During the medieval times in Europe, different levels of nobility existed and thus different titles were given to the people of different statuses within the Feudal system.
Nobility
The title of a medieval baroness was reserved for female members of the nobility at a lower level. But the status of a medieval baroness was much higher than the ordinary members of the society and she along with her husband the baron, was responsible to take care of the estate that was delegated to them.
Medieval Baroness Cecily Bonville 7th Baroness Harington Illustration
The title of medieval baron and medieval baroness existed since early medieval times and continued to gain importance during the high and late medieval times.
These positions of the nobility, along with other positions, emerged out of the disintegration of the medieval Carolingian Empire as the power of the central government declined and the rulers began to rely more and more on the nobles.
The word itself is said to have been derived from the Old English word “beorn” which means warrior or nobleman.
The early life of a medieval baroness was spent on the estate of her parents but sometimes she was sent to another estate in order to have a better upbringing and to mingle with other members of the nobility.
In the education of a medieval baroness, household tasks such as cooking, embroidery, knitting, etc. were important but she was also educated in such disciplines as religious studies, literature, and important languages of the time.
The status and ranking of a medieval baroness was similar to her husband in society. While it was her husband, the baron, who was mainly responsible for administering the affairs of the estate, she helped him in various matters.
In the absence of her husband, she was the one looking after the matters of the estate. Her rank was lower than some other members of the nobility with higher titles but compared to the common people, she enjoyed a considerably high status in society.
The duties of a medieval baroness, in the main, were administering the household and social affairs of the estate such as arranging different events and banquets.
14th-century Banquet in an English Castle
This also included attending the Noble Estate meetings at Crown events and helping barons in communicating the needs of the barony to the king.
She was also expected to be present at various events in the barony regarding charities, arts, and sports. In a sense, the medieval baroness, along with her husband, acted as an ambassador of her barony for the kingdom at large.
The family life of a medieval baroness revolved around the household tasks since she was the head of the house when it came to internal affairs.
Manor House
However, the most important duty in the family life of a medieval baroness was to provide the baron with an heir. This was important because, just like other titles of the nobility, the title of a baron and baroness was hereditary and an heir was necessary to inherit the estate.
Just like her husband, the medieval baroness was in the service of the king and the queen. Thus her duty was to ensure that her barony fulfilled its responsibilities toward the crown.
As part of this service, she and her husband maintained constant contact with the crown in order to apprise them about the needs of the barony.
She was also required to take care of the needs of the barony and its people and thus also served the people.
Other than the regular work of everyday life, there were a variety of leisure activities that a medieval baroness could indulge in. The usual leisure activity was spending time in the company of other noblewomen accompanied by their maids.
During this intermingling, they indulged in a variety of different activities ranging from general gossip and music to berry-picking and reading.
Hawking
Other usual leisure activities for a medieval baroness included elaborate board games, hawking, embroidery, pet-keeping, horse riding, and others.
There was not much difference between the clothes of a medieval baroness and the clothes of other ladies of the nobility. However, certain colours and materials were reserved only for the nobility and could not be used by common women.
Sumptuary Laws Royal Colour Blue Coronation of Louis VIII and Blanche of Castille
According to the Sumptuary Laws, seven social classes were distinguished by their clothing, with fashionable clothing reserved for the nobility which included medieval baronesses.
Women made use of long coats and surcoats with gold and silver embroidery and stylish hats. During the late medieval times, sleeve borders, necklines, and the bottom half of dresses were decorated with ornamental bands.
Religion was very important in medieval times and this was true for common people and the nobility alike. A medieval baroness was expected to follow the codes of modesty and chastity as laid down by religion.
Among her daily duties, going to the church accompanied by her maids was included. The education of a medieval baroness also included religious education and the study of the Bible.
The church and the nobility worked hand in hand during medieval times and helped each other in maintaining the status quo.
The food and drink of medieval nobility and thus of a medieval baroness was quite elaborate and much better compared to the food of the common people.
The staple diet was wheat bread which was made of the finest quality wheat. The diet included a variety of vegetables such as beans, peas, and others in addition to fish, poultry, Game, Venison, and many other different kinds of meats, combined with a wide choice of exotic herbs and spices from around the world.
Falconry *Medieval Baron & Baroness
The customary drinks during the meals were fine wine, ale, and mead, the former made from the hops while the latter with fermented honey.
A medieval baroness was the female equivalent of a medieval baron, but the title was less important than the Baron.
A baroness was the mistress of the estate and helped her husband, the baron, in managing the affairs of the estate. In the absence of her husband, she looked after the estate otherwise she was mainly responsible for the household tasks.
She also actively took part in the social events of her barony.