Christina of Markyate

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  • Created by: Heather
  • Created on: 19-01-18 00:02
Give some examples of our perceptions of medieval women?
-Subservient, -Child-bearers, -Domestic workers, -Under-represented, -Lack of freedom, -Suppressed peasants
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Although give some examples of roles which are exceptions to these perceptions?
Heroines such as Joan of Arc, and Queens- powerful women
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Why were Queens know as evil trouble makers and 'she-wovles'?
-If Queen ruled for the King, she was expected to rule in a certain way. If they pushed things too far and controlled too much, this could be dangerous - Women shouldn't do this
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For Medieval women, how was society patriarchal?
Men were the head of the household, and owned things.
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How were women viewed?
As property of men
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Once married, could women have possessions?
No- All their possessions would become the man's possessions by law.
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Did they have choice who they marry?
Arrange marriage- Little choice on who they marry. Their parents would organise this (same for men)
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What is the original sin that everyone was born with?
Eve picking forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden- Disobeyed God's orders,
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How were women viewed sexually?
As temptresses,
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In ordinary life, what was the role of most peasant women in rural communities?
Domestic responsibilities such as caring for children, joined husband bringing in harvest, brewed ale, bake, manufactured textiles
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In religion, could women have power?
Women could have real position of power- Prioresses. Some were higher than men in hierarchy
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Could women be wealthy?
Some women, like men, could rise to the top and have real power, wealth and influence.
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Given an example of a Queen/regent having political power?
When theu husbands were away, and son was too young, such as Isabella who toppled her husband from power with lover Mortomer
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How did widows have a degree of independence?
had control of own financial resources e.g. land
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For the context of the 12th C, was Christina directly involved?
No-She lived through it but wasn't directly involved,
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Was there a role for women?
Not especially- Most learners and thinkers were men.
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Although give an example of a woman who was involved?
Heloise- Lover of Peter Abalard- Big thinker in Paris. She was extremely literate and clever, and influenced him,
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When was Christina alive?
1098-1155
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What role did her parents have?
Parents were wealthy and well connected merchants
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Who was her aunt a concubine for?
For the Bishop of Durham, who has big contacts and connections,
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What did her parents see for her future?
High expectations for her- Didn't want her to go into nunnery due to her potential- Could be used for their advancement and profession,
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However, what did she do as a child in rejection of this?
She took an early vow of virginity after vising abbery as a child and became a child of christ,
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However, who decided they liked Christina and why was this a problem?
The Bishop of Durham- Influential figure, well-known- used his connections to bribe people to sleep with him,
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While she avoided his advances skillfully, what did the Bishop do?
He was angry and wanted to arrange a marriage between Christian and one of his close friends, in which her parents agreed.
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What was her response?
She refused to consummate the marriage- Fled to Markyate to a small hermitage where she lived as an anchoress- Devoted her life to prayer and fasting,
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Whta did she devote her life too?
Prayer and fasting- They would be bricked up in a cell, not allowed out. Water and food passsed through little door,
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Who did she meet there who she developed a friendship with?
Roger, also an anchoress,
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Was she a mystic?
She certainly had prophetic visions
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What religious figures has she got a close association to?
God- She used to talk to him as a child and could see God, and close association to Virgin Mary,
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What could she do to those that crossed her?
Cause illness or death
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In 1145 when she was prioress, what links were made with another abbey?
St Albans Abbey
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What temptation did she have there?
Geoffrey- THe abbot of St Albans- Caused gossip
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What was Christina's religious effect on GEoffrey ?
He promised to give up worldly aspirations and used christina to talk to God directly- Could see into future for him,
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Overall, how long was she extremely removed from society?
Spent around 16 years as a hermit then as many as 35 as a nun- Around 50 years,
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What is the most solid evidency connected with Christina?
Markyate priory
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What must various generations of nuns viewed her as?
A foudnress? Patron? Saint?
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Did she plan to become a foundress?
No- Main idea was to hide from her busband, and she had various invations to move elsewher
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How did she become surrounded by a community of nuns?
There is no record of the process by which Christina gathered round her a community,
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Was she happy with this development?
Yes- Wanted to join an established nunnery from an early age,
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Was this development common?
Change from hermitage to organised community was one which was taking place in many parts of England and indeed across the whole western Christian world
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What did Gray describe what Life was?
A spiritual biography, but similar to a Saint's life, an autobiography based on the reminiscenes of Christina
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What does Brooke say about the authenticity/ the way Life is written?
Given to romancing. which Gray supports
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What did Talbot say about the monk who wrote this and his intensions?
The Monk was 'conscious also that here was a story to which pure imaginative romance, whether courtly or popular, could offer little competition'
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When are hagiographys usually written?
After the person's death, but hers written in her life- She contributed to it?
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How is christina's Life in comparison to others?
It seems more realistic and direct than others, although element of romance- Disguise and escape from the Bishop,
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How many copies are there?
2- One copy is a fragile text in British library from 14th C- original lost. Badly damaged in fire. another copy in maryate priory
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Who was the writer?
Unknown- Monk as refers to 'our priory'- Intimate moments included e.g. scratching cross in the door,
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When was it finished?
Incomplete- Life breaks off mid sentence. did it et finished or stopped because she died?
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What part of Life do Staples and Karras find is frankly discussed?
Sexual yearnings- 'so inwardly inflamed that she thought the clothes which clung to her body might be set on fire'
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How was Geoffrey presented at the beginning?
A controversial figure,
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What was Christina accredited with?
Hos full conversion
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Although was this relationshp always positive for all monks?
Her needs and influences may have caused dissension between Geoffrey and his monks- 'he began to grow more haughty than was right and relied more on his own judgement than that of his monks'
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Where is the most eloquent defence of the relationship between Geoffrey and his beloved Christina and what does it show?
Psalm 105 in St Albans Psalter, -Christina, hand touching Christs, begs for mercy on behalf of group of monks who cluster behind her
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What did Koopmans suggest about Christina being a saint?
Suggested Christina was a saint who got away
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However, what happened to her after her death?
No place of honour for Christina-Was forgotten,
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Give a quote to show Christina struggle with her relationship with Goeffrey and God?
'She began to examine more often and more closely in the depths of her heart whether anyone can love another more than himself, at least in matters that pertain to the love of God'
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What did the answer come to her in?
A visision
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Describe the vision?
Jesus was standing at an alter facing Geoffrey and herself, whilst she was on the Lord's right honourable side, he was on the left,
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What did she tell Geoffrey?
'there was only one thing in whcih a person should place another before self, God's love'
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What does Life make clear about their sweet conversations and gifts?
It produced envy- 'the abbot... a seducer, and the maiden a loose woman'
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How many visions are there in Life?
42 are mentioned- OVer 2/3rds by Christina, Geoffrey has around three and the rest distributed among friends and enemies,
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What was important about these visions for the modern reader?
Helped the author and Christina explain her own intensions and feelings
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How did the author present these visions?
he went to great pains to show they were genuine experiences and drew some interesting distinctions,
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What was the St Albans Psalter?
A manuscript containing book of psalms from Old Testament in Bibleas well as calanders and important dates- 150 psalms
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Why do scholars agree it was written for her?
-Gitt from Geoffrey, -Lots of texts directly related to Christina. Calander- Many female monks and death days for her family and images of life of christ with bias towards women,
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Is there evidence it is made for her?
There is no ex libris or other maker of ownership to settle this beyond doubt, but argues few wouldn't believe this
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Why in particular with the calander?
The calander has the deaths of many people connected with Christina- Her father, mother, two brothers, Roger the Hermit, abbot Geoffrey,
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What does the wording for Roger's entry suggest?
He meant alot to whoever made the entry,
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What illustration is particularly related to christina?
Story of Alexis- Where bridegroom leaves hsi bride on his marriage to wonder the world,
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What does Pacht suggest about this story?
It is a 'symbolic momento of the owners personal story'
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What do historians disagree over with the Psalter?
Who wrote it
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What does Wormald suggest about how many people wrote it?
Three hand
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What did each hand write?
-Calander, -Psalter, canticles, litany and prayer, -Chancon Alexis
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What does he suggest is the date for the calander writing?
1123> Can't be before 119 when Geoffrey started his abbacy
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What does he suggest is the date of who wrote the Psalter, canticles, prayer and litany?
1123
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When does he suggest the chancon Alexis was written?
1155
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Although what does he suggest about editing?
Another two hands edited the calendar after the death of Christina
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What does Dodwell suggest about the entry for Rodger the hermit?
Not in original hand which would indicate Roger's death took place after writing of calander,
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Therefore what date does he suggest the psalter was written?
1123
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Overall, what do editors of the psalter suggest about when it came into existnece?
Between 119 and 1123
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Who considered 1155?
Talbot
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What does Holdsworth suggest about these arguments?
Neither satisfying,
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Why is pre 1123 too early?
As her relationship with St Albans wasn't fully complete yet- Manuscript cost a great deal to make- First contact with abbot 1124
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Therefore when does he date the psalter to?
1140-1 and before death of Roger
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