Queenship and Revolution in Early Modern Europe

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

   PDF

2. Introduction: The Queen Versus the People

   • Carolyn Harris

   Pages 1-14

3. Education, Example, and Expectations

   • Carolyn Harris

   Pages 15-47

4. Governing the Queen’s Household

   • Carolyn Harris

   Pages 49-84

5. Wife of the King

   • Carolyn Harris

   Pages 85-120

6. Mother to the Royal Children

   • Carolyn Harris

   Pages 121-153

7. The English Civil Wars and the French Revolution

   • Carolyn Harris

   Pages 155-191

8. Conclusion: The Legacy of Two Queens

   • Carolyn Harris

   Pages 193-201

9. Back Matter

   Pages 203-273

   PDF

Queen Marie Antoinette, wife of King Louis XVI of France and Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I of England were two of the most notorious queens in European history. They both faced accusations that they had transgressed social, gender and regional norms, and attempted to defend themselves against negative reactions to their behavior. Each queen engaged with the debates of her time concerning the place of women within their families, religion, politics, the public sphere and court culture and attempted to counter criticism of her foreign origins and political influence. The impeachment of Henrietta Maria in 1643 and trial and execution of Marie Antoinette in 1793 were also trials of monarchical government that shaped the English Civil Wars and French Revolution.

• civil war
• Europe
• revolution
• Henrietta Maria
• Marie Antoinette
• English Civil Wars
• French Revolution

“It is a well-researched historical analysis … . Harris’s book proves particularly valuable to scholars interested in queenship. … For readers interested in queenship and the connection between the personal and the political in the lives of royal women, however, Harris’s book offers a window into the complicated and politically dangerous world of the queen consort during periods of extreme political upheaval. … this book proves valuable to anyone interested in royal studies, early modern studies, or women’s history.” (Susan Dunn-Hensley, Early Modern Women Journal, Vol. 16 (2), 2022)

“Harris’s Queenship and Revolution does offer is an excellent example of careful archival scholarship and thoughtful gender analysis. … Harris’s Queenship and Revolution is a valuable addition to the ongoing scholarly conversation about queenship … .” (Sharon Jansen, Canadian Journal of History, Vol. 52 (1), 2017)

Carolyn Harris is an instructor in history at the University of Toronto, School of Continuing Studies, Canada. She received her PhD in European history at Queen’s University at Kingston, Canada in 2012. Harris is the author of Magna Carta and Its Gifts to Canada. Carolyn Harris won the 2016 award for the best book published in 2015-2016 on the history of monarchy. This award is given by the Royal Studies Network.

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