Today, we are going to be spending some time with Sancho II of Castile. Not that his time will be all that long—at times, life (or in this case, siblings) conspire against you. Mind you, Sancho had himself to blame. Sancho’s story starts in Zamora, a fortified town on the river Duero that has been […]
Siblings, sieges and assassinations – nothing unusual in medieval Spain Read More »
Sometimes, those medieval kings surprise you. Take, for example Sancho IV of Castile. Now, he has a few black marks against him, principally the fact that he usurped the throne, thereby stealing the crown from his young nephew, Alfonso de la Cerda. Sancho, of course, did not feel he had a choice: Castile needed an
For the love of his queen – how a medieval king set his wife first Read More »
In 1283, little Isabel saw the light of the day. This the latest fruit of the proud House of Ivrea was the first of seven siblings. At the time of her birth, her daddy, the future Sancho IV, was at loggerheads with his daddy, Alfonso X. Why? Because Sancho wanted to become king once Alfonso
From queen to duchess – the life of a medieval princess Read More »
Hands up all of those who, as kids, wanted to play the princess. *stands up and scans the room* Huh: not that many hands. Hands up those who, as kids, wanted to play the dashing hero. *repeats scan* Wow: many, many more, and quite a few are ladies… The above is supposed to symbolise the
Most people live out their lives in obscurity—something to be grateful for, I believe, as celebrity comes with its own set of challenges. Many people live below the radar for most of their lives, but then a sequence of events propel them onto the central stage and for a while their name is on everybody’s
“Lately the king’s enemy and rebel” – when good intentions lead to treason Read More »
Sometimes, I wonder if medieval people were more in a hurry to live their lives, seeing as so many of them died at ages we would consider to be relatively young. Death, it would seem, sent its icy breath along their nape from the moment those medieval peeps were born. Obviously, Death is as present
The second wife – of Yolande of Hungary, Queen of Aragon Read More »
Some years ago, I was a member of a retweet group. One of the other members was today’s guest, Jessica Knauss, and I very soon discovered she and I had a lot in common, starting with a love of all things medieval—especially if set in Spain. Having discovered Jessica’s blog—because seriously, how can one NOT
Much Medieval Mayhem – or how a tossed bloody cucumber brought a medieval legend to life Read More »
Today, I am proud to welcome Sharon Bennett Connolly to my blog. She has published several non-fiction books set in the medieval period and I am very much looking forward to her next release which will focus on the de Warenne family—Norman in origin, this noble family was quite the power-house for well over two
Much Medieval Mayhem – meet a writer lady with a crush on a medieval lady Read More »
An author setting out to write a fictionalised version of historical events must decide from what point of view these events will be related. After all, if I were to write from Hugh Despenser the Younger’s perspective, the rebellious barons led by Roger Mortimer of Wigmore and Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, were a nasty lot
Loving all his imperfections – in remembrance of Roger Mortimer. who died #otd 1330 Read More »
Today’s guest is not a newcomer to my blog. Char and I collaborated several years ago on a post about Sodomy and Sex in the Middle Ages – as one does—and more recently she visited in connection with the release of her sci-fi novel, Echoes in the Storm. Yes, dear peeps, a sci-fi novel. Char
Much Medieval Mayhem – from star-crossed sci-fi fan to medieval crusaders Read More »