Parsons, Ed., Medieval Queenship

Abstract

This collection of articles on various subjects concerning Europe's queens, ca. eighth century to ca. sixteenth century, is a valuable contribution to all students: scholars, teachers, and undergraduates alike. Both new and established scholars present a "palette of images" of medieval queens in their roles as mothers, daughters, wive, consorts, regents, rulers, political "insiders," and foreign "outsiders." The geographic range of the articles is broad. Little-studied areas such as medieval Hungary and Denmark are included, as well as the better-known realms of Capetian France and Angevin and Plantagenet England. In both style and content, this is a remarkably consistent scholarly collection. Each contribution emphasizes the complex relationship between family and power that characterized the roles of prominent women in the Middle Ages. The creativity with which some contributors, in particular Janet Nelson and Lois Honeycutt, used non-traditional sources to reconstruct women's royal roles is impressive.