The essay explores key elements of Queenship through the analysis of poems and funeral sermons dedicated to four English sovereigns – two consorts and two reigning queens – between the 17th and 18th centuries: Anne of Denmark, Henrietta Maria of France, and the two last queens of the Stuart era, Mary II and Anne. It examines, in particular, the authors’ choices in highlighting specific aspects of their lives and the influence that both the political context and the contemporary conception of the female figure had on the funeral tributes.
Il saggio esplora gli elementi chiave della regalità femminile attraverso l’analisi di componimenti, orazioni e sermoni funebri dedicati a quattro sovrane inglesi – due consorti e due regnanti – tra il XVII e il XVIII secolo: Anna di Danimarca, Henrietta Maria di Francia, e le due ultime regine di casa Stuart, Maria II e Anna. Si esaminano, in particolare, le scelte degli autori nell'evidenziare specifici aspetti delle loro vite e l’influenza che sugli omaggi funebri ebbero sia il contesto politico sia la coeva concezione della figura femminile.
When a Queen Dies. Queenship and Funeral Tributes in the Stuart Era
Davide Balestra
2026-01-01
Abstract
The essay explores key elements of Queenship through the analysis of poems and funeral sermons dedicated to four English sovereigns – two consorts and two reigning queens – between the 17th and 18th centuries: Anne of Denmark, Henrietta Maria of France, and the two last queens of the Stuart era, Mary II and Anne. It examines, in particular, the authors’ choices in highlighting specific aspects of their lives and the influence that both the political context and the contemporary conception of the female figure had on the funeral tributes.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
