Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index

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Record Number: 13168 Author(s)/Creator(s): Gibbons , Rachel C. Contributor(s): Title: The Queen as "Social Mannequin." Consumerism and Expenditure at the Court of Isabeau of Bavaria, 1393- 1422 Source: Journal of Medieval History 26, 4 (December 2000): Pages 371 - 395. Description: Article Type: Journal Article Subject (See Also): Account Books Clothing Consumption Economics Fashion Government Finances Isabeau of Bavaria, Queen- Consort of Charles VI, King of France Politics Power Queens Textiles Award Note: Geographic Area: France Century: 14- 15 Primary Evidence: Illustrations: One diagram. Paths through which all income for the queen passed after 1409 when all of her offices had been established. Table: One table. Table One Structure of the "comptes de l'argenterie" of Isabeau of Bavaria. Includes accounting categories ("Achat de draps de laine") and explanation in English of purchases or services. Abstract: Unjustifiably, but often, dismissed as the driest of sources, medieval accounts can be a mine of historical and social information, and those of Isabeau of Bavaria, queen of Charles VI of France, are particularly fascinating. One of the many consequences of the king's lifelong mental instability was the development of an entirely separate financial administration for his wife and children, and this combination of radical innovation and unprecedented levels of expenditure has meant that scrutiny of Isabeau's accounts--the best preserved and most extensive of any medieval queen of France--has been considered fundamental in almost all biographical works. Although this paper looks at what could be regarded as a frivolous topic in Isabeau's wardrobe, the social concept of the royal lady as decorative fashion-plate has been particularly pertinent in recent years, but also has a long-standing pedigree. The necessity and public display of wealth were always an intrinsic element of medieval queenship, and a number of these wider themes will be explored alongside detailed analysis of two example accounts. [Reprinted from the Journal of Medieval History (at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jmedhist), Volume 26, Number 4, Rachel C. Gibbons, "The Queen as 'Social Mannequin'. Consumerism and Expenditure at the Court of Isabeau of Bavaria, 1393- 1422," p. 371. Copyright 2000, with permission from Elsevier Science. See also the ScienceDirectTM Homepage at http://www.sciencedirect.com]. Related Resources: Author's Affiliation: Conference Info: - , - Year of Publication: 2000. Language: English ISSN/ISBN: 03044181

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