First little gem from the Mediev-L email list, the information that there were German mini-states ruled only by women (abbesses) for hundreds of years.
“…the female abbey of Essen which lasted 873-1803, and was I believe territorially the largest of them. … The bucolic town of Essen was founded in the tenth century by the abbess Hedwig I. … It became a principality of the empire in 1275. The ruling abbess was assisted by a chapter of ten other nuns, who were largely aristocratic…
Here is a snip from the 14th century.
Kunigunde II of Berg 1328-1336
Katarina of La Marck 1336-1360
Irmgard II of Bruch 1360-1370
Elizabeth III of Nassau 1370-1412″
I’m keen to find a source to find out more. (In English – can’t do German, sorry!)
About
3 Comments