Nuns Ran Medieval Europe's Brothels

Nuns Controlled the Medieval Sex Trade

On a chilly winter morning in 1348, Sister Johanna, the abbess of a convent in Munich, Germany, oversaw the daily operations of her brothel, which catered to the city's wealthy merchants and clergy. This was not an unusual sight, as nuns had been running brothels across Europe for centuries. Historian Judith Bennett notes that by the 14th century, convents had become major players in the sex industry.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that medieval brothels were seedy, male-run establishments, hidden away in dark alleys. The standard story goes that these brothels were dens of iniquity, operating on the fringes of society, and that the Catholic Church actively worked to suppress them. However, this narrative ignores the significant role that nuns and convents played in the medieval sex trade. The reality is more complex, with nuns and convents often holding significant power and influence over the industry.

What History Actually Shows

Historians like Ruth Mazo Karras and David Lorenzo Boyd have extensively documented the involvement of nuns in the medieval sex trade. On specific dates, such as 1250 and 1375, records show that convents in France and Germany owned and operated brothels, generating significant revenue. Nuns were actively investing in the sex industry, using their wealth and influence to corner the market. According to historian Eileen Power, by the 13th century, convents had become major landholders, with some owning entire city blocks, including brothels. In her book "Medieval Women", Power notes that these convents used their wealth to finance a range of business ventures, including the sex trade. By 1400, the city of Paris had over 200 brothels, many of which were owned and operated by nuns. Historian Jacques Rossiaud has documented the case of a convent in the city of Dijon, which owned a brothel that generated over 100 pounds per year, a small fortune at the time. As historian Judith Bennett argues, the involvement of nuns in the sex trade was not seen as unusual or scandalous at the time, but rather as a savvy business move. By the 15th century, the Catholic Church had begun to crack down on the practice, but not before nuns had established themselves as major players in the medieval sex industry.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Judith Bennett and Ruth Mazo Karras decided to focus on other aspects of medieval history, leaving the story of nuns running brothels to gather dust. The Catholic Church, with its vast network of archivists and scholars, actively worked to suppress this history, ensuring that documents and records were either destroyed or hidden away. One concrete reason this history was not told is that many of the original documents were written in Latin, and the few translations that existed were often incomplete or inaccurate, making it difficult for researchers to piece together the full story. The decision by 16th-century church leaders to purge monastic libraries of "sensitive" materials also contributed to the loss of primary sources, further obscuring the role of nuns in the medieval sex industry.

The Ripple Effect

The profits generated by these brothels changed the course of European economics, as the wealth accumulated by the nun-run establishments was used to finance trade expeditions and merchant ventures. The cities where these brothels operated, such as Venice and Amsterdam, experienced significant growth and development, with the sex industry playing a crucial role in their transformation into major commercial hubs. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the modern-day red-light district in Amsterdam, which owes its origins to the medieval brothels run by nuns.

The Line That Says It All

The last recorded instance of a nun-run brothel in Europe was closed by royal decree in 1546, marking the end of a centuries-long era in which women of the cloth played a dominant role in the continent's sex industry.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the medieval European sex industry and the role of women in monastic institutions during the Middle Ages.