Children Quote by Alison Weir
““Perhaps the Queen's prayers, and those of Bernard, had been efficacious, or perhaps Louise had been more attentive in bed, for during 1145--the exact date is not recorded--she bore a daughter, who was named Marie in honour of the Virgin. If the infant was not the male heir to France so desired by the King--the Salic law forbade the succession of females to the throne--her arrival encouraged the royal parents to hope for a son in the future. Relationships between aristocratic parents and children were rarely close. Queens and noblewomen did not nurse their own babies, but handed them over at birth into the care of wet nurses, leaving themselves free to become pregnant again.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Women Who Made the Middle Ages, Alison Weir, 2020
Royal families often used surrogate caregiving, reflecting political and dynastic priorities over maternal bonds.
In simple terms: Queens relied on wet nurses, prioritizing succession and alliances.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how institutional structures shape family dynamics.
Themes
dynasty
succession
gender roles
parental distance
Mood
reflective
historical
analytical
Type
historical
sociopolitical
When to use this quote
- royal births
- court politics
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
wet nursing
salic law
political strategy
Questions to Reflect On
- How did wet nursing affect royal children's upbringing?
- What alternatives existed for maternal involvement?
A Different Perspective
Surrogacy can weaken emotional bonds between parent and child.
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