Queen mother of the west: Did you mean...?

A detail of an illustration from a 14th Century CE manuscript of Roman de Brut, a legendary history of Britain by the Norman poet Wace (c. 1110 - c. 1170 CE). The young Merlin is depicted, alongside his mother, approaching King Vortigern...

Beatrice, mother of Matilda of Tuscany (c. 1046-1115) as depicted in the Vita Mathildis by Donizo, 1115. Ms. Vat. lat. 4922, fol. 30. Vatican Library.

Marie Antoinette (l. 1755-1793) was the queen of France during the turbulent final years of the Ancien Régime and the subsequent French Revolution (1789-1799). With the ascension of her husband Louis XVI of France (r. 1774-1792), she became...

The Crown Jewels of the monarchy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are today kept in the Tower of London and date mostly to the 17th century, with a few later sparkling additions such as the Koh-i-Noor and Cullinan...

A 13th century CE manuscript showing the coronation of Odo of West Francia, r. 888-898 CE. (Grandes Chroniques de France)

Owen Roe as Odo of West Francia in the TV series Vikings. Photo by Bernard Walsh/HISTORY - © 2016 The HISTORY Channel

Owen Roe as Odo of West Francia in the TV series Vikings. Photo by Bernard Walsh/HISTORY - © The HISTORY Channel

A coin of Odo of West Francia (r. 888-898 CE)

Mary of Guise (aka Marie de Lorraine, 1515-1560) was a French noblewoman who became the second wife of James V of Scotland (r. 1513-1542). With the premature death of her husband, her daughter Mary, Queen of Scots (r. 1542-1567) became queen...

Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586) was an English poet, scholar, soldier, and courtier, one of the most prominent figures at the court of Queen Elizabeth I of England (r. 1558-1603). During his lifetime, he was revered as the ideal Elizabethan...