ENGLAND: AGE OF QUEENS

Queens and Kings: Medieval to Early Modern

Robert Ehrlich

Fall 2014

This Course

First of three projected semesters on Tudors and Stuarts using as background videos A History of England from the Tudors to the Stuarts with Professor Robert Bucholz

– Age of Shakespeare (Elizabeth to James I)– The Stuarts

Background

English ideas of self government, religious toleration (and intolerance) and individual rights that develop during this period influence the founders of the Untied States.

Background – 14th Century

The Black Death• The significant (33-50%) loss of population

was individually devastating but• The survivors saw increased demand for

labor resulting in the collapse of the feudal system

• Urbanization

Background -14th Century

• “Hundred Years War” with France• Edward III has too many surviving sons

Background – 15th Century

• End of “Hundred Years War”• Blame for the end: Weakness of Henry VI• All those descendants of Edward III vie for

power• Triumph of an outsider: Henry VII

Medieval Kings

Aesthetic provisions necessary in royalty. Need to put on a show. Role for Queen in that show.

Medieval Kings• Military leadership

– Personal– Alliances– Motivational

• Defensive – protective• Expansive – provide opportunities

Medieval Kings• Defender of the faith

– Endow churches & monasteries– Clerical appointments– Fight heretics– Crusades

Medieval Kings• Administrative and Judicial Leadership

– Appointment of proper officials – Fair taxation

• Choose wise advisors

Medieval Kings

• Succession– Father legitimate male children– Female children as diplomatic

tools

York Claim

Edward III

Clarence

Philippa Mortimer

Roger M.

Anne M.

York

Cambridge

Richard, York

Edward IV

Richard III

Selection of a Queen• Diplomacy - Connections• Public image – Social

Status• Looks

– Appearance of fertility– (blondes preferred)

• Virginity• Love (literary notion)

Medieval Queens• Succession

– Bear male children• Child rearing

– Wet nurses– Tutors– Councils

Medieval Queens

• Ritual– Marriage, coronation,

• Domestic Affairs– Intercessor– Patron

Medieval Queens

• Regency or Guardianship– In King’s absence– For minor children

Medieval Queens

• But not sovereign!

Also scripture saith, woo be that regynWhere ye a kyng unwyse or innocent;Moreovyr it ys right a great abusion,A womman of a land to be regent…

Political poem critical of the role of Queen Margaret, consort of Henry VI

Medieval Queens• But not sovereign!

The Proposition. To promote a Woman to bear rule, superiority, dominion or empire above any realm, nation or city is

A. Repugnant to nature.

B. Contumely to GOD.

C. The subversion of good order, of all equity and justice.

The First Blast of the Trumpet against the monstrous regiment of Women. John Knox, 1558

Salic Law

Salic Law

• Origin with Clovis (d. 611)

But of Salic land no portion of the inheritance shall come to a woman: but the whole inheritance of the land shall come to the male sex.

• Valois revival

Early Modern Queens & Regents

Isabella I of Castile (1474-1504)

Regents of France– Louise of Savoy (1515; 1525-26) – Marie de Medicis (1560-1574)

Influential (1575-1589)

Governors of the Netherlands

Margaret of Austria (1507-1515; 1519-1530)

Mary of Hungary (1531-1555)

Margaret of Parma (1559-1567)

English Strategies in Marriage

• Alliance or at least truce• Prevent aggression (i.e. against Gascony)• Young brides to adapt to the host culture

Queens from France• Richard II – (2) Isabel of Valois (age 6)• Henry IV – Joan of Navarre• Henry V – Katherine of Valois• Henry VI – Margaret of Anjou

– Dowry of Minorca and Majorca (not really controlled by René of Anjou)

– Give up claims to France

Marriage of Edward IV• Elizabeth Wydeville• Condemned by Richard III’s Parliament

– No banns– In a profane place; Not openly in front of a

Church; Contrary to the Custom of the Church• Declare all offspring illegitimate

– (Edward V, Richard of York, Elizabeth of York)

María of Castile Queen of the Crown of Aragon.

• Granddaughter of John of Gaunt• Husband, King Alfonso V (1416-58)

involved in Naples• Lloctinent general (Lieutenant General) of

Catalunya• Governed 1420 to 1423 and 1432 to 1453

The Remença crisis

• Serfs asked for redemption– Allowed to from syndicates to buy freedom

• Queen ordered manumission• Fought by nobles and state• On appeal, Alfonso revoked manumission• María resigned her lieutenancy

The First Effective Queen RegnantQueen of Castile

Isabella the Christian

Isabella of Castile

Ju a n a (Jo a n a)(1 4 6 2-1 5 3 0)

H e n ry IV th e im p o te n t(1 4 2 5-1 4 7 4)

Jo a na

Isa b e lla o f C a s tile(1 4 5 1-1 5 0 4)

A lfo n so(1 4 5 4-1 4 6 8)

Isa b e lla o f P ortu g a l

Jo h n II o f Ca s tile(1 4 0 5-1 4 5 4)

?

Isabella’s English Roots

Edward III

John of Gaunt

Catherine of Lancasterm. Henry III of Castile

John II

Isabella

Maria of Castile