What was it really like to be a princess in the Middle Ages?

A princess is a female member of a royal family, typically the daughter of a king or queen. Sometimes they had other titles such as domina or regina filia. 

In medieval times, a princess was a member of the ruling class and was usually married off to another royal or noble family as a way of forging political alliances and strengthening dynastic power.

The role of a princess varied depending on the time period and location, but generally, she was expected to bear children, entertain guests, and support her husband in his political activities. 

During the Middle Ages, royal marriages were arranged as a way to forge alliances and strengthen political power.

Princesses were often betrothed at a young age to princes from other kingdoms or regions. Some, like Joan of England, married as young as twelve.

These marriages were not based on love, but rather on the strategic interests of the families involved.

For princesses who married kings or heirs, her primary duty was to produce a male son and secure the succession of the dynasty.

Once married, a princess had to navigate the daily political tensions and rivalries of court life.

She was expected to be a gracious hostess, entertaining important guests and attending courtly events.

She was also expected to support her husband in his political endeavors, and to act as a mediator between him and other members of the court.

Despite the important role that princesses played in courtly life, they had limited personal freedom.

They were frequently kept under close guard and were rarely allowed to leave the palace or castle where they lived.

This was done to protect them from danger and to prevent them from engaging in political activities that might undermine the authority of the king or prince.

Life for a medieval princess was also dangerous. Wars and political upheavals were common during this period, and princesses were often used as pawns in these conflicts.

They were sometimes kidnapped or held for ransom, and were occasionally used as hostages to secure political deals.

A famous case is Eleanor of Brittany who was imprisoned by King John of England for nearly 40 years so she couldn't press her claim to the throne. 

In addition to the dangers of courtly life, medieval princesses also faced the risk of childbirth.

Pregnancy and childbirth were risky endeavors in the Middle Ages because modern medicine did not exist.

Infections and complications arising from the process meant that many young women died during or very soon after giving birth.

Princesses were expected to bear many children, and the risk of death during childbirth was a constant threat.

Elizabeth of York, wife of Henry VII, and Jane Seymour, the third wife of King Henry VIII, were both high ranking royal women who died shortly after childbirth.

In the face of many challenges that princesses faced in the Middle Ages, some were able to carve out a degree of independence and influence.

Women like Eleanor of Aquitaine, who became queen of both France and England, were able to exert significant political power, despite the limitations placed on them by their gender and social status.

being a princess in the Middle Ages was a complex and challenging position. While it offered some degree of wealth and privilege, it also came with significant risks and limitations.

Today, we can look back on the lives of medieval princesses with a mixture of admiration and sympathy, recognizing how their actions influenced political events in their time.