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Financing Queenship in Late Fifteenth Century England
Language:
English
Published/Copyright:
2025
About this book
"Seah's important book richly documents and deftly analyzes the complex household economies of three fifteenth-century queens consort of England who lived during a period of political and economic upheaval. This book, based on impressive meticulous research, is more than just a much-needed methodological model for studying queenly finances that fills a gap in the historiography of queenship. It is a powerful study of the intrinsic worth of a queen." Theresa Earenfight, Professor Emerita of History, Seattle University.
Late medieval queens required considerable economic and financial resources, to enable them to dispense patronage, exercise power and influence, and establish and maintain political and social networks. This book examines the nature and usage of these resources, via an in-depth study of the reigns of three queens consort from the second half of the fifteenth century in England - Margaret of Anjou, Elizabeth Woodville and Elizabeth of York - considering how the queens were supported in material terms, and their impact on the economic landscape of the period. It surveys in detail the economic assets available to these queens, including dower lands, monetary and non-monetary grants, and queens' gold, before moving on to a discussion of two major entities - households and affinities - which they needed to maintain. It both sheds light on individual queens and on broader questions of authority and agency in late-medieval English queenship.
Late medieval queens required considerable economic and financial resources, to enable them to dispense patronage, exercise power and influence, and establish and maintain political and social networks. This book examines the nature and usage of these resources, via an in-depth study of the reigns of three queens consort from the second half of the fifteenth century in England - Margaret of Anjou, Elizabeth Woodville and Elizabeth of York - considering how the queens were supported in material terms, and their impact on the economic landscape of the period. It surveys in detail the economic assets available to these queens, including dower lands, monetary and non-monetary grants, and queens' gold, before moving on to a discussion of two major entities - households and affinities - which they needed to maintain. It both sheds light on individual queens and on broader questions of authority and agency in late-medieval English queenship.
Author / Editor information
Contributor: Michele L C Seah
MICHELE L. C. SEAH is a late medieval and early modern historian, affiliated with the University of Newcastle, Australia.
Reviews
Seah's important book richly documents and deftly analyzes the complex household economies of four fifteenth-century queens consort of England who lived during a period of political and economic upheaval. This book, based on impressive meticulous research, is more than just a much-needed methodological model for studying queenly finances that fills a gap in the historiography of queenship. It is a powerful study of the intrinsic worth of a queen.
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A finely structured, thoroughly researched, and conceptually significant study that reshapes our understanding of late medieval English queenship. The book will be essential reading for scholars of queenship, late medieval England, and the political economy of monarchy.
Topics
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Frontmatter
i -
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CONTENTS
v -
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List of Illustrations
vii -
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Acknowledgements
ix -
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List of Abbreviations and Notes
xi -
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Simplified Genealogy
xiv -
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INTRODUCTION
1 -
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1 THE QUEEN’S RESOURCES
15 - PART I LANDS AND ESTATES: A MAJOR SOURCE OF REVENUE
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2 SURVEYING THE QUEEN’S LANDS
51 -
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3 MANAGING THE QUEEN’S LANDS
89 - PART II USING THE QUEEN’S RESOURCES: THE ‘SERVICE’ ECONOMY
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4 THE QUEEN’S HOUSEHOLD
135 -
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5 THE QUEEN’S AFFINITY
179 -
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CONCLUSION
209 - Appendices
-
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1 The Queens’ Lands and Holdings – A Composite List
215 -
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2 The Queens’ Fee-farms – A Composite List
235 -
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3 Extant Manorial Documents Consulted
243 -
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Select Bibliography
257 -
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Index
273
Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
May 6, 2025
eBook ISBN:
9781805436249
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook ISBN:
9781805436249
Keywords for this book
Fifteenth-Century England; Late Medieval Queens; Queens Consort; Margaret of Anjou; Elizabeth Woodville; Elizabeth of York; Economic Resources; Political Networks; Household Economies; Dower Lands; Queens' Gold; Authority and Agency
Audience(s) for this book
For an expert adult audience, including professional development and academic research
