#historian: caroline barron

[richmond-rex]

Doubtless Edward’s motives were as much financial as chivalric, but it is clear that it was no longer unthinkable that the London merchants should participate in the festivities of the Court. Henry VII invited the mayor, aldermen and other Londoners to the Epiphany celebrations in 1494 when there were elaborate pageants, ‘disguisings’ and dancing. The king chose this occasion to dub the mayor a knight, and the feasting continued all night until at day break the king and queen returned to Westminster Palace and the mayor and his brethren took their barges back to London. The knighthoods which were increasingly conferred on the London aldermen, and their participation in courtly festivities, symbolise the way in which the chivalric world of the Court and the mercantile world of the London citizens were moving closer together.

— Caroline Barron, “Chivalry, Pageantry and Merchant Culture in Medieval London”; Heraldry, Pageantry, and Social Display in Medieval England 

#edward iv #henry vii #william caxton #15th century #medieval history #late middle ages #the ironic thing is that the merchants of london #had wanted nothing to do with chivalric culture until #very late in the game (edward's reign) #and by then chivalry was already dying #historian: caroline barron #heraldry; pageantry and social display in medieval england

[richmond-rex]

— Caroline Barron, “Chivalry, Pageantry and Merchant Culture in Medieval London”; Heraldry, Pageantry, and Social Display in Medieval England 

#william caxton #15th century #late middle ages #medieval history #historian: caroline barron #heraldry; pageantry and social display in medieval england