A Widow's Vengeance after the Wars of Religion

Wednesday Feb 28^th 15.00-16.30 Tom Hamilton and David van der Linden from Groningen will engage in a thought-provoking discussion on violence, gender, and justice post-Wars of Religion, coupled with the launch of Tom's book, "A Widow’s Vengeance after the Wars of Religion: Gender and Justice in Renaissance France." The book delves into the aftermath of Mathurin Delacanche's march on Chaumot in 1590, examining the use of sexual violence as a weapon of terror and the pillaging of village resources. Focusing on the villagers' resilience during the occupation, the chapter sheds light on the destruction caused by local, small-scale warfare in early modern conflicts. The evidence challenges claims that premodern societies formally tolerated sexual violence, emphasizing the difficulties in prosecuting such crimes through criminal justice despite the condemnation by magistrates, plaintiffs, and witnesses. Join us for this insightful exploration into the complex intersections of violence, gender, and justice in Renaissance France. (A Widow's Vengeance after the Wars of Religion: Gender and Justice in Renaissance France (worktribe.com))