Canon Law and Cloistered Women: Periculoso and its Commentators, 1298-1545

The most thorough examination to date of the landmark decree that mandated strict enclosure of all nuns.

Pope Boniface VIII published a decree in 1298 that transformed long-standing attitudes toward nuns into universal Church law. Referred to as Periculoso, the decree announced that all nuns were to be perpetually cloistered. This volume provides an in-depth study of the watershed legislation. Elizabeth Makowski surveys precedents for Periculoso as well as some of the problems Boniface VIII h…