Gender and the language of politics in thirteenth‐century queens’ letters

This article examines how the ars dictaminis , the conventions which governed medieval letter writing, was used within a selection of thirteenth‐century royal letters written in the names of Berenguela of Castile, Blanche of Castile, Violant of Hungary, Marguerite of Provence, Eleanor of Provence, Blanche of Navarre and some of the men with whom they most frequently corresponded. In setting out contemporary usage of the ars dictaminis within this selection, this article proffers an examination of formal and public expression of power (both female and male) in thirteenth‐century letters – an expression which was articulated surprisingly similarly – and highlights the complexities of female political dialogue.