Queens Consort

Examines the lives of the twenty women crowned as queens of England between 1066 and 1503, from Matilda of Flanders, wife of William the Conqueror, to Elizabeth of York, the first Tudor consort. Hilton, an Oxford-educated historian, explores how these queens shaped the monarchy and influenced the state during a time when dynastic marriages placed them at the heart of power—yet left them vulnerable in a volatile medieval political landscape.

The book traces the evolution of the queenly role, which lacked a formal constitutional definition, unlike the king’s, but developed through tradition and the individual agency of these women. Hilton highlights their diverse contributions, from political maneuvering to cultural patronage, challenging the myth that they were mere diplomatic pawns. For instance, Eleanor of Aquitaine emerges as a formidable politician, while lesser-known figures like Adeliza of Louvain are brought to light for their quieter influence. The narrative also covers darker aspects of queenship—war, adultery, witchcraft, and murder—alongside their roles in learning and fashion, as seen in figures like Matilda of Scotland, who was highly literate and influential despite her husband Henry I’s infidelity.