Courts and Court Life in Europe in the late Middle Ages

Aims

This course aims to:
1. Convey something of the flavour of court life in medieval Europe;
2. Explore the use of both physical and documentary evidence for the history of the medieval court;
3. Highlight the similarities and differences between some of the more important European courts of the Middle Ages.

Content

The main aim of the course will be to examine comparatively the development of kingly and princely courts in Europe in the late Middle Ages (roughly 1200 to1500). Among the topics to be considered will be the distinction in meaning between court and household, the structure and personnel of the court, the character and purpose of royal ceremony, the role of ritual and religion in court life, the physical setting of the court, and the rise of courtly literature. The main courts to be studied will be those of northern and central Europe, with a focus particularly on the well documented examples of England, France, Burgundy and the imperial court of the Emperor Charles IV at Prague. Although the history of the court will be approached for the most part from the inside, through the medium of sources generated by princely households and those employed in them, the attitudes of those outside will be considered through parliamentary and literary criticism of the courtiers. Attention will be paid especially to the multiple roles of the court as a forum for the display of majesty, a community of polite living, and a point of contact between the ruler and his subjects. The approach in the course will be firmly inter-disciplinary, bringing together the insights of both political and social historians and cultural, especially art, historians.

Presentation of the course

The course will be taught in five informal lecture classes offering plenty of opportunity for questioning and discussion.

Class sessions

1. Court and household: structure, personnel and size
   An introductory talk which will explore the general characteristics of medieval courts, how they might be defined and how they were composed.
2. The life of the court, indoors and outdoors
   An exploration of the daily life of the medieval court and how it was played out, both behind the scenes and publicly on the move, as the monarch and his entourage moved around.
3. Courtly splendour: image, setting and ritual
   An examination of the kind of messages conveyed by the theatre of medieval monarchy and how these were projected.
4. The projection of power at Prague and in Burgundy
   Case studies of two important and well documented courts, those of the Emperor Charles IV (1346-78) at Prague and of the Valois dukes of Burgundy (1384-1477) and in Flanders and on the eastern borderlands of France.
5. The literature of the court; and literature about the court
   Monarchs were often patrons of writers and writing, using poetry and prose to enhance their image, but literature might be written in criticism of both the monarchs and their courtiers. Both types of writing will be considered.

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes for this course are:

1. The ability to reflect critically on ways in which the term ‘court’ is defined;
2. The ability to identify and evaluate sources for the history of the court;
3. The ability to appreciate the character of court culture and recognise its distinctiveness within the broader culture of society as a whole.

Typical week: Monday to Friday

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students. 

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to the learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events.

Evaluation and Academic Credit 

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses. 

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay.

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit.

Certificate of attendance

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.