ABSTRACT
For women of higher status in the Tudor or early Stuart period, one of the most promising places for advancement was the court. Women could use their connections to aid their families and various networks, and, potentially, make advantageous marriages. Many women became ladies-in-waiting or held specific court positions. In some cases they became the intimates and confidantes of queen consorts and queen regnants. Many women at court made significant personal sacrifices for the queens they served, and sometimes felt insufficiently compensated; occasionally, their actions offended the queen and they lost their positions, often to the anger and dismay of their families. While most were English women, some came from foreign countries, often with the brides of kings or princes, either leaving after a relatively short time or marrying an Englishman and making England their home for the rest of their lives. While being a lady at court could be potentially problematic, even possibly dangerous, it could also provide real rewards.
