Facts About Queen Consorts
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Queen consorts are often overlooked members of European royal houses. Often seen as secondary spouses, these women played an important role in the history of their respective kingdoms. To give you a better insight into the lives of these women, we’ve listed 10 facts about queen consorts that might surprise you. In most European royal houses, the king is the supreme ruler and has final say in all matters concerning state policy and court protocol. In some cases, however, the king may choose to marry someone who is not of royal blood but who will bring something of value to the kingdom in one way or another. Such partners were called queen consorts because they are second to the king but first in their own rights as spouses.
Queen consorts were sometimes used as diplomatic pawns.
In the era before modern communications, it was often necessary to send one’s wife as an emissary when political relations deteriorated with a neighboring state. Such was the case with Elizabeth of York, wife of Henry VII, who made several visits to France to discuss the terms of peace between the two countries. Her visits were successful, but the effort took its toll on the royal couple, and Elizabeth died shortly thereafter. In other instances, a royal husband would send his wife to a neighboring kingdom as a goodwill gesture. Such was the case with Mary of Scotland, who was sent to France to be raised by the future Charles IX and his mother, Catherine de Medici. When Mary was grown, she married the future Francis II and became queen consort of France.
Queen consorts often had equal or more power than their husbands.
Though the king was the supreme ruler of his kingdom and held the highest political office in the land, the queen consort often held political sway over her husband. This was especially true if the king was a minor when he came to the throne, as was often the case. In such instances, the queen regent, even if she was a woman, often wielded more authority than her spouse. Such was the case with Philip II of Spain, who was only 14 when he ascended the throne. His wife, Mary Tudor, was regent until he reached his majority, at which time she was cast aside and he married another woman. Queen Isabella of France was the wife of King Edward II but had a close relationship with Edward’s enemy, Roger Mortimer, whom she had appointed as regent after deposing her husband. In England, Isabella and Mortimer eventually had Edward II executed.
European queens often held political sway in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, queens often wielded political power that significantly exceeded that of their husbands. The primary reason for this was the frequent absence of the king who, due to wars and assorted state business, was often away from the court. Since the queen consort had the responsibility of raising the children, she was often left in charge of the kingdom whenever her husband was away. Queen Joan of Kent, the wife of King Edward III, was one such woman who ruled the country in her husband’s absence. Queen Isabella of France, on the other hand, was a ruler in her own right, even though she was married to King Edward II.
Queen consorts were sometimes deposed with their husbands, but usually retained their titles even after being cast aside.
Queen consorts often retained their titles even after the king had been overthrown or died and his successor had repudiated her. Such was the case with Isabella of France, who was deposed by her husband, Edward II, but retained the title of queen even after he had cast her aside. Similarly, Queen Philippa of England was left behind in her native France when her husband, Edward III, went on the Crusade, but she continued to rule the country in her husband’s absence.
Some queens became regents for their children after being widowed.
In many instances, when the king died, the queen was left to raise the children until they were old enough to rule the kingdom. In some cases, the queen became regent for her young child and held this position until the child came of age. When her child was a boy, the queen would often retain power even after he reached the age of majority. Such was the case with Isabella of Castile, who ruled Spain as regent for her son, the emperor Charles V, after the death of her husband, Philip the Handsome. Queen Mary of Hungary, who was the child of the king of Hungary and the wife of the king of France, was widowed at an early age. When her son was declared old enough to rule, she served as his regent.
Many queen consorts suffered tragic fates – some murdered, others died under mysterious circumstances, and still others were imprisoned for life.
There were many tragic fates that befell queen consorts. Some were murdered, others died under mysterious circumstances, and still others were imprisoned for life. Queen Isabella of France was murdered, likely by her husband. After the death of her son, the king had his mother arrested and then executed. Queen Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, was tried and found guilty of adultery and treason. She was beheaded, and her infant son, who was also a potential rival to the king, was killed. Queen Catherine Howard, a fifth wife of Henry VIII, was convicted of adultery and sentenced to imprisonment for life. Queen Mary, Queen of Scots, was executed for plotting against her husband, King Henry II of France.
Conclusion
Although queen consorts may have been secondary wives, they were often the power behind the throne. These women had the responsibility of raising the children, ruling the country when the king was away, and providing counsel when the king needed it. In some instances, the queen regent had more authority than her spouse. Queen consorts also suffered tragic fates, so much so that some were imprisoned for life and others were executed. This was often due to the jealousy of the king who, in an effort to secure his rule, sought to remove his wife from court life and cast her aside.