The campaigns of Countess Matilda of Canossa (1046-1115), an analysis of the history and social significance of a woman's military leadership

Abstract

The dissertation seeks to dispel some of the mythology surrounding the issue of women's military leadership through a detailed analysis of the campaigns of Matilda of Canossa, countess of Tuscany (1046-1115). The first three chapters construct a critical, chronological narrative of her military accomplishments. The fourth chapter surveys Matilda's diplomas and assesses their value as evidence of her involvement in war. The fifth examines medieval legal responses to women's participation in warfare, while the final chapter surveys literary reactions to Matilda's command as expressed in the pamphlet literature of the so-called "Investiture Controversy". Analysis of Matilda's campaigns serves to correct several common misconceptions about war and gender in the Latin West. Matilda's flexible and intelligent generalship indicates that medieval commanders were not ignorant of the principles of strategy, maneuver and surprise. The fact that Matilda was one of the most powerful and successful leaders of her time indicates that military command remained a viable avenue of women's power in the eleventh and early twelfth centuries. Responses to Matilda's career also suggest that the perception of the high Middle Ages as a turning point towards harsher criticism of female commanders needs to be seriously reevaluated. Despite the widespread acceptance by medieval writers of a patriarchal ideology that arrogated to masculinity alone militarily useful qualities (courage, resolution, etc.), Matilda nevertheless maintained a circle of supporters both willing and able to justify her military authority.