In collaboration with the Society for Court Studies, the Institute of Historical Research is bringing together a range of international historians to look at the peculiar yet influential institution of the male royal consort from Ferdinand of Castile through to the famous examples of the 18th century such as Prince George of Denmark, and onto contemporary personalities in western Europe. Our interest lies in studying how male partners of female monarchs have had and used power, how gender affected their perceived role, what sort of court and political influence they were able to wield and attract, how they often defined themselves in distinctive spheres of the arts or war, and more generally, the extent to which they contributed to the changing ideal and reality of royal families and dynasties over the centuries.

For further information please contact IHR.Events@sas.ac.uk