Royal Childbirth in the Middle Ages: Fertility, Pregnancy and Birth

Eleanor Cobham’s 1441 case highlights how medieval fears about fertility and birth shaped society, religion, and law.

In 1441, Eleanor Cobham, Duchess of Gloucester, was convicted of trying to bring about King Henry VÌs death through witchcraft. Her defence was that she had simply tried to become pregnant with the help of a well-known wise woman, using sorcery only for this aim.

While one of the most widely publicised cases of such a fertility treatment, it was certainly not the only one in the Middle Ages. In fact, due to the lack of knowledge surrounding not only fertility but also pregnancies and birth, there was a flourishing market offering spiritual and secular aids.

This book provides a history of the concerns and the common problems for women struggling with fertility problems, being pregnant and giving birth, and looks especially at the religious and societal ramifications of these issues.