The book of the disabled courtier : neurodiverse court fools and bodilydiverse court wonders at the English Tudor, Scottish Stewart and British Stuart royal courts 1485-1649

Abstract

This thesis investigates the importance of neurodiverse court fools and bodilydiverse court dwarfs and giant porters at the English, Scottish and British royal courts and in society between 1485-1649 using a comparative approach and joint Disability History and Court History lenses. It does so to demonstrate that these groups, due to widely accepted desired differentness, gained roles at these courts as ‘disabled courtiers’, figures who this work defines as non-servants usually tied to the domus magnificencie who were unique in their positions and treatment due to disabilities yet are only fully understandable through their court context as members of the royal household and court. A disabled group whose sources are extant due to proximity to royalty, they provide proof of the specific and positive views and treatment of disabled people in Britain before the rise of modern ableism.

To do this, chapter one considers the wider perception of natural fools and wonders outside royal courts which was informed by contemporary religion and law which tried to tackle the incapacity of the natural fool to participate in everyday life yet emphasised the special nature of disabled people and their right to support. This alongside belief in a desired differentness inherent to fools and wonders created by favourable religious and cultural depictions led to these groups finding membership in the royal household as chapter two investigates. They enjoyed renumeration akin to other household members and as the period went on had a rise in status. Chapter three focuses on the specific ‘Court’ element of their roles which situates them in their court space and community while chapter four shows the groups’ importance to royal display and construction of royal virtues. By the thesis’s conclusion the significance of ‘Disabled Courtier’ roles for Tudor England, Stewart Scotland and Stuart Britain will be demonstrated.