Chapter 6 - Family Dynamics

Summary

This chapter deals with family dynamics other than the father-son relationship. In the early middle ages, and in some parts of Europe later than that, the claims of younger sons could be met by dividing the kingdom, and some of these divisions marked European history ever after (the consequence of the Treaty of Verdun are discussed in detail). But once unitary succession had been established in the major kingdoms, as it was by 1100, kings had either to remove their younger brothers by force or devise ways of satisfying their ambitions. This could sometimes be done by giving them apanages, portions of the royal estate, but this presented the problem of reintegrating them. Kings also faced ambitious and sometimes ruthless uncles. Cousin conflict could become lethal, as in the conflict between France and Burgundy. The later part of the chapter discusses issues around queens consort: their vulnerability to charges of adultery, their complex relations with their sons, and the role of royal stepmothers.