Estas senhoras rainhas: trajetórias de poder na realeza medieval portuguesa (séculos XII a XV) – um estudo de queenship

Abstract

This thesis intends to analyze the power possibilities of the Portuguese queens in the medieval period, which comprises the 12th and 15th centuries, within the assessment established by the concept of Queenship. Within this space-time period, the biographies of seven Portuguese queens were studied, in an attempt to establish how much power ‗her highness‘ managed on her own individual accomplishments. The social and economic importance of the queen's family of origin is a relevant criterion to consider how she would be received kingdom into which she would later marry. The more important the family, the more valuable would be the alliance achieved. This alliance could be used by the queen as a way of negotiating her power attributes. Achieving the role of perpetuator of the dynasty, succeeding in the maternal function was another assessment of unique relevance, which could secure the position of the queen. Gaining access to political power through the role as Queen-Mother. Through pious gestures, the queen encountered other opportunities for power by establishing relationships with the high clergy of the medieval Catholic Church. In the court setting, the Queen could, through donations, feasts, and patronage, favor and please bishops, abbots and cardinals, who would strengthen her position and support her political ambitions, while making virtually impossible any expectation the king had to replace her. In this view the papacy became a great ally of the medieval queens, and their relations with the prelates ensured that they guarantee power and good fame among the population. As Queenship's last assessment, there are questions about intercession, the power the queen possessed from the physical and emotional closeness she established with the king, her husband. This set of assessment, balanced and combined in different ways, underlines the framework that will provide the Queen´s power. Personality, natal culture, individual wealth were other criterion that could alter the sensitive relations of power in the medieval Portuguese court