Christine de Pizan: A Champion of her Sex

I recently visited the British Library for their exhibition on Medieval Women. There were many fascinating women from all walks of life mentioned in the exhibition, but one lady stood out to me the most. Christine de Pizan was born in Venice, Italy, in 1364. She benefited from a wealthy upbringing that was full of learning. Pizan’s father was Italian but worked as an astrologer to Charles V at his French court. Christine was fluent in both French and Italian and knew some Latin.

She became a widow at 25 and found herself without financial support in France. To support herself and her son and daughter, she began to write. Her first focus was on poetry, and she wrote about courtly love. For Christine, the change in circumstances following her husband’s death required her to “become a man” and accept the manly responsibility of providing for her family. In one of her works titled The Book of the Three Virtues, Christine emphasises the need for widows to be “constant, strong, and wise…not crouching like a foolish woman in tears and sobs without any defence, like a poor dog who cowers in a corner when all others attack.”

Her poetry became popular with notables of the French court, and she built up many literary connections, as well as maintaining those secured through her husband, who was a notary and royal secretary to the crown. Her poetry was known widely, even in the courts of Milan and England. In the Book of Body Politic, which was written between 1404 and 1407, Christine focuses on imparting virtues to a prince. She envisions a society as like a body, with each portion and limb performing a specific purpose and duty. Christine addresses first the prince (the head of the body), then the knights and nobles (the limbs) and finally the common people (the feet). Christine also wrote about the political warring, disunity, and unrest that was happening in France at the time. She also wrote about Joan of Arc in a piece that would be her final work.  

Christine was a prolific writer, and she wrote many letters, often writing to notable figures. She also wrote many letters in a literary fashion. Her letter entitled Epitre d’ Othea, or Othea’s Letter also known as Epistle of Othea to Hector, was also widely read in France and England and by men. She wrote about many topics that were typically considered only for male study, including warfare and chivalry. As well as writing, Christine oversaw the creation of beautifully decorated manuscripts, which she would gift to her French royal and noble patrons. One such work was given to Isabeau of Bavaria, Queen of France.

She was a true champion of her sex and was a defender of the female mind. I felt drawn to her during the exhibition and especially loved this quote that was translated in 1983:

“Neither the loftiness nor the lowliness of a person lies in the body according to sex, but in the perfection of conduct and virtues.” Christine de Pizan certainly left a legacy. Her work was owned by notable women, many of them queens, including Anne of Brittany and Queen Leonor of Portugal. She was able to publish her works and later wrote that she “would multiply this work in various copies throughout the world…so that it can be presented in various places to queens, princesses, and noble ladies…that through their efforts it may be circulated among other women.”

Have you heard of Christine de Pizan? Does this change your view of medieval women? Please feel free to leave a comment!