Premodern kings and queens had splendid courts to show their God-given power. But where did the money for these come from? Following the money trail back often leads to unexpectedly savvy women who knew how to deal with money, and how to manage huge estates, treasuries, or accounts. This volume focuses on the economic and financial dimensions of the premodern royal court, and especially on the women using money as an instrument of power. Methodological and theoretical reflections on an economic history of royal courts frame case studies from medieval England to early modern Denmark and the Holy Roman Empire. Empresses and queens, but also mistresses and favourites are discussed, including considerations of their spheres of influence, their financial strategies and means, and their successes and failures.
- Cover
- Half-title
- Series information
- Title page
- Copyright information
- Table of contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction: Women and Economic Power in Premodern Royal Courts
- Chapter 1: The Medieval English Queen as Landholder: Some Reflections on Sources and Methodology
- Studying Medieval Queens as Landowners
- Sources of a Queen’s Income
- Landownership in Dispute: Margaret of France
- Analyzing a Queen’s Lands: Margaret of Anjou
- Conclusion
- Chapter 2: Financial Power of Empresses and Princess Consorts of the Holy Roman Empire
- Finances of Women in the Holy Roman Empire
- Empresses
- Dowry, Inheritance, and Gifts
- Financial and Economic Actions
- Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici: The Finances of a Princess Consort
- Marriage Contract
- The Kabinettskassenrechnungen: The Electress’s Privy Purse Accounts
- Conclusion
- Chapter 3: “Edward III’s Gold-Digging Mistress”: Alice Perrers, Gender, and Financial Power at the English Royal Court, 1360–1377
- Chapter 4: Counselling the Danish King: Sigbrit Villoms as Financial Mastermind for Christian II, 1513–1523
- Sigbrit Villoms in the Sources
- Denmark under the Rule of Christian II
- Economic and Political Reforms in Denmark under Christian II
- The Fall of Christian II and Sigbrit Villoms
- Afterword: “Power Is Money”? Reflections on Money, Power, Sex, and Gender in Premodern Royal Courts
- Bibliography
- Gender History for Premodern Europe
- Studies on Women at Royal Courts
- Economic History of Premodern Europe
- Economic and Administrative History of Royal Courts
- Index of Persons and Topics
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