Published: 2026-10-26

Women’s Migration and Mobility in Medieval Europe (Sixth–Fifteenth Centuries): Selected Lesser-Known Examples

Anna Głusiuk Profil ORCID autora Anna Głusiuk
Saeculum Christianum. Historical Writings
Section: Rozprawy i Artykuły
DOI https://doi.org/10.21697/sc.2026.33.1.1

Abstract

This article examines lesser-known examples of women's migration in medieval Europe, highlighting their complexity and diverse causes. The author emphasizes the methodological challenges arising from the limited number of written sources, which tend to focus on men or women from the higher social strata while marginalizing the experiences of others. The study discusses both forced migrations — such as abduction, captivity, exile, and flight from epidemics — and voluntary movements, including pilgrimages, dynastic marriages, education, and religious life. Drawing on specific examples from England, France, and Italy, the article illustrates various forms of female mobility in the medieval period. Particular attention is also paid to the significance of archaeological research and grave analysis, which make it possible to reconstruct women's origins and migration routes, thereby complementing the scarce written evidence. The article demonstrates that migration constituted an important, though often overlooked, aspect of women's lives in the Middle Ages.

Keywords:

women’s migration, Middle Ages, social mobility, pilgrimages, dynastic marriages

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Citation rules

Głusiuk, A. (2026). Women’s Migration and Mobility in Medieval Europe (Sixth–Fifteenth Centuries): Selected Lesser-Known Examples. Saeculum Christianum. Historical Writings, 33(1), 5–16. https://doi.org/10.21697/sc.2026.33.1.1

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