God-Sanctioned Espionage in the Middle Ages

Female Spies in the Flemish Revolt

Abstract

The Flemish Revolt against Maximilian I was a series of uprisings that took place in the late 15th century and early 16th century in Flanders, which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire. The revolt was sparked by a combination of factors, including economic grievances, religious tensions, and political disputes. The Flemish people were unhappy with Maximilian's rule, and they began to rise against him in various ways. The rebellion was led by a group of nobles, including Philip of Cleves and Henry of Nassau, who formed a confederacy to resist Maximilian's authority. They were joined by a large number of peasants, who were also unhappy with the emperor's policies. The rebellion continued for several years, with the rebels winning some battles and losing others. Ultimately, Maximilian was able to suppress the revolt and reassert his authority over Flanders. During a span of 10 years from 1482 to 1492, female spies played an essential role in gathering information and transmitting it to the rebel leaders. Notable spies from that time include Kathelijne van Merode, Cornelia Lampsins, and Josine Hellebout. These women played crucial roles in the Flemish Revolt; they gathered information for the rebels, carried letters between cities and their militias, and were integral to rebel communication networks. These women broke the status quo for female involvement in medieval wars. There were opposing opinions publicly shared about women's ability to serve the peasant army. This paper analyzes how women's espionage roles were defended using religious imagery and stories. Previous authorship on this group of women is fairly limited, especially those considering the legitimizing force of the Virgin Mary employed by the militia to verify the women as tools of espionage.