Noblewoman

Ennoblement of women has traditionally been a rare occurrence; the majority of noblewomen were linked to the nobility by either their father or their husband.

However, women of the nobility assumed political functions, participated in the art of war, were cultural patrons, and took on religious responsibilities.

Common titles of nobility for European women include lady, dame, princess, baroness, countess, queen, duchess, archduchess, and empress.

We can cite Saint Bathilde, wife of Clovis II in the 7th century, and being at the origin of the very first act in the known world having as its object the abolition of slave trafficking; or a little more recently Saint Jeanne de Chantal in the 16th century, born and wife of a nobleman before entering the orders.

In Europe, it was common for a woman born noble to run an abbey, take important responsibilities in the clergy or become a canoness.

This is the case of Hildegard von Bingen, who in the 12th century was abbess of the Benedictine monastery of Disibodenberg and founder of Rupertsberg Abbey.

[11] European noblewomen were expected, alongside the rest of nobility, to provide charity to the poor and less fortunate.

[9] Marie-Elisabeth von Humboldt, in the 18th century, structured very precise instruction, allowing her children, Alexander and Wilhelm, to access courses of a very good level of science and knowledge.

They reward acts of bravery, organize groups of women and provide places for discussion and exchange, and to obtain advantages.

It is reserved for ladies of the high nobility and is intended to reward their virtue, good works, and charity.