The Princely Court : Medieval Courts and Culture in North-West Europe, 1270-1380

In this fascinating new book, Malcolm Vale sets out to recapture the splendour of the court culture of western Europe in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Exploring the century or so between the death of St Louis and the rise of Burgundian power in the Low Countries, he illuminates a period in the history of princes and court life previously overshadowed by that of the courts of the dukes of Burgundy. Taking in subjects as diverse as art patronage and gambling, hunting and devotional religion, Malcolm Vale rediscovers a richness and abundance of artistic, literary, and musical life. He shows how, despite the pressures of political fragmentation, unrest, and a nascent awareness of national identity, a common culture emerged in English, French, and Dutch court societies at this time. The result is a ground-breaking re-evaluation of the nature and role of the court in European history and a celebration of a forgotten age. Contents......Page 9 List of Tables......Page 11 List of Figures......Page 13 List of Appendices......Page 14 List of Maps......Page 16 List of Plates......Page 17 List of Abbreviations......Page 20 Introduction......Page 21 PART ONE: The Material Foundations of Court Life......Page 33 1. Court and Household......Page 35 1. The household and its structures......Page 54 2. Household ordinances......Page 62 3. Hall, chamber, and household......Page 76 1. Economics and accountancy......Page 89 2. Daily needs and expenditure......Page 100 3. Liveries: status, function, and expenditure......Page 113 4. The Travelling Court......Page 156 1. Transport and logistics......Page 157 2. Residences and lodgings......Page 187 PART TWO: Culture......Page 197 1. Luxury, display, and the arts......Page 199 2. Courtly pursuits......Page 204 3. Ritual and ceremony......Page 234 1. Court art and court style......Page 281 2. The structures of court patronage......Page 294 3. A francophone culture?......Page 334 Conclusion......Page 347 Tables and figures......Page 353 Appendices......Page 397 Maps......Page 429 Bibliography......Page 435 A......Page 459 B......Page 460 C......Page 461 E......Page 463 F......Page 464 H......Page 465 I......Page 466 L......Page 467 M......Page 469 P......Page 470 R......Page 471 S......Page 472 V......Page 473 Z......Page 474 In This New Book, Malcolm Vale Sets Out To Recapture The Splendour Of The Court Culture Of Western Europe In The Thirteenth And Fourteenth Centuries. Exploring The Century Or So Between The Death Of St. Louis And The Rise Of Burgundian Power In The Low Countries, He Illuminates A Period In The History Of Princes And Court Life Previously Overshadowed By The Courts Of The Dukes Of Burgundy. Taking In Subjects As Diverse As Art Patronage And Gambling, Hunting And Devotional Religion, Malcolm Vale Rediscovers A Richness And Abundance Of Artistic, Literary, And Musical Life. He Shows How, Despite The Pressures Of Political Fragmentation, Unrest, And A Nascent Awareness Of National Identity, A Common Culture Began To Emerge In English, French, Flemish, And Dutch Court Societies At This Time. The Result Is Both A Ground-breaking Re-evaluation Of The Nature And Role Of The Court In European History And A Celebration Of A Forgotten Age.--jacket. Pt. 1. The Material Foundations Of Court Life. 1. Court And Household. 2. Organization And Structures. 3. Consumption And Expenditure. 4. The Travelling Court -- Pt. 2. Culture. 5. Court Life And Court Culture. Malcolm Vale. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [383]-406) And Index. Oxford University Press, USA Contents 9 List of Tables 11 List of Figures 13 List of Appendices 14 List of Maps 16 List of Plates 17 List of Abbreviations 20 Introduction 21 PART ONE: The Material Foundations of Court Life 33 1. Court and Household 35 2. Organization and Structures 54 1. The household and its structures 54 2. Household ordinances 62 3. Hall, chamber, and household 76 3. Consumption and Expenditure 89 1. Economics and accountancy 89 2. Daily needs and expenditure 100 3. Liveries: status, function, and expenditure 113 4. The Travelling Court 156 1. Transport and logistics 157 2. Residences and lodgings 187 PART TWO: Culture 197 5. Court Life and Court Culture 199 1. Luxury, display, and the arts 199 2. Courtly pursuits 204 3. Ritual and ceremony 234 6. Art at Court: Investment in Culture? 281 1. Court art and court style 281 2. The structures of court patronage 294 3. A francophone culture? 334 Conclusion 347 Tables and figures 353 Appendices 397 Maps 429 Bibliography 435 Index 459 A 459 B 460 C 461 D 463 E 463 F 464 G 465 H 465 I 466 J 467 K 467 L 467 M 469 N 470 O 470 P 470 Q 471 R 471 S 472 T 473 U 473 V 473 W 474 X 474 Y 474 Z 474 ISBN-13:,9780198205296 In this engaging work, Malcolm Vale sets out to recapture the splendor of court culture in Western Europe during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Exploring the time between the death of St Louis and the rise of Burgundian power in the Low Countries, he illuminates a period in the history of princes and court life previously overshadowed by that of the courts of the dukes of Burgundy. The result is a fascinating evaluation of the nature and role of the court in European history, and a celebration of a forgotten age. In this text, the author sets out to recapture the court culture of western Europe in the 13th and 14th centuries. He shows how, despite the pressures of political fragmentation and a nascent awareness of national identity, a common culture emerged