This book offers an integrated study of the English princess and Castilian queen Catherine of Lancaster (13731418), drawing on available archival, architectural, and poetic sources in England and Spain. Catherine's mother, Queen of Castile in exile, and father, the powerful military commander John of Gaunt, raised her to take the Castilian throne. This volume connects Catherine's early life, providing insights into those who promoted her cause from birth as Princess of Castile, and her later life as Princess of Asturias, then Queen-consort, and finally Dowager and Co-regent of Castile. Her influence on the Castilian court's poetic circles has not previously been connected to her English heritage. Poetry written about her and influenced by her was compiled into a songbook presented to her son, Juan II. The book brings new understanding of the role an Englishwoman played in Trastámara Castile's turbulent history.

Considers Catherine of Lancaster's influence on poetry at the Castilian court Explores the Baena songbook in particular Traces transnational cultural influences in late medieval England and Castile

Autorentext

Lesley Twomey is Professor at Northumbria University, UK.

Klappentext

This book explores the formation of Catherine of Lancaster (13731418) and her arrival in Castile, linking that to the new interest in collecting and writing court poetry and the new production of religious lyric at her court. This book introduces a Castilian Queen of English extraction to contribute to the growing field of queenship and the influence of powerful women. Relatively little is known about Catherine from an English perspective. How she might have influenced court poetry and its production is only beginning to be explored, and this book marks an important contribution to that project in the way it enhances understanding of possible areas of influence from one country's religious production to another. It also addresses whether and in which ways Catherine might have influenced the development of a new court culture of poet-administrators, similar to the one she had left behind in England.

Lesley Twomey is Professor at Northumbria University, UK.

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- 2. A Queen's Education and Upbringing.- 3. Catherine of Lancaster, her Life in Castile and the Cancionero de Baena.- 4. English Religious Poets: Key Poets, Key Themes.- 5. Castilian Religious Verse and its Themes (12501450).- 6. Catherine and her Influence on Court Poetry and Religious Trends in Castile.- 7. Transnational Religious Currents and Catherine's Influence.- 8. Conclusion.