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Women in the service of god

Nunneries 1400-1500. Women in the service of god. Divisions of Orders. In England there were approx. 138 Nunneries between 1270 -1536 Altogether throughout Europe in 1400’s there were all total 819 communities known to exist The Main order being the Benedictine accounting for half.

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Women in the service of god

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  1. Nunneries1400-1500 Women in the service of god

  2. Divisions of Orders • In England there were approx. 138 Nunneries between 1270 -1536 • Altogether throughout Europe in 1400’s there were all total 819 communities known to exist • The Main order being the Benedictine accounting for half

  3. History of nunneries • 7th century Earliest known English Nunneries • 9th century Earliest great imperial Abbeys established by newly Christianized Saxon Nobility • 10th century attempt to place canonesses under monastic rule – little success • 11th century majority of medieval nunneries were established

  4. History • 12th-13th century medicant nunneries were founded – Franciscan and Dominican • 14th century wealthy urban merchant class accounted for increasing number of convent admissions • 1417 provincial chapter of the Benedictines decreed that when not enough noble candidates were available – commoners could be accepted • 15th century Observant reform • 1535-1599 Dissolution of the monasteries • 20th century some of the sites have been re-established

  5. Division of Orders • ½ Benedictine Order • ¼ Cistercian Order • 17 St. Augustine • 1 St. John Jerusalem • 4 Franciscan • 2 Cluniac Order • 2 Premonstratensian • 1 Dominio

  6. Benedictine order

  7. Cistercian Order

  8. St. Augustine Order

  9. Doweries • Canonesses and convents required payment to keep the women • payment was generally less than a dowry and could include: • Lands/ property • Books • Money • Jewelry

  10. Canonesses • Only admitted women of nobility • Lived among equals • Property • Private apartments • Comfortable lifestyle including: • Maids • Servants • Ladies in waiting • All the same luxuries of home • Able to dress as they would at home • Most fashionable clothing of the time • Hair do’s and makeup • Travelled • Entertained visitors

  11. Canonesses • Played an important dynastic role in administering patrimonial lands and benefices • Looked at as a way to preserve family fortunes and fortify reputations • Service to God on behalf of the family was a responsibility and a valued contribution to its well being • Not bound by formal vows: • only had to vow obedience to the abbess • Chastity while in residence at convent

  12. Canonesses • Chief duties were: • Singing the Hours • Attending religious services • Free to leave at anytime to marry • Able to visit relations • These Canonesses resembled more of an elegant boarding house or seminary • Provided women an opportunity to become literate and live a life unencumbered by the burdens of marriage

  13. Canonesses • Seen as more of a finishing school for nobility • Often a place of retirement for widows • An asylum during periods of martial conflict • Temporary retreat while husbands were away on long trips abroad • Offered the opportunity for: • further education • Leadership • Organisation • Able to devote themselves to learning and the arts

  14. Roles of nuns • Nuns lived a more complex than quiet life • Provided social services of the time • Hospitals • Overnight hostels • Schools • Provided food and medicine to people in surrounding countryside

  15. Women’s roles • Abbess of the convent often oversaw the lands and often acted in the same capacity as a Lord. • They were often in communication with the King • Often a woman of nobility was appointed as Abbess to keep relations between the convent and nobility strong

  16. Role in society • Religion promised equality for all – especially women • Women played strong and vibrant roles in all areas of society • Actively writing, teaching and praying • Went on pilgrimages travelling all over Europe • Constant contact with other nunneries throughout Europe and as a consequence were well aware of what was happening in the world. • Patronesses of the arts and frequently commissioned great works for their convents

  17. Role within outer world • Due to their social standing and economic power nuns factored into world affairs • Conscious of their role outside convent • Educated nuns had extensive correspondence with leading intellectual figures of the day • One Abbess of a convent in Bingen, Germany wrote philosophical treaties and travelled widely in Europe to share her scholarship • Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) • “marvel of Germany” • Scientist, healer, composer and corresponded with great thinkers

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