Fraucymer at the Queen’s Court in Late Medieval Poland

Abstract

The ladies’ court of the queen in late medieval Poland was less numerous and as such less important than the king’s court. It differed from the latter also in the existence of the so-called fraucymer, that is the courtly entourage of women who supported the queen in her official duties and private life, cared for her good mood and comfort, provided her entertainment as well as advice and guidance on cosmetics, robes and jewelry when needed. The term is derived from the German word, but it is not known whether it was used also in Poland in the fifteenth century. Surely, some of the women were personally chosen by the queen, being her friends, companions, confidantes and advisors in difficult decisions. The household of the court included maid servants, i.e. ladies-in-waiting, matrons — highly respected married women or widows with established social standing, and female servants supervised by a housekeeper.