The The Matrimonial Union That Transcends Death: The Funerary Memory of Queen Philippa of Lancaster as a Political Project of the Avis Dynasty

Authors

Abstract

This article examines the construction of the funerary memory of Queen Philippa Of Lancaster (1360–1415) within the context of the consolidation of the Avis dynasty, highlighting her marriage to King John I of Portugal as a fundamental political instrument in late medieval Portugal. The research focuses on the symbolic representation of the queen at the Monastery of Batalha, inaugurated as the Locus Sepulcralis of the new dynasty, and on the idealization of the matrimonial bond as a central element of royal legitimation. The study draws on the chronistic narratives of Fernão Lopes and Gomes Eanes de Zurara, epitaphs, and iconographic elements of the tomb as primary sources, approached in dialogue with historiography and studies on collective memory. The article also problematizes the construction of narratives surrounding the queen's “good death,” celebrated as an expression of sanctity, and highlights its influence on the political and symbolic strategies of the dynasty. Ultimately, we propose that Queen Philippa’s funerary memory crystallized a dynastic project that transcended her lifetime, perpetuating the image of an ideal Christian queen within the Portuguese political imagination.

Keywords: Queen Philippa of Lancaster; Avis Dynasty; Funerary Memory.

Published

2025-09-29

How to Cite

Rincon Azevedo, H. (2025). The The Matrimonial Union That Transcends Death: The Funerary Memory of Queen Philippa of Lancaster as a Political Project of the Avis Dynasty. Revista Diálogos Mediterrânicos, (28), 39–59. Retrieved from https://www.dialogosmediterranicos.com.br/RevistaDM/article/view/486

Issue

Section

Dossiê "Vínculos de poder: o matrimônio enquanto ferramenta política na Idade Média"