A queen in the shadows: Sanchia of Provence, Richard of Cornwall and a royal life unveiled

This article contributes to the on-going research on the role of royal and noblewomen within medieval Europe through the experiences of the thirteenth-century German queen, Sanchia of Provence. Offering the first academic study of this long-neglected figure, it will demonstrate how, through her public persona, ceremonial responsibilities, and diplomatic activities, first as countess of Cornwall and then later as queen of the Romans, Sanchia established herself as an exemplar for contemporary ideals of royal womanhood. Contrasting her style with that adopted by her contemporaries, this article will also show how she favoured a more restrained and less political approach in fulfilling her role in the public sphere.