Tudor Queens of EnglandA&C Black, 01 հնվ, 2009 թ. - 264 էջ An intimate and revealing look at the daily lives and responsibilities of the Tudor Queens of England From Elizabeth of York, wife of Henry VII, the first Tudor monarch, to Elizabeth I, her grand-daughter and the last, "The Tudor Queens of England" delves into the secret lives of some of the most colorful and dramatic women in British history. The majority of the fourteen queens considered here, from Catherine de Valois and Elizabeth Woodville to Elizabeth of York, Jane Seymour and Catherine Parr, were consorts, the wives of kings. Although less frequently examined than ruling queens, queen consorts played a crucial and central role within the Royal Court. Their first duty was to bear children and their chastity within marriage had to be above reproach. Any suspicion of sexual misconduct would cast doubt on the legitimacy of their offspring. Three of these women Margaret of Anjou, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard were accused of such conduct, and two were tried and executed. A queen also had to contribute to her husband's royal image. This could be through works of piety or through humble intercession. It could also be through her fecundity because the fathering of many children was a sign of virility and of divine blessing. A queen might also make a tangible contribution to her husband's power with her marriage as the symbol of an international diplomatic agreement. A ruling queen was very different, especially if she was married, insofar as she had to fill the roles of both king and queen. No woman could be both martial and virile, and at the same time submissive and supportive. Mary I solved this problem in a constitutional sense but never at the personal level. Elizabeth I sacrificed motherhood by not marrying. She chose to be mysterious and unattainable "la belle dame sans merci." In later life she used her virginity to symbolize the integrity of her realm and her subjects remained fascinated by her unorthodoxy. How did they behave (in and out of the bedchamber)? How powerful were they as patrons of learning and the arts? What religious views did they espouse and why? How successful and influential were they? From convenient accessory to sovereign lady the role of queen was critical, colorful, and often dramatic. "The Tudor Queens of England" is the first book of its kind to intimately examine these questions and more. |
Բովանդակություն
Image and Reality | 1 |
Catherine de Valois | 13 |
Margaret of Anjou | 23 |
Elizabeth Woodville | 43 |
Elizabeth of York | 71 |
Catherine of Aragon and Anne of Cleves | 87 |
Anne Boleyn Jane Seymour and Catherine Parr | 113 |
Catherine Howard | 139 |
Jane Grey and Mary Stuart | 155 |
Queen Mary I | 187 |
Elizabeth I | 209 |
Queens Since 1603 | 227 |
Notes | 235 |
Additional Reading Suggestions | 249 |
253 | |
Այլ խմբագրություններ - View all
Common terms and phrases
already Anne appeared attempt became become Boleyn brother Catherine Charles child circumstances claim clear consort continued Council course court created Crown daughter death Despite died Duke Earl early Edward effect Elizabeth England English event evidence expected fact father favour February force France French hand happened heir Henry Henry’s household husband intention issue James Jane January John July June King King’s knew known Lady lands later Letters lived London Lord March Margaret marriage married Mary Mary’s matter mind months mother moved named needed negotiations never November October parliament peace perhaps Philip political position Prince probably Protestant Queen reason remained respect Richard role royal Scotland seems sense sister soon status succession taken Thomas took treaty turned wanted Warwick wife woman women York young