The Juiciest of Medieval Gossip
In modern times we need look no further than social media to hear stories of royal scandal and gossip. During the Middle Ages, the sharing of these tall tales may have taken a little longer, but this in no way lessened the impact on society. It doesn’t really matter whether the time period is Medieval or the 21st century, there is nothing people enjoy more than a tittle-tattle regarding murder, sex or corruption.
Some scandals are such a tale in themselves, particularly those relating to the Plantagenet Era, that I have chosen to give them their own blog. The tale of the Demon Goddess of Anjou, and the fascinating family love triangle of the Maubergeonne Tower are already published on the website for your enjoyment, with the incredible stories of Isabella and Roger Mortimer’s affair as well as the scandalous love life of the Fair Maid of Kent coming soon. For now here are a few I found most interesting…
# 1 -
Abelard and Heloise
Abelard and Heloise were two of the most famous figures of the 12th century, well at least when it comes to stories of romance, they were well known for their passionate love affair, and as is often the case, its tragic ending.
Peter Abelard was a renowned philosopher and theologian, considered to be one of the greatest thinkers of his time. He was a master at the Notre Dame Cathedral School in Paris when he met Heloise, the niece of the powerful canon, Fulbert. I am sure at the time if he had known what would be the final tragic consequences of his scandalous affair with a student, he may have just run the other way… or maybe not!
Heloise would go on to give birth to a baby boy named Astrolabe, unfortunately their love affair would be short-lived, when Heloise’s uncle found out about the relationship, they were forced to marry, which neither of them wanted to do in order to protect Abelard's career. They agreed on the condition that it be kept a secret, but her uncle reneged on this promise and publicly proclaimed the marriage. When Heloise tried to deny this she incurred her uncle's wrath and abuse. Fearing for her safety, Abelard sent her to take refuge in the convent at Argenteuil. Fulbert, furious at Heloise leaving, ordered a band of men to break into Abelard's room one night and castrate him. Abelard was filled with shame at his situation, and became a monk in the Abbey of St Denis in Paris, while at Argenteuil, Heloise, tormented by his suffering also took the veil, it is said she cried “Why did I marry you and bring about your fall? Now see me gladly pay.”
Despite being apart, they continued to correspond with each other, their letters reflecting the depth of their love and the pain of their separation. These letters, now known as the “Letters of Abelard and Heloise,” remain some of the most remarkable and poignant expressions of love in the Middle Ages. They also reveal much about the social and intellectual climate of the time, touching on themes such as women’s rights, the role of the Church, and the nature of true love.
This incredible story of prohibited love continues to captivate people to this day, inspiring countless works of art, literature and music. It touches our souls in a way that reminds us of the power of love to endure even in the face of adversity, and of the importance of following one’s own heart, no matter the consequences.
# 2 - Shocking stories of St Clements by York Priory
This particular section talks about not one person but one location, that of St Clements by York Priory, a Benedictine Nunnery beset by several disgraceful events and troublesome nuns throughout the 14th century.
In 1301 a nun known only as Cecily supposedly met a group of mounted men at the priory gate, threw off her habit, donned an ordinary gown and escaped with them. She then lived with Gregory de Thornton for the next 3 years.
We also hear of another nun Joan de Saxton who had been severely punished by the Archbishop William Greenfield for offenses that most likely included immorality, this is believed due to the fact that despite reducing the punishments considerably, the Archbishop laid out certain conditions for her future conduct. She was not to leave the cloister unless in the company of other nuns, and was not allowed any visitors at all.
By far the most famous of the recalcitrant nuns of St Clements was Joan of Leeds, who escaped from the Priory in 1318. While this is something that was not totally unheard of in Medieval times, when young girls were given to the church at a young age, the nature of Joan’s escape was spectacular and quite ingenious. She feigned mortal illness and constructed a dummy of herself, which was buried by her colleagues in holy ground… yes she faked her own death. It is to be believed that some of her colleagues actually aided and abetted her in this plan, it is difficult to imagine her accomplishing this without help of some sort. It is unclear what her motives were but she was heard to be living with a man soon afterwards so we can assume she submitted to the sins of the flesh.
# 3 -
A Medieval Soap Opera - “The Tour de Nesle Affair”
The Tour de Nesle Affair was a shocking scandal that hit the French royal family in 1314, it would have lasting consequences not only for the participants involved but also for the entire House of Capet. The scandal occurred at the Tour de Nesle (an old guard tower in Paris that Phillip had bought in 1308) and involved the three daughters-in-law of Phillip IV being accused and tried of adultery.
Phillip’s three sons had all married into the house of Burgundy, Louis to Margaret, daughter of Robert II, Duke of Burgundy, and Phillip and Charles to her cousins Joan and Blanche, both daughters of Otto IV, Count of Burgundy. I actually find this fact very interesting, at a time when marriages of state were made for political gain and alliances, it seems rather odd that Phillip IV married all three of his sons into the house of Burgundy, rather than negotiate marriages further afield, I am sure there would have been no shortage of princesses throughout Europe who would have made suitable future consorts.
It seems however that the three brothers marital relationships, although all with Burgundian noblewomen, were each of them very different. Louis, nicknamed ‘the quarrelsome’, was not very inclined to spend much time with his beautiful wife, and the marriage was not thought to be a very happy one. Phillip on the other hand seemed to be totally besotted with his wife Joan and is reported to have written many love letters to her, many of which still remain. Charles was considered to be a relatively serious and strait laced personality, and it seems that his marriage followed along the same lines, very conservative and proper.
The entire episode began when Isabella, Queen of England and only daughter of Phillip IV, visited France with her husband Edward II of England. During her visit to the French court, Isabella gave all three of her sisters-in-law silk purses as a gift. Later in the year, after her return to England, Isabella noticed that those same purses were being carried by two Norman knights, Walter (Gautier) and Phillip of Aunay.
Isabella promptly informed her father and he had the two knights put under surveillance, from this point it didn’t take long for the sordid details to emerge. It was revealed that over a period of time, both Margaret and Blanche had been entertaining the two knights in this old tower. Both women were tried and convicted of adultery, their punishment was to have their heads shaved in shame and they were then sentenced to imprisonment in an underground cell at Chateau Gaillard in Normandy. Joan was found innocent of the act of adultery, but it was agreed she was guilty of having knowledge of the affair, and she was placed under house arrest. Sadly Margaret would never leave the Chateau, dying on the 30th April, 1315, some sources say illness but others say she was strangled to death. Blanche remained in captivity at Chateau Gaillard for eight years before Charles had their marriage annulled and she was confined to a nunnery. Joan would remain under house arrest for a year, and eventually, with her husband's support she returned to court.
After interrogation and torture both of the guilty knights confessed to the adultery, and their subsequent execution was a foregone conclusion, although even by medieval standards the nature of it was extremely brutal.
# 4 - The Purchase of a Papacy
Pope Benedict IX reigned for 3 separate periods as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1032 to 1048, it was a reign marked by corruption, greed and scandal, including abject sexual immorality, simony (selling Church offices and positions), and cruelty. The fact that he was only in his early 20’s when he was elected to the papacy, made him one of the youngest Popes in history. His claims to fame also include the fact that he is also the only person to have been Pope more than once and more importantly, the only Pope to have sold the Papacy.
Benedict’s first stint as Pope ended in 1044 due to the scandals associated with the Papacy, it was written that “It seemed as if a demon from hell, in the disguise of a priest, occupied the chair of St Peter”. Notorious for his many vile rapes, murders and other unspeakable acts of violence, bestiality and sodomy, he was forced out of Rome in September 1044 and Sylvester III replaced him.
His second pontificate began in April 1045 when his forces expelled his rival and he resumed the position. This would only last for a month, the brief period becoming the most famous of the three reigns as it was then that he sold the papacy to his godfather, who became Gregory VI. Benedict had declared he would resign if he was reimbursed for his expenses in claiming the post, in effect selling the position.
It was after his third time on the pontifical throne that he was excommunicated when he refused to appear on charges of simony. He seems to have given up his claims to the papal throne at that point.
# 5 -
Marriage of Phillip II of France and Ingeborg of Denmark
In 1193 the marriage of Phillip II, King of France to Ingeborg, sister of King Canute VI of Denmark, seemed to be a wise choice in order to provide more sons for France, as his only son Louis from his first wife Isabella of Hainault was rather frail and sickly. It was however the day after the wedding that Phillip caused a stir that would strain the relationship between church and state for many years to come. Before Ingeborg even had the opportunity to be crowned Phillip dismissed his wife, it is unclear exactly why he would behave in this strange manner but his allegations seemed to imply that she cast evil spells which rendered him unable to consummate the marriage. Phillip sought a divorce providing oaths sworn by senior clergy members as to the close degrees of affinity between Ingeborg and Phillips first wife Isabella as they were supposedly related in the fourth degree.
He also claimed annulment of marriage due to it not being consummated. Both of these reasons were quite common throughout the Middle Ages, Phillips own father Louis VII, famously had his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine annulled on the grounds of consanguinity in March 1152. Ingeborg however was not the usual meek bride and strongly objected to the divorce, claiming that the marriage had been consummated and she was the rightful Queen of France.
Phillip, still requiring a marriage, found another bride, this time Agnes, daughter of the Duke of Meran, and they were married in 1196. After this, Ingeborgs brother Canute, who had provided genealogies proving the clergy oaths were false, and had continually been pressuring the papacy, could then add bigamy to his case against Phillip. Despite his new marriage being declared void Phillip remained with Agnes, and for this he was excommunicated in 1200 and France placed under an interdict, sadly Agnes died the following year. Phillip continued to sue for an annulment, and in 1201 asking for his children by Agnes to be declared legitimate. As for Ingeborg, she was imprisoned in various fortresses in France with very few visitors. She had written herself to Pope Innocent II stating abuse and isolation and claiming thoughts of suicide because of this treatment. In 1213 Phillip reconciled with Ingeborg, possibly only because he wished to press his claims to the English throne through his ties to the Danish crown.
Ingeborg had been in confinement for 20 years; on his deathbed in 1223, Phillip asked his son Louis VIII to treat her well. She outlived her husband by 14 years, spending the remainder of her life at the Priory of Saint-Jean-de-I’lle which she founded.
# 6 - Katherina Hetzeldorfer
In the late 1400’s a young unmarried man became the talk of the city of Speyer in Germany due to his reputation as a rogue, he conducted many affairs and was accused of groping women in the street or at local fairs and carnivals… nothing too extraordinary really, until it was revealed that this wicked young man was actually a woman named Katherina Hetzeldorfer.
Katherina was put on trial in 1477 for her offenses, which included fornication and prostitution, evidence from many female witnesses claimed she had made for herself a prosthetic penis which she used to have sex with each of them, all claiming they had no idea that it was not real.
She was convicted and drowned in the Rhine River for her sins, it was determined that her lovers were hoodwinked and they were sentenced to exile rather than death. She would go down in history as the first recorded woman to be executed for female homosexuality.
Well I hope you have enjoyed my tales of some of the scandals of the Medieval period, this is only a very small selection, there are so many, it was difficult to choose, unfortunately I had to limit them or my blog would have equalled a novel.
Be sure to leave me a comment with your thoughts, and if you would like to be notified when other interesting blog posts are published pop on over to our Contact page and enter your email address.
Max
All photos Creative Commons/Public Domain
