Forgotten Queens in Medieval and Early Modern Europe : Political Agency, Myth-Making, and Patronage

Forgotten Queens in Medieval and Early Modern Europe examines queens dowager and queens consort who have disappeared from history or have been deeply misunderstood in modern historical treatment. Divided into eleven chapters, this book covers queenship from 1016 to 1800, demonstrating the influence of queens in different aspects of monarchy over eight centuries and furthering our knowledge of the roles and challenges that they faced. It also promotes a deeper understanding of the methods of power and patronage for women who were not queens, many of which have since become mythologized into what historians have wanted them to be. The chronological organisation of the book, meanwhile, allows the reader to see more clearly how these forgotten queens are related by the power, agency, and patronage they displayed, despite the mythologization to which they have all been subjected. Offering a broad geographical coverage and providing a comparison of queenship across a range of disciplines, such as religious history, art history, and literature, Forgotten Queens in Medieval and Early Modern Europe is ideal for students and scholars of pre-modern queenship and of medieval and early modern history courses more generally. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 Table of Contents 8 List of figures 10 Acknowledgements 11 List of contributors 12 1. Introduction 16 Notes 20 References 20 2. The power of the mythological past: Reader response to Queen Gwendolen and the thirty-three daughters of King Dioclesian in English histories 22 Reading the past 24 Historical context: the Elizabethan and Jacobean significance 27 Conclusion: fading from history 28 Notes 29 References 34 3. Becoming Anglo-Norman: The women of the House of Wessex in the century after the Norman Conquest 38 Dramatis personae 49 Notes 50 References 53 4. Berengaria of Navarre and Joanna of Sicily as crusading queens: Manipulation, reputation, and agency 56 Ambroise, Ibn-al’Athi r, and Richard de Templo 58 Bride and widow: life-cycle events in medieval chronicles 59 Hostages, or opportunities to exercise power? 63 Childless queens: the loss of their legacies? 65 Conclusion 67 Notes 68 References 72 5. Power, patronage, and politics: Maria of Navarre, queen of the Crown of Aragon (r. 1338–1347) 75 The marriage negotiations 76 Appearance and wealth as part of Maria’s political agency 77 Piety and patronage 79 Exercising political power through motherhood 80 Conclusion 83 Notes 84 References 89 6. Beyond patronage: Richard Jonas’s The Byrth of Mankynde as counsel to Queen Katherine Howard 93 Katherine Howard’s education and background 94 Katherine Howard among the six consorts of Henry VIII 95 Patronage as a means to counsel 97 Conclusion 103 Notes 104 References 107 7. Katarina Jagiellonica and Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow: Power, piety, and patronage 109 Monarchy in the Scandinavian kingdoms 110 The potential role of a queen in Scandinavia 111 The authoritarian view of a woman’s role 111 The circumstances of the marriages 112 Sophie and the Danish court: influence and symbolism 114 Katarina in Sweden: problems and priorities 115 Religion and patronage 118 The queens and their families 119 Becoming a queen dowager 120 Conclusion 121 Notes 121 References 125 8. Elisabeth of Austria and Marie-Elisabeth of France: Represented and remembered 129 Elisabeth: the perfect match 130 Praise for the two princesses at the evil French court 132 The widow and the orphan: forgotten but loved? 135 Conclusion 137 Notes 137 References 141 9. Catherine of Braganza’s relationship with her Catholic household 144 A foreign queen 145 Anti-Catholic sentiment in English culture and politics 149 Catherine’s household and the threat of recusancy 150 Conclusion 156 Notes 157 References 160 10. Queenly afterimages: The visual and historical legacy of Marie Leszczinska 164 Marie Leszczinska as queen of France 167 History, genre, and gender 170 Thinking small 172 Moving pictures 175 Looking at women looking at Marie Leszczinska 177 Conclusion 182 Notes 183 References 188 11. The eagle eye of the Habsburg family on the Kingdom of Naples: Lights and shadows of Queen Maria Carolina at court 191 Learning the Austrian art of ruling 192 Maria Carolina’s entry into Naples: from consort to queen regnant 195 Notes 200 References 204 Index 207 Forgotten Queens In Medieval And Early Modern Europe Examines Queens Dowager And Queens Consort Who Have Disappeared From History Or Have Been Deeply Misunderstood In Modern Historical Treatment. Divided Into Eleven Chapters, This Book Covers Queenship From 1016 To 1800, Demonstrating The Influence Of Queens In Different Aspects Of Monarchy Over Eight Centuries And Furthering Our Knowledge Of The Roles And Challenges That They Faced. It Is Ideal For Students And Scholars Of Pre-modern Queenship And Of Medieval And Early Modern History Courses More Generally.--provided By Publisher. Introduction / Valerie Schutte And Estelle Paranque / The Power Of The Mythological Past : Reader Response To Queen Gwendolen And The Thirty-three Daughters Of King Diocletian In English Histories / Andrea Nichols -- Berengaria Of Navarre And Joanna Of Sicily As Crusading Queens : Manipulation, Reputation And Agency / Gabrielle Storey / Becoming Anglo-norman : The Women Of The House Of Wessex In The Century After The Norman Conquest / Lois Huneycutt / Power, Patronage, And Politics: Maria Of Navarre As Queen Of The Crown Of Aragon (1338-1347) / Lledó Ruiz Domingo -- Beyond Patronage: Richard Jonas's The Byrth Of Mankynde As Counsel To Queen Katherine Howard / Valerie Schutte -- Katerina Jagellonica And Sophie Of Mecklenburg-güstrow : Power, Piety, And Patronage / Sybil Jack -- Elisabeth Of Austria And Marie-elisabeth Of France : Represented And Remembered / Estelle Paranque -- Queen Catherine Of Braganza's Relationship With Her Catholic Household In Restoration England / Eilish Gregory -- Queenly Afterimages : The Visual And Historical Legacy Of Marie Leszczinska / Jennifer Germann -- The Eagle Eye Of The Habsburg Family On The Kingdom Of Naples : Lights And Shadows Of Queen Maria Carolina At Court / Cinzia Recca Edited By Valerie Schutte And Estelle Paranque. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.