Abstract
The Beguines' access to power in both religious and lay society was contingent on shifting political, social, and ecclesiastical conditions. Although their position between religious life and secular society was ambiguous, their relationships with local rulers, urban elites, and clergy were not as precarious as scholars previously believed this ambiguity fostered. The Beguines often secured protection and support from secular and ecclesiastical authorities, allowing them to maintain a significant degree of autonomy and influence within urban European societies. Historians have begun to reassess the overemphasis on moments of conflict, particularly accusations of heresy, and the overshadowing of periods of tolerance and integration in historical narratives of the Beguines. This study aims to address the gaps in the existing historiography of the Beguines that are now being reassessed. Using primary sources, including the writings of secular and ecclesiastical authorities as well as the writings of several Beguines, this study examines the complexity of the Beguines' relationships with both the Church and secular authorities. It also explores the economic, social, and religious power the Beguines held and how they maintained it through their ability to appease more powerful figures. This research offers insights into the changing roles and power of women and challenges traditional narratives of conflict through the Beguines' unique legacy.
Advisor
Sene, Ibra
Department
History
Recommended Citation
Miller, Natalie D., "Beguines and the Boundaries of Power: Reassessing Women's Autonomy and Influence in Secular and Ecclesiastical Society" (2025). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 11414.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/11414
Publication Date
2025
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2025 Natalie D. Miller