppressed in 1558 by Pope Sixtus V.

French Chevaleresses

A knight in French is a chevalier. There were two feminine forms of the word in medieval times: chevaliere and chevaleresse. The first term was for the wife of a knight.

However, the second term, chevaleresse, seems to have been used for female knights. As one 17th century writer on chivalry said, “Sometimes, when some male fiefs were conceded by special privilege to women, they took the rank of chevaleresse, as one sees plainly in Hemricourt where women who were not wives of knights are called chevaleresses.”

For a woman to receive such a distinction by acquiring the title of Knightess herself is clearly a great thing to inspire thousands of women. The spirit of chivalry continues to influence countless people even today.

If you too love female knights, why not customize a unique item? These would be metal medals with chivalric elements! You can use them for your collection, and I’m sure the symbolism behind them will inspire you forever!

Spain’s Order of the Hatchet

When the city of Tortosa in Spain came under siege in the 12th century during the Second Crusade, the Earl of the town was about to surrender. But the women of the town refused to give up their homes. Instead of going along with the Earl’s decision to surrender, the women donned men‘s clothing and fought until the siege was lifted.

The women of Tortosa who lifted the siege were honored with the creation of the Order of the Hatchet. The knighted women of the Order of the Hatchet were given many special privileges, including exemption from paying taxes, and precedence over the men of the town at any meeting.