Queenship and Political Power in Medieval and Early Modern Spain
Unlike empresses in Germany and queens in England and France, the lives and political careers of most Iberian queens remain largely unknown to non-specialists. In this collection, Theresa Earenfight brings together new research on medieval and early modern Spanish queens that highlights the distinctive political culture that resulted in forms of queenship similar to, yet also substantially different from, that of northern Europe. The essays consider three aspects of queenship and politics: the institutional foundations and practice of politics, the politics of religion and religious devotion, and the literary and artistic representations of queenship and power. Late medieval queens, because they often occupied prominent and powerful offices such as the regency in Castile and Portugal and the Lieutenancy in the Crown of Aragon, exemplify a unique form of queenship that can best be described as a political partnership. Habsburg queens and empresses, often excluded from such official political roles, were less publicly visible but their power as partner to the king, although shrouded, remains potent. Their political careers were the result of two forces: first, military circumstances brought about by territorial expansion, conquest, and second, a political culture that did not explicitly prohibit queens from active participation in the governance of the realm. The essays in this collection-by both newer and well established scholars-demonstrate the range and depth of current research on Iberian queenship, and prompt a re-examination of long-held assumptions about women and the exercise of power in pre-modern Spain.
"1128366631"
Queenship and Political Power in Medieval and Early Modern Spain
Unlike empresses in Germany and queens in England and France, the lives and political careers of most Iberian queens remain largely unknown to non-specialists. In this collection, Theresa Earenfight brings together new research on medieval and early modern Spanish queens that highlights the distinctive political culture that resulted in forms of queenship similar to, yet also substantially different from, that of northern Europe. The essays consider three aspects of queenship and politics: the institutional foundations and practice of politics, the politics of religion and religious devotion, and the literary and artistic representations of queenship and power. Late medieval queens, because they often occupied prominent and powerful offices such as the regency in Castile and Portugal and the Lieutenancy in the Crown of Aragon, exemplify a unique form of queenship that can best be described as a political partnership. Habsburg queens and empresses, often excluded from such official political roles, were less publicly visible but their power as partner to the king, although shrouded, remains potent. Their political careers were the result of two forces: first, military circumstances brought about by territorial expansion, conquest, and second, a political culture that did not explicitly prohibit queens from active participation in the governance of the realm. The essays in this collection-by both newer and well established scholars-demonstrate the range and depth of current research on Iberian queenship, and prompt a re-examination of long-held assumptions about women and the exercise of power in pre-modern Spain.
41.49 In Stock
Queenship and Political Power in Medieval and Early Modern Spain

Queenship and Political Power in Medieval and Early Modern Spain

by Theresa Earenfight (Editor)
Queenship and Political Power in Medieval and Early Modern Spain

Queenship and Political Power in Medieval and Early Modern Spain

by Theresa Earenfight (Editor)

eBook

$41.49  $54.99 Save 25% Current price is $41.49, Original price is $54.99. You Save 25%.

Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
WANT A NOOK?  Explore Now

Related collections and offers


Overview

Unlike empresses in Germany and queens in England and France, the lives and political careers of most Iberian queens remain largely unknown to non-specialists. In this collection, Theresa Earenfight brings together new research on medieval and early modern Spanish queens that highlights the distinctive political culture that resulted in forms of queenship similar to, yet also substantially different from, that of northern Europe. The essays consider three aspects of queenship and politics: the institutional foundations and practice of politics, the politics of religion and religious devotion, and the literary and artistic representations of queenship and power. Late medieval queens, because they often occupied prominent and powerful offices such as the regency in Castile and Portugal and the Lieutenancy in the Crown of Aragon, exemplify a unique form of queenship that can best be described as a political partnership. Habsburg queens and empresses, often excluded from such official political roles, were less publicly visible but their power as partner to the king, although shrouded, remains potent. Their political careers were the result of two forces: first, military circumstances brought about by territorial expansion, conquest, and second, a political culture that did not explicitly prohibit queens from active participation in the governance of the realm. The essays in this collection-by both newer and well established scholars-demonstrate the range and depth of current research on Iberian queenship, and prompt a re-examination of long-held assumptions about women and the exercise of power in pre-modern Spain.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781351907217
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Publication date: 03/02/2017
Series: Women and Gender in the Early Modern World
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 240
File size: 4 MB

About the Author

Theresa Earenfight is Associate Professor of History at Seattle University.

Table of Contents

Contents: Preface: Part I The Practical Limits of Partnership: Unwilling partners: conflict and ambition in the marriage of Peter II of Aragon and Marie de Montpellier, Elizabeth Haluska-Rausch; The many roles of the medieval queen: some examples from Castile, Joseph F. O'Callaghan; Absent kings: queens as political partners in the medieval crown of Aragon, Theresa Earenfight. Part II Practising the Politics of Religion: Defending their Jewish subjects: Elionor of Sicily, Maria de Luna, and the Jews of Morvedre, Mark Meyerson; Spirit and force: politics, public and private in the reign of Maria de Luna (1396-1406), Núria Silleras-Fernández; The queen and the master: Catalina of Lancaster and the military orders, Ana Echevarria-Arsuaga. Part III Representing the Politics of Queenship: Royal portraits: representations of queenship in the 13th-century Catalan chronicles, Marta VanLandingham; Isabel of Castile (1451-1504), her self-representation and its context, Peggy Liss; Choices and consequences: the construction of Isabel de Portugal's image, Jorge Sebastián Lozano; Conspicuous in her absence: Mariana of Austria, Juan José of Austria, and the representation of her power, Eleanor Goodman. Bibliography; Index.
From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews