Did medieval queens go to a special school?

Answer 1

Many were only educated in Arts and Crafts that were considered 'suitable' for a lady of high birth, like embroidery and music. They also learned how to read and write and they got some instruction about their country, its history and its institutions.

After that, much depended on the girl's intelligence and will to learn and on whether the parents decided to give her the opportunity to learn more. There were several cases of intelligent princesses (like Anne and Elisabeth of England) who spoke several languages and were well-read.

Answer 2

Education varied for medieval kings. Some were clearly illiterate, especially those before Charlemagne's time. Some, such as King Henry I of England, were very well educated. The content of education also varied. Henry I was clearly given classical training, but we do not know the circumstances of his education, where or when he got it, or from whom. Such things were not recorded much.

Answer 3

We have very few records of how specific people were educated.

In the case of Matilda of Scotland, however, the education is a matter of record. She had gone to a convent school to be educated so she could be married to a prince or king. People who objected to plans for her to be married, to King Henry I of England, claimed that she was a nun because she had lived in a convent. The charge was shown to be false, she and Henry were married, and she became queen Matilda. (see link on Matilda of Scotland below)

Empress Matilda, the daughter of Henry I and Matilda of Scotland, was tutored privately at the court of Emperor Henry V of the Holy Roman Empire, to whom she was betrothed. (see link on Empress Matilda below)

Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was queen, first of France and later of England, was educated at home by tutors provided by her father. (see link on Eleanor of Aquitaine below)

The need for queens to be educated can be seen in the fact that one of these women, Empress Matilda, had a claim to the throne of England and ruled there briefly, and another, Eleanor of Aquitaine, acted as regent. A queen had to be able to rule, just as a king did.

Answer 4

AnswerShe wasn't educated beyond knowing how to run a household, dance, do needlework, and other things. Education wasn't given to women and 90% of the people of the time couldn't read or write. Only the clergy were educated. AnswerFor most queens of the Middle Ages, we have no record. But we should be careful not to conclude that absence of evidence is evidence of absence. There were a number of medieval queens and princesses who were very highly educated. There were very good reasons to educate any young woman who might become a queen, as she might be called on to act on behalf of her husband at some time, to act as regent for her children, or to perform other court duties that require an education.

We know, for example that Cynethryth, wife of King Offa of Mercia, who died some time about 800, stood in for the king as a witness to charters, and was controller of the royal household.

Anna Comnena, a Byzantine princess, who lived from 1083 to 1153, is recorded to have been educated in history, mathematics, science, and philosophy. Her parents forbade her studying poetry, but she did anyway.

King Alfred the Great had his daughters educated very carefully. One of his daughters, Ethelfleda, ruled Mercia in her own right as successor to her husband when he died, and was considered a formidable military leader. She also restored some Roman structures in Gloucester.

Queen Matilda of England spent five years learning the things she needed to know to be empress of the Holy Roman Empire. She was queen in her own right in England, but wound up fighting a long civil war over succession.

Isabella, the queen of Edward II, and a love of reading. She deposed her husband (and possibly had him murdered) and acted as regent for her son. The son, Edward III, also married a learned woman, Philippa of Hainault.

Eleanor of Aquitaine was a reader of literature. She spoke, read, and wrote in several languages. She was also a military leader, though rather unsuccessfully.

The list of queens and princesses who we know were educated is long and impressive. The queens of whom we have no evidence were likely also to have been educated, but never gave historians much reason to record the fact.

Answer 5

AnswerMainly when a young noble woman's family signed a marriage contract with the family she would marry into there was an agreement she would go live with the future husbands family for several years before marriage. In this way she had "on the job training". Often, depending on when the contract was signed, she would be sent from her family about 7 or 8 years old to marry about 12 years old. Usually, there was a 10-20 years different in ages between her and her husband. AnswerSince princesses were likely to become queens, and queens were often called on to stand in for their husbands, act as regents, or even to rule in their own rights, they were often educated very carefully. For most, the education was not recorded (for some, barely the name was recorded), but where there was a reason to make a record, they seem to have been educated well.

We know of some who were educated in monasteries. Matilda of Scotland, the wife of King Henry I, spent a number of years in a convent. We know this because a relative objected to the marriage on the grounds that she had supposedly taken vows, and the legal action that followed concluded she had not, but was in the convent to be educated.

We know that some were tutored. Queen Matilda of England, who was also known as Empress Matilda was educated carefully at the court of the Holy Roman Empire.

In some cases, the education is recorded but we do not have (ready) access to the methods. We know the daughters of Charlemagne and Alfred the Great were educated. Both of these kings were educational reformers who opened schools and wished to set examples. I have not seen any record of how these educations were done. It is possible they had tutors, but since both men were founding schools, it is possible the princesses attended those.

Answer 6

there brought up into it following the example of there queen and they learn alot from guardians and teachers who teach them things though not about being a queen but the skills a queen should have

Answer 7

Queens got education from personal teachers who came to their kingdom to teach. These teachers were very hard to find in the medieval times.