Paula’s Comments (group member since Jun 06, 2013)

Paula’s comments from the Ask Carol McGrath group.

ooh Gosh, need to check out Christine Fell's book

Thanks Carol!

In my novel, Sons of the Wolf, Wulfhere is not as wealthy as some and his wife Ealdgytha has to be content with doing everything in the longhall. She and Wulfhere did have their bedchamber upstairs above the hall, however many longhall owners would not have had that luxury and they were known to collapse into the lower story. There is evidence for that happening somewhere! It killed a lot of men. So of course it would depend on the wealth, status and need what sort of buildings there would have been in a complex.

Oh right yes I've read her book sometime ago. I know that he recieved a nasty hit to the leg by a sword as according to the BT but I wasnt aware about the wound from Stamford. I wouldnt be surprised though. A lot of them would have had wounds. It would be doubtful to go that long fighting without getting something even if it was just a scratch!

Carol wrote: "I think it could be argued that Odo commissioned the Tapestry but that it was made in England in at least two locations. Canterbury was where it was designed and then there were workshops in severa..."

Harold had a wounded leg? That's really interesting. could i ask what the source was for that Carol?

sure will

Carol wrote: "Anna, this discussion is becoming exciting because I am learning new things too. Kristin Lavransdotter is one of my all time favourite novels. I re read it. I also love Katherine by Anya Seton. I s..."

I cant rememeber if Ive mentioned the book by Christine Fell? She discusses how women's rights and roles changed after 1066 and beyond in the last chapters. I really recommend it CarolWomen In Anglo Saxon England

Anna wrote: "Regarding medieval women and their rights, I think evidence of the stronger standing of women in the north is evident in the Swedish "landskapslagarna" a code of law dating back to 13th century (ac..."

Ive heard of this book. I'd love to get hold of it one day

Kathleen wrote: "I agree that the Normans coming infringed on female autonomy and legitimate power. Referent power may have still been possible if women owned or had access to property and wealth.

Irish women were..." And southern Italy. Remember they were Kings of Sicilly for a time

Theres a lot of evidence in wills and charters that show that women's rights were catered for in law. This was most likely cultural of northern European women where women had traditionally been viewed as important to their parents as their male children.

Hi Helen, great to see you here!

I did a 6 part series of an investigation into the identity of Aflgyva on my Sons of the Wolf blog. I came up with the conclusion that the woman they must have been referring to was Alfgifu of Northampton. Why she was involved in the plot is a mystery though and I had a very controversial idea why.

Carol wrote: "David A E Pelteret on medieval slavery. Brilliant."

Excellent ! you learn something everyday. thanks so much Carol!

Carol wrote: "There are only three women depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry. One is the mysterious woman named as Aelgiva placed beside a monk who reaches towards her face. Below in the border there is sexual image..."

Hi Carol, this is a theory that Andrew Bridgeford put forward and I think its quite a plausible one!It would explain why Ulf was in William's custody and perhaps she was taken to the battlefield to identify Harold's body. I'm sort of baffled about how or why she would have been in Sussex. Like Helen says, i dont think Harold would have wanted her to be anywhere near the Sussex Coast whilst he marched North. But who knows what might have happened. It's certainly plausible

Wow, i didn't know that Godwin was a slaver!

According to the laws of Alfred, women were not to be forced to marry without their consent. However I am sure that it was often a case of "you need to marry this man,Aldith for the sake of peace." Nonetheless, some women I'm sure, were able to call upon the law to defend them if they were not happy to marry a man their family wished them to.

Like Carol, I am also very interested in the rights of women at the time of the Conquest. My research has turned up lots of interesting facts that women were far from being the down trodden pawns in a man's world that we often believe historical women to be. Many wills and testaments have turned up just how independent and powerful they could be, with men owing service to their Lady, just through landownership.Women In Anglo Saxon England gives us a great insight into the lives of women before the Normans

Oh thanks Carol. I had heard of the Trotula but hadn't investigated it in any depth.

What id your favourite bit of research regarding women in the 11TH C?

I was wondering of you could recommend some good sources for cosmetics in the11TH c