ABSTRACT
Royal marriages encouraged cultural transfer in early modern European courts, a process in which women played a vital role. As they were often excluded from succession to the throne in their home court, many royal women married into foreign dynasties in order to foster and strengthen political alliances. Upon arriving at their marital court, accompanied by a large entourage including writers and artists, they frequently introduced new customs and tastes, thereby also acting as cultural mediators. To some extent, the political and cultural influence women were able to exert at court hinged upon their ability to produce children, in particular a male heir to the throne.
