Queens, Heiresses and Lords: Women Making Medieval Scotland

Elite women played important roles within the Scottish political community and on a wider, European stage, even if narratives of the 'making of' medieval Scotland have tended to foreground male actors. Throughout this course, students will carefully assess women's involvement in politics and aristocratic culture between c.1066 and c.1328, examining figures such as queen consorts, royal mothers and daughters, countesses and noblewomen. The course will be structured around weekly seminars which explore different arenas of royal and aristocratic life. Crucial themes students will encounter include: marriage, diplomacy, patronage, commemoration, power and authority, models of rulership, administration, law, courtly culture, religion and identity. Students will reach a fuller understanding of women's significant contribution to political life and culture in medieval Scotland by analysing important shifts over the period, critically examining historiographical arguments, and appraising a variety of primary sources.   Credit level: 11 Year taken: Postgraduate SCQF credits: 20