14th century Archives - Anna Belfrage

Loving all his imperfections – in remembrance of Roger Mortimer. who died #otd 1330

By Anna Belfrage / November 29, 2020 November 28, 2020 / 6 Comments / Historical People, Medieval times / 14th century, Death by hanging, Edward II, Edward III, English history, Queen Isabella, Roger Mortimer, The King's Greatest Enemy, Treason and its aftermath, Usurping a crown

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 …

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Woe, the unloved wife – of Joan of Bar and her not-so-loving hubby, John de Warenne

By Anna Belfrage / November 13, 2020 November 13, 2020 / Leave a Comment / Historical People, Medieval times, Women in history / 14th century, Edward I, Joan of Bar, John de Warenne, loveless marriage, medieval England, Medieval marriage

In a previous post, I wrote about Eleanor, eldest surviving daughter of Edward I and his wife, Eleanor of Castile. That poor lady was destined for a short life, but she lived long enough to marry and have two children, one born in 1295 or so, the second born a year later. When Eleanor died, …

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The bride wore white for the first time ever. Meet a15th century trendsetter

By Anna Belfrage / October 17, 2020 October 17, 2020 / 6 Comments / Historical People, History, Human life, Reflections, Writing / 14th century, Erik of Pommerania, female footnotes, Hanseatic league, Henry IV, Margareta of Denmark, Philippa of England, Swedish history, Vadstena

Quite some time ago, I wrote about Margareta of Denmark, a rather impressive woman who ended up as the de facto ruler of Sweden, Denmark and Norway. When Margareta died in 1412, her adopted son Erik of Pommerania took over the reins of government, and I suspect this thirty-year-old man was more than thrilled to be …

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The mouse that squeaked – or the story of a VERY short siege

By Anna Belfrage / May 30, 2020 September 1, 2022 / Leave a Comment / Historical People, History, Medieval times, Writing / 13th century, 14th century, A very short siege, Caerlaverock Castle, Edward I, Edward II, First War of Scottish Independence, medieval England, Medieval history, Scottish history, Trebuchets

There’s something about sieges, isn’t there? An encircled fortress—or city—and it is all one long waiting game as the cat outside wonders just how long the mouse will stay in its hole before lack of food and water forces it to venture beyond the safety of its walled haven. Mind you, I don’t think the …

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A boring man begat a boring man who begat a dragon

By Anna Belfrage / February 29, 2020 February 29, 2020 / Leave a Comment / Historical People, History, Medieval times, Writing / 14th century, Brothers of Gwynedd, Dafydd ap Gruffydd, House of Aberffraw, Hundred Years War, Llywellyn ap Gruffydd, Owain Goch, Owain Lawgoch, Prince of Wales, Rhodri ap Gruffydd, Welsh history

Very many years ago, I read Edith Pargeter’s excellent quartet, The Brothers of Gwynedd. A sad and tragic story, featuring Llywellyn ap Gruffyd, the Last Prince of Wales and his baby brother, Dafydd (also the Last Prince of Wales – actually the Last Prince of Wales, seeing as he took over after Llywellyn was killed). …

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Not every Christmas is a good Christmas – a story of treachery, vengeance and death

By Anna Belfrage / December 19, 2019 December 18, 2019 / 1 Comment / Historical People, History, Medieval times, Relationships, Writing / 14th century, A dismal Christmas, A feud between brothers, Duke Erik Magnusson, King Birger Magnusson, Medieval Sweden, Nyköping, Nyköping Banquet, Political intrigue, revenge, Swedish history

So, it is Christmas. Well, not quite, we are still some days away, but all the same, the holiday season is upon us. A season of love and peace, of happy family reunions and the joyful sound of children laughing in the snow. Ha! Sometimes, Christmas is much, much grimmer. Like in the year 1317, …

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…so dies the youth…

By Anna Belfrage / October 1, 2018 July 1, 2020 / Leave a Comment / Historical People, History, Medieval times, Writing / 14th century, Batle of Halidon Hill, Edward II, Edward III, English history, Isabella of France, John of Eltham, Roger Mortimer, Scottish history

Say hello to John, today’s protagonist. This medieval gentleman had the misfortune to die young—which may be why he is mostly remembered for being a good and loyal brother. One of the (few) benefits of dying young is that generally you have not developed those less-than-stellar qualities that go under the label vices. Instead, a …

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Is she Violent? No, she’s Violante

By Anna Belfrage / March 16, 2018 July 1, 2020 / 1 Comment / Historical People, History, Human life, Medieval times, Women in history, Writing / 13th century, 14th century, Alfonso X, England, Galeazzo Visconti, Italy, Lionel of Antwerp, Spain, Violant of Aragon, Violante Visconti

Sometimes, I can’t help but wonder what our dear ancestors might have been high on when naming their children. Take, for example, the royal custom in medieval Castile of naming their little princesses Urraca. Urraca is Spanish for magpie, and my main objection to the name is how harsh it sounds. Urraca is an onomatopoeic …

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Margaret – a beloved wife or a victim?

By Anna Belfrage / March 9, 2018 June 10, 2021 / 4 Comments / Historical People, History, Medieval times, Women in history, Writing / 14th century, Abducted heiresses, Edward II, Margaret de Moulton, medieval women, Ranulph Dacre

Being a medieval woman came with risks – well, nothing strange there: life itself is a risk. Specifically, medieval heiresses ran the risk of being abducted and forcibly obliged to marry their abductor. Not, I imagine, a particularly pleasant scenario although there are cases where one can suspect the abductee and abductor had agreed beforehand …

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Rubbing the wrong face in the dirt – of Mortimer, King Arthur and tournaments

By Anna Belfrage / February 21, 2018 July 1, 2020 / 6 Comments / books, historical fiction, Historical People, History, Medieval times, new release, Writing / 14th century, Dissing the king, Edward III, Pride goes before fall, Roger Mortimer, Round Table Tournament, Wigmore Castle

In the summer of 1329, Roger Mortimer invited more or less every nobleman in England to Wigmore, the hereditary home of the Mortimers. He was planning a major tournament, several days of fun and fighting followed by feasting. A veritable city of tents were pitched outside the walls of the castle as knights from all …

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14th century

Loving all his imperfections – in remembrance of Roger Mortimer. who died #otd 1330

Woe, the unloved wife – of Joan of Bar and her not-so-loving hubby, John de Warenne

The bride wore white for the first time ever. Meet a15th century trendsetter

The mouse that squeaked – or the story of a VERY short siege

A boring man begat a boring man who begat a dragon

Not every Christmas is a good Christmas – a story of treachery, vengeance and death

…so dies the youth…

Is she Violent? No, she’s Violante

Margaret – a beloved wife or a victim?

Rubbing the wrong face in the dirt – of Mortimer, King Arthur and tournaments

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