Queenship and Revolution in Early Modern Europe: Henrietta Maria and Marie Antoinette (Queenship and Power)

Queen Marie Antoinette, wife of King Louis XVI of France and Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I of England were two of the most notorious queens in European history. They both faced accusations that they had transgressed social, gender and regional norms, and attempted to defend themselves against negative reactions to their behavior. Each queen engaged with the debates of her time concerning the place of women within their families, religion, politics, the public sphere and court culture and attempted to counter criticism of her foreign origins and political influence. The impeachment of Henrietta Maria in 1643 and trial and execution of Marie Antoinette in 1793 were also trials of monarchical government that shaped the English Civil Wars and French Revolution. "Though separated by over a century, Queens Henrietta Maria and Marie Antoinette bear striking similarities as historical figures: both women lived through periods of violent revolution in which insurgent regimes specifically targeted and undermined them in order to discredit the monarchy and strengthen claims to legitimate rule. This novel comparative study explores how these queens perceived their roles as wives, mothers, and heads of royal households, thus providing new insights into the political significance of royal women in Early Modern Europe, the evolution of court culture and the public sphere, and changing ideas of marriage and family"-- Provided by publisher Front Matter....Pages i-xii Introduction: The Queen Versus the People....Pages 1-14 Education, Example, and Expectations....Pages 15-47 Governing the Queen’s Household....Pages 49-84 Wife of the King....Pages 85-120 Mother to the Royal Children....Pages 121-153 The English Civil Wars and the French Revolution....Pages 155-191 Conclusion: The Legacy of Two Queens....Pages 193-201 Back Matter....Pages 203-273 Cover 1 Series 2 Title 6 Copyright 7 Dedication 8 Contents 10 Acknowledgments 12 Introduction: The Queen versus the People 14 1 Education, Example, and Expectations 28 2 Governing the Queen’s Household 61 3 Wife of the King 97 4 Mother to the Royal Children 133 5 The English Civil Wars and the French Revolution 166 Conclusion: The Legacy of Two Queens 203 Notes 212 Bibliography 255 Index 272 "Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I of England, and Queen Marie Antoinette, wife of King Louis XVI of France, were two of the most notorious queens in European history. Their reputations were contested during the English Civil Wars and French Revolution, respectively"-- Provided by publisher