This is a post by Kathryn Maude (Kingâs College London and University of Swansea). Itâs her âsnapshotâ of what it means to be human (or not) in the Middle Ages and will feature in Karrie Fransmanâs artwork for the Medieval Comics project. Follow Kathryn on Twitter @krmaude.
St Ethelburga from a Book of Hours. France, N. or N. W. (Rouen?), c. 1430- c. 1440. British Library, MS Harley 2900, f. 68v. [bl.uk]
Ăthelburg (her Old English name) or Ethelburga (the name that she was remembered by after the Norman Conquest) was abbess of the Anglo-Saxon abbey of Barking. Barking Abbey was a double monasteryâa house of worship including both monks and nunsâso Abbess Ăthelburg ruled over both men and women.
It was after Ăthelburgâs death that her miracle-working really started to get going. The nuns of Barking were in disarray because of repeated Viking attacks, and they had to flee to London, leaving the monastery of Barking and Ăthelburgâs tomb completely undefended. When the Vikings arrived to pillage the monastery, the power of Ăthelburgâs holiness had called wild animals to protect her tomb.
Wolf from the Bestiary of Ann Walsh. England, 15th century. Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4Âș, f. 16v. [bestiary.ca]
Bear from the Bestiary of Ann Walsh. England, 15th century. Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4Âș, f. 13v. [bestiary.ca]
Lion from Jacob van Maerlantâs Der Naturen Bloeme. Flanders, c. 1350. Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, f. 60r. [bestiary.ca]
First a huge wolf blocked the main door and leapt on the Vikings. They tried another door but were set upon by a vicious bear. The final door to the church was blocked by a lion, roaring at them. They fell to their knees and prayed, at which the three wild animals became tame, and the Vikings entered the church. Instead of pillaging, the Vikings left enough treasure to feed the nuns for months.
Ăthelburg made herself known in other ways too. After the Conquest, Abbess Elfgiva had commenced a controversial building project that involved moving the bodies of the abbeyâs founding saintsâincluding Ăthelburgâwhich had been specifically forbidden by Maurice, the local bishop. Abbess Elfgiva was praying by Ăthelburgâs tomb one night when she felt the tomb move by itself. It crushed Elfgiva against the wall, so she couldnât move or breathe. Elfgiva cried out to Ăthelburg:
Spare me, my lady! I am overwhelmed, I am crushed. I can scarcely draw breath or gasp because of the force of your pressure.
At this prayer, Ăthelburg relents and releases Elfgiva but then appears to her in person as a giant glowing figure. She tells Elfgiva:
Make haste to take us from here and set us in the place you have prepared. This lodging oppresses us; the narrowness of the place binds us tightly; the coarse couch dishonours us.
Elfgiva meekly agrees, and the giant glowing figure of Ăthelburg turns into a little girl and jumps into Elfgivaâs arms, to thank her for her support.
For the writings of Bede (673-735) concerning Ăthelburg and Barking, see Bedeâs Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Book 4, Chapters 6-10 (available on Fordham Universityâs Medieval Sourcebook).
Ăthelburg (or Ethelburga): saint, abbess, badass This is a post by Kathryn Maude (Kingâs College London and University of Swansea). Itâs her âsnapshotâ of what it means to be human (or not) in the Middle Ages and will feature in Karrie Fransmanâs artwork forâŠ
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