Women of the Tenth Century
Medieval Women Who Changed History: Lived 901 - 1000 In the tenth century, a few women achieved power but almost entirely through their fathers, husbands, sons, and grandsons. Some even served as regents for their sons and grandsons. As Europe's Christianization became nearly complete, it was more common for women to achieve power by founding monasteries, churches, and convents. Women's value to royal families was mainly as childbearers and as pawns to move around in dynastic marriages. Occasionally, women (like Aethelflaed) led military forces, or (like Marozia and Theodora) wielded direct political power. A few women (like Andal, Lady Li, and Hrosvitha) achieved prominence as artists and writers. Saint Ludmilla: 840 - 916 Ludmilla raised and educated her grandson, a duke, and the future Saint Wenceslaus. Ludmilla was key in the Christianization of her country. She was murdered by her daughter-in-law Drahomira, a nominal Christian. Ludmilla was married to Borivoj, who was the...