Royal Woman, Feudal Woman

The book will discuss the life of Joan of Acre,daughter of King Edward I of England. Joan was usedin the arrangement of marriage alliances to enhanceEdward's sphere of influence. When her first husband,an important nobleman, Gilbert de Clare, died, Joanmaintained the estate since the couple shared controlof the Clare lands. She recognized her newfoundpower and influence and refused to be a politicalplayer once again in her father's machinations. Joanshows that the idea of women as the brides of Christor as the instrument of the devil was not asclear-cut for women of the upper nobility as it firstappears to be. In fact, it may not hold true forupper noblewomen at all. Joan's story also shedslight on medieval marriage, widowhood, and how womenfunctioned within the feudal system.

Autorentext

Jaime Elizabeth Boler is an instructor of history at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi. Boler received her BA, MA, and PhD from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is among the contributors to the forthcoming "Mississippi Encyclopedia" with an entry titled "Natchez under the Hill."

Klappentext
The book will discuss the life of Joan of Acre, daughter of King Edward I of England. Joan was used in the arrangement of marriage alliances to enhance Edward's sphere of influence. When her first husband, an important nobleman, Gilbert de Clare, died, Joan maintained the estate since the couple shared control of the Clare lands. She recognized her newfound power and influence and refused to be a political player once again in her father's machinations. Joan shows that the idea of women as the brides of Christ or as the instrument of the devil was not as clear-cut for women of the upper nobility as it first appears to be. In fact, it may not hold true for upper noblewomen at all. Joan's story also sheds light on medieval marriage, widowhood, and how women functioned within the feudal system.