Daughters of Chivalry: The Forgotten Princesses of King Edward Longshanks by Kelcey Wilson-Lee
Virginal, chaste, humble, patiently waiting for rescue by brave knights and handsome princes: this idealized—and largely mythical—notion of the medieval noblewoman still lingers. Yet the reality was very different, as Kelcey Wilson-Lee shows in this vibrant account of the five daughters of Edward I, often known as Longshanks.
The lives of these sisters—Eleanora, Joanna, Margaret, Mary and Elizabeth—ran the gamut of experiences open to royal women in the Middle Ages. Edward’s daughters were of course expected to cement alliances and secure lands and territory by making great dynastic marriages or endow religious houses with royal favor. But they also skillfully managed enormous households, navigated choppy diplomatic waters, and promoted their family’s cause throughout Europe—and had the courage to defy their royal father. They might never wear the crown in their own right, but they were utterly confident of their crucial role in the spectacle of medieval kingship.
Drawing on a wide range of contemporary sources, Daughters of Chivalry offers a rich portrait of these formidable women, seeing them—at long last—shine from out of the shadows, revealing what it was to be a princess in the Age of Chivalry.
Review: This joint biography covers the forgotten lives of the five daughters of King Edward I of England, often referred to as Edward Longshanks. Edward lived from 1239-1307, and as daughters of the king, Eleanora, Joanna, Margaret, Mary, and Elizabeth lived lives of extraordinary wealth and influence compared to the majority of their peers. Four were married off to help cement alliances and secure lands to strengthen their father's reign and one, Mary, was promised to a convent at the age of six to strengthen his relationship with God. Thanks to their mother, they were highly educated. And despite the mental image we have today of retiring, suppressed princess in a tower, they were passionate in their opinions, used their influence to seek pardons or advocate for causes they believed in, and weren't too afraid to occasionally defy their father.
This was a wonderful biography of the high Middle Ages. I loved hearing about the details of the family's life. "Here the royal children were indulged with sweets made from sugars flavoured with rose and violet, with exotic foods such as pomegranates, quinces, prized cailowe pears, and almonds - a favourite of Eleanors, for whom they were often purchased - and with unusual spices including sandalwood and peony seeds. Regular orders were made for milk, but also for beer and 'new wine', for the children and their nurses to drink, as water was not considered safe for drinking. They were kept warm in winter with furred robes fastened with silver buttons and silken cords, caps trimmed with peacock feathers, and gloves that bore the arms of England sewn into the thumb" (15).
Edward and Eleanor seem to have had a close and loving marriage. They almost always travelled together and there are no records of any bastard children of the king. In all, his reign was considered a great success by an almost ideal king who conducted himself according to the great examples from history. He seems to have been a loving and indulgent father. There are only a few notable instances of him losing his temper with his daughters, and many instances of him providing for them, giving them gifts and indulging their fancies. His daughter Mary, who was supposed to live the austere life of a penitent nun, was constantly appealing to him for funds for her extravagant lifestyle and he always provided for her. When he did lose his temper, it seems to have been largely justified, like when his widowed daughter Joanna defied him and got married in secret and behind his back to a commoner.
Despite their considerable influence and high status during their lifetimes, all of King Edward's daughters have largely faded into obscurity in the centuries since their deaths. I was not expecting this book to be as rich in detail as it was. It conveys a very deep sense of their personalities - for instance the defiance and independence of Joanna and the extravagance and indulgent nature of Mary. I really enjoyed getting to know more about life in England during this time period and life about the royal family in particular through this well written and well researched book. It felt like a fast and entertaining read, which can't always be said about historical biographies.
Stars: 4.5
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