Historical People Archives

When Isabella of Austria became Elisabeth of Denmark – the story of a young queen

By Anna Belfrage / May 6, 2023 / Leave a Comment / Historical People, Women in history / 16th century, Denmark, Elisabeth of Denmark, Emperor Charles V, Hapsburgs, Isabella of Austria, Kristian II of Denmark, reformation

In Sweden, Kristian II of Denmark has the not-so-flattering epithet ”the tyrant”. After all, it was because of his duplicity that the streets of Stockholm ran red with blood one cold November night in 1520 as one after another of the Swedish nobles who’d fought against Danish dominion were summarily executed. In Denmark, obviously, he …

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From royal prince to mendicant friar – the story of Jakob of Dacia

By Anna Belfrage / April 5, 2023 / Leave a Comment / faith in history, Historical People, Writing / 16th century, A Danish prince, Conquest of Mexico, Embracing a higher calling, Franciscans, Jakob of Dacia, reformation

In one of my recent posts, I wrote about Hans II of Denmark and his wife, Kristina. Not a marital union that ended all that happily—not after Hans became so infatuated with the fair Edle he forgot that key word discretion, thereby humiliating his loyal wife before the entire court. Well, so thought the queen …

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An eye-opening inspiration to dig deeper

By Anna Belfrage / February 28, 2023 / 4 Comments / Historical People / 18th c Swedish royals, Adolf Ludvig Gustav Fredrik Albert Badin, art, black 17th c artist, black history, Diego Velázquez, eye-opening art, from slave to trusted secretary, Juan de Pareja, Kammermohr

The other day, I went to see an Exhibition at Fotografiska Museet in Stockholm. In a burst of patriotism, may I recommend that should you ever visit our fair capital you make this museum a stop on your tour – if nothing else for the spectacular views from the café/restaurant. This museum offers a varied …

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Ms Ironbeard, King Hans and the failure of a royal marriage

By Anna Belfrage / February 5, 2023 / Leave a Comment / Historical People, Medieval times, Women in history / 16th century, besieged queen, Danish history, Edle Ironbeard, Hans II of Denmark, Kalmar Union, Kristina of Saxony, Sten Sture, Swedish freedom fighters, Swedish history

Sometimes, I start out by researching one person and end up fascinated by another. In this particular case, I wanted to know more about Hans II, King of Denmark and Norway (“And Sweden!” he adds, but as he was only king here for like three years, I see that as more of a parenthesis) This …

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Dance, Salome, dance!

By Anna Belfrage / December 4, 2022 / Leave a Comment / Historical People, Life and death, Women in history / a head on a platter, Biblical history, Dancing someone to death, Herod Antipas, Herodias, John the Baptist, Salome, Salome's dance

Sometimes, hubby and I spend several hours over the weekend solving crosswords. He is much better at it than I am, mainly because there are so many words/clues that only exist in the rarefied world of crossworders (is that even a word?) and he has been solving crosswords for yonks. Today, one of the clues …

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A slow march into permanent night – of a queen’s death

By Anna Belfrage / October 13, 2022 / Leave a Comment / Historical People, Life and death, Medieval times, Women in history / 13th century, a long time dying, death, Edward I, Eleanor of Castile, medieval England, the wear and tear of childbirth

I have previously written about Eleanor of Castile, but in that post I focussed on the children she birthed. And lost. She lost most of them, unfortunate woman that she was. This post is about her last few years—mainly because that’s where I’ve been spending time with her, as my latest novel is set 1287-1290, …

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When Poppa met Rollo – Cathie Dunne gives us an insight into 9th century politics

By Anna Belfrage / September 11, 2022 / Leave a Comment / authors, historical fiction, Historical People, Women in history / Ascent, Cathie Dunne, early medieval history, historical fiction, Poppa of Bayeux, review, Rollo the Viking, vikings

Some weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of reading Cathie Dunne’s book about Poppa of Bayeux and her hubby Hrolfr, a.k.a. Rollo (To us Swedes, he is Gånge-Rolf, so named because he was so big and strong no horse could carry him, hence he had to walk. Gånge means walker) Anyway: I realised I …

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What is in a name? A desire to rebel?

By Anna Belfrage / September 6, 2022 / Leave a Comment / Historical People, Medieval times, Writing / 13th century England, Beaudesert Castle, Civil War, Edward I, English history, Evesham, Henry III, looking for a ruin, medieval England, Peter de Montfort, Provisions of Oxford, Simon de Montfort

One of the huge benefits of writing historical fiction is all the tangential little research excursions. In my upcoming release, Her Castilian Heart, I needed a location for dire deeds. I knew roughly what I wanted—an abandoned, ruined castle—but in 1289, not all that many medieval castles were abandoned or ruined as they were still …

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Adding a dash or two of ice to history

By Anna Belfrage / August 19, 2022 / Leave a Comment / Historical People, History, Writing / 12th century England, 17th century, civil wat, Danish history, Empress Matilda, fleeing across the ice, Fredrick III, Ice, Karl X Gustav, King Stephen, Medieval history, Sweden as a superpower, Swedish history, The Second Northern War

I have spent the last few days thinking about ice. Partly, this is because it’s been very, very hot—so hot, I wouldn’t have minded a pile of crushed ice to roll around in. And then, of course, there are all the news reports about the disappearing ice—in the Artic, in the Himalayas, in Antarctica. Everywhere, …

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An expensive folly – of an impressive castle and its somewhat less impressive master

By Anna Belfrage / August 6, 2022 / Leave a Comment / Historical People, History / 17th century, baroque, Gustaf II Adolf, Läckö Castle, Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie, Queen Kristina, Swedish history, Thirty Years' War

Today, I am taking you on a guided tour through the past of one of Sweden’s most imposing surviving baroque castles, Läckö. I’ve had this castle on my bucket list for yonks—being a 17th century enthusiast sort of makes a visit mandatory—and some days ago, I finally made it there, standing for a silent moment …

An expensive folly – of an impressive castle and its somewhat less impressive master Read More »

Historical People

When Isabella of Austria became Elisabeth of Denmark – the story of a young queen

From royal prince to mendicant friar – the story of Jakob of Dacia

An eye-opening inspiration to dig deeper

Ms Ironbeard, King Hans and the failure of a royal marriage

Dance, Salome, dance!

A slow march into permanent night – of a queen’s death

When Poppa met Rollo – Cathie Dunne gives us an insight into 9th century politics

What is in a name? A desire to rebel?

Adding a dash or two of ice to history

An expensive folly – of an impressive castle and its somewhat less impressive master

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