Marriage and money were concepts invariably linked in the medieval and early
modern period. In the complicated world of dynastic royal and aristocratic marriages, the
question of which assets would a bride bring to the marriage and which assurances will
she be given in case she became a widow (with or without children) was of the utmost
importance and the subject of challenging negotiations. Which factors had an impact on
the quantity and quality of the dowry assigned to royal or aristocratic brides? How were
non-monetary assets (inheritance rights, moveable goods, jewels, etc.) discussed and
quantified in the marriage negotiations? How could a royal woman claim her dowry and
promised assets and which problems and issues did she have to face to obtain it? These
are only some of the questions we seek to explore in this edited volume, focused on the
study and analysis of royal and aristocratic nuptial economic policies.
Proposals for chapters are welcome from scholars of all backgrounds, including PhD candidates and
early career scholars. Proposals may cover any royal and aristocratic families of any
territory and part of the world. Said proposals may focus on, but are not limited to, the
following topics:

- Analysing royal and aristocratic dowries and the question of how different territories approached this issue.

- Exploring why some princesses were given a higher or lower dowry than others and how the dynastic, political, and diplomatic circumstances influenced
dowry negotiations.

- Considering how non-monetary assets were discussed and included as part of the property/assets of a bride.

- Examining which assets were given to the bride by the groom (or vice versa) and how these were perceived, discussed, and managed.

- Determining how conflicts over dowry payments and unpaid dowries could affect a royal and aristocratic bride.

- Royal and aristocratic women and the management of their nuptial assets.

- Political, dynastic, and diplomatic problems linked to royal and aristocratic payments in general.

The volume is connected to the “Examining the Resources and Revenues of Royal Women
in Premodern Europe” project but prospective authors do not need to be previously
connected with the project in order to send in a proposal for this volume. The volume will
be proposed to Amsterdam University Press’s “Studies in Monarchy & Money” series,
edited by Charlotte Backerra and Cathleen Sarti. Please submit an abstract of 250-350
words and a brief bio to Rocío Martínez López (rocio.martinezl@uam.es) by January 15,
2023. Any inquiries regarding the topic of the publication are welcome and people
interested can write to Rocío Martínez López for further information. After the deadline,
we will let authors know if their proposals are accepted as soon as possible. The date for
submitting the full manuscript in English is scheduled for the last quarter of 2023.
Thank you for your attention and we are looking forward to hearing from you!