Moustaches, Mantles, and Saffron Shirts: What Motivated Sumptuary Law in Medieval English Ireland?

Sumptuary laws—laws that regulated displays of status through clothing, hairstyles, armor, and other visual markers—were enacted across Europe with increasing frequency beginning in the late thirteenth century. laws from English colony Ireland, promulgated 1297 onward, have never been analyzed as a distinct corpus law nor interpreted wider European context. Comparison Irish their counterparts highlights markers lawmakers were most anxious to preserve. share same core concern prompted sumptuary law: person’s position society was faithfully reflected appearance. They differ markedly much material, however, types which they primarily concerned. rarely addressed, for example, attire women or sought restrain expenditure. Most notably, signaling rank social main laws, while Ireland differentiation by ethnicity primary focus. The relative inattention relates several economic societal factors but also reflects centrality ethnic division between worldview colony.