Beguines didn't take formal religious vows, but they lived together in communities called beguinages and devoted their lives to prayer and service.
Public DomainMusic Lesson in the Beguine Courtyards, an early 20th-century painting by German artist Claus Meyer.
Contrary to popular belief, women in Europe were engaged in many different parts of the workforce throughout the Middle Ages. They worked in agriculture, domestic services, textile production, brewing, and family businesses. Some even managed properties and businesses entirely by themselves.
However, many of these freedoms were only afforded to women if they were widows or of a certain class. For the most part, once a woman reached a certain age, she was effectively given two options: marry or become a nun.
But these two paths were not for everyone. Some women at the time realized this — and decided to forge a path of their own.
Beguines, The ‘Holy Women’ Of Medieval Europe
In a video with over 312,000 views, TikTok user Neloo Naderi (@neloonaderi) explains the history of the Beguines.
As told by Naderi, beginning in the 1200s, some women began to choose a life that did not involve fully committing themselves to a man or to the church.
“Across cities like Bruges, Gent, and Antwerp, many women began communities known as ‘beguinages,'” Naderi explains. “The women who lived there were called ‘Beguines.’ They built small homes gathered around shared courtyards and gardens.”
Public DomainAelfred Fahey’s 20th-century depiction of a Beguine praying.
These women connected with their communities and earned a living by doing things like weaving cloth, nursing the sick, and teaching children. When not working, they would live in and care for their beguinage, which was typically composed of houses, churches, other buildings, and green spaces.
Beguines pledged to remain chaste while living in the community, but, unlike nuns, they were not bound by an irrevocable vow. While nuns were committed to a life of poverty, Beguines could retain houses and property. And if a Beguine ever wanted to leave the beguinage and get married, she was free to do so.
“For many women in medieval Europe, this created something entirely new: a life of faith, work, and community, without fully surrendering their independence,” Naderi shares.
But this path wasn’t always easy.
A Challenge For The Beguines
Throughout the 13th century, beguinages began popping up across Germany, northern France, Belgium, and the Low Countries. But while these places could be liberating for the women involved, some people felt threatened by this practice — specifically, members of the church.
This fear culminated in the Council of Vienne, which took place between 1311 and 1312. At this time, certain Beguine groups were accused of holding beliefs that promoted something called “Heresy of the Free Spirit,” according to the book The Beguines of Medieval Świdnica. As such, they were accused of “ensnar[ing] many simple people, leading them into various errors.” And, by linking themselves with the Church, they “generate[d] numerous other dangers to souls under the cloak of sanctity.”
Public DomainPope Clement V summoned the Council of Vienne in 1311 to address religious concerns like the Knights Templar and enact sweeping changes in the Catholic Church.
One of the people affected by the crackdown on Beguines was Marguerite Porete. Porete was a French mystic and the author of a book called The Mirror of Simple Souls, which suggested that a person whose soul was truly filled with love for God could essentially unite with Him. She was placed on trial for heresy and burned at the stake in 1310, and most copies of her book were destroyed.
These events put pressure on Beguines to disband, but this didn’t happen immediately.
What Happened To The Beguines?
This pressure from the Church wasn’t enough to get rid of the Beguines completely. Indeed, many felt that their practice was exempt from the Church’s strict ruling.
Within the ruling was a carveout. A papal bull issued by Pope Clement V after the Council of Vienne read, “Of course we in no way intend by the foregoing to forbid any faithful women, whether they promise chastity or not, from living uprightly in their hospices, wishing to live a life of penance and serving the Lord of hosts in a spirit of humility. This they may do, as the Lord inspires them.”
Some Beguines felt that this accurately described their practice. Thus, they were free to continue living their Beguine lives — and they happily did.
But if this is the case, why did the Beguines fade away?
Herman.vandenbroeck/Wikimedia CommonsA former beguinage in East Flanders, Belgium.
It wasn’t like the Beguines vanished overnight. Instead, a gradual dismantling took place. After the Council of Vienne, many Beguines felt threatened and, without a central authority to assist them, decided that they should end the practice for their own safety. For some, this meant completely leaving the lifestyle; others simply became affiliated with other communities, such as the Dominicans or the Franciscans.
Over time, greater societal change made life as a Beguine less sustainable. Broad religious transformations meant that women were gaining more freedom without the need to join beguinages. This, in addition to added pressure from French occupation that abolished their communities and confiscated their goods, made it difficult for their lifestyle to continue.
That said, the Beguines lasted longer than one might think. Many beguinages are still standing, with some marked as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Not only that, but the woman believed to be the last Beguine didn’t die until 2013 — showing that this practice offered something tangible to those who followed it for centuries.
@neloonaderi In medieval Europe, women were expected to marry a man or become a nun. But thousands quietly chose something different. They built communities called Beguinages — places where women could live lives of faith, work, and independence. Some of these communities lasted for centuries. 📸 @manesse.madness (instagram) @esoterica (YouTube) @mariaoliveira art (instagram) #Wonder #HistoryTok #HiddenHistory #WomenInHistory #MedievalHistory
♬ Mountain Breath – Celestial Symphony & cinematic atmosphere
All That’s Interesting reached out to Naderi via email and Instagram direct message.
After learning about the Beguines of medieval Europe, go inside the story of Pope Joan, the alleged female pope. Then, read about the Catalina de Erauso, the cross-dressing warrior nun of 17th-century Spain.
