Description
Book SynopsisRoyal Mothers and their Ruling Children: Wielding Political Authority from Antiquity to the Early Modern Era brings together a range of case studies from the Pre-Modern era to illustrate key themes with regard to motherhood, ambition and authority, with a focus on queens and elite women who are at the political heart of their respective realms.
Trade Review“Royal mothers and their Ruling Children is an important starting point for addressing this gap, focusing on an aspect that has surprisingly been neglected in most studies on motherhood and mothering … . opens up a new field of research with rich potential for queenship specialists, since motherhood can be identified as a major power resource for royal women in premodern times.” (Julia Heinemann, Royal Studies Journal, Vol. 3 (2), 2016)
“Elena Woodacre and Carey Fleiner have, with this collection, selected chapters that not only make significant individual contributions, but also fit well together. Separately and collectively, the chapters provide a clear sense of the similarities and differences that existed in the ways that royal women exercised power and authority across different monarchies throughout history.” (Aidan Norrie, Parergon, Vol. 33 (2), 2016)
Table of Contents1. To be the Queen's Daughter. Controversy, Adultery and the Legitimacy Problem in the Reign of Enrique IV of Castile (1454-1474) 2. Stepmother and mother of princes: legitimation and political actuation in the reign of Juana Enriquez German Gamero Igea 3. Matriarchs of the Royal House of Stuart: Negotiating Personal and Dynastic Ambition, Motherhood and Adversity 1613-1662 4.To Have and to Hold: Coins and Seals as Evidence for Motherly Authority 5. Nomadic Mothers as Rulers in China: Female Regents of the Khitan Liao (907-1125) 6. Empress Adelheid's Vulnerabilities as Mother and Ruler 7.Optima Mater: Power, Influence, and the Maternal Bonds between Agrippina the Younger (A. D. 15-59) and Nero, Emperor of Rome (A. D. 54-68) 8. Louise of Savoy: The Mixed Legacy of a Powerful Mother 9. Queen Mother Knows Best: Maria de Molina and the Vestiges of Medieval Politics in Modern Historiography 10. Catherine of Medici: Henri III's Inspiration to be a Father to his People
