Eleonore of Scotland

Albrecht Classen (University of Arizona)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.4.2: German-language Writing and Culture: Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, 800-present.
Vol. editors: Nicole Kennedy (University of Newcastle), Gerhard P. Knapp (University of Utah), Jennifer Marston William (Purdue University), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jill E. Twark (East Carolina University)

Dates

Born 1433
Died 20 Nov 1480
Activity c. 1460-c. 1480

Places

Born in Scotland
Active in Austria

Activities

Primary

Monarch/ King/ Queen
Translator

Resources

N/A's Works

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Until today, it is difficult to identify significant female authors from the German Middle Ages, unless we consider mystics such as Hildegard of Bingen or Mechthild of Magdeburg. We know of no parallels to the Anglo-Norman Marie de France (ca. 1170-ca. 1200) or the French Christine de Pizan (1364-ca. 1431), both active as vernacular writers, though separated by ca. 200 years. However, in the fifteenth century, several women authors appear in the annals, such as Elisabeth von Nassau-Saarbrücken, Eleonore of Scotland, and Helene Kottannerin. The case of the latter is clear-cut; we know for sure that this Hungarian-German courtly chambermaid indeed composed her memoirs. The situation with the two other women is more complicated and controversial. In fact, some scholars have raised serious…

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1059 words

Citation: Classen, Albrecht. "Eleonore of Scotland". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 19 June 2025 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=15454, accessed 08 July 2025.]