Program Overview

Medieval Queenship Course

Overview

The Medieval Queenship course explores the role of queens in the medieval world, examining their position as leaders, mothers, consorts, and patrons of religion and culture. Through a series of case studies, students will analyze the role of queens in medieval society, questioning the extent to which their roles can be reconstructed using male-dominated written accounts.

Learning and Teaching

The module will be taught online, incorporating recorded lectures and online seminars and workshops involving class discussion and group work on specific topics relating to the module. The discussion and group work will enable students to think critically and contribute to the debates and topics presented during the lectures.

Syllabus

• Understanding women in the medieval world
  • Theories of queenship
  • Raising royal children: queens as mothers
  • Queen consorts: the role of the royal wife
  • Queens regnant: ruling monarchs
  • Queens and culture
  • Reassessing the study of medieval queenship

Coursework and Assessment

Students will be expected to complete two pieces of assessed work:

• A short source analysis
• A 1000-word essay Advice and support will be provided for both assignments, and students will receive detailed feedback relating to strengths and areas for improvement on both pieces of work.

Reading Suggestions

• Bennett, Judith M. and Ruth Mazo Karras (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Women and Gender in Medieval Europe (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013).
• Castor, H., She-Wolves: The Women who Ruled England before Elizabeth (London: Faber, 2010)
• Carmi-Parsons, J. (ed.), Medieval Queenship (Stroud: Alan Sutton, 1994)
• Duggan, A. J. (ed.), Queens and Queenship in Medieval Europe (Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 1997)
• Earenfight, T., Queenship in Medieval Europe (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013)
• Hilton, L., Queens Consort: England's Medieval Queens (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2008)

Course Details

• Duration: 6 weekly meetings
• Tutor: Dr Charlotte Pickard
• Course code: HIS22A5217A
• Fee: £235
• Concessionary fee: £188
• Location: Online course

Accessibility

The university aims to provide a confidential advice and support service for any student with a long-term medical condition, disability, or specific learning difficulty. Support includes one-to-one advice, pre-enrolment visits, liaison with tutors, material in alternative formats, arrangements for accessible courses, assessment arrangements, loan equipment, and dyslexia screening.