Adriana Zierer

Mecia, Matilde and Beatriz: Feminine Images Reflected in Portuguese Queens from the 13 th century

Mécia, Matilde e Beatriz: Imagens Femininas Refletidas nas Rainhas de Portugal do Século XIII

Published in Mirabilia 3 (2003)

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Presentation of the importance of medieval woman by the study of portuguese cronicles from the 14th to 16th centuries about three queens: Mecia Lopes of Haro, Matilde of Bologne and Beatriz. These cronicles had been written to explain the governation of the ladies’ husbands, respectively Sancho II, king deposed of Portugal in 1245 and his brother Afonso III, responsible for the deposition and king from 1248 until 1279, year of his death. It is possible to see a little of these women in the interlineation of the texts. While Matilde and Beatriz represent the woman-merchandize, as elements of the nobility to garantee to men properties and titles – reason by which Afonso III has got married for the second time when he was already married – Mécia represents the role of the devil-woman, the Eve-sinner, who thanks to her "whitchcrafts" and "bad advises" has taken his husband to be deposed from the power.