French Literature Reviews - 2026
Sean Linscott Field, Court Holiness
History, Politics and Society
Translated from French by Jacques Dalarun
From the Battle of Bouvines in 1214 to the death of Philip the Fair a century later, Capetian power experienced an unstoppable rise, underpinned by a Christian-inspired ideology: the "Most Christian" king of France was presented as the privileged recipient of divine favor, France as the Holy Land, and the French as the chosen people. From the crusades of the holy king Louis to the conflict with Pope Boniface VIII, the narrative of this period—during which the Church and royal power intertwined and clashed—has traditionally been dominated by a heavily masculine perspective.
Yet, throughout this long thirteenthcentury, holy women found themselves linked, willingly or not, to the Capetian dynasty, which did not hesitate to use them to establish its legitimacy by reinforcing its sacred character and predestination to holiness. Sean L. Field traces the triumphs and tribulations of these mulieres sanctae who inspired a mixture of awe and fascination: Isabella of France, Douceline of Digne, Elizabeth of Spalbeek, Paupertas of Metz, Margueronne de Bellevillette, and Marguerite Porete. Analyzing their actions, as recounted by themselves or others, sheds light on a distinctly French model of royal sanctity while revealing the ambivalent relationship the court maintained with the sacred and its female incarnations.
Contents
Preface
Abbreviations
Introduction
Part I. In the Beginning
Prologue. The Rise of Capetian Holiness under the Reign of Louis IX
Chapter 1. Isabella of France: A Holy Woman at the Heart of the Capetian Court
Chapter 2. Douceline of Digne, "Gossip" of the Capetians
Part II. The Age of Suspicion
Prologue. A Crisis during the Reign of Philip the Bold
Chapter 3. Elizabeth of Spalbeek: The Prince's Death, the Queen's Crime, and the King's Sin
Chapter 4. Writing Holy Women, 1282–1285
Part III. The Fall
Prologue. The Reign of Philip the Fair: An Apogee
Chapter 5. Paupertas of Metz: Peacemaker, Prophetess, or Poisoner?
Chapter 6. Marguerite Porete and Margueronne de Bellevillette: The Beguine and the Witch
Epilogue. Echoes and Posterity
Simplified Capetian Genealogy
Bibliography
Index
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An article on this work can be read on en-attendant-nadeau.fr:
"The Calculations of Piety", by Dominique Goy-Blanquet (published online June 30, 2022)
Sean Field's book, Court Holiness, is both captivating and exasperating. Captivating because, with a lively pen (perhaps that of the translator, medievalist Jacques Dalarun), it brings to life a gallery of figures who are often forgotten or overlooked. Exasperating because it is so thoroughly in tune with the spirit of our times—the age of suspicion—that one wonders whether all contemporary historians are steeped in it. A defense and illustration of women, yet the moment they orbit the sphere of power, their motives are inevitably viewed as suspicious, much like those of our own politicians.
During the high middle ages in France, royal authority expanded significantly alongside the institutional power of the Church. The Capetian dynasty projected an ideology of divine election, presenting the French monarchy as uniquely favored by heaven. Modern historical scholarship often re-examines these medieval structures through social and gender perspectives, questioning how traditional political narratives marginalized certain groups while highlighting others. In this context, the interactions between monarchs, religious institutions, and exceptional individuals form a complex field of study within medieval French history and religious culture.
Sean L. Field traces the lives of several holy women connected to the Capetian court between the early thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, including Isabella of France, Douceline of Digne, Elizabeth of Spalbeek, Paupertas of Metz, Margueronne de Bellevillette, and Marguerite Porete. Analyzing their actions and contemporary accounts, the book examines a distinct model of royal sanctity and the ambivalent relationship between the court and female figures associated with the sacred. Readers interested in medieval religious history and the intersection of politics and sanctity in France may find it relevant.