Features of gender attitudes of German ruling elite at the turn of the Early New Time

The purpose of the publication is the analysis of the place and role of thewoman-ruler in the sociopolitical space of the German Empire in the first half of the 14th century. In the consideration of the formulatedproblem the author relies on the data presented by eminent experts in gender history of the Early New Time in a number of collectivescientific monographs of the early 21st century. In this article three main questions are discussed. The first question concerns the participationof women in the public sphere. As it was found out a German ruler could become an organizer of her own court or, at least, of aretinue; her environment gave the tone in the court life to a certain extent. The Princess played an important role by her ruling spouse,together symbolizing dynasty and domination. The political role of the woman-ruler was of great importance during the widowhood. Incase of the early age of the successor his mother could become a regent and even had opportunities of implementation of independentpolicy. However, in case the son came to power, the widowed Princess performed many symbolical and representative functions. Herclothes devoid of colour and the whole way of life reflected the religious senses of piety and devotion. Playing the role of the Mother ofthe Native Land, the widow embodied the ideas of the continuity of the authority of the ruling house. The funeral books devoted to princessesserved the purposes of the formation of the dynastic memory. The second question considered in the article is connected with theplace of the woman in the aristocratic house and institute of dynasty. At the turn of the Early New Time the official and private life ofaristocracy were appreciably incorporated. The dynasty embodied the leading form of existence of the ruling elite that was expressed inthe material and personal forms. Position of the person in the court society appreciably depended on the family and class origin. The rolewomen played in this environment was defined proceeding from the dynastic structure of the eminent nobility. Preservation of the nobilityof the name and the honour of the family entitling to social privileges depended on the woman. Successful marriage in the dynastic planbrought the man and his family posterity, including males who could preserve and continue the clan. The third question is the political aspectsof marriage and, in particular, wedding ceremony. During the epoch of the early modernist style the procedure of search for marriagepartners and the celebration of marriage were of great importance for the Prince in Germany. They included gathering information about theorigin and honour of the family of the spouse-to-be, engagement and the actual registration of relationship of the parties. The wedding feastin the court environment alongside with the transitional rituals accompanying birth and death had political value, representing the authorityand fertility of the dynasty. Wedding feasts were mass events with a whole set of obligatory elements. Besides action, texts were created thatdescribed Princes weddings, both poetic and prosaic, serving as the dynastic, and, broader, state memory, the political consolidation of thecountry. All in all, it is necessary to note that, despite the lack of opportunity of direct inheritance of power, the woman from the environmentof the ruling elite of Germany had political prerogatives, which were important enough.

Keywords

Authors

References