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E-book
Author Bianchini, Janna.

Title The Queen's hand : power and authority in the reign of Berenguela of Castile / Janna Bianchini
Edition 1st ed
Published Philadelphia : University of Pennsylvania Press, ©2012

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Description 1 online resource
Series The Middle Ages series
Middle Ages series
Contents Frontmatter -- CONTENTS -- A Note on Names -- Introduction -- Chapter 1. Infanta and Heir, 1180-1197 -- Chapter 2. Queen of Leoþn, 1197-1204 -- Chapter 3. The Unwed Queen, 1204-1214 -- Chapter 4. A Failed Regency, 1214-1217 -- Chapter 5. Queen of Castile, 1217-1230 -- Chapter 6. The Leonese Succession, 1230 -- Chapter 7. Queen of Castile and Leoþn, 1230-1246 -- Conclusions -- List of Abbreviations -- Notes -- Selected Bibliography -- Index -- Acknowledgments
Summary "Her name is undoubtedly less familiar than that of her grandmother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, or that of her famous conqueror son, Fernando III, yet during her lifetime, Berenguela of Castile (1180-1246) was one of the most powerful women in Europe. As queen-consort of Alfonso IX of León, she acquired the troubled boundary lands between the kingdoms of Castile and León and forged alliances with powerful nobles on both sides. Even after her marriage was dissolved, she continued to strengthen these connections as a member of her father's court. On her brother's death, she inherited the Castilian throne outright--and then, remarkably, elevated her son to kingship at the same time. Using her assiduously cultivated alliances, Berenguela ruled alongside Fernando and set into motion the strategy that in 1230 would result in his acquisition of the crown of León--and the permanent union of Castile and León. In The Queen's Hand, Janna Bianchini explores Berenguela's extraordinary lifelong partnership with her son and examines the means through which she was able to build and exercise power. Bianchini contends that recognition of Berenguela as a powerful reigning queen by nobles, bishops, ambassadors, and popes shows the key participation of royal women in the western Iberian monarchy. Demonstrating how royal women could wield enormous authority both within and outside their kingdoms, Bianchini reclaims Berenguela's place as one of the most important figures of the Iberian Middle Ages."--Project Muse
Analysis European History
History
Medieval and Renaissance Studies
World History
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Notes In English
Print version record
Subject Berengaria, Queen of Castile and Leon, 1181?-1246.
SUBJECT Berengaria, Queen of Castile and Leon, 1181?-1246
Berengaria, Queen of Castile and Leon, 1181?-1246 fast
Subject Queens -- Spain -- Castile -- Biography
Women -- History -- Middle Ages, 500-1500.
HISTORY -- Medieval.
Kings and rulers
Queens
Women -- Middle Ages
SUBJECT Castile (Spain) -- History -- Henry I, 1214-1217. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85020676
Castile (Spain) -- History -- Ferdinand III, 1217-1252. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85020677
Spain -- Kings and rulers -- Biography
Subject Spain
Spain -- Castile
Genre/Form collective biographies.
Biographies
History
Biographies.
Biographies.
Form Electronic book
LC no. 2012007856
ISBN 9780812206265
0812206266