Queens' and royal women's resources are the topic of our second workshop.
We have asked contributers to consider the following questions:
Dowry and dower can be considered as a key means of financial exchange and main point of political and diplomatic negotiation for dynastic marriages. What was the role of families/negotiators in setting the value of the dowry (and stipulating dower)?
Looking at differences in dowry and dowering brides in terms of regional customs, i.e morgengabe, propter nuptia donations etc. How did these customs change over time? Was there any transnational influence from dynasties who had composite monarchies?
Access: what, if anything, did the queen/royal woman/bride have access to after her marriage? Did she have any control over these resources? What is the public/private divide in terms of lands/money she inherited or acquired independently versus lands and revenues she was granted by the crown? Where and how did she invest her resources and/or develop her portfolio of investments?
Reputation: what impact did having little or no dowry have on the perceived value of a queen/royal woman and her matrimonial alliance to her subjects? Did this lead to increased criticism of her or undermine her queenly status?
There will be short presentations on ten case studies on resources of European empresses, queens, and royal women (12th–18th c.).