The Queens Hand

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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 Leon, she acquired the troubled boundary lands between the kingdoms of Castile and Leon 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 Leon and the permanent union of Castile and Leon.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. Read The Queens Hand By Janna Bianchini – kino-fada.fr Great read Really kept me interested I didn t know much about 13th century iberian history and this kept all the key figures and places in line Bianchini takes some liberties with her arguments but I a...

The Queens Hand
  • English
  • 15 November 2017
  • Hardcover
  • 350 pages
  • 0812244338
  • Janna Bianchini
  • The Queens Hand