The Best and Worst Dressed of the Middle Ages

Who’s The Most Powerful? Decide for Yourself...

The Best and Worst Dressed of the Middle Ages

Judith was stunning, but what was Radegund thinking?

That time of year is here again! Today the writers and editors at Queen’s Choice publish our much
anticipated Best and Worst Dressed List of the Middle Ages. As always, we have much too discuss, but we hope our readership remembers what’s truly at stake with the release of our selections. Here at Queen’s Choice, we do not harp on our beloved queens for the sake of being superficial or trivial; instead, we hope to convey that a queen’s appearance is a direct reflection on her power at court. You might assume that those queens who have the richest wardrobe also hold the greatest influence, but we at Queen’s Choice dare to say that some of the worst dressed among us wield the most power. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide.

We begin with Judith, the lovely wife of Louis the Pious. Judith always cuts a stunning figure, but we were particularly impressed by her appearance at the Danish King Herold’s baptism in 826. The event was a huge success, and Judith’s garb mirrored her own powerful influence in the court social life of the party. We were told by reliable sources that Queen Judith was cloaked in royal dignity and beautiful attire, yet the source was unable, or unwilling, to provide exact details of just how stunning Judith was. Instead, we turned to Judith’s actions and demeanor to analyze her ability to be a powerful Queen. Sources at the event told us that Judith gave the Danish queen many lavish gifts, including a gold tiara, an act which any shrewd queen knows will ensure the receiving party is left in debt of the royal house. Judith, in the picture of domestic perfection, also set up a lavish picnic for those returning from the hunt--another power play which illuminates her station as head of the household. Overall, Judith’s beauty was, indeed, stunning, yet her prominence in rituals and her domestic prowess are what ultimately win her the coveted label of Queen’s Choice Best Dressed.

From Judith we turn, sadly, to Radegund, a Queen who ultimately missed the mark. Married to the horrid Clotaire I (talk about a #metoo moment), Radegund was seen as a queenly icon for much of the sixth century and beyond. Yet this iconic status was not due to her appearance--although that was extreme. People close to Radegund in the Church report that she often only wears hair-cloth--not exactly a flattering fashion statement. In addition, Radegund is prone to extreme diets, refusing to consume only legumes or not even eat at all. They say “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels,” but in Radegund’s case skinny is intended to be very, very painful, as it is all suffering for the Lord. She is, we imagine, horribly emaciated, and most likely too weak to be of much use to anyone. This is especially true with the rumors of her flogging herself and sleeping on a bed of ashes.  This is just so Old Testament.

One would be right to conclude Radegund is winning no praise for ornate beauty, yet even still we at Queen’s Choice take issue with her leadership style. Yes, sources close to the Queen have reported she has the gift of healing, and we, of course, also want to applaud her devotion to charity and the church, both of which can be powerful weapons in a queen’s arsenal. And yet, Radegund’s total devotion costs her any power queenship might entail. She is never at court, has yet to produce an heir, and ultimately spends her time running away from the king instead of using his power to strengthen her own. As a church leader and philanthropic figure, Radegund is a complete success. As a Queen, however, her poor taste is clothing and pious-without-being-regal demeanor leave much to be desired and ultimately earn her the dreaded title of Queen’s Choice Worst Dressed.

Judith and Radegund operate at opposite ends of the queenly spectrum, and both were successful in their own right. Many queens, such as Esther, choose to play by Judith’s rules--sit still (except in those prestige-building rituals), look pretty, and get on the King’s good side to enhance your own prestige. Others, such as Balthild, follow Radegund’s lead, opting to err on the side piety and sacrifice beauty for faith. Yet, there are countless other ways to be a Queen--look at Theodora, a past winner of Queen’s Choice Best Dressed, who used beauty, sexual prowess, and masterful manipulation to gain power in the Roman empire, a cocktail of persuasion neither queen mentioned today dared to attempt. The innovation seen among queens of all time periods is what makes Queen’s Choice the number one source of royal news, even over King’s Quarterly. One could argue that our magazine’s success over that of our masculine counterpart is a reflection of where the true strength of a royal dynasty comes from--the queen. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide.