Ten Female Pilgrims Who Made History
Uncover the story of 10 extraordinary women with unforgettable pilgrimage experiences. These pilgrimages are clear examples of their connection to the spirit of the St. James Way and other routes.
19th century English pilgrim (19th Century) by English WorkshopOriginal Source: Museum of Pilgrimage and Santiago
Female pilgrims
The significance of devout female pilgrims, ignored and forgotten by historical accounts over the centuries, is now coming to light through various investigations. In many cases, these were brave women who were ahead of their time and made significant contributions to the rise and growth of several St. James Ways and other routes.
Portrait of a young woman in red Portrait of a young woman in red (A.D. 90–120)The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1. Egeria, the pilgrim pioneer
A 4th-century traveler and writer, Egeria is the oldest pilgrim whose account has been preserved. It is believed that she was originally from Aquitania or Gallaecia, the latter being currently the most widely believed possibility. Between 381 and 384 she traveled through Europe and the East with the intention of visiting the most significant biblical places before arriving at her target destination: Jerusalem.
Roman temple of Santalla de Bóveda (3rd Century)Regional Government of Galicia
Considering the period and the few resources that she had, she became a daring and heroic pilgrim. Her hardiness was admired by some and severely criticized by others, because at that time no woman of a high status, which she was imagined to be, would travel alone.
Saint Hedwig and the New Convent; Nuns from Bamberg Settling at the New Convent (1353) by UnknownThe J. Paul Getty Museum
2. Jimena de Asturias, the first female pilgrim to Santiago
A primeira peregrina a Santiago da que se ten constancia escrita foi Jimena Garcés, esposa de Afonso III O Magno, último rei de Asturias. Ambos os dous estiveron en Compostela en dúas ocasións: a primeira no ano 874 para facer a doazón dunha cruz de ouro, símbolo do reino; a segunda no ano 899, para asistir á consagración da segunda basílica compostelá.
Wall paintings in the monastery of Samos (6th-18th Centuries)Regional Government of Galicia
Although their journeys were part of the formalities that the Queen of Asturias had to participate in, there are ancient documents that state that she went to Santiago because of her devotion.
Códice Calixtino, folio 162 rectoThe Catedral de Santiago Foundation
3. Gertrude of Flanders and the Calixtinus mystery
There is mystery surrounding this pilgrim who was originally from Flanders, an area where devotion to the Apostle took root very quickly. The only information that we know about Gertrude is that between 1135 and 1140, she accompanied Aymeric Picaud in moving the Codex Calixtinus from the Vatican to its final destination in Santiago de Compostela.
Gertrude was referred to as Picaud's companion in the letter from Pope Innocent, contained in the Liber Sancti Iacobi. Some of the writing in the Codex Calixtinus itself is generally attributed to Aymeric, and it has even been speculated that Gertrude could have been the co-author of this famous codex.
Illuminated book (1592 A.D.) by Unknown authorMuseu Nacional de Machado de Castro
4. Bona de Pisa, the tireless pilgrim
Despite the great dangers, medieval chronicles tell us of numerous women, queens, noblewomen, and servants making the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, many on horse and accompanied by large parties, but sometimes also on foot and alone. One of these women, Bona de Pisa (1155-1207), managed to make up to nine pilgrimages to Santiago.
Monumental ensemble of Soutomerille (2020)Regional Government of Galicia
This Italian monk also made pilgrimages to Jerusalem and Rome. An exemplar of charity, during her journeys she would devote herself to supporting those who found themselves in difficulty and to curing sick people. In between pilgrimages, she founded the monastery of San Iacopo en Podio in Pisa, with the intention of taking in pilgrims.
Queen St. Isabel (Mid-16th cent.) by Unknown authorMuseu Nacional de Machado de Castro
5. Isabel of Portugal, the Holy Queen
As Queen of Portugal from 1282 to 1325, Isabel is one of the most famous and mythicized pilgrims in history. Profoundly devout, she made two pilgrimages to Santiago. The first was in 1325, from Coimbra, accompanied by a caravan of luxury items intended for the saint, among them her actual royal crown. It was possibly the greatest offering to Saint James made by a non-Spanish pilgrim.
Saint Elizabeth of Portugal (18th Century) by UnknownOriginal Source: Museum of Pilgrimage and Santiago
Her second pilgrimage to Santiago was in 1335. It seems she traveled on foot, in an attempt to journey unnoticed, and asked for handouts. She died shortly after returning and was buried in the convent of Santa Clara de Coimbra, which she founded with the gifts that the archbishop Berenguel de Landoira had given her during her first pilgrimage.
Rule of the Brigittine order (1493)Bavarian State Library
6. Saint Birgitta, a mystic Swedish noblewoman
Saint Birgitta, a cultural symbol of Sweden, is considered the great Nordic medieval writer. She traveled to Santiago between 1341 and 1343, before visiting Rome and Jerusalem. Her pilgrimage to Santiago is marked by the numerous visions that occurred among her significant party.
In one of her last visions, her deceased husband appeared before her to remind her that the pilgrimage to Santiago would be one of the six most important things to happen in her life.
7. Margery Kempe, an incredible traveler
This English woman from King's Lynn (Norfolk) is one of the most controversial and charismatic people to ever pass through Santiago. An independent and audacious woman, she had 14 children and, after turning 40, she convinced her husband, John Kempe, of her unwavering devotion as a pilgrim, which must have taken her to a variety of places in her constant travels.
It's during her journey to Santiago that her a special character shone through. She embarked from Bristol in 1417, and, according to her account, spent 14 extremely rejoiceful days in Santiago.
LIFE Photo Collection
8. Edith Wharton, an important figure on the Way in the 1920s
Edith Wharton, one of the most accomplished authors of the beginning of the 20th century, winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for her novel The Age of Innocence, took a pilgrimage to Santiago on two occasions in the 1920s.
Her experiences, which she described in her diaries, were a great source of information that helps us to understand what the St. James Way was like in the 1920s through the eyes of an exceptional traveler for her time.
9. Shirley MacLaine, a pilgrim plus
After playing the unforgettable protagonist in some of Billy Wilder's masterpieces, such as The Apartment and Irma la Douce, Shirley MacLaine voluntarily decided to become a pilgrim. In 1994, she was found traveling along the Way, in amongst the rest of the pilgrims.
The legendary actress began her journey in France to confront a personal crisis. She walked about 20 kilometers a day, chatted with other pilgrims, visited churches and stayed at inns. As a result of this journey, she wrote a book entitled The Way: A Journey of the Spirit, where she described her unique vision of the Way.
10. Kim Nam Hee, an ambassador for South Korea
South Korea isn't exactly just around the corner, more like around the other side of the world… but this Korean writer and her work The Journey of a Woman Alone, in which she describes her experience as a pilgrim on the French Way, has been responsible for the rise in popularity of the Way among South Korean pilgrims.
Nowadays, thousands of her compatriots travel halfway around the world to walk across the Way each season. Following the success of her book, in 2013 the writer participated in a reality TV show with four other Asian pilgrims, an experience which the popular K-Pop group G.O.D. joined in with in September 2018.
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