Becoming a virgin king: Richard II and edward the confessor

Katherine J. Lewis

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Richard II’s devotion to Edward the Confessor has been examined by several scholars over the last few years. It has been interpreted within the context of Richard’s pious practices and wider religious interests, and his investment in Edward as a model of the peace-loving king.1 This chapter offers an additional dimension by speculating that Richard’s interest in Edward may also have been a matter of political expediency and that it can tell us something about the anxieties surrounding his status as both king and man. This is to be understood not in general terms, but within the specific context of the mid-1390s, the period which witnessed the death of Richard’s first wife Anne of Bohemia in 1394 and his remarriage to the 6-yearold Isabella of France, in the midst of growing concerns about the succession.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationGender and Holiness
Subtitle of host publicationMen, Women and Saints in Late Medieval Europe
EditorsSam Riches, Sarah Salih
Place of PublicationLondon & New York
PublisherTaylor and Francis Ltd.
Chapter6
Pages86-100
Number of pages15
ISBN (Electronic)0203994604, 9781134514892
ISBN (Print)0415258219, 9780415258210
Publication statusPublished - 7 Mar 2002

Publication series

NameRoutledge Studies in Medieval Religion and Culture
PublisherRoutledge

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Becoming a virgin king: Richard II and edward the confessor'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this