#guelders

Medievalists interested in late medieval court culture have focused mainly on the great courts such as those of the kings of England and France, and above all on the famous court of the Valois dukes of Burgundy. This was understandable enough, given the size, wealth and splendour of these centres. But these very factors mean that they cannot serve as paradigms for medieval court culture as a whole. Most European courts were smaller. Information about this majority is for the most part sparse, biased or full of gaps. If by careful study of the surviving sources we can form an image of a more regional court such as that of Guelders, this will also give us a clearer picture of 'average' court culture. Paradoxical as it may sound, a medium-sized court like that of Guelders, operating in the shadow of the Burgundian splendour, may be more representative and more informative than the leading courts of Europe.