Women in the Medieval Court Consorts and Concubines by Rebecca Holdorph

 This is an excellent analysis of powerful medieval women who have sometimes been forgotten, or regarded as unusual. This was because they lived in a patriarchal society but there were really many of them. Rebecca Holdorph analyses how these 'consorts and concubines' attained power, how they kept power, their culture and education, and their struggles to fight against their rivals - mostly powerful men. The women who she studies include Matilda of Canossa, Caterina of Cornero, Alice Perrers and (my favourite) Katherine Swynford. Marguerite of Anjou is another interesting one.

Some of these women like Matilda and Marguerite raised armies to defeat their enemies, and went to great lengths to defend their territories. Some queens became regents, governing on behalf of their sons. Caterina couldn't defeat the power of her homeland Venice, which took control of Cyprus away from her, but when she was sent back to Venice, she set up her own cultured court! She was popular with her subjects, but sometimes that is not enough to overcome enemies.

The 'concubines' were just as fascinating, or even more interesting. Being a concubine was even more dangerous than being a queen. Many of them were murdered, for example, Agnes Sorel was probably killed by her lover's son. They were often punished if they got too 'uppity'. Parliament even passed a law directed at Alice Perrers!

I enjoyed this extensively researched book, but there were so many women in it that it became a bit confusing at times.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.