Alena Nicholson

October 16, 2022

Historical Research Paper

CST 5224

Women of the Crusades: All is fair in love and war

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against

the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly

places” Ephesians 6:12 NASB (1995).

I. Intro to Crusades and women’s role

The Crusades were a series of wars between Christians and Muslims between 1095 to 1271.

This ongoing battle started when Pope Urban II called on all Christians in Europe to fight a holy

crusade against Muslims. The Pope wanted to free the Holy Land from Muslim control,

however, the crusades did nothing to achieve total control of Jerusalem and only caused

unnecessary bloodshed.

The effects of the Crusades remain today in Europe and the Middle East, specifically the

conflict between Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Christians killed Jews and Muslims simply

because they did not follow the same belief system. Muslims killed thousands of Christians and

Jews and Christians killed thousands of Muslims and Jews. The effects are not completely

negative as trade increased between both areas and Crusaders began to learn about Arab culture,

art, and mathematics which ultimately lead to increased knowledge in Western Europe.

Additionally, Europeans were traveling to the places mentioned in their Bible. These places were
not longer some far away place to be imagined, but people were regularly going to the Middle

East and seeing where Jesus lived.

While some women actively engaged in battle and defense, most were at home, left behind

by husbands and sons. “These chatelaines had to hold the family lands together for themselves

and their children. Governing in their husband’s name, these women engaged in legal

transactions, oversaw agricultural activities… Strong women who ruled as regents kept whole

kingdoms together” (UMICH, 1997).

II. Eleanor of Aquitaine

Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of many women given the title of “Grandmother of Europe”, was

the Queen “of France from 1137 to 1152 while married to Louis VII and of England from 1154

to 1204 while married to Henry II” (Middleton, 2015). She was extremely influential and her and

her descendants have played a crucial role in the lives of the other two women mentioned in this

monograph: Margaret of Beverly and Shajar al-Durr. “Eleanor wielded considerable influence

and power, taking an active part in administering and advising her husbands and sons. One of the

most influential women of medieval times, she also was an important patron of the arts,

especially the poetry of courtly love” (Middleton). This form of poetry was extremely influential

during its time as it elevated the status and value of women. It also leads to the famous romance

motifs we see today in TV shows and movies.

Despite her value of love, she also seemed to support bloodshed as she accompanied Louis

on the Second Crusade “Louis left to go on a crusade to the Holy Land in 1147, and Eleanor

persuaded him to allow her and her ladies to accompany the army. The crusade was a disaster,

and Louis showed himself to be a weak and ineffectual military leader. Meanwhile Eleanor was
lauded for her strength and wisdom during the crusade” (English Heritage, NA). However, her

independent spirit led her and Louis to separate shortly after the Crusade in 1152 due to

“…disobedience to her husband the king” (Middleton). Other sources claim the reason for the

divorce was consanguinity which meant that the “Church felt the couple were too closely

related” (Creative Historian, 2015).

Shortly after, she married Henry II and became queen of France which is rather ironic

because the two are more closely related than Eleanor and Louis. Regardless, she gave birth to

five sons and 3 daughters, however, Henry’s adultery led to their separation and Eleanor returned

home to Poitiers in 1171. It was during this time that Eleanor and her daughter Marie would act

as a jury to the arguments regarding love. This court is mentioned in De Amore (or The Art of

Courtly Love) by Andreas Capellanus (1186-1190) although the court’s accuracy has been in

debate for many years.

“When her son Richard I and others revolted against Henry in 1173, she was accused of

aiding them. Henry imprisoned Eleanor in 1174, and she was not released until he died and her

son Richard became king in 1189” (Middleton). While Richard I was gone on the Third Crusade

(where Margaret of Beverly was caught up in) Eleanor administered his government and was

“…instrumental in the raising the ransom to buy Richard’s freedom after he was taken captive in

Austria” (Middleton).

Eleanor’s influence reaches today’s romance motifs in media as well as common French

etiquette. She was extremely influential during her life, often advising her husbands and sons on

political matters and engaging in battle during the Second Crusade. Her descendants carry on this

legacy by further engaging in Crusades and impacting other’s lives, for better and for worse.
 III. Margret of Beverly

The records of Margaret of Beverly are largely due to her younger brother Thomas writing

her biography. Her brother recalls Margaret telling him that their parents conceived her in

England but she was born in Jerusalem as her parents Sibil and Hulno set off on a pilgrimage.

She was young when she was brought back to England and when her brother was born.

As an adult, she returned to the Holy Land “…and was in Jerusalem when it came under

siege from Saladin in September 1187. Thomas depicts his sister saying: ‘like a fierce virago, I

tried to play the role of a man,’ improvising a helmet from a metal cooking pot: ‘a woman

pretending to be a man … terrified, but I pretended not to be afraid.’” (Nicholson, 2008). It

might seem strange to use common household items as weapons and shields, it was not

surprising at all considering months before the Franks faced defeat in Hattin (Edington, 2002, pg.

54). While she defended Jerusalem, she was not considered a crusader as “she never ‘took the

cross’: she became involved in the Third Crusade as a bystander who took part in the defense of

Jerusalem and as a pilgrim, but she did not fight” (Nicholson, 2008).

It was during this battle, which lasted fifteen days, that her brother claims she “…carried out

all of the functions of a soldier that [she] could” (Olsen, 1996). She wore a breastplate and a

cauldron for a helmet. She largely assisted soldier with water as they could not take breaks.

“Though a woman, I seemed a warrior, I threw the weapon; though filled with fear, I learned to

conceal my weakness…” (Olsen). However, this was not the end for Margaret. She was

eventually arrested and put in servitude shortly after the Crusade. “I was subjected to a difficult

sentence for the love of Christ, who wished me also reduced to pious servitude. But I did not

give in to the torment. My inviolate faith always won the victory… The happy day of the Feast

of the Virgin ended for me fifteen months of slavery” (Olsen).

 Unfortunately, the non-crusader was fearful of future arrests and often hid in the shadows of

town. “I was garbed only in a sack that I had worn when captive” (Olsen). She claims that the

garb was rather short and was troublesome to cover her body, which proved to be an annoyance

and added to her paranoia. She came to an area outside of a town where she stayed for five nights

with only one loaf of bread. She had twelve rivers to cross which made her afraid, but “[she]

feared staying there and becoming a meal to the wild beasts. Fear eventually made [her] bold.

[She] crossed the first river, then [she] crossed them all” (Olsen).

She eventually arrived in Antioch when the Muslim armies (who had already taken her

prisoner in Jerusalem) arrived as well. Someone accused her of stealing a knife and was arrested

and scheduled for execution. “Margaret, escaped this danger, returns to visit the Holy Places, and

as a result of the Peace Treaty that was concluded in 1192 between Richard I and Saladin, she is

able to return with the English Crusaders through Europe” (Olsen). When she arrived in France,

she learned her brother had become a monk in Froidmont, told him the stories of her adventures,

and he showed her the monastic life. She lived as a nun for eighteen years before she passed. Her

stories of faithfulness live on to this day and prove God’s providence and protection over His

children. She showed immense bravery in the face of danger and survived servitude for her faith.

IV. Shajar al-Durr

Shajar al-Durr (or Shajarat) was not the first sultana, but she was the first former female

slave to rise to power through marriage and not inheritance. She “…reigned over Egypt for

only 80 days after the death of her husband, al-Salih Najm al-Din Ayyub” (Al-Ibrashy, NA).

Despite only ruling for about 3 months, there were coins minted in her name. “But intrigue

surrounded those months when it was revealed that Shajar al-Durr had kept the sultan’s death

a secret because of the French-led Seventh Crusade invasion of Egypt at the time. The clever
 Shajar al-Durr reportedly used blank papers the dying sultan signed to issue various orders to

resist the invaders, and supposedly concealed his death by having his meals brought to the

sultan’s always-closed tent” (Al-Ibrashy).

She was in charge of the entire kingdom’s affairs and was thrown into the Frank’s

invasion of Egypt (led by St. Louis of France, Eleanor of Aquitaine’s great grandson). She

was present in the always-closed royal tent, signed and gave orders, and eventually captured

Louis of France (Levanoni). Once this was over and she won the army’s favor, she revealed

her best kept secret.

She revealed the sultan’s death, but the Syrian emirs did not recognize her reign. This is

largely due to outdated social constructs and political power over Mamluks; her second

marriage was a solution to this. However, “…conflicts continued with her new husband and

his other wives until she was thought to have arranged his murder in a bath. Immediately

imprisoned, the Tree of Pearls reportedly was found naked and beaten to death (supposedly

by wooden clogs) outside the Citadel in Cairo, on April 28, 1257 (Levanoni, 2010). She

insisted that he died in his sleep, but the sultan’s Mamluks were not convinced and had her

thrown off a building with nothing but a garb around her waist. Despite her murderous mind

and tragic death, her rise to power from seemingly nothing is a story of bravery, persistence,

and of a tenacious leader.

V. Personal Reflection

Hearing stories of other women’s adventures, battles, and lives is always encouraging to me

(despite everyone’s flaws and sins). It is a reminder to consistently remain steadfast and brave in

the face of terror. Margaret’s story was especially influential on my outlook of life. I am
reminded of Moses’ insecurity in leading and talking to God’s people. Margaret of Beverly

needed just as much bravery that Moses needed, and God remained faithful to both, giving them

strength, wisdom, and eventually leading them to safety.

I am, however, reminded that the Crusades were rather unnecessary and led to extreme hate

of Muslims and Jews. We can see this centuries later in the Holocaust and the hatred of Muslims

after 9/11. It is hard for me to believe that any one people group owns The Holy Land, or any

piece of land on earth for that matter. God created the earth we live on and the people that we

seem to hate so much. It is also hard for me to believe that God would actually “tell” someone to

engage in this “Holy War” which murdered His own children, believers or not. Regardless of the

unnecessary bloodshed, the stories of the brave women whom I researched are a great reminder

that God is with us and we should fear no man (Romans 8:28-39).

 Resources

Al-Ibrashy, May, NA, Sultana of Pearls: Preserving the Dome that Honors a Historic

Female Ruler, Athar Lina Project & American University in Cairo,

https://www.arce.org/resource/sultana-pearls-preserving-dome-honors-historic-

female-ruler

Creative Historian, 2015; Annulment of Eleanor of Aquitaine’s Marriage

https://www.creativehistorian.co.uk/blog/read_125874/annulment-of-eleanor-of-

aquitaines-marriage.html

Edignton, Susan, & Evans, Michael R; 2002, Gendering the Crusades, Chapter 4

English Heritage, NA, “Eleanor of Aquitaine.”, https://www.english-

heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/women-in-history/eleanor-aquitaine/

Levanoni, Amalia, 2010, Shajar al-Durr: A Case of Female Sultanate in Medieval Islam,

World History Connected

https://worldhistoryconnected.press.uillinois.edu/7.1/levanoni.html

Middleton, John; 2015, World Monarchies and Dynasties pg. 274

Nicholson, Helen J., 2008; Women and the Crusades (Pages 8-9); Hereford Historical

Association

Olsen, Alexandra, & Holloway, Julia Bolton, 1996/2017, Margaret of Jerusalem/Beverley

and Thomas of Beverley/Froidmont, Her Brother, Her Biographer, The British

Library.
UMICH, 1997, The Great Crusades,

http://websites.umich.edu/~marcons/Crusades/topics/women/women-article.html