Revels and Celebrations

Abstract

This chapter examines the queens’ presence at secular revels and celebrations, entry ceremonies, tournaments, and feast day banquets. When queens hosted official events in the king’s absence, they played important diplomatic roles in welcoming guests and representing the hospitality and stability of the court. In many events, especially tournaments, the queens’ role was decorative and symbolic rather than directly participatory, but even so, their presence was seen as critical to satisfying social expectations of a stable and prosperous court. This chapter presents queens carefully negotiating public performances that could be both pleasurable and demanding.