Women & the Military in the 11th century: Mathilda of Flanders and the Norman Conquest of England
Wednesday March 5- 12:30-1:30
Old Main, Room 220
Dr. Laura Gathagan, a historian of elite women’s power in the Middle Ages, explores medieval women’s participation in militarism. She uses the life of Queen Mathilda of Flanders (c. 1031-1083)as an example of women’s work as generals, military financiers and suppliers. Though virtually unknown today, queens and noblewomen like Mathilda had a primary role in military conflicts, including one of history’s most famous: the Norman Conquest of 1066.