Directory:Medieval Kings and Queens

We have always been fascinated by the way of life of medieval kings, queens and other important personalities who lived during that time. Some of the most popular ones are King Arthur, King Henry I, King Edward I, King Richard III, Richard the Lionheart, King Stephen and Queen Matilda.

Medieval castles served as the dwelling places of the kings and queens, and they were made of magnificent structures which were created first in the 10th century. The castles were made of wood and earth, offering good protection from attacking armies and as the technologies and tactics of warfare changed over the centuries, those castles also changed. Today, they are predominantly residences for royalty or the wealthy, or just museums.

The Clothing of Medieval Kings and Queens

Here is some information on the clothing that kings and queens wore in the medieval era. Most of the royal families in this era wore fine clothing in colors purple, red and blue since these colors often symbolized leadership and power. They also wore medieval clothing that was dyed in various other bold colors and their outfits were always elaborate. Silk and velvet were the main fabrics that were worn the most by kings and queens. Queens dressed in layered clothing and these layers included garments such as chemises, kirtles, hose and the petticoat, which was a long and fancy robe.

Context for Rise of Medieval Kings and Queens

The medieval era came about when the fall of Rome occurred and before the rise of medieval kings, barbarian kingdoms evolved throughout Europe and this led to several violent battles and conquests. It was fifty years after the fall of Rome that the first Anglo-Saxon king ruled over a country in Europe and this led to a succession of monarchs for the next thousands of years beginning with the medieval era. A popular medieval king during this time was Charlemagne and he ruled the Franks from 768 to 814. He exhibited strong military and leadership skills and this worked in his favor as he tried to make life better for the Franks. Edward the Confessor of England as instrumental in the construction of Westminster Abbey, where Queen Elizabeth resides today.

Magna Carta and Its’ Importance

Prior to the middle part of the medieval era, the kings and queens had absolute power over the residents in a country and their decisions or laws were not to be question. By the medieval era, the nobles and merchant class within the feudal system grew tired of the king’s unreasonable demands and this led to the Magna Carta. Under this agreement the monarchs no longer had absolute authority.

What Did Medieval Queens Do?

Medieval queens often served as their husbands’ advisors because they had to make sure that kings made the right decisions regarding the decision to execute people, battle other countries in war, or to enact certain laws that the whole country would abide by. In addition, the queens also offered advice that protected the kings from attacks or assassinations by those within and outside his chambers. A queen’s other major duty was to have a child so that the next heir to the throne would be produced. At times medieval queens ruled if their husbands could not rule or passed away, or they would act as the son’s regent if the boy was too young to make decisions as the king.

Why The Contributions of Medieval Kings and Queens Are Important

We need to study the lives of medieval kings and queens because a lot of major institutions were built during this era because of the vision of these monarchs. For example, some of the first universities and hospitals were built in the medieval era and this paved the way for the modern collegiate and healthcare system that we have today. It was also the medieval kings and queens that brought the Arabic influence of science and engineering to Europe so this is an early example of intercontinental travel and trade.

The medieval literature that came from this era gives us a better understanding of how the medieval kings and queens rules in Europe. In conclusion, medieval kings and queens accomplished major economic, social and political victories and that changed Europe