Rebecca Abrams

Licoricia of Winchester: Power and Prejudice in Medieval England: The Rise and Fall of a Remarkable Jewish Business Woman

Rebecca Abrams
Licoricia of Winchester: Power and Prejudice in Medieval England: The Rise and Fall of a Remarkable Jewish Business Woman
23 April
1.00pm - 2.00pm
The Shakespeare Room, University of Winchester Business School, West Downs Campus, Romsey Road, Winchester, SO22 5HT

Licoricia of Winchester rose from obscurity to become the most successful female financier in thirteenth century England. Royal favourite, widow, potentate and prisoner, her life spanned seven decades and was filled with dramatic highs and tragic lows. In this inspiring chronicle of an extraordinary woman, Rebecca Abrams tells the story of Licoricia and the Jews of medieval England, set against a backdrop of political unrest and rising antisemitism, opening a window onto a period of English history whose aftershocks linger to this day.

A statue of Licoricia was unveiled in Winchester in 2022, and is situated outside The Arc.