The early-Tudor Royal Household Chapel, 1485-1547
This thesis deals with a sub-department within the early-Tudor royal household, a group of clerics and layclerks collectively known as the Chapel Royal. It fills a major lacuna in the recent historiography of the Tudor domus which, while drawing attention to the central importance of the establishment in the political and administrative life of the nation, has largely disregarded the members of its chapel. This study shows that far from being a marginal institution, the chapel played a prominent role in early-Tudor representations of kingship and in the cultural life of the court and nation at large, and its senior officers were active participants in national government, politics and diplomacy. Beginning with a description of the royal household and a survey of the documentary sources used to reconstruct the operations of the chapel, it proceeds with an analysis of the chapel's membership and institutional structure. The important role of the chapel in the ceremonial, religious and cultural life of the court is then described. This is followed by a chapter on the household of the Lady Margaret Beaufort, matriarch of the Tudor dynasty, who, owing to the ceremonial needs arising from her wealth, political prominence
Kisby, Fiona Louise
History
The early-Tudor Royal Household Chapel, 1485-1547. This thesis deals with a sub-department within the early-Tudor royal household, a group of clerics and layclerks collectively known as the Chapel Royal. It fills a major lacuna in the recent historiography of the Tudor domus which, while drawing attention to the central importance of the establishment in the political and administrative life of the nation, has largely disregarded the members of its chapel. This study shows that far from being a marginal institution, the chapel played a prominent role in early-Tudor representations of kingship and in the cultural life of the court and nation at large, and its senior officers were active participants in national government, politics and diplomacy. Beginning with a description of the royal household and a survey of the documentary sources used to reconstruct the operations of the chapel, it proceeds with an analysis of the chapel's membership and institutional structure. The important role of the chapel in the ceremonial, religious and cultural life of the court is then described. This is followed by a chapter on the household of the Lady Margaret Beaufort, matriarch of the Tudor dynasty, who, owing to the ceremonial needs arising from her wealth, political prominence
early tudor royal household chapel deal sub department within early_tudor royal_household group cleric collectively know chapel royal fill major lacuna recent historiography tudor draw_attention central_importance establishment political_administrative life nation largely member chapel study_show far marginal institution chapel play_prominent role early_tudor representation kingship cultural life court nation large senior officer active_participant national_government politics diplomacy beginning description royal_household survey documentary_source use reconstruct operation chapel proceeds analysis chapel membership institutional_structure important_role chapel ceremonial religious_cultural life court describe follow household lady tudor dynasty owe ceremonial need arise wealth political prominence