Héloïse d’Argenteuil (lived from about 1100 to 1164) is more properly referred to as Héloïse d’Argenteuil, Abbess of the Paraclete, but commonly just called Heloise. She was the founding abbess of the Oratory of the Paraclete, founded in 1125 in Ferreux-Quincey, France. An influential leader in women’s monasticism, Heloise was a learned woman, a nun, and a writer. Early in her professional career, she took Peter Abelard as her teacher and her lover and then made him her husband. Academic scholarship is finally recognizing Héloïse d’Argenteuil, Abbess of the Paraclete, to be an eminent thinker and leader in the Middle Ages and throughout all herstory.
As medieval poetry indicates, women loving men as ardently as Heloise did Abelard shouldn’t presume exclusivity and commitment in love. … Read the post women in love with men shouldn’t presume exclusivity & commitment
The sixth-century woman of privilege Radegund of Thuringia worked hard in a convent kitchen. Fortunatus imaged helping her, not competing with her. … Read the post Fortunatus imagined helping Radegund in the kitchen
Ovid and Jerome taught men not to write formulaic, courtly love letters. But medieval formulae indicate that men used such form-letter love letters. … Read the post Ovid & Jerome vs. courtly love letters by formulae template
Women’s competition with men impedes love. Heloise engaged Abelard in competition in writing. Willing to compete in loving, Abelard preferred just to love. … Read the post women competing with men prompts men’s self-abasement & weakness
Heloise of the Paraclete was famed within her lifetime for learning. Guibert of Nogent, no less learned but scarcely known, disparaged himself for his sins. … Read the post Guibert of Nogent in Heloise’s light: dark nights of internalized misandry