The princess in a cloister: The case of Silesian Piasts (12th-15th centuries)

It should be emphasized that no princess of the Silesian Piasts was sent to a convent against her will, or when she was underage. In fact, the motives why they went there remain unknown. Altogether, of 166 princesses, 44 (26%) chose life in a cloister. Of the above number, the daughters of Upper Silesian princes constituted the majority (33%), with even more of them (40%) from the Opole principality. In most cases, the princesses became members of the Poor Clare community or the Cisterian Order, with only a few of them joining the Norbertan Order or Dominican sisters. A majority of Silesian princesses were promoted to high posts becoming prioresses or abbesses. Lower Silesian princess attained an eminent position more often than Upper Silesian ones. Many of the princesses who lived in the cloisters, worked also for the economic development of the area, contributing to the cloister’s wealth and doing charity work..