Deze week nog studenten geschiedenis met handen en voeten aangeleerd dat archieflogica ontzettend belangrijk is, maar dit maakt het wel heel moeilijk... Ik kan me als archivaris zijnde moeilijk voorstellen dat de archivarissen van het stadsarchief daar zelf achter staan, of is er meer aan de hand?

➡️This pardon letter shows a common, believable way to escape punishment in the late Middle Ages: blame the victim and tarnish her reputation. A textbook case of medieval victim-blaming.
#Gender #violence #history #medieval #women

1️⃣ She was often beaten by her husband. Maybe those injuries killed her?
2️⃣ She was “old, weak, and sick”—as if death was inevitable.
3️⃣ She was a "femme commune": an adulterous woman of loose morals, not to be trusted.

🪦A week later, on August 1, she died. Jacques was jailed by the city council and faced the death penalty. His plea used three arguments to discredit Marguerite:

💥She ran toward Jacques to kiss him. When she tried to hug him, Jacques headbutted her and struck her back with his staff—“in jest, because she was old and sick.” It seemed harmless, but the next day Marguerite felt unwell and complained to the mayor of Bruges.

🇬🇧 The article in English 👇

Big shout-out to @chanelled.bsky.social for all the insightful feedback and talks!

Feels good to be able to contribute a little bit to society as a historian!

Full English translation 👇

#femicide #medievalsky #violence #gender

#Medieval #Gender #History #Violence #Pardon

whereas women in these sources are often portrayed as bystanders—shouting from the sidelines or fleeing the scene—as if violence were something inherently male. This letter, however, offers a more nuanced perspective. (5/5)

This letter can teach us a great deal about women in late medieval pardon letters. One striking aspect is that it’s a rare example of a woman who, according to the narrative, acted in self-defense. Male offenders frequently used this argument in their petitions, ... (4/5)

... and wounded her in the chest. Fearing for her life, Jossine grabbed a bread knife and stabbed the man in the arm. He died a few days later from the injury, and Jossine fled from the lovely village of Vlamertinge. Eventually, she was granted pardon by the sovereign. (3/5)

Jossine Vanden Beule was enjoying a drink at the tavern Den Vliegende Hert in Vlamertinge when, around 4 p.m., she was approached by a man who shouted: “You almighty whore! Are you here? You will come with me!” He then struck her four or five times in the jaw. After that, he pulled a knife...(2/5)