Radegund

Radegund, of the 6th century AD, established one of the first Frankish convents, thereby laying the foundations for women’s spiritual and intellectual development. From these beginnings, women’s monasteries increased rapidly in number and influence, both on the continent, and in Anglo-Saxon England.

Saint Hilda

Saint Hilda, of the 7th century AD, was well known as the powerful Abyss of the double monastery of Whitby. Whitby became one of the foremost religious centers in England, and it was there she educated five English bishops.

Heloise

Many have heard of the 12th century, tragic love story of Peter the Venerable and Heloise. What is usually lost in the telling is that Heloise was a renowned scholar throughout France. By age 16, her reputation as a scholar led the greatest living philosopher in France, Peter Abelard, to agree to become her private tutor. When Peter met Heloise she already spoke Latin, Hebrew, and Greek and she was well educated in ancient philosophy and rhetoric. Tragically, the much older Peter seduced, and sometimes forced himself upon Heloise, and soon she was pregnant by him.

Heloise did not want to marry Peter because she feared the marriage would ruin his clerical career. Therefore, after marrying Peter against her will, both Heloise and Peter publicly denied the marriage. Heloise’s uncle, who was her guardian, did not understand Peter’s reasons for denying his marriage to Heloise. Believing Peter to be a cad, her uncle became angry about the humiliation to Heloise, and in an attempt to force her to publicly acknowledge her marriage, he abused her. In response to the abuse, Peter sent Heloise to a monastery and ordered her to take the vows and enter religious life. Angered further at the apparent abandonment of Heloise and her child, Heloise's uncle paid thugs to pull Peter from his bed and castrate him. Peter then continued his complex philosophical and religious career, while Heloise lived the rest of her life as an Abbess; there merely because her husband had chosen his career over her.

There are many letters, spanning the years, written between Heloise and Peter. They contain numerous philosophical discussions and arguments between the two. As the most brilliant philosopher of his day, Peter could not live by the principles he had taught to Heloise. Heloise seemed to care deeply for Peter, but as his student, Heloise lived by those principles and must have been disillusioned that he did not. She was much less concerned about the church than the betrayal of the philosophical ideals they both admired. Throughout their years of correspondence, Peter could not make Heloise forgive God for the lonely life she led and for the injustice of his castration after their marriage, which further lessened his interest in his marriage. Her husband did not choose a life with her and she dedicated her life to god without at any time experiencing a spiritual calling.

Historians have long overlooked Heloise’s abilities and contributions,and she is frequently seen as important only in relation to Peter. But Heloise was already famous throughout France when she met Peter, and in her religious career she was highly respected and sought after by bishops, abbots, and lay people.