Kiryukhina E.M. Medieval Rituals of Power as a Source of Inspiration in the English Culture from the Mid Nineteenth to the Early Twentieth Century [Digital resource] // Vox medii aevi. 2018. Vol. 1(2). P. 105–134. URL: https://voxmediiaevi.com/vol-2-kiryukhina
DOI: 10.24411/2587-6619-2018-00006
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Elena Kiryukhina
Candidate of Sciences (Philology), Associate Professor of the Department “History and Culture”, Nizhny Novgorod State Agricultural Academy
elenakiruhina@gmail.com
Medieval Rituals of Power as a Source of Inspiration in the English Culture from the Mid Nineteenth to the Early Twentieth Century
The article deals with the transformation of traditional medieval rituals of the royal power in England from the second half of the 19th to the early 20th century and their display in the culture. The article is written in accordance with the New Cultural History: the facts and events of cultural life and works of art are considered as a source for studying the past. Particular attention is paid to the Victorian era, when there was a new socio-cultural system in English society, based on the compound ideals of the aristocracy and the middle class. A kind of “reform” of the medieval rituals of the royal power led, on the one hand, to the restoration of the ideals of chivalry in the Arthurian revival, and on the other hand, to the promotion of morality and family values, which was maintained at the state level personally by Prince Consort Albert. These values were reflected in the cultural phenomenon of costumed balls and in the tournament at Eglinton, in the images of the royal family and the Prince Consort, as well as the images of the great monarchs, from Alfred the Great to the Tudors. The rituals and images of Tudor royal power symbolized stability and prosperity of the era of the New Age, which was extremely important for the monarchy in the Victorian and subsequent periods and sought to preserve historical continuity.
Key words: Victorian Era; Representation of Images and Rituals of Power; English Culture from the Second Half of the 19th to the early 20th century.