Militia and Architecture in the Library of Queen Mary of Hungary
Militia and Architecture in the Library of Queen Mary of Hungary

Summary/Abstract: This article analyzes in detail the readings of Mary of Hungary, governor-general of the Low Countries, on military matters and architecture. It reconstructs the process of formation and development of her library, in which the queen assembled an unusual and still little-studied collection of books on war, fortification, and architecture—a remarkable achievement for a woman of her time, but understandable given her responsibility for the region’s territorial defense. The study portrays her not only as a woman merely interested in these matters but also as someone capable of integrating readings, works of art, architecture, courtly festivities, and iconographic programs into a cohesive display of power.

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