Heroines of the Crusades

Six remarkable women of the Crusades

The history of the Crusades, Christianity's 'holy wars' to recover the city of Jerusalem, have become a notable area of fascination for students of history. Images of the Knights Templar and Hospitaller in their cross emblazoned surcoats are especially evocative. Of course, the men (noble or otherwise) did not go to the wars alone, and this highly regarded book provides biographies of some of the notable women who 'followed the cross' to the Holy Land to attempt to wrench control of the spiritual heartland of Christianity from the the followers of Islam. All eight Crusades are considered from the First Crusade of 1090 to the final and Eighth Crusade of 1272. The individual biographies of the women, Adela of Blois, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Berengaria of Navarre, Isabella of Angouleme, Violante of Jerusalem and Eleanora of Castille, are organised into concise chapters offering historical insight into the background and fortunes of each crusade. This text provides a fascinating insight into the role of significant women engaged in the 'great quest' and is essential for all those interested in women of the medieval period or the Crusades.

Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.