Tanya Stabler Miller. The Beguines of Medieval Paris

Beguines, that is, lay religious women, who lived devout lives unbound by a formal religious rule, have been the focus of scholarly fascination since they first emerged on the religious scene in the early decades of the thirteenth century. By living both spiritual and secular lives, supported from alms and their own labor, praying and preaching (albeit in modified ways), beguines seemed to defy social norms. Their way of life received praise and royal support as well as harsh criticism culminating in accusations of heresy and papal condemnation. Tanya Stabler Miller’s study adds an important dimension to the broader European story of the beguines by showing that Parisian beguines sat at the center of powerful networks at the heart of the medieval French capital. Drawing on archival material, Miller reconstructs the lives of the Paris beguines, addressing their religious ideals, property disputes, connections to the crown, preaching abilities, and spiritual and economic networks. As a result, she has expanded and nuanced previous conceptions about beguines and their roles in urban society.

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