Aethelfled, a warrior queen who crushed the Vikings, Jadwiga, the first Queen Regent of Poland and Hildegard of Bingen, an 11th-century polymath abbess who became a 20th-century feminist icon and saint. Art and cultural historian Dr Janina Ramirez joins Dan on today's episode to tell the stories of three incredible medieval women. They all ruled, influenced and changed history but are often left out of the narrative of the Middle Ages.

Janina's new best-selling book 'Femina: A New History of the Middle Ages, Through the Women Written Out of It' is out now.

Produced by Mariana Des Forges and mixed by Dougal Patmore

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