She-wolves : the women who ruled England before Elizabeth

When Edward VI died in 1553, the extraordinary fact was that there was no one left to claim the title of king of England. For the first time, England would have a reigning queen—but the question was which one: Katherine of Aragon's daughter, Mary; Anne Boleyn's daughter, Elizabeth; or one of their cousins, Lady Jane Grey or Mary, Queen of Scots.But female rule in England also had a past. Four hundred years before Edward's death, Matilda, daughter of Henry I and granddaughter of William the Conqueror, came tantalizingly close to securing the crown for herself. And between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries three more exceptional women—Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France, and Margaret of Anjou—discovered how much was possible if pre-sumptions of male rule were not confronted so explicitly—and just how quickly they might be vilified as "she-wolves" for their pains.The stories of these women, told here in all their vivid detail, expose the paradox that female heirs to the Tudor throne had no choice but to negotiate. Man was the head of woman, and the king was the head of all. How, then, could royal power lie in female hands?Helen Castor is a historian of medieval England and a Bye-Fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Her first book, Blood and Roses, was long-listed for the Samuel Johnson Prize and won the English Association’s Beatrice White Prize. Her second book, She-Wolves, was selected as one of the books of the year by The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The Independent, Financial Times, and BBC History Magazine. She lives in London. When Edward Vi Died In 1553, The Extraordinary Fact Was That There Was No One Left To Claim The Title Of King Of England. For The First Time, England Would Have A Reigning Queen, But The Question Was Which One: Katherine Of Aragon's Daughter, Mary; Anne Boleyn's Daughter, Elizabeth; Or One Of Their Cousins, Lady Jane Grey Or Mary, Queen Of Scots. But Female Rule In England Also Had A Past. Four Hundred Years Before Edward's Death, Matilda, Daughter Of Henry I And Granddaughter Of William The Conqueror, Came Tantalizingly Close To Securing The Crown For Herself. And Between The Twelfth And Fifteenth Centuries Three More Exceptional Women -- Eleanor Of Aquitaine, Isabella Of France, And Margaret Of Anjou -- Discovered How Much Was Possible If Pre-sumptions Of Male Rule Were Not Confronted So Explicitly, And Just How Quickly They Might Be Vilified As She-wolves For Their Pains. The Stories Of These Women, Told Here In All Their Vivid Detail, Expose The Paradox That Female Heirs To The Tudor Throne Had No Choice But To Negotiate. Man Was The Head Of Woman, And The King Was The Head Of All. How, Then, Could Royal Power Lie In Female Hands? - Publisher. Pt. 1. Beginnings -- Pt. 2. Matilda : Lady Of England -- Pt. 3. Eleanor : An Incomparable Woman -- Pt. 4. Isabella : Iron Lady -- Pt. 5. Margaret : A Great And Strong Laboured Woman -- Pt. 6. New Beginnings. Helen Castor. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. When Edward VI died in 1553, the extraordinary fact was that there was no one left to claim the title of king of England. For the first time, England would have a reigning queen, but the question was which one: Katherine of Aragon's daughter, Mary; Anne Boleyn's daughter, Elizabeth; or one of their cousins, Lady Jane Grey or Mary, Queen of Scots. But female rule in England also had a past. Four hundred years before Edward's death, Matilda, daughter of Henry I and granddaughter of William the Conqueror, came tantalizingly close to securing the crown for herself. And between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries three more exceptional women -- Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France, and Margaret of Anjou -- discovered how much was possible if presumptions of male rule were not confronted so explicitly, and just how quickly they might be vilified as "she-wolves" for their pains. The stories of these women, told here in all their vivid detail, expose the paradox that female heirs to the Tudor throne had no choice but to negotiate. Man was the head of woman, and the king was the head of all. How, then, could royal power lie in female hands?-- From publisher description When Edward VI died in 1553, the extraordinary fact was that there was no one left to claim the title of king of England. For the first time, English would have a reigning queen - but the question was which one: Katherine of Aragon's daughter Mary, Anne Boleyn's daughter Elizabeth, or one of their cousins, Lady Jane Grey or Mary, Queen of Scots. But female rule in England also had a past. Four hundred years before Edward's death, Mathilda, daughter of Henry I and granddaughter of William the Conqueror, came tantalisingly close to securing the crown for herself. And between the twelfth and fifthteenth centuries three more exceptional women, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France and Margaret of Anjou, discovered how much was possible if presumptions of male rule were not confronted so explicitly - and just how quickly they might be vilified as 'she-wolves' for their pains. The stories of these women, told here in all their vivid humanity, expose the paradox which the female heirs to the Tudor throne had no choice but to negotiate. Man was the head of woman, and the king was the head of all. How, then, could royal power lie in female hands? Beginnings 6 July 1553: the king is dead Long live the queen? Matilda: Lady of England This land grew dark Mathilda imperatrix Lady of England Greatest in her offspring Eleanor: an incomparable woman An incomparable woman The war without love By the wrath of god, Queen of England Surpassing almost all the queens of this world Isabella: Iron Lady One man so loved another Dearest and most powerful "Someone has come between my husband and myself" Iron lady Margaret: a great and strong laboured woman Our lady sovereign A great and strong laboured woman Might and power The queen sustains us New beginnings 6 July 1553: long live the queen Not of ladies' capacity A queen and by the same title a king also. In Medieval England, Man Was The Ruler Of Woman, And The King Was The Ruler Of All. How, Then, Could Royal Power Lie In Female Hands? In She-wolves, Celebrated Historian, Helen Castor, Tells The Dramatic And Fascinating Stories Of Four Exceptional Women Who, While Never Reigning Queens, Held Great Power: Matilda, Eleanor Of Aquitaine, Isabella Of France And Margaret Of Anjou. These Were Women Who Paved The Way For Jane Grey, Mary Tudor And Elizabeth I - The Tudor Queens Who Finally Confronted What It Meant To Be A Female Monarch. This volume presents the story of the so-called "she-wolves" that paved the way for the Golden Age of Elizabethan rule that followed after them. These early queens of England and France (Matilda, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France, Margaret of Anjou, and Mary Tudor) demonstrated through intelligence, strength and sheer will power how to rule without male support