Sex with Royals

Class Description

This four-day class will explore the lives and roles of royal mistresses and favorites in early modern Europe, from the fifteenth to the eighteenth centuries. Get ready to explore the juicy and scandalous details behind the women (and men too for that matter) who warmed the monarch’s heart and bed. Together, we will explore how mistresses rose to power and prestige in the royal court, becoming not simply lovers to the king but also political advisors, spies, fashion trendsetters, patrons of the arts, and even queens themselves.

A cultural historian and lecturer, Emilie M. Brinkman holds a PhD in European History from Purdue University. She specializes in the history of British politics, queenship, fashion, and popular culture.

All virtual classes are recorded and made available to participants registered in the class. These recordings are password-protected and available for up to two weeks after the class ends.

Materials List

No Required Materials

A Brief Syllabus

1. The Role of Sex in the Medieval World
2. The Power of the Mistress
3. The “Double Standard” of Royal Extramarital Affairs
4. The “Favorite”

Cost and Registration

4 sessions, $225 ($202 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($225), Community Supported ($215), and Sponsor ($235). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

Take a Look

View our full schedule of adult education classes.

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Questions?

Call us at (312) 255-3700 or send us an email at adulteducation@newberry.org.

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