Margery Kempe was one of the most remarkable women of medieval England, remembered for her spiritual visions and extensive travels. Living in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, she defied expectations of her time by journeying far beyond her hometown of King’s Lynn in Norfolk. Her pilgrimages, detailed inThe Book of Margery Kempeconsidered the first autobiography in English took her across Europe and into the Holy Land. These travels were not for trade or exploration but were rooted in her intense religious devotion, and they reflected both the spiritual culture of the medieval period and the unique determination of a woman who heard a divine calling.
Margery Kempe’s Early Life and Motivation for Travel
Margery Kempe was born around 1373 in Bishop’s Lynn (now King’s Lynn), Norfolk, England. She came from a well-off family, and her father served as mayor and Member of Parliament. Despite being married and a mother of 14 children, Margery began experiencing vivid religious visions after the birth of her first child. She described seeing Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary and believed she was called to live a chaste and holy life, even within her marriage.
Her mystical experiences, combined with a desire to repent for past sins, led her to undertake a series of spiritual journeys. Traveling as a pilgrim was common during medieval times, but few women did so, especially without a male escort. Her boldness and persistence challenged the gender norms of her era and often led to suspicion and criticism. Nevertheless, she pressed on, compelled by faith and the belief that her journeys would bring her closer to God.
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
One of Margery Kempe’s most ambitious journeys was her pilgrimage to Jerusalem. In 1413, she left England and traveled to the Holy Land, a destination held sacred by Christians as the place where Jesus lived, preached, was crucified, and resurrected. Her route took her through several major cities and ports, requiring both sea and land travel over long distances and treacherous terrain.
Key stops on the way to Jerusalem included:
- Venice, Italy A major maritime hub where she joined other pilgrims.
- Ragusa (now Dubrovnik, Croatia) A common port of call for ships bound for the eastern Mediterranean.
- Jaffa (in present-day Israel) The port closest to Jerusalem, where pilgrims disembarked.
From Jaffa, Margery traveled by foot and donkey to Jerusalem. There, she visited holy sites such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Golgotha, and the Mount of Olives. Her emotional and often ecstatic reactions to these sacred locations were characteristic of her deeply felt spirituality. She described weeping uncontrollably and having intense religious experiences at the holy sites, behaviors that puzzled and sometimes annoyed her fellow travelers.
European Pilgrimages
In addition to her journey to Jerusalem, Margery Kempe traveled extensively within Europe, visiting important Christian shrines and churches. Her travels took her across the continent, sometimes alone and sometimes in the company of other pilgrims.
Some of the most significant locations she visited include:
- Santiago de Compostela, Spain The shrine of Saint James the Greater, one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in medieval Europe.
- Rome, Italy The heart of the Roman Catholic Church, where Margery visited churches, shrines, and the tombs of saints.
- Aachen, Germany Home to relics and a major site for medieval pilgrims.
- Canterbury, England The shrine of Saint Thomas Becket, frequently visited by English pilgrims, including Margery herself on multiple occasions.
While in Rome, Margery stayed in religious communities and tried to gain approval from church authorities for her mystic experiences. She also encountered hostility and skepticism, especially because of her unusual behavior loud weeping, visions, and preaching, which were often interpreted as signs of madness or heresy.
Return to England and Further Journeys
After her foreign pilgrimages, Margery Kempe returned to England and continued traveling domestically to various religious sites. She visited York, Walsingham, and other prominent shrines and monasteries. She also faced numerous legal challenges and ecclesiastical hearings because of her preaching, which was considered inappropriate for a woman by many clergy of the time.
Despite these hardships, she never wavered in her mission. She defended her faith and visions, insisting on their divine origin. Her encounters with bishops, monks, and inquisitors were a testament to her perseverance. She saw her travels as a living form of devotion, an embodied expression of her union with Christ.
The Significance of Margery Kempe’s Travels
Margery Kempe’s travels were more than physical journeys they were spiritual quests that reflected the religious dynamics of medieval Europe. Pilgrimage was viewed as a form of penance and sanctification, and Margery took this belief to heart. Her travels allowed her to engage with the sacred geography of Christianity, bringing her into contact with relics, sacred spaces, and fellow pilgrims from different regions.
Equally important is the way her journeys reflect her agency as a medieval woman. Though she lived in a deeply patriarchal society, she claimed her right to travel, preach, and seek God on her own terms. Her journeys are documented in her autobiography, dictated to scribes because she was illiterate. This book not only preserves a unique female voice from the Middle Ages but also serves as a record of the places she visited and the experiences she had there.
Legacy of a Female Pilgrim
Today, Margery Kempe is recognized as a pioneering figure in both religious and literary history. Her extensive travels to Jerusalem, Rome, Santiago, and throughout England highlight her extraordinary dedication to her spiritual path. While many pilgrims of her time remain nameless, Margery’s legacy endures thanks to her boldness in documenting her life and faith.
Her book continues to be studied by scholars and readers interested in medieval history, women’s studies, theology, and literature. The places she visited are still known for their religious significance, and her pilgrimages provide insight into the medieval mindset, where travel was deeply entwined with faith and personal transformation.
Margery Kempe’s life was shaped by travel travel not for commerce or conquest, but for divine connection. From the streets of Jerusalem to the cathedrals of Rome and the roads of medieval England, she followed a path guided by visions and unwavering belief. Her journeys reflect a vibrant religious world and a woman who, despite social restrictions, stepped beyond the boundaries of her time. Margery Kempe remains a symbol of spiritual courage and one of the earliest recorded female travelers in European history.