Norman to Early Plantagenet Consorts: Power, Influence, and Dynasty (Queenship and Power)

This book examines the emergence of the queen consort in medieval England, beginning with the pre-Conquest era and ending with death of Margaret of France, second wife of Edward I, in 1307. Though many of the figures in this volumes are well known, such as Eleanor of Aquitaine and Eleanor of Castille, the chapters here are unique in the equal consideration given to the tenures of the lesser known consorts, including: Adeliza of Louvain, second wife of Henry I; Margaret of France, wife of Henry the Young King; and even Isabella of Gloucester, the first wife of King John. These innovative and thematic biographies highlight the evolution of the office of the queen and the visible roles that consorts played, which were integral to the creation of the identity of early English monarchy. This volume and its companions reveal the changing nature of English consortship from the Norman Conquest to today. Acknowledgements 8 Praise for Norman to Early Plantagenet Consorts 9 Contents 10 Notes on Contributors 12 List of Figures 16 List of Tables 17 Preface 18 Chapter 1: The Emergence of the Queen Consort in England, 1066–1307: Power, Influence, Dynasty 21 Governance and Queens Consort 23 Visibility 35 Chapter 2: Identifying Queenship in Pre-Conquest England 37 The Evolution of the Early English Consort 42 Political Agency and the Lifecycle of Queenship I: Eadgifu and Ælfthryth 53 Political Agency and the Lifecycle of Queenship II: Emma of Normandy and Edith of Wessex 60 Chapter 3: Mathilda of Flanders: Innovator 66 Marriage and Family 67 Governance and Queenship 70 Royal Justice: The Cases 72 Queenly Intercession versus Juridical Authority 76 The Innovator 84 Chapter 4: Matilda of Scotland: Peacemaker and Perfect Princess 86 Early Life, Education, and Marriage 87 Peaceweaver, Patron, and Politician 92 Death, Burial, and Legacy 100 Chapter 5: Adeliza of Louvain: Patron 102 A New Queen of England 103 Patron of Cultural and Social Memory 105 Lady of Arundel 112 Political Mediator 114 Shaping a Legacy 117 Chapter 6: Matilda of Boulogne: Indispensable Partner 118 Heiress of Boulogne: Matilda’s Early Life and Youth 119 From Curiales to Rex and Regina 122 Stephen’s Wise and Good Queen 125 Peritus et Virtus 127 Indispensable Partner 134 Chapter 7: Eleanor of Aquitaine: The Art of Governing 138 The Emergence of Influence 140 Motherhood, Agency, and Rebellion 145 Influence and Agency in Widowhood 150 The Legacy of Authority 155 Chapter 8: Margaret of France: Conciliator Queen of England and Hungary 157 The French Royal Princess as Conciliator 158 Margaret the Junior Queen of England and the Rebellion of 1173–1174 163 Queen Margaret’s Life with Henry the Young King 166 Margaret as Dowager Queen of England 170 Power and Influence: Margaret the Queen of Hungary 172 Chapter 9: Berengaria of Navarre: Overshadowed Consort 176 Early Life and Childhood in Navarre 177 Queen of England 178 Dowager Queen 186 Lady of Le Mans 190 The Power of a Consort and Dowager Queen 194 Chapter 10: Isabella of Gloucester: Heiress, Lord, Forgotten Consort 196 Family, Dynasty, and Inheritance 198 Countess of Gloucester and Mortain 201 Lordship Evidenced 203 Intercessor 206 A Consort, But Not a Queen 207 Isabella’s Final Years: 1200–1217 209 Chapter 11: Isabella of Angoulême: The Vanished Queen? 213 The Vanished Queen? 215 Beginnings: Family, Inheritance, and Poitevin Politics 217 The Lusignans, Betrothal, and Marriage 219 A Public Queen: 1200–1207 221 A Queen and Her Dynasty, 1207–1217 224 Comtesse-Reine 228 Death and Commemoration 230 Chapter 12: Eleanor of Provence: Caring Consort and Controversial Queen 232 Background and Early Years as a Royal Bride 233 Factionalism: Savoyards, Lusignans, and the English Aristocracy 237 Politics: Regency, International Diplomacy, and the Threat of Baronial Reform 241 “The Sower of ... Discord”: Eleanor and the Second Barons’ War 245 The Twilight Years: Family, Spirituality, and Legacy 249 Chapter 13: Eleanor of Castile: A Consort of Contradictions 252 Birth and Marriage 254 A Dutiful Queen: Childbearing, Diplomacy, and Politics 255 Crossing the Line: Landholding and Finance 261 Death 268 A Complex and Nuanced Queen 269 Chapter 14: Margaret of France: Enigmatic Consort 271 Mother of the Nation 273 Intercession 277 Estates 279 Affinity 281 Queen Dowager 285 The Enigmatic Queen 290 Chapter 15: Epilogue: Shifting Sands and Changing Lands 292 Shifting Sands 295 Changing Lands 307 Passing the Torch 309 Index 311