Five Euphemias: Women in Medieval Scotland, 1200-1420 [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Sutherland (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 031222284X | ISBN-13: 978-0312222840 | Publication Date: July 2, 1999

Through the lives of the five women, all related, all called Euphemia, and one of them Queen of the Scots, Elizabeth Sutherland provides a unique insight into a popular period of Scottish history. While medieval battles are well recorded, there is little written about the important influence of the women behind the scenes. Through arranged marriages, profitable alliances were made, territory gained and bridges built. But the women--though technically the possessions of their menfolk--were far from passive creatures. There are accounts of bravery and love affairs, papal separations and religious devotion. It was a turbulent time in Scottish history, and this original book casts new light on the Scots' fierce fight for freedom.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A dense yet fascinating maze, this narrative reveals how five women who were either born or married into the family of the earl of Ross over a 200-year period contributed to the foundation of the Scottish nation. t Packed with surprising facts and anecdotes, it is as much a descriptive history of the age as an exploration of the women's lives and the genealogy of their clans. Drawing on primary and secondary sources, Sutherland (In Search of the Picts) begins with the birth of the first Euphemia, whose father shaped the fate of his heirs when he assumed the earldom in 1214. The third Euphemia became Queen of Scots after her second husband, Robert III, assumed the throne in 1371.Offering a compelling account of how Druid pagan customs mixed naturally with newer Christian ones, Sutherland reveals how the demands of the agricultural economy governed so much of the religious, political and other cultural structures of the medieval period in Scotland. She also covers such diverse topics as aphrodisiacs (a brew of wild orchids), siblings opposed in battle, pets in the nunnery, and folk tales, such as one in which two nuts are thrown into a fire (a couple was to expect more harmony if the nuts burned together than if they rolled apart). Marital relationships were diverse: children born to an engaged couple bound the parents in a common-law marriage; couples could live together for a number of years and then divorce; or a man might live with a woman for a year before deciding to marry her; if he wished, he could send her back to her family with any children they might have had. Maps, illustrations. (Aug.)

Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

The clear, evocative style of writing in Five Euphemias, its narrative approach, and its engaging use of anecdote all contribute to the book's accessibility to general readers... Scottish Tradition

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 282 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan (July 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031222284X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312222840
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,770,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful social context, August 27, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Five Euphemias: Women in Medieval Scotland, 1200-1420 (Hardcover)

This book about five women named Euphemia in medieval Scotland, all related to the earldom of Ross, does an outstanding job of extrapolating from the very limited biographical information on its subjects to explain clearly, lucidly, and entertainingly the social and political context of their lives. I especially enjoyed the portrayal of 13th century Gaelic culture in the first chapter and the treatment of the handicapped "fifth" Euphemia. Those not closely familiar with Scottish history may become lost in the wilderness of relationships and names, but the view of the flowers, forest and the trees along the road is well worth the trip.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The lives of Medieval Scottish Countesses, April 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Five Euphemias: Women in Medieval Scotland, 1200-1420 (Hardcover)

The book handles the lives of 5 women of the family of the Earls of Ross - all with the name of Euphemia. The 3rd Euphemia married King Robert II and the 4th married his notorious son, the Wolf of Badenoch. The portrait of the Wolf of Badenoch is quite balanced and not as black as he is usually described. His wife Euphemia had the nerve to sue him and finally ask for a divorce. Since little is known about these women and their lives were mainly ruled by men, the book also describes the period in history. The book is good reading and as a Scotland and history lover I enjoyed the book very much.

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, not great, March 15, 2005

By 

Megan "Megan" (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Five Euphemias: Women in Medieval Scotland, 1200-1420 (Hardcover)

This was a pretty quick, simple read, so I don't regret buying or reading it... but overall I was a bit underwhelmed.

Ms. Sutherland devotes a section to each Euphemia, but unfortunately that's never really enough. For the earlier ones, it seems to be not enough information about them. This is actually rather maddening, since there seems to be plenty of information about the first Ephemia's sister, who, frankly, seems to have led a more interesting life anyways. But I guess the title couldn't be "The Four Euphemia's and One Euphemia's Sister." It's unfortunate, because the first Euphemia isn't that interesting and most of Ms. Sutherland's discussion of her is made up (in a historian's sort of "we don't know, but it might have happened like..." way).

So there isn't enough information about the first 2 Euphemias... but then I felt that the information about the other 3 was a bit rushed. The 3 later ones are all very important, in their own way, and only having a chapter devote to each was rather annoying.

Despite my gripes, the book was a simple, enjoyable read and I learned a lot about Scottish history and the role of upper class Medieval women. It was interesting to see the proof of social mobility in Medieval Scotland, and basically the rise of a family, and then the annhiliation of a particular branch due to circumstances beyond anyone's control.