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Introduction
T
hismonographprovidesinsightsintoEuropeancourtlycirclesfrom
theperspectiveofstructuralandculturalchangesthattookplace
bothinthereigningmonarch’scourtsandinprivatecirclesfromthe
MiddleAgestotheendofthe18thcentury.1Regardlessofthepatron
orpatroness,thecourtwasundoubtedlyaninterestingadministrative,
economic,andculturalstructure,exertingastronginfluenceontheor-
ganizationofEuropeansocietyinthepre-industrialera.Thestructure
oftheEuropeanrulingcourtsfluctuatedconstantly:theirorganization,
theirmembers,andtheroletheyplayedchanged.Notonlywasthecourt
animportantelementofstateadministrationandtheadministrator
ofofices,goods,andmeans,butalsothecreatorofnewculturalval-
uesandtheenvironmentwheretheyouthwaseducated,wheresocial
advancementwaspossible,andwhereclericalandpoliticalcareers
flourished.
Toalargeextent,theirsize,members,andetiquettedependedonthe
financialcapabilities,aswellasonthepoliticalstructuresofthecoun-
triesinwhichtheyoperated.Withtimeandthedevelopmentofnew
structuresintheroyaloraristocraticcourts,whichweretheconveyor
ofelitevaluesaswellasnewaestheticsandfashion,thecourtwould
becomenotonlyanelementofauthority,butalsoofprestige,aswell
asanexpressionofwealthbelongingtoaspecificsocialgroupcharac-
terizedbyacoherentsystemofsigns,gestures,andculturalcodes,which
constitutedacommunityofeducationalmodels,andceremonies.
TheRenaissancemarkedtheformationofneworganizationalstruc-
turesofcourtlycircles,thecreationofawomen’scourt,thedevelopment
ofthe“courtlyLady”andgoodcourtiermodels,aswellastheflourishing
ofthepoliticalpatronageofreigningmonarchs.Someoftheformercourt
oficesceasedtoexist,otherstookonanewcharacterandfunctions.The
courtbecamenotonlyapoliticalunit,butalsoaculturalone,theforge
ofelitesformedinaccordancewiththewilloftherulerorinopposition
1Thispaperhasbeenpreparedinthecourseofastudyconductedunder
theNationalScienceCentregrantKKobiecydwórszlacheckiwRzeczypospolitej
wczasachsaskich.Struktura,ludzie,kultura,funkcje’[Women’snoblecourt
inthePolish-LithuanianCommonwealthintheSaxontimes.Structure,people,
culture,functions.],grantnumber2021/41/B/HS3/00253
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