When does a medieval times queen work?

Question

like the time of year the time of day and the number of hours. if not does a queen even have a job?

Answer 1

The degree of political power a queen exercised tended to vary, in general, queens in the early middle ages had more power than those of the later middle ages.

By the twelfth century, the Queen's primary role was to ensure the succesion by producing a male heir.  This was different from earlier centuries, where the Germanic tradition of choosing a king from among the most suitable members of the whole royal family had prevailed.  By the twelfth century, primogeniture had become the norm, with the crown going to the oldest son.  

If the king was a minor when he ascended the throne, his mother the Queen might become regent.  In France for instance when Louis IX became king at the age of twelve, his mother blanche of Castille was appointed Regent.  

James de Ceassolis. in his 14th century book The Solace of the Game of Chess, describes the ideal queen.   Because of the heereditary succesion, the queen must be chaste, but she must also be wise.  She should be discreet, able to keep confidential matters secret, and careful in the education of her children.  Her chastity should also serve as an example to others.  The queen was not only the apex of the social structure, but added to her own family responsibilities the exercise of mercy and compassion to the larger family of the realm.

Henry I's wife Matilda was very active in good works, something expected of a queen.   She founded the leper-hospital of St giles in Holborn just outside the city walls, as well as priory of Augustine cannon, Holy Trinity at Aldgate.  The cannons were generally very concerned with charitable work.  As well, Matilda built at Queenshythe, the great riverside wharf which bore her name, one of the first public lavatories in the city which seems to also have accomodated public baths.  She corresponded with some of the most important men of the days, and seems to have been very learned.  She was also involved in the affairs of the kingdom, and acted as regent several times when henry was away.  She is the perfect example of the ideal medieval queen, learned, wise, a good regent during her husband's absence, and active in charitable works.

Answer 2

I will give you two examples of Medieval Queens....well, one is from the Renaissance...

The first queen, is the wife of the King of France... She would have been a royal princess of some other country,  and would have been highly educated...She would have studied besides her native tounge, Latin and most likely Greek, she would have been very religious and a practicing Cathloic ( everyone was Cathloic in Europe at the time. She would have spent her days reading ( something that only someone of her position could do)...the masses [common people] could not read and write, she would have attended church regularly, she would also know how to play a musical instrument, like the Lute, or the virginals. She would be accomplished in sewing and needlework. Her main job however was to do one thing, produce heirs and children for her husband to guarantee his throne and succession.

On the other hand, you have Elizabeth I and her rival Queen, (her cousin), Mary Queen of Scots. Both women were Queens in their own right...they did not obtain the title from marriage to a king. Both of these women were headstrong, and easily made decisions as to the welfare of their countries. Elizabeth could speak Latin, Greek, French, Spanish and Welsh on top of speaking English, and encouraged the masses towards literacy for all ( that everyone should have the right to read and write), she personally oversaw the expansion of the British Empire overseas, her Navy defeated the Spanish Armada and established Protestantism as the nations religion...she never married and is known as the Virgin Queen...

Mary Queen of Scots was strictly Cathloic. Unlike her same aged cousin, who never married, Mary Queen of Scots had three husbands, one who died as a teenaged French King, one who died under mysterious circumstances (Some say Mary had him killed), and she married for the third after she was kidnapped and her abductor ravished her (to the Earl of Bothwell, whom she pardoned). Mary was Queen of Scotland from the time she was nine days old, Queen of France from age 15 to age 19 and was back in her own country of Scotland at age 20. She was executed by her cousin Elizabeth in 1587 after having been imprisoned for twenty years. Elizabeth then went on to pass her throne to Mary's son, and he was the first King of a United Great Britian, James I of England and VI of Scotland.

Answer 3

Hi Amanda.....I really don't have a good answer for you.  A Queen's duty would be in the castle and my guess is it would be 24/7.  I think you should try posting your question in the homework section.

best of luck to you!