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A problematic history of obsessing over royal women’s looks, from Camilla to the ‘ugly’ Elizabeth of Austria
von Guttner Sporzynski, Darius Biniaś-Szkopek, Magdalena Tomczak, Robert
von Guttner Sporzynski, Darius
Biniaś-Szkopek, Magdalena
Tomczak, Robert
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Abstract
Throughout history, queens have often been judged on their looks. Beauty standards shaped early-modern queenship. Even today, royal women such as the UK royal family’s Camilla, Catherine and Meghan are scrutinised for their looks, while their male counterparts aren’t held to the same standard.
One woman who faced particular scrutiny for her looks was Elizabeth of Austria (1436/37–1505). Known as the “mother of kings”, Elizabeth married Casimir IV of Poland and had 13 children, securing the Jagiellon dynasty’s future. Yet she is still remembered for her supposed lack of beauty.
This obsession with her appearance overlooks what really mattered for queens in her time: fertility, motherhood, political alliances and dynastic stability.
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Date
2024-10-22
Type
Other
Journal
The Conversation
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ACU Department
Non-faculty
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Open Access Status
Open access
License
CC BY-ND 4.0
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Open
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