Monday 29 September 2014

Guest post and Competition: Sara Cockerill's "Eleanor of Castile; The Shadow Queen."


Eleanor and Edward – a summary

extracted from pages 246-247 of “Eleanor of Castile – The Shadow Queen” by Sara Cockerill

 

 Effigy of Eleanor in Westminster Abbey

 

The starting point for any consideration of Eleanor’s family must be the most important constituent of it to her – her husband. The more time one spends looking at the life of Eleanor the more apparent it becomes, that she and Edward were genuinely incredibly close, and not really happy out of each other’s company. Marc Morris concludes, and I entirely agree, that their shared tastes for horses, hunting, chivalry, romance and chess had provided a good base for a happy marriage. More than this though, it is fairly clear that they shared a sense of humour – each was plainly ready to laugh and to find fun in amusing pictures and little word plays and both also enjoyed the kind of boisterous fun which marked the coronation. Beyond these shared interests and tendencies, however, one can see in the household records the hallmarks of active respect, consideration and kindness which promote a happy marriage.

 Victorian interpretation of Eleanor

 

   So, repeatedly each can be seen paying attention to the interests of the other, and doing their best to help. Each helped the other financially – Eleanor gifting Edward with 1,000 marks when he and everyone else was out of cash following the Gascon expedition, and Edward helping with purchase monies and funds for improvements for her properties. For Eleanor, Edward was the centre of her world, and she identified herself completely with his interests – as she had been raised to do. Everything gave way to his interests and she would uproot herself from her work for years at a time to be with him in Wales and in Gascony, as well as on crusade. Although Eleanor had her own office and powerbase of very able employees, there was no “Team Queen” operating in opposition to “Team King”; unlike the position under Eleanor of Provence and Henry III. Eleanor and her staff were parts of Edward’s team, and never sought to be perceived otherwise. But it was far from being a one way street. Having charged Eleanor with a role in property management, Edward was supportive of Eleanor’s very active interest in this role; to the extent of inconveniencing himself in repeated dislocations.

 Edward I (not contemporary)

 

   Each can also be spotted in the records planning pleasant surprises for the other, and trying generally to make life more pleasant for their spouse. So in Gascony, Eleanor sent home to get Edward a particularly special hunting bird for his birthday, while on another occasion Edward, mindful of Eleanor’s book obsession and vibrant theological interests, commissioned a psalter and book of hours as a present for her. Facing a social engagement too far, Eleanor agreed to go by herself, and made arrangements for musicians to be hired to amuse Edward, while she was discharging their social obligations. Meanwhile, Edward made sure that everywhere they went, gardeners and decorators went ahead, so that Eleanor need not face the shabby lodgings which were her aversion.

   One surprising thing which emerges from the record is that Edward was surprisingly sentimental – rather more so, it would appear, than Eleanor. So the records of his charitable oblations for 1283-4 show him giving extra alms on the occasion of their wedding anniversary and also in those nervous days in the run up to Eleanor giving birth to Edward, as well as the expected celebratory donations on the birth and christening of a prince. When Eleanor was ill and he could not actually be with her, he sent thoughtful gifts of food, with which he hoped to tempt her appetite or recoup her strength. The public face of his mourning is well known, but in addition to the well-known gestures after Eleanor’s death of commissioning spectacular funeral monuments he provided chantries at the place of her death, and at Leeds castle where they had spent happy time together. He also took for himself the chess set with which they had played chess together.

 

You can win an copy of Sara Cockerill’s new book “Eleanor of Castile: The Shadow Queen,” by leaving a comment at the bottom of this blog post. Good luck.

 


 


 

28 comments:

  1. I live near an Eleanor Cross. It would be great to read about the woman who inspired such devotion from her husband. Amanda Ward mrsajward@hotmail.com

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  2. Im a History student at Canterbury Uni. And I am just fascinated by the medieval period. Women studies and Royalty (particularly Queens) are what all my personal research is on! It would be amazing to win this. Fingers crossed and good luck to everyone! :D
    Danielle Storey.
    Dannie1991@googlemail.com

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  3. Well after reading that extract I'll just have to go and buy the book - Yay!

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  4. I loved the extract, I can't believe that there are so many interesting women that we don't know much about... And they deserve to be more well-known and researched! My email is elizapol AT hotmail DOT com

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  5. After reading the extract from the book, I am really excited about reading Eleanor of Castile. I enjoying reading books about Royalty and I do not know much about Eleanor so this would be a great read. Thank you for the chance. My email: thehappycouple AT rogers DOT com

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  6. Sounds like a wonderful book! I would love to win a copy. It will be loaned out after I finish to keep spreading the story of this remarkable woman.

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  7. I am very excited to read this book!!! email: markhamb@hotmail.com

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  8. Looks like an intriguing book. They seem to have had a truly happy and functional marriage that worked in tandem at Monarchs.

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  9. Sounds very interesting! Hoping I win a copy, but if not, I will certainly buy one. :-)

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  10. The book on Eleanor of Castile sounds very interesting. I would love to win a copy of the book. :)

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  11. One of my favorite women in history! Would love to read your book!

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  12. This looks a fascinating book. Time wise its a little earlier than the books I have been reading lately have been based, but it would be nice to gain more insight into this period and begin the journey of discovery in this era here. history20 (at) btinternet (dot) com

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  13. This book looks really interesting! Eleanor of Castile was another that fascinates me in history.

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  14. Sounds like a really fascinating book,She sounds like a wonderful woman, she made a hard King appear human as he loved her very much

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  15. This book sounds like a fabulous read.

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  16. Interesting woman. Love to read tgis book.

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  17. I'd be delighted to read this book - already saw the preview on amazon and it looks exciting! As a passionate lover of mediaeval history I think i'ts great that such historical fugures who've remained quite obscure now start to receive the attention they deserve, as there are so many story that need to be told!

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    1. Donka, you've been chosen as the winner! Congratulations. Can you please get in touch with me on here or facebook or twitter, as I need your email. Thanks, Amy

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  18. I think I would read anything about women these days, but this looks particularly interesting!

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  19. Looked at this book in a bookshop yesterday - excellent presentation, with a lot of detail and pace. There was no sense that the reader was being lectured, more that there was a neglected story to tell and that readers would be engrossed in the life of this almost forgotten queen. Like most of us, I remembered the story of the Eleanor Crosses, but apart from knowing that her husband grieved for her, the rest of Eleanor's life was a closed book to me.

    No longer - this book brings Eleanor to life in all aspects of her work as queen, mother, and helpmeet to her husband. But she was much more than this and this biography fills all the gaps.

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  20. I have just started Marc Morris's biography of Edward who certainly in his youth seems to have been an overbearing and objectionable young man. As king he seems to have been no less overbearing though anxious to make this less obvious by using legal process and reform. Yet he seems to have been a model husband. Obviously a leopard who could change his spots.
    Kim (contact sellender@btinternet.com)

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  21. Another book to add to the ever growing "must read" list. Hope to be considered for the competition. Thanks.

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  22. Love your Medieval posts on here. I am currently a History BA Hons students and dream one day to become a Medieval Historian, University Lecturer and maybe one day a writer. This book looks really interesting and I would love to be considered for this competition. Thank you. Best Wishes, Lauren (MedievalGirl7)

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  23. This book is on my wishlist for sure!

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  24. I love the focus on medieval women. I graduated last year with a BA in history and a minor in womens' studies and it's always been my dream to combine both of them and was currently working on writing a book on the one hundred years war, the wars of the roses and their relations with the Tudors but it's abandoned now but I nevertheless continue reading because it always makes me feel good after a tough day of bullying. I would love to read this biography and regardless if I win or not, I am glad these books are out there but being as shallow as I am, I am hoping to win this giveaway.

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  25. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  26. This competition is now closed.

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