Christine De Pizan
Medieval Women Writers: The Works of Christine de Pizan
In a time when the literary world was dominated by men, Christine de Pizan strutted into the medieval scene, metaphorical quill in hand, and essentially said, “Step aside, gentlemen.” A poet, philosopher, and one of the earliest recorded feminists, de Pizan carved a space for women in literature centuries before it was trendy. If you haven’t read her work yet, you’re missing out on some of the sharpest, most progressive writing of the Middle Ages.
Who Was Christine de Pizan?
Born in Venice in 1364 but raised in the French court, Christine de Pizan was educated at a level unheard of for women of her time. After being widowed at 25 with children to support, she took the unusual route of making a living through writing—because, you know, medieval glass ceilings were meant to be shattered.
The City of Ladies: A Medieval Feminist Manifesto
Her most famous work, The Book of the City of Ladies (1405), is a literary mic drop. In response to the rampant misogyny in medieval texts, de Pizan created a utopian city where legendary and historical women ruled. She didn’t just write a book—she built a fortress of intellectual resistance, brick by brick.
The Treasure of the City of Ladies: Medieval Self-Help
Think of The Treasure of the City of Ladies as an early 15th-century life-coaching manual. In it, de Pizan advised women from all walks of life—whether princesses, nuns, or peasant wives—on how to conduct themselves with dignity and intelligence in a patriarchal world. Practical, empowering, and surprisingly modern.
Why Christine de Pizan Still Matters
Christine de Pizan wasn’t just ahead of her time—she was ahead of ours. Her work challenged stereotypes, called out sexism, and provided a voice for women in a literary landscape that largely ignored them. Today, she’s rightly celebrated as a pioneering feminist writer who proved that intellect and courage transcend time.
References:
- Willard, Charity Cannon. Christine de Pizan: Her Life and Works. Persea Books, 1984.
- Brown-Grant, Rosalind. Christine de Pizan and the Moral Defence of Women: Reading Beyond Gender. Cambridge University Press, 2003.
- Margolis, Nadia. An Introduction to Christine de Pizan. University Press of Florida, 2011.
