The Queen and the Mistress

There were two women in Edward III's life: Philippa of Hainault, his wife of forty years and bearer of twelve children, and his mistress, Alice Perrers, the twenty-year-old who took the king's fancy as his ageing wife grew sick. Both women had wealth and power but used vitally different methods to dispense it. After Philippa's death Alice began to dominate court, amassing a fortune and persuading the elderly Edward to promote her friends and punish her enemies. Holliman contrasts the pious, unpolitical, steady Philippa with the wily, charismatic, manipulative Alice. Philippa died a royal, adored, while the full force of the English court united against Alice, leaving her with nothing.