Prophecy and the Battle for Spiritual Authority, 1360-1400: Outsiders, Women, and Reformers

The end of the fourteenth century was a time of upheaval and contested authority among the traditional institutions of medieval Europe. In response to these conditions, a number of people began to claim their own authority, as prophets speaking the word of God. They came from outside of the clerical elite and were mostly women and reformers. This book examines the battle over authority which ensued. Prophetic women and other non-elites successfully used prophecy to exert influence and to enter the corridors of power, while educated male clerics insinuated that prophecy was the product of demonic influence and therefore a hazard to the public. Surprisingly, a third faction also emerged--an international network of clerical men who wrote in support of female prophecy. This volume traces the arguments made by these three groups, the clashes that erupted, and the long-term impacts of this battle on ideas of spiritual authority.

Frances Courtney Kneupper, Associate Professor of History, The University of Mississippi

Frances Courtney Kneupper has spent her scholarly career focused on the voices of the marginalized in late medieval Europe. In particular, she has studied the way that spirituality, especially heresy and prophecy, have been used to express critiques of the status quo. She has published widely on prophecy and prophetic women in the Middle Ages, addressing the topics of prophecy, gender, and authority.