Last week, Cathie visited with a post about Poppa, forgotten matriarch to the dukes of Normandy. Today, she is back with a post about yet another matriarch, but despite never having been recognised as queen of England, Matilda, daughter of Henry I, is anything but forgotten! From her spring the Plantagenet dynasty that would rule […]
Marching Matilda – the Empress who should have been queen Read More »
Some weeks ago, I shared a post about Constanza Manuel, daughter of Don Juan Manuel de Villena who was not only a power-hungry Castilian noble, but also an erudite writer. Juan Manuel was the grandson of Fernando III, a member of the royal house of Ivrea, and was thereby an Infante of Castile. “A legitimate
Juana Manuel de Villena – the matriarch of a dynasty birthed in royal blood Read More »
Today, I welcome Sharon Bennett Connolly to my blog—a belated celebration of her recent publication, Women of the Anarchy. Some may already be familiar with Sharon’s blog, History – the interesting bits, some of you may have read one of her other books, which means you know this lady lives and breathes history—especially medieval history.
Namesakes, cousins and antagonists – check out the Women of the Anarchy! Read More »
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
Some weeks ago I wrote about the very tragic life of Elisabeth de Ferrers who lost husband and all her children in the aftermath of Edward I’s conquest of Wales. In passing, I mentioned that Elizabeth had a rather unsavoury brother, and today’s post is about him, the brother. Should one write a short epitaph
In a simplified version of history, the Scottish Covenanter movement sprang from a smouldering fire to a huge bonfire through the actions of one Jenny Geddes. A devout member of the Scottish Kirk, Jenny was in St Giles that day in 1637 when the dean chose to read from the new Book of Common Prayer,
Some while ago, I published a post about Finnish history – very much inspired by a Finnish colleague of mine plus an abiding fascination with this country to the east of my own, a country whose history has per definition been tangled with Sweden – or Russia, or both. Anyway, some days after my post,