Martial d'Auvergne Vigiles de Charles

Cross-dressing in the Middle Ages. A Journey Through Literature and History.


Feb 05
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
University of Richmond, Weinstein Hall, Brown Alley Room
231 Richmond Way
University of Richmond, VA 23173

Joan of Arc may be the most famous cross-dresser of the Middle Ages, but her story is “exemplary” in the Derridean sense, both the best and most typical case of cross-dressing and, paradoxically, a sort of exception. A broader examination of earlier cases, even if found in literary sources, helps to better contextualize the topic. In a world that prided itself on clear distinctions between male and female roles, cross-dressing challenged societal norms and sparked controversy. Someone’s garments were clear indication of where they stood in society: knight or cleric, Christian or Jew, peasant or citizen, man or woman, and so on. Medieval texts that feature cross-dressing—often more as literary fantasies than as historical accounts — offer a window into how clothing served as a powerful marker of identity, status, and belonging , while simultaneously revealing the ways such markers could be subverted or reimagined.

Marina Montesano is professor of medieval history at the University of Messina, Italy; fellow of Villa I Tatti – The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance; Cornerstones Visiting Chair in History at UR. Her interests lie in the field of cultural history and her recent publications include Classical Culture and Witchcraft In Medieval and Renaissance Italy (Palgrave, 2018), Folklore, Magic, and Witchcraft: Cultural Exchanges from the Twelfth to Eighteenth Century (Routledge, 2021), Cross-dressing in the Middle Ages (Routledge, 2025).

Light refreshments will be provided.