Courting the Wizards
Below is a revised list of influential queens (or near-queens) from the 12th century who wielded considerable power and might logically welcome a retinue of esoteric advisors in an Ars Magica–style saga. Following these historical figures, you will also find a “modern” comparison in the form of **Kristina of Sweden**, daughter of Gustavus Adolphus—described to highlight how a significantly later queen approached patronage of the arts and new ideas.
--- Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain (1474 - 1504)
---
1. Urraca of León and Castile (r. 1109–1126)
Background: - Inherited the thrones of León and Castile upon the death of her father, Alfonso VI. - One of the first true queens regnant in medieval Europe, though her reign was turbulent: feudal magnates, civil wars, and multiple marital disputes challenged her.
- Why She Might Welcome Esoteric Scholars**:
- When political power is precarious, unorthodox methods of securing or legitimizing one’s rule become appealing. A secretive group of “learned magicians” could shift the balance of power, advise on hidden threats, or offer an unusual path to alliances.
---
2. Melisende of Jerusalem (r. 1131–1153)
Background: - Ruled the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem alongside (and eventually apart from) her husband, Fulk. - After her father Baldwin II’s death, she became a crucial figure in the volatile environment of the Latin East, a nexus of Christian, Islamic, and Jewish traditions.
Why She Might Welcome Esoteric Scholars: - Jerusalem was a melting pot of religions and philosophies, where exotic learning thrived. A queen juggling diverse, often hostile factions might see secret knowledge—be it relics, wards, or arcane lore—as a practical tool for maintaining unity and defense.
---
3. Empress Matilda (Maud) (briefly in power in 1141)
Background: - Daughter of King Henry I of England and widow of the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry V. - Fought a protracted civil war (the Anarchy) against her cousin Stephen for the English throne. - Proclaimed “Lady of the English” and held power in London for several months in 1141, though never crowned outright as queen.
Why She Might Welcome Esoteric Scholars: - Under siege from ambitious barons and lacking broad-based support, she might be willing to look beyond the usual resources of feudal armies. A network of mages able to manipulate illusions or glean intelligence from afar could help her outmaneuver rivals.
---
4. Eleanor of Aquitaine
Background: - One of medieval Europe’s most influential and formidable figures—first Queen of France through marriage to Louis VII, then Queen of England through marriage to Henry II. - Held immense personal lands as Duchess of Aquitaine, which gave her considerable wealth and independence. - Patron of poetry, arts, and courtly culture; mother of future kings Richard the Lionheart and John.
Why She Might Welcome Esoteric Scholars: - Known for supporting troubadours and new forms of art. Extending her patronage to arcane practitioners is not a far leap in a mythic medieval setting. They could offer novel forms of intrigue, aid in negotiations, or be used as cultural ambassadors.
---
5. Sibylla of Jerusalem (r. 1186–1190)
Background: - Daughter of Amalric I, she inherited the throne during a perilous period in Crusader history. - Faced the rise of Saladin, culminating in the disastrous Battle of Hattin (1187) and the subsequent loss of Jerusalem.
Why She Might Welcome Esoteric Scholars: - With the kingdom of Jerusalem on the brink of collapse, a desperate monarch might seek any advantage to stave off defeat—magical defenses, hidden relics, or advanced knowledge from foreign lands could seem invaluable.
---
6. Tamar of Georgia (r. 1184–1213)
Background: - Ascended the throne in 1184 (late 12th century), reigning over Georgia’s Golden Age. - Reigned as a true monarch in her own right, promoting cultural and intellectual life, and managing a realm bridging Europe and Asia.
- Why She Might Welcome Esoteric Scholars**:
- Georgia was a strategic crossroads, interacting with Byzantine, Muslim, and Steppe cultures. Tamar’s interest in religious piety and artistic patronage could extend to mystical or Hermetic counsel to help her govern diverse subjects and secure new alliances.
---
- Using These Queens in an Ars Magica Saga
1. **Historical or Mythic**: For a standard 12th- or 13th-century Ars Magica setting, choose from the first six women. Interference with mortal politics, a key taboo in the Order of Hermes, can be the thematic axis of the campaign as your magi navigate alliances and antagonize mundane powers.
2. **Comparative, “What If” Timelines**: Introduce Kristina of Sweden as an allegorical or out-of-time figure (if your saga permits dimension- or time-hopping, or if you run multiple story arcs in different periods). Her court might echo the same tension of “accepted scholarship vs. esoteric knowledge,” but set in a far more modern context.
3. **Court Patronage**: Each queen likely has an urgent need—safeguarding her throne, forging alliances, resisting invaders, or preserving a budding cultural renaissance. A coterie of magi or secret scholars could fill gaps mundane advisors cannot, becoming indispensable… and potentially resented by local lords or the Church.
4. **Diplomatic and Magical Consequences**: Whether in the Holy Land, Iberia, or the Caucasus, these monarchs stand on frontiers (religious, cultural, or military). Introducing magic into these realms raises the stakes: from conjuring illusions on a battlefield to forging enchanted alliances with neighboring powers.
In summary, if you wish to remain in the 12th century, you have a rich tapestry of newly enthroned queens and powerful female rulers (or rulers-apparent) who could realistically incorporate a retinue of magi into their courts. For a striking contrast, you can peer across time to Kristina of Sweden in the 17th century—her intellectual curiosity and sometimes radical decisions highlight how a patron might treat esoteric knowledge outside the rigid constraints of the medieval worldview.