What Was Life Like? | Episode 6: Castles - Meet A Medieval Noblewoman
English Heritage・3 minutes read
Margaret, the Countess of Norfolk, educates Olivia and Felicity on medieval noblewomen's behavior and etiquette at Framlingham Castle. She emphasizes the importance of dressing appropriately, acting courteously, and displaying excellent table manners, detailing her own experiences of living boldly and managing a prosperous life with grand feasts and detailed orders.
Insights
- Nobility in the medieval era encompassed specific behaviors and appearances, as emphasized by Margaret, the Countess of Norfolk, who highlighted the significance of dressing elegantly, displaying courteous conduct, and adhering to proper table etiquette, which involved using a knife to pierce food, wiping the mouth before accepting a drink with both hands, and refraining from resting elbows on the table.
- Margaret's recounting of her life sheds light on her resilience, independence, and prosperity, showcasing her early marriage, determination to dissolve it, and enjoyment of lavish feasts and dances. Her meticulous annual orders for vast quantities of provisions like bread, herring, beef, pork, mutton, saffron, and wine from Sandringham underscore the opulence and logistical management required for sustaining noble households in medieval times.
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Recent questions
What are some key aspects of medieval noblewomen's behavior?
Medieval noblewomen were expected to dress nobly, behave with courtesy, and showcase excellent table manners. This included using a knife to stab food, wiping the mouth before accepting a drink with both hands, and never resting elbows on the table.
How did Margaret, the Countess of Norfolk, describe her life?
Margaret, the Countess of Norfolk, described her life as one lived fearlessly, knowing her mind, and enjoying prosperity. She recounted her early marriage at fifteen, her efforts to end it, and her enjoyment of feasts, dances, and detailed yearly orders for various provisions.
What were some specific items included in Margaret's yearly orders?
Margaret's yearly orders included 70,321 loaves of bread, 40 casks of red herring, 721 carcasses of beef, 151 carcasses of pork, 697 carcasses of mutton, 24 pounds of saffron, and 2,200 gallons of red and white wine from Sandringham.
What did Margaret emphasize as important for medieval noblewomen's attire?
Margaret emphasized the importance of dressing nobly for medieval noblewomen. This was a key aspect of their behavior, along with showcasing excellent table manners and behaving with courtesy.
How did Margaret describe the behavior expected of medieval noblewomen?
Margaret described the behavior expected of medieval noblewomen as one that required them to use a knife to stab food, wipe the mouth before accepting a drink with both hands, and never rest elbows on the table. These were all considered essential elements of proper etiquette for noblewomen during that time.
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Summary
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Medieval Noblewomen: Etiquette, Life, and Feasts
- Margaret, the Countess of Norfolk, welcomes Olivia and Felicity to Framlingham Castle to learn about medieval noblewomen. She explains the importance of dressing nobly, behaving with courtesy, and showcasing excellent table manners, including using a knife to stab food, wiping the mouth before accepting a drink with both hands, and never resting elbows on the table.
- Margaret shares details of her life, including her pride in living fearlessly, knowing her mind, and having a prosperous life. She recounts her early marriage at fifteen, her efforts to end it, and her enjoyment of feasts, dances, and a detailed account of her yearly orders, such as 70,321 loaves of bread, 40 casks of red herring, 721 carcasses of beef, 151 carcasses of pork, 697 carcasses of mutton, 24 pounds of saffron, and 2,200 gallons of red and white wine from Sandringham.
