Introduction: Locating Court Culture—An Intersected Geography

This is an introduction to a book whose aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of court culture during Queen Philippa of Lancaster’s time, shedding light on its dynamic and diverse socio-cultural landscape. It offers a detailed exploration of the cultural, artistic, and intellectual aspects of the Portuguese royal court during the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries. Through a series of essays, the book highlights the intricate relationships between language, religion, and identity in the court, shedding light on the evolving nature of court life. Philippa Plantagenet’s marriage to João I of Portugal brought her into a royal court facing political challenges and cultural complexities. Philippa played a crucial role in the new regime’s establishment, and with her foreign origins and cultural traits influenced the court’s norms and practices. As a queen, Philippa would play a significant role in the court’s politico-ideological agenda through custom, display, patronage, and other cultural practices, thereby shaping narratives of power and identity. The introduction considers the roles of queens-consort, emphasising their contributions to court life as a tool of monarchical governance. It delves into the broader themes of courtly culture, dynastic power, gendered power structures, and kinship. It describes the princely court as a political and intellectual centre in continuous adaptation. The court culture of Portugal in Philippa’s time was multicultural in nature, complex, diverse, and connected to influences from local to international levels. Multiculturalism, linguistic diversity, and religious practices were key elements of court culture, reflecting a negotiation of tradition and innovation, embodying a sense of cultural convivencia.