The Forgotten Third Path Medieval European Women Discovered Beyond Marriage and Convent Life Revealed
Some Beguines felt that this accurately described their practice. Thus, they were free to continue living their Beguine lives — and they happily did.
But if this is the case, why did the Beguines fade away?
Herman.vandenbroeck/Wikimedia CommonsA former beguinage in East Flanders, Belgium.
It wasn’t like the Beguines vanished overnight. Instead, a gradual dismantling took place. After the Council of Vienne, many Beguines felt threatened and, without a central authority to assist them, decided that they should end the practice for their own safety. For some, this meant completely leaving the lifestyle; others simply became affiliated with other communities, such as the Dominicans or the Franciscans.
Over time, greater societal change made life as a Beguine less sustainable. Broad religious transformations meant that women were gaining more freedom without the need to join beguinages. This, in addition to added pressure from French occupation that abolished their communities and confiscated their goods, made it difficult for their lifestyle to continue.
That said, the Beguines lasted longer than one might think. Many beguinages are still standing, with some marked as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Not only that, but the woman believed to be the last Beguine didn’t die until 2013 — showing that this practice offered something tangible to those who followed it for centuries.
All That’s Interesting reached out to Naderi via email and Instagram direct message.
After learning about the Beguines of medieval Europe, go inside the story of Pope Joan, the alleged female pope. Then, read about the Catalina de Erauso, the cross-dressing warrior nun of 17th-century Spain.
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