Dunbar, Margaret Tudor, and the Rise of Renaissance Court Poetry

William Dunbar and Occasional Poetry

William Dunbar (c. 1460–c. 1520) was a prominent Scottish makar (poet) associated with the court of James IV of Scotland. He received a classical education at the University of St. Andrews and exemplifies the figure of the courtier poet.

"To the Princess Margaret on her Arrival at Holyrood" (1503)

This poem is an example of occasional poetry—verse written specifically to celebrate or commemorate a certain event. Dunbar composed this piece in 1503 to honor Princess Margaret, the daughter of Henry VII of England, upon her arrival in Scotland.

The Context of the Tudor Renaissance State

The poem was produced under the reign of Henry VII, who inaugurated the Tudor dynasty on the English throne following his victory at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. This date is often cited by historians as marking the end of the Medieval Period in England. The Tudors brought peace after the Wars of the Roses and established the first dynasty of the Renaissance state.

This new state was organized around the figure of a strong monarch. The center of society shifted to the court, which was organized around the king. Strong monarchs reinforced their position by limiting the power of the Church and the nobility, traditional sources of conflict for medieval rulers. For state administration, they relied on the nobility of merit (those who had rendered service to the Crown) rather than the nobility of blood (the traditional aristocracy).

Humanism and the New Courtier Ideal

The new code of behavior at court was heavily inspired by Humanism. Humanists emphasized:

• The perfectibility of the individual and the possibility of improving one’s abilities through education.
• Personal merit, contrasting with the aristocratic tradition that valued family name and property.

To guide this new ideal, manuals of courtesy were created, establishing rules for courtiers. Erudition became a mark of distinction; good courtiers were expected to be cultivated in languages, music, and poetry.

The Tudors actively promoted court culture (music, poetry, painting), shifting the focus of cultural production from monasteries to the court. This era saw the rise of patronage, where monarchs promoted and protected cultural activity, often participating in it themselves. William Dunbar, as a court poet, benefited from this system.

Political Alliances: Margaret Tudor and James IV

Strong monarchs like the Tudors also secured their power through strategic political alliances. Princess Margaret was sent to Scotland to marry the Scottish king, James IV. England and Scotland had been separate kingdoms since the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, and this marriage meant the English Princess would become the Queen of the Scots.

In his poem, William Dunbar praises Princess Margaret. This praise is often exaggerated, reflecting the nature of Renaissance art produced in the courts, which frequently flattered monarchs to gain their favor and patronage.