B.A. (Wilfrid Laurier)
"Edward IV, The Woodvilles, and the Politics of Idealism, c. 1464-83"
Examining Committee:
Committee: Fiona Harris-Stoertz (Supervisor), Ivana Elbl, and Jennine Hurl-Eamon
External Examiner: Katherine Lewis, University of Huddersfield
Chair: Antonio Cazorla-Sanchez
Abstract
This thesis examines performance and propaganda in the reign of Edward IV, and explores the ways in which Edward sought to legitimize his right to rule by performing as an ideal king. It focuses in particular on the roles played by Edward's queen, Elizabeth Woodville, and her eldest brother Anthony. Elizabeth's unique biography makes her something of an outlier compared to other medieval English queens and has led to much speculation about Edward's motivations for marrying her. Challenging previous assumptions that she had no positive political role for Edward, this thesis argues that, by providing a stark contrast with her predecessor, Margaret of Anjou, Elizabeth was in some respects a politically desirable partner. Margaret's 'failures' had led to a redefinition of ideal queenship, making Elizabeth's English nationality and proven fertility into positive qualities; her 'performance' as ideal queen was thus crucial to Edward's own performance as ideal king. By correctly adhering to these ideals, both king and queen helped bolster their otherwise questionable legitimacy. A similar strategy was pursued by Anthony Woodville, a successful soldier, patron of the arts, and religious penitent. Anthony, this thesis argues, likewise successfully performed the role of ideal nobleman at a time where that ideal was changing, which largely secured him against charges of being a man "made by marriage." Performing idealism, in other words, was a deliberate strategy deployed by individuals in a precarious social position to justify their own privilege.
Ryan completed his BA in History and Medieval Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2016, taking courses in all aspects of medieval history and culture, and later examples of medievalism, such as fantasy literature. Major projects included a biography of Anthony Woodville, a 15th century English nobleman, and a study of perceptions of prostitution in Victorian Canada. He also served as an Instructional Assistant for "Game of Thrones and Medieval Culture" and as a Research Assistant for a project on representations of Whitechapel in later Victorian press. He intends to complete his thesis on the Woodville family, concentrating on aristocratic identity, chivalry, and politics in the Wars of the Roses period. You can find his writing on medievalism and pedagogy as articles on a blog