Queen Elizabeth I was one of the most famous queens of the medieval age, but she was a queen who surrounded herself with powerful intelligent advisors such as Sir Walter Raleigh. Raleigh was a courtier, and with the help of him and others Queen Elizabeth was able to maintain order and reign for many years. Through being a courtier Raleigh was able to move up in the world and became a favorite of the queen. The role of the courtier was to serve the monarchy, a courtier attended the royal court and advised the king and queen on what to say or to give them guidance. The courtier was allowed to stay in the palace, so that way he or she could be close to the king and could be summoned when needed. Through their selection by inheritance, their training …show more content…
When one courtier died his kin would be the one to take his place. If someone had enough money you could even buy your way into the position, which was desirable to many who were rich but did not feel as though their position in society was good enough. Even though through all of these ways to become a courtier, there was still a possibility an applicant could be turned down for the job. This is because the king had the final say in who was his courtier. So if someone had better training they would be more likely to be chosen for the job. This made the training the courtiers went through even more important. In order to get the job a lot of training was involved but most nobles would have their courtiers learn by doing. Despite many positions of nobility being male dominated there are many cases where women served as a courtier or courtesan. In The Book of the Courtier, Baldassare Castiglione tells about his experience as a courtier during the Renaissance. Through the job of a Courtier Castiglione was able to become a diplomat and a famous author, today he is remembered mostly for his works in …show more content…
Though she takes no part in the conversation, she presides over it, and her presence permeates its conduct. The men defer to her, especially in their conduct with women—"with whom we had the freest and commerce, but such was the respect we bore to the will of the Duchess that freedom was the greatest restraint."
These are just some of the words written by Castiglione in The Book of the Courtier. He took it as his job to write down what his job had been like to inform future generations of what it was like. The Book of the Courtier is a book in conversation, Castiglione does not participate in this conversation at all but despite this he makes the point of how the courtiers life in the castle among royalty
Absolutism started when Henry IV ended the French Religious wars with Edict of Nantes. Henry IV and duke of Sully laid out the foundation for French absolutism. After Henry IV had died Marie de’ Medici became the head of government because Louis XIII was too young to lead. Marie de’ Medici secured appointment of Cardinal Richelieu to the council of ministers. Richelieu ended up appointing Jules Mazarin when Louis XIII died, who became dominant power in the government, and Queen Anne of Austria governed for king Louis XIV as he was a child.
Baldassare Castiglione wrote about how a woman's sole purpose is to amuse and entertain men (3). Castiglione’s ideas reflect the patronizing attitude towards men that was seen throughout the era. This book is a reliable source because it is aimed at women seeking to become the proper lady as it gives advice on how to achieve that status, while showing historical truth because the author genuinely wants all women to behave in this manner. John Knox attacked women in positions of power by saying that they are cruel, weak, and insulting to God (5). This idea is not an uncommon one as female leaders were continually mocked throughout history.
Humans often live closed up in a box, where people are strongly self-centered and accepting others becomes a hard action for them to take. They never truly understand themselves, more so each other, and this causes conflict between various groups and classifications. One of the most well known conflicts caused by different beliefs in religion was the Reformation. As generation passed and different royalties were placed in throne, the country of England constantly alternates between Anglicanism and Catholicism. One of the monarchs of England was Queen Elizabeth I, who was a committed Anglican.
Are We Courtiers and Ladies? Castiglione was a polished courtier that immersed from the surroundings of Italian nobility. Living and breathing the life of a courtier, Castiglione wrote an etiquette guideline for both men and women in hopes of grooming others in the likeness of a proper lady or courtier. The Book of a Courtier distinguished characteristics that both sexes were to acquire and attain. In this handbook, Castiglione states that men should be rugged, protective, and soldier-like; yet possess qualities of scholar and well-manner.
The story of Sei Shonagon, a new lady in waiting for the Empress, tells of a shy girl’s thoughts while adjusting to a new environment. Within the chapter, “When I first went into waiting,” in the, “Pillow Book,” a day in the lives of the privilege is revealed. Shonagon, new to the lifestyle, expresses thoughts of anxiety, embarrassment and joy. She is unsure of herself however; she is envious of the confidence radiating from the Empress and the other ladies in waiting. Her view points are visions into a past world that is rarely exposed.
Here we can include the well-known work “One thousand and one nights” which also reveals the supposed defects of women (for instance the criticism about the feminine seduction as an instrument of cheat). Nonetheless, we observe again how women in the courtly household had an important role as they maintained noble life and rank differentiation. The manuscript of Eleanor de Poitiers, a noblewoman of the fifteenth century, offers testimony about the ritual conduct in the Ducal Household (specifically that of Philip the Good and his wife Isabel of Portugal). It serves as an instruction manual while being much more, it is a double edge composition; on the one hand, it offers Eleanor’s personal experiences in court life with real examples and on the other hand, it provides instructions on ceremonial ritual.
Elizabeth I, who ruled England from 1558 to 1603, is widely regarded as one of the most successful monarchs in English history. She presided over a period of relative stability and prosperity, oversaw the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and is credited with establishing England as a major power on the world stage. In this essay, I will argue that Elizabeth I was indeed a strong queen, using four detailed paragraphs that examine her political and economic policies, her handling of religious tensions, her military leadership, and her impact on culture and the arts. Firstly, Elizabeth I was a strong queen in terms of her political and economic policies.
In the darkest times of sadness, in the deepest confines of human affliction, hope and liberation are found in becoming openly vulnerable to the ones who understand and care the most. This concept is the embodiment of the relationship between Jane and Elizabeth Bennet in Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice. As Elizabeth’s sole confidante, Jane functions as not only an advocate for trusting openness as Elizabeth’s sister and best friend, but as a representation of societal norms and a foil character to Elizabeth’s judgmental nature, aiding the triumph over Elizabeth’s constant battle with pride and prejudice . With only Jane to confide in, the moments shared between the two sisters hold immense importance throughout the novel. It is in these moments which Jane’s function as a confidante transforms from sister to best friend, even bordering motherly.
In the piece Lanval I found that Marie de France presents a nuanced study of the dynamics of power between men and women in medieval society. She challenges the conventional concept of gender roles
Throughout the Middle Ages, a woman’s role in society was extremely limited. Women were married off for the dowry their husband could provide their family, or for political advantage. (Dean and Thomson 69) Eleanor of Aquitaine was crowned the Queen of France at the age of 15 after marrying into the crown, undeniably young for her position of power. But, it was because of her position as Queen of France and eventually Queen of England that helped her to make an impact on Medieval women and their roles in society.
Jobs in the Elizabethan era A variety of jobs existed during the Elizabethan era. There were some people who worked for the queen, others who worked with their hands, and lastly people who worked for royalty. These jobs that people did were really important out of the elizabethan era. Some people had the job were they were responsible for the queen.
Through their selection by inheritance, their training, and their respected position, courtiers helped sustain the nobility as the preeminent social class in medieval Europe. One’s status as a courtier was either bought or handed down. When one courtier died his kin would take his place. With enough money, one could even buy his way into the position,which was desirable to many who were rich but did not feel as though their position in society was good enough. Even with all of these ways of becoming a courtier, there was still a possibility an applicant could be turned down for the job.
Today, in the 21st century, most women are fairly respected and have the freedom to make their own choices; but when reading Romeo and Juliet, from the Shakespearean age, I have learned that women were viewed very differently. Using clues provided by this book, it is clear that whether women were housewives, royalty, nurses, or children, they didn’t have equal rights to men. Men were very masculine; they ordered their wives around and expected women to obey. Whereas women were very obedient and unfortunately were often taken advantage of. In this paper, will be examining the stereotypical role of a woman in the Shakespearean age.
In the book, “The Courtier” Castiglione mentions certain traits that are essential for the man that will the title of being a courtier. Specifically, in his writing, he expands on the meaning of grace, affectation, and nonchalance. This is revealed in a series of conversations during the game that was to be performed in the Duchess’ favor. He talks about these characteristics in in an effort to give an idea of the specific traits the most perfect courtier must have. The qualities must not only be shown but they must also be genuinely come from within.
The life of a male aristocrat at court revolved around the public sphere. Being linked to this sphere meant a male aristocrat became fixated on the maintenance and enhancement of his status and prestige. As Hurst (2007: 85) states: “The competition for office and rank was fierce at the Heian court as one’s entire social, political, and economic life depended upon the place one occupied in this highly stratified society.” This competition that ensued between different male aristocrats was important because they became a highly sensitive towards their status at court. In particular, within this competitive struggle, male aristocrats constantly focused on achieving strategic advantages to outmanoeuvre their peers.