Royal spendor and sacred memory : the Golden Gown and funerary monument of Queen Margaret I of Denmark
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This thesis examines the material and symbolic legacy of Queen Margaret I of Denmark (1353--1412) through two key objects: the Golden Gown and her funerary monument. Queen Margaret's position as regent allowed her to wield unprecedented political power and orchestrate the Kalmar Union, which united Denmark, Sweden, and Norway under one monarch. Despite these achievements, Queen Margaret has often been overlooked. This thesis draws on existing studies in queenship, material culture, and medieval religious practices to contribute to a more nuanced interpretation of two objects that became central to the construction of Queen Margaret's posthumous identity. Through the Golden Gown, Chapter Three explores clothing as both a physical and symbolic entity that carries the ability to construct and reinforce narratives of power, authority, and even sanctity. Chapter Four examines Queen Margaret's funerary monument to illuminate the interwoven relationship between religious rhetoric and dynastic propaganda, and how memory can be preserved, manipulated, and reinterpreted across centuries. Through this thesis, I hope to introduce Queen Margaret into current broader discourse of late medieval queenship and offer new insights into two objects that reinforce her royal authority and connection to the sacred.
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M.A.