| In the SCA, queens are everywhere, whether as consorts, regnant, former, or about to become one. Add to that Disney movies and everyone has an idea about what a queen is and does. But is that accurate? Medieval queens had a number of important functions for their kingdoms over and above providing the proverbial Heir and Spare. For example, during the Anglo-Saxon and Ottonian periods the queen took care of the treasury and sometimes used it to raise one or another individual to the throne as king. They also held cities, towns, or castles during sieges or went on military campaigns with the king. This class will examine the many varied roles queens in the Middle Ages filled and her unique status in a kingdom. It will also look at how the concept of queenship changed and evolved. |