Guest Post

Guest Post: James A. Hamilton and the Americas Cup by Samantha Wilcoxson

Sharon Bennett Connolly1 Comment

Today, it is a pleasure to welcome Samantha Wilcoxson to History…the Interesting Bits with an article on James A. Hamilton. Samantha’s biography of Hamilton, James Alexander Hamilton: Son of the American Revolution.

James A. Hamilton and the Americas Cup

The America’s Cup has not always been called by that name. In 1851, an invitation came to the New York Yacht Club, the only yacht club in the United States at that time, from the Royal Yacht Squadron “to test the relative merits of the ships.” The British challengers did not anticipate any real contest from the Americans, given their relative inexperience in an arena long dominated by England’s seamen.

It was the same year as England’s Great Exhibition with its Crystal Palace, and national pride was running high. The New York Yacht Club decided to send a schooner named America. One of the ship’s owners was George Lee Schuyler, son-in-law to James Alexander Hamilton.

Schuyler was confident of the schooner’s capabilities and looked forward to seeing it compete against the British ships. Unfortunately, personal issues kept him at home, and he asked his father-in-law to join the crew of the America in his place.

The crew greeting Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, James is the man on the far left

James was the third son of Alexander Hamilton, who had served as the first US treasury secretary and created the national bank. When traveling in Europe, James would often have official letters of introduction from presidents or cabinet members, but he recorded that he rarely used them. “My father’s name alone was my best passport to society.” In this case, it was his son-in-law’s boat that put him in the middle of historic events.

Among a field of sixteen ships, the America took off in a light wind on 22 August 1851. James compared them to race-horses breaking away from the starting line. Shockingly, the America quickly jumped into the lead. When Queen Victoria was informed that the US schooner was in the lead, she asked which was second. The response? “Your Majesty, there is no second.” The America had left all competition far behind.

The American schooner yacht

Following the victory, the Queen and Prince Albert boarded the America to offer their congratulations and were greeted by four crew members, including James A Hamilton. The Royal Yacht Squadron Cup, which the US team was awarded, became known as the America’s Cup, as did the annual regatta.

Read more about the 1851 America’s Cup and other James Alexander Hamilton adventures in my new biography, available through Pen & Sword and your favorite bookstore!

About the book:

Born in the year of the Constitutional Convention, James Alexander Hamilton was uniquely positioned to observe the early republic era and the formation of the experimental United States government. His father, Alexander Hamilton, had been the first US Treasury Secretary, an outspoken and controversial character who was killed in a duel when James was a teenager. With a lifelong devotion to his father’s memory, James advised men from Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren to Abraham Lincoln and Salmon P Chase on banking and constitutional matters.

Through his own talents and with the advantage of his father’s name, James served as temporary Secretary of State and District Attorney of New York. James enjoyed a close-knit family life with his wife, Mary Morris, at his Hudson River home named Nevis for his father’s birthplace. He was part of the crew of the yacht America, for which the America’s Cup is named, and on the committee for New York’s Crystal Palace in 1853. More importantly, he served his country through the War of 1812, Western Expansion, and the bloody Civil War. His first-hand account of these transformative events gives readers a priceless look at America’s past. James supported the abolition of slavery and wrote a draft of the Emancipation Proclamation before settling down to write his own Reminiscences that cover the first seventy-five years of US history. 

This biography makes James A Hamilton’s life and observations accessible to the modern reader and will leave you with a new appreciation for the Founders’ heirs who inherited the difficult work of building a nation.

To Buy the book:

James Alexander Hamilton: Son of the American Revolution.   

About the author:

Samantha Wilcoxson is an author of emotive biographical fiction and nonfiction featuring history’s unsung heroes. She loves sharing trips to historic places with her family and spending time by the lake with a glass of wine. Her most recent work is a biography of James Alexander Hamilton published by Pen & Sword History. Samantha is currently writing a Wars of the Roses trilogy for Sapere Books.

Social media:

Websitehttps://samanthawilcoxson.com
Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/samantha_wilcoxson
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/PlantagenetEmbers/
Amazon Author Pagehttps://amazon.com/author/samanthawilcoxson
Newsletter Signuphttps://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/668153/107384163504489521/share

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My Books

Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online store.

Out now: Scotland’s Medieval Queens

Scotland’s history is dramatic, violent and bloody. Being England’s northern neighbour has never been easy. Scotland’s queens have had to deal with war, murder, imprisonment, political rivalries and open betrayal. They have loved and lost, raised kings and queens, ruled and died for Scotland. From St Margaret, who became one of the patron saints of Scotland, to Elizabeth de Burgh and the dramatic story of the Scottish Wars of Independence, to the love story and tragedy of Joan Beaufort, to Margaret of Denmark and the dawn of the Renaissance, Scotland’s Medieval Queens have seen it all. This is the story of Scotland through their eyes.

Available now from Amazon and Pen and Sword Books

Also by Sharon Bennett Connolly:

Heroines of the Tudor World tells the stories of the most remarkable women from European history in the time of the Tudor dynasty, 1485-1603. These are the women who ruled, the women who founded dynasties, the women who fought for religious freedom, their families and love. Heroines of the Tudor World is now available for pre-order from Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK. Women of the Anarchy demonstrates how Empress Matilda and Matilda of Boulogne, unable to wield a sword themselves, were prime movers in this time of conflict and lawlessness. It shows how their strengths, weaknesses, and personal ambitions swung the fortunes of war one way – and then the other. Available from Bookshop.org, Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK. King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye is the story of a truly remarkable lady, the hereditary constable of Lincoln Castle and the first woman in England to be appointed sheriff in her own right. Available from all good bookshops Pen & Sword Books, bookshop.org and Amazon. 

Defenders of the Norman Crown: The Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey tells the fascinating story of the Warenne dynasty, from its origins in Normandy, through the Conquest, Magna Carta, the wars and marriages that led to its ultimate demise in the reign of Edward III. Available from Pen & Sword Books, Amazon in the UK and US, and Bookshop.org. Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of Influence in Thirteenth Century England looks into the relationships of the various noble families of the 13th century, and how they were affected by the Barons’ Wars, Magna Carta and its aftermath; the bonds that were formed and those that were broken. It is now available in paperback and hardback from Pen & Sword, Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Heroines of the Medieval World tells the stories of some of the most remarkable women from Medieval history, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Julian of Norwich. Available now from Amberley Publishing and Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066. Available now from Amazon,  Amberley Publishing, and Bookshop.org.

Alternate Endings: An anthology of historical fiction short stories including Long Live the King… which is my take what might have happened had King John not died in October 1216. Available in paperback and kindle from Amazon.

Podcast:

Have a listen to the A Slice of Medieval podcast, which I co-host with Historical fiction novelist Derek Birks. Derek and I welcome guests, such as Bernard Cornwell and Michael Jecks, and discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved. Every episode is also now available on YouTube.

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Don’t forget! Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online store.

For forthcoming online and in-person talks, please check out my Events Page.

You can be the first to read new articles by clicking the ‘Follow’ button, liking our Facebook page or joining me on Twitter, Threads, Bluesky and Instagram.

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©2025 Sharon Bennett Connolly FRHistS and Samantha Wilcoxson



Guest Post: Was Harold of Royal Lineage? by Paula Lofting

Sharon Bennett Connolly1 Comment

What do you do when 3 friends have books coming out all on the same day? You arrange a mini blog tour, of course. Myself, Paula Lofting and Samantha Wilcoxson all have new non-fiction books published this week, with Pen & Sword Books, so the 3 of us are hosting each other across our blogs, with an article and an interview from each. And I’m kicking us off today.

It is a pleasure to welcome Paula Lofting to History…the Interesting Bits with an article on Harold Godwinson – King Harold II. Paula’s first foray into the realm of non-fiction, Searching for the Last Anglo-Saxon King, is now available.

Was Harold Godwinson of Royal Lineage

Some enthusiasts of the period have been quite taken with the idea that Harold Godwinson was able to trace his ancestry back to Æthelwulf, King of the West Saxons. The original idea came from historian, Alfred Anscombe, and later, genealogist, Lundie W. Barlow. It was taken up as authentic by author Frank Barlow, who has written many works on the period. From his book The House of Godwin, we can read his take on this. Through the will of Prince Æthelstan, son and heir of Æthelred the Unready, we are able pinpoint the man referred to as ‘Godwin, son of Wulfnoth’ being the father of Godwin. According to Frank Barlow, Lundie Barlow (no relation) studied the descent of some of the estates that Wulfnoth held. By treating Wulfnoth, as the son of Æthelmӕr Cild, ealdorman of the western provinces, Anscombe and Lundie believed that the Sussex thegn inherited Compton from his mother, suggesting that the royal blood was passed on through her.

But there is an issue with this theory. To make sense of the concept that Harold was descended from the royal House of Wessex, it was pertinent to explore theories that concern two males named Æthelmær. Both could be said to be candidates for Harold’s great-grandfather. The first Æthelmӕr listed in Anscombe and Lundie’s family tree we shall refer to as Cild. This chap was the son of Æthelweard the historian shown on the modified Anscombe/Barlow family tree.

This theory can be easily dispelled, for Æthelmær Cild was alive and active in the same generation as Wulfnoth himself, making him too young to have fathered Wulfnoth. Secondly, the interests of Æthelweard and Æthelmӕr Cild were concentrated in the areas west of Wessex, whilst Wulfnoth is specifically noted in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as a ‘Sussex thegn’.

The other Æthelmær, whom we shall refer to as Æthelmær Two, was one of several brothers of the infamous ealdorman, Eadric Sreona. Now their father was a man called Æthelric. The theory that this particular Æthelmær was the father of Wulfnoth Cild, originated with John of Worcester, which seems to have caused the confusion that led to Anscombe, then Lundie, being convinced that he was the father of Wulfnoth.

There is also a problem with this Æthelmær, as we shall see. Eadric and his brothers were the sons of a man called Æthelric and not Æthelweard the Historian, said to be the patriarch of the previous Æthelmær Cild, whose pedigree can be traced back to former kings of Wessex. Confused? Yes, so was I. But there is more.

‘Gytha and Godwin’ portrayed by me and Jeppe Christensen

Through the will left by Æthelstan, we have identified that Earl Godwin, (d. 1053) was the son of Wulfnoth Cild and Harold Godwinson’s father. Nothing is known of Godwin’s mother, but he has been cautiously accredited with possible siblings. One such sibling being the lady Æthelflӕd, named in the family tree that Barlow cites in his book. This woman was the owner of land in Buckinghamshire and was married to a man called Toki. The estate was gifted to his wife by her father, a man called Wulfnoth, who was connected to Godwin’s son, Leofwin, who held the estate thirty years later. This does not confirm, however, that this particular Wulfnoth was the chap who fathered Godwin. According to the Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England data base, there were sixty-nine individuals with the name Wulfnoth. Most of them were in the money minting business, so it is somewhat difficult to identify the right man however the link to Godwin’s son owning the lands of Toki and Æthelflӕd is intriguing.

It has been mentioned that Godwin had a brother, Ælfwig, abbot of New Minster in Winchester. He is said to have died at Hastings and is referred to as an uncle of King Harold’s. If true, he would have been an old man to have fought in the battle, so it is unlikely he was the brother of Godwin.

As it stands it is difficult to find any solid ground for believing that the Godwinsons were of royal pedigree despite the evidence produced by A. Anscombe/L. Barlow, and Frank Barlow, and it is unrealistic to assume that the family would not have known and used it to their advantage, especially against King William the Conqueror (r. 1066‒1087). We could say it is not impossible that Harold did, and it was suppressed by the Normans, but there is no supporting evidence, which makes it doubtful. It also seems unlikely that either of the two Æthelmӕrs had fathered Wulfnoth. As Ann Williams confirms, Æthelmӕr Cild, who appears in the royal family’s tree, was of the same generation as Wulfnoth. Furthermore, he was from Devonshire. Wulfnoth was referred to as a Sussex thegn by the E version of the Anglo- Saxon Chronicle (ASC).

Harold and Eadith

Æthelmӕr number two, can also be discounted because the father of this Æthelmӕr was called Æthelric and Æthelmӕr Cild’s father was known as Æthelweard. Also, number two does not appear in the royal family tree of Wessex, suggesting that he had no royal heritage at all. He was also of the same generation as Wulfnoth. As we see, there is nothing to connect either Æthelmӕr with Wulfnoth, apart from an error made by John of Worcester, which many historians confuse as the same Æthelmӕr.

In contrast to efforts made to prove Anscombe’s and (Lundie) Barlow’s theory correct, Peter Rex, in his book on Harold’s life, refers to the Hyde Chronicle which describes Godwin as a man of low birth. This is not a contemporary source and was written in the thirteenth century for the de Warennes, whose dislike of Godwin is evident. Alternative stories of a ‘lowly’ Godwin’s rise to fame speak of him as a farmer’s boy, who, whilst cow–herding, came across a Dane called Ulf, lost and detached from his men after the Battle of Sherston. Godwin offered to help him, and a grateful Ulf took him into his service. These tales have more to do with myth than anything based in reality and do not account for Godwin being left land in Æthelstan’s will which is a whole other story for another time.

You might say that not having English royal pedigree should have dismissed Harold from any right the throne. He was not the son of a king, and therefore this lack of royal blood would have discounted him. In fact, Harold was descended from royal stock. It was just not the right one. His mother, Gytha, was the daughter of the fascinatingly named Thorgils Sprakaleggr (strut leg) who was the grandson of Harold Bluetooth making Gytha the great granddaughter of a King of Denmark and Norway and a second cousin of King Cnut the Great. So, although Harold was of royal lineage, it wasn’t the right one. Therefore, we could give the same consideration to Duke William of Normandy, who fought against King Harold and claimed victory over him on the 14 October 1066. But William had no connection to England, or the lands or the language. The boy Edgar Ætheling, who had been proclaimed as Edward’s heir was too young to face the invasions threatening Anglo-Saxon England. A strong leader was what was needed at the time, and royal blood or not, Harold was that man.

Do look out for the continuation of the blog tour tomorrow on Threads to the Past

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About the book:

Harold Godwinson occupied his place in the chronicles for more than twenty years after bursting onto the political sphere when he was barely out of his teens. His role in English history has always been overshadowed by his failure to defend his crown and country against the might of William the Conqueror and his invaders. His demise at the hands of a Franco-Norman hit squad wrought the death knell of Anglo-Saxon rule. Reigning for just ten months, Harold’s accomplishments as dux Anglorum, and later king of England, were undermined by the Norman propaganda that was waged against his memory, long after his grisly end in 1066.

But just who was this man, who some historians recall as one of England’s greatest rulers? What were his origins? Is there any truth that he could trace his ancestry to the House of Wessex, and did he really usurp the throne from Duke William, the Bastard of Normandy? In this re-examining of this great historical figure of the eleventh century, we glean new theories and ideas not only about Harold’s life, but also questions historians have pondered upon for years. Did Edward really offer the throne to William? And how much of William’s claim was truth or fiction?

Paula Lofting presents a thoughtful and careful critique of the previous research. Examining his life through a telescopic view of the primary sources, she offers the reader a more accurate evaluation of who he was, how he died, and what happened to his remains after his death on a field near Hastings on October 1066.

About the author:

Paula Lofting is the author of an eleventh-century saga, Sons of the Wolf, and is working on book three in the series. She has also written articles for magazines like Historical Times and contributed to Iain Dale’s recent Kings and Queens with an essay on Edmund Ironside. Lofting’s love for Anglo-Saxon/Viking/Norman re-enactment with Regia Anglorum is a great tool for her writing. She is also a psychiatric nurse with nineteen years’ experience and enjoys spending time with her family, three grown-up children and two grandchildren. This is Lofting’s first foray into the realms of historical non-fiction, and she hopes it will not be her last. She also has been commissioned to write a biography on Edmund Ironside with Pen & Sword which is currently in progress.

Website : www.threadstothepast.com, Fb: https://www.facebook.com/Wulfsuna?locale=en_GB, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulaloftingwilcox/, x: https://x.com/longshippub, mybook.to/Haroldpreorder

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My Books

Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online store.

Out now: Scotland’s Medieval Queens

Scotland’s history is dramatic, violent and bloody. Being England’s northern neighbour has never been easy. Scotland’s queens have had to deal with war, murder, imprisonment, political rivalries and open betrayal. They have loved and lost, raised kings and queens, ruled and died for Scotland. From St Margaret, who became one of the patron saints of Scotland, to Elizabeth de Burgh and the dramatic story of the Scottish Wars of Independence, to the love story and tragedy of Joan Beaufort, to Margaret of Denmark and the dawn of the Renaissance, Scotland’s Medieval Queens have seen it all. This is the story of Scotland through their eyes.

Available now from Amazon and Pen and Sword Books

Also by Sharon Bennett Connolly:

Heroines of the Tudor World tells the stories of the most remarkable women from European history in the time of the Tudor dynasty, 1485-1603. These are the women who ruled, the women who founded dynasties, the women who fought for religious freedom, their families and love. Heroines of the Tudor World is now available for pre-order from Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK. Women of the Anarchy demonstrates how Empress Matilda and Matilda of Boulogne, unable to wield a sword themselves, were prime movers in this time of conflict and lawlessness. It shows how their strengths, weaknesses, and personal ambitions swung the fortunes of war one way – and then the other. Available from Bookshop.org, Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK. King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye is the story of a truly remarkable lady, the hereditary constable of Lincoln Castle and the first woman in England to be appointed sheriff in her own right. Available from all good bookshops Pen & Sword Books, bookshop.org and Amazon. 

Defenders of the Norman Crown: The Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey tells the fascinating story of the Warenne dynasty, from its origins in Normandy, through the Conquest, Magna Carta, the wars and marriages that led to its ultimate demise in the reign of Edward III. Available from Pen & Sword Books, Amazon in the UK and US, and Bookshop.org. Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of Influence in Thirteenth Century England looks into the relationships of the various noble families of the 13th century, and how they were affected by the Barons’ Wars, Magna Carta and its aftermath; the bonds that were formed and those that were broken. It is now available in paperback and hardback from Pen & Sword, Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Heroines of the Medieval World tells the stories of some of the most remarkable women from Medieval history, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Julian of Norwich. Available now from Amberley Publishing and Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066. Available now from Amazon,  Amberley Publishing, and Bookshop.org.

Alternate Endings: An anthology of historical fiction short stories including Long Live the King… which is my take what might have happened had King John not died in October 1216. Available in paperback and kindle from Amazon.

Podcast:

Have a listen to the A Slice of Medieval podcast, which I co-host with Historical fiction novelist Derek Birks. Derek and I welcome guests, such as Bernard Cornwell, and discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved. Every episode is also now available on YouTube.

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Don’t forget! Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online store.

For forthcoming online and in-person talks, please check out my Events Page.

You can be the first to read new articles by clicking the ‘Follow’ button, liking our Facebook page or joining me on Twitter, Threads, Bluesky and Instagram.

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©2025 Sharon Bennett Connolly FRHistS and Paula Lofting

Guest Post: Nameless Not Faceless by Virginia Crow

Sharon Bennett ConnollyLeave a comment

Today, it is a pleasure to welcome my friend and colleague at Historical Writers Forum, Virginia Crow, to History…the Interesting Bits to talk about her contribution to the latest Historical Writers Forum Anthology, To Wear A Heart So White: An Anthology of Historical Short Stories About Crime and Punishment.

Nameless Not Faceless: The Possible Lives of the Bocksten Man

The remains of the Bocksten Man

I love a mystery. Right from childhood, I’ve been fascinated by the things we do not – and cannot – know. The quest for knowledge is human nature, but it can only be maintained so long as the unknown exists. Sometimes, this is frustrating, other times it is tantalising.

Cue: one such example…

Usually in history we know the names of people whose appearances we are left to imagine based on contemporaneous portraits or remarks made about them. But, when I discovered the story of The Bocksten Man, this was turned on its head. Here was a man who – through the wonders of forensic archaeology – we knew almost exactly what he looked like, and yet we have no idea what his name was.

My imagination was piqued!

Aside from his appearance, the one thing we do know for certain is that someone – or most likely more than one person – really didn’t like him. Aside from the blow to his head, which almost certainly killed him, he was pegged down at the bottom of the lake by two shafts, including one through the heart. It is this act which led this nameless man to become something of a celebrity 700 years later.

There are as many theories as there are theorists about who he was and why he was executed in such a way. Many of these ideas have him being a criminal, no doubt seeing it as easier to accept that he merited such an end, or as a sorcerer on a charge of witchcraft. Both these seem unlikely to me, as he was clearly well-cared for and appears to have had all the benefits of a backing from the Roman Catholic church. The only theory which stars him as an antagonist which I deem likely (just playing a game of probability, here!) is that he was discovered to be a charlatan, concealing himself behind stolen or falsely-gained clothing and belongings.

The reconstruction of the Bocksten Man

But I did not like the thought of him going to this watery grave without having someone to speak for him, albeit a few centuries too late. I’m a sucker for an underdog, and it was time to help him emerge from the shame of some of these theories. This is where his nameless status became a very handy tool. Usually I dislike writing real historical figures as so many people have preconceived ideas about them, so I have to invent my own characters to brush shoulders with the greats of history, tucking them in to various mysteries throughout the ages. But The Bocksten Man was the perfect balance between reality and possibility. How could any writer resist?

I’m not going to tell you the story I created for him – you’ll have to read it in the anthology! – but I would love to know your theories about him. Better still, write him as you think he would have been. Whoever he was, he had an adventure, and isn’t that what we all look for in our stories? A fellow author wrote to me and said: you’ve got to love a bog body, and he was absolutely right!

You can find out all about The Bocksten Man through the Halland Kulturhistoriska Museum: https://museumhalland.se/en/the-bocksten-man/

Images:

The Remains of The Bocksten Man (Peter Lindberg, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons); The Reconstruction of The Bocksten Man (Toxophilus, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

About the book:

To Wear A Heart So White: An Anthology of Historical Short Stories About Crime and Punishment

A cost for every action, and a price for every deed.

The Historical Writers’ Forum proudly presents seven stories of Crime and Punishment, from across the ages. From an anchoress to a war hero; from Italy to Missouri; this anthology has a story for everyone.

Included stories are:

The Ignoble Defence – Virginia Crow

Agatha’s Eyes – Rachel Aanstad

A Pact Fulfilled – Eleanor Swift-Hook

Carte de Viste – Ronan Beckman

A Dish Served Cold – Brenda W. Clough

Shadows of the Adriatic – Tessa Floreano

A Dangerous Road – D. Apple

Click here to Buy the book: To Wear A Heart So White: An Anthology of Historical Short Stories About Crime and Punishment

About the Author:

Virginia Crow is an award-winning author of historical fiction. Her writing borders on the edge of reality, challenging the beliefs and superstitions of bygone days.

She lives in Caithness, where her life is dictated by Orlando and Jess, her two spaniels.

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My Books:

Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

Coming 30 January 2025: Scotland’s Medieval Queens

Scotland’s history is dramatic, violent and bloody. Being England’s northern neighbour has never been easy. Scotland’s queens have had to deal with war, murder, imprisonment, political rivalries and open betrayal. They have loved and lost, raised kings and queens, ruled and died for Scotland. From St Margaret, who became one of the patron saints of Scotland, to Elizabeth de Burgh and the dramatic story of the Scottish Wars of Independence, to the love story and tragedy of Joan Beaufort, to Margaret of Denmark and the dawn of the Renaissance, Scotland’s Medieval Queens have seen it all. This is the story of Scotland through their eyes.

Available for pre-order now.

Also by Sharon Bennett Connolly:

Heroines of the Tudor World tells the stories of the most remarkable women from European history in the time of the Tudor dynasty, 1485-1603. These are the women who ruled, the women who founded dynasties, the women who fought for religious freedom, their families and love. Heroines of the Tudor World is now available for pre-order from Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK. Women of the Anarchy demonstrates how Empress Matilda and Matilda of Boulogne, unable to wield a sword themselves, were prime movers in this time of conflict and lawlessness. It shows how their strengths, weaknesses, and personal ambitions swung the fortunes of war one way – and then the other. Available from Bookshop.org, Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK. King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye is the story of a truly remarkable lady, the hereditary constable of Lincoln Castle and the first woman in England to be appointed sheriff in her own right. Available from all good bookshops Pen & Sword Books, bookshop.org and Amazon. 

Defenders of the Norman Crown: The Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey tells the fascinating story of the Warenne dynasty, from its origins in Normandy, through the Conquest, Magna Carta, the wars and marriages that led to its ultimate demise in the reign of Edward III. Available from Pen & Sword Books, Amazon in the UK and US, and Bookshop.org. Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of Influence in Thirteenth Century England looks into the relationships of the various noble families of the 13th century, and how they were affected by the Barons’ Wars, Magna Carta and its aftermath; the bonds that were formed and those that were broken. It is now available in paperback and hardback from Pen & Sword, Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Heroines of the Medieval World tells the stories of some of the most remarkable women from Medieval history, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Julian of Norwich. Available now from Amberley Publishing and Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066. Available now from Amazon,  Amberley Publishing, and Bookshop.org.

Alternate Endings: An anthology of historical fiction short stories including Long Live the King… which is my take what might have happened had King John not died in October 1216. Available in paperback and kindle from Amazon.

Podcast:

Have a listen to the A Slice of Medieval podcast, which I co-host with Historical fiction novelist Derek Birks. Derek and I welcome guests, such as Bernard Cornwell, and discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved.

*

Don’t forget! Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

For forthcoming online and in-person talks, please check out my Events Page.

You can be the first to read new articles by clicking the ‘Follow’ button, liking our Facebook page or joining me on Twitter, Threads, Bluesky and Instagram.

©2024 Sharon Bennett Connolly FRHistS and Virginia Crow

Guest post: All the Queen’s Men by Carol Ann Lloyd

Sharon Bennett Connolly1 Comment

Today, it is a pleasure to welcome my dear friend, Carol Ann Lloyd, to History… the Interesting Bits, with an article on the love life of Queen Elizabeth I. Carol Ann’s new book Courting the Virgin Queen: Queen Elizabeth I and Her Suitors is due to be released on 30 July by Pen and Sword. If it is anything like her first book, The Tudors By Numbers: The Stories and Statistics Behind England’s Most Infamous Royal Dynasty, it will be a fabulous read!

“All the Queen’s Men: The Courtships of the Virgin Queen”

Carol Ann Lloyd

Elizabeth I, aged 14

It’s ironic that the child of the most-married English monarch ever is the only English monarch to rule as an adult and never marry! Elizabeth I, daughter of the famous (infamous?) Henry VIII never married. But it was not for lack of options.

The big question is “Why?” Did Elizabeth really want to marry anyone? What kept her from marrying? Did she ever intend to marry, or was she just keeping all her options open as she navigated the perilous landscape of European politics on her own?

I think there are many ways on answering this question. Let’s start at the beginning of her reign. Elizabeth was the least likely of Henry VIII’s children to come to the throne, and when she did everyone had the same question on their mind. As the Spanish Ambassador, the Count of Feria, reflected in the early days of the reign, “The more I think over this business the more certain I am that everything depends upon the husband this woman may take.” Elizabeth was questioned about her choice of husband by her council, ambassadors, and parliament. It was considered a public not a private matter, and the queen was repeatedly encouraged and counseled to get married and produce an heir for the good of the kingdom.

So, if everything depended on the husband her would take, what realistically were her options?

Some people might be surprised to learn that one of her first suitors was the husband of her recently deceased sister. Philip of Spain had been married to Mary I until her death, and the couple had no children. Still committed to bringing England back into the Catholic fold, Philip believed he could marry and control Elizabeth. I was surprised as I read his correspondence how convinced Philip was that Elizabeth was desperate for a husband and eager for his offer. Many Catholics never accepted the validity of the marriage between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, so Elizabeth’s hold on the throne was possibly tenuous. Philip believed he was the answer to Elizabeth’s problem. He thought she would jump at the chance.

Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester

Philip could not have been more wrong. Elizabeth knew very well that Philip would seek to involve England in Spain’s wars, as he had during Mary I’s reign. Using her skills in language, Elizabeth dallied with Feria and postponed giving a firm answer until it suited her. That answer was a definite “no.”

The offer from Philip was only the beginning. I discovered in my research that Elizabeth used the many marriage possibilities as a way of strengthening her position with the international community. She managed to keep several foreign leaders eager for an alliance with England and a marriage with her. Over the years, the king of Sweden, European dukes and archdukes, and even all three of Catherine de Medici’s sons in France were offered as possible husband. And that doesn’t take into account the Scottish and English nobles who wanted to marry the queen.

Speaking of men in England, was it really Robert Dudley who kept Elizabeth from marrying? He most likely was the love of her life, perhaps the only man she might have married if she had not been the queen. He was at the center of her life, from the day she learned Mary I had died, and she was queen. He became Elizabeth’s Master of the Horse, which meant he was always with her when she went riding, one of her favorite activities. And he was the only man in the kingdom with permission to touch the queen as he helped her onto and off horse.

Queen Elizabeth I

Even with Dudley’s favored position, there were a few problems in the way. For one thing, he was married. And then his wife died in very suspicious circumstances, making a future marriage potentially devastating for Elizabeth’s reputation. Dudley was unpopular among the council. And ultimately, I believe Elizabeth meant what she is reported to have shouted at him in anger: “I will have but one mistress here and no master.”

So, did everything depend upon the husband Elizabeth took? Yes, it turns out it did. I realized through the research that the one suitor that Elizabeth courted throughout her reign was the husband she had declared herself wed to when she became queen: her country and her people. Early in her reign, Elizabeth had responded to parliament’s request that she marry by responding that she was “already bound unto a husband which is the kingdom of England.” From the time she became queen, Elizabeth wooed her nation and her people, seeking their approval, favor, and love. That was the husband she took, and it meant everything to her.

About the book:

The many courtships of the woman who became Elizabeth I began when she was an infant, displayed before foreign ambassadors who considered her as a possible clause of a contract between England and France. From such an unromantic beginning, Elizabeth grew to see her father marry multiple times and experienced frequent changes in stepmothers and status in the family. Eventually, she became the most eligible woman in Europe. From start to finish, her marriage prospects were as much political as they were personal.

When she came to the throne in 1558, the primary question facing everyone from foreign monarchs to English nobles and ministers was which of her many suitors would finally win her hand. Through the longest Tudor reign, Elizabeth used courtship as a tool to consider foreign alliances, hold ambitious English courtiers in check, and navigate her role as a woman ruler in a world that considered her unnatural without a man at her side.

Elizabeth was, in fact, always the ‘Virgin Queen’, from the early days as a twenty-five-year-old presenting herself as a potential royal bride to her final years as an ageing and unmarried woman who was destined to end the Tudor dynasty. Ultimately, she became the only monarch in England to rule as an adult and never marry. Through it all, as friends and potential lovers faded away, she clung to the one true love of her life: England.

Courting the Virgin Queen: Queen Elizabeth I and Her Suitors is available from Pen and Sword and Amazon.

About the author:

Carol Ann Lloyd turned an obsession with the Tudors into a speaking and writing career. She shares her love of history with Smithsonian Associates, Royal Oak Foundation, Agecroft Hall, Folger Shakespeare Library and other organizations. She holds degrees in Literature and Education and hosts a popular podcast, _British History: Royals, Rebels, and Romantics_. She also offers workshops about using Shakespeare strategies to improve communication skills and is a member of National Speakers Association.

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My Books

Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

OUT NOW! Heroines of the Tudor World

Heroines of the Tudor World tells the stories of the most remarkable women from European history in the time of the Tudor dynasty, 1485-1603. These are the women who ruled, the women who founded dynasties, the women who fought for religious freedom, their families and love. These are the women who made a difference, who influenced countries, kings and the Reformation. In the era dominated by the Renaissance and Reformation, Heroines of the Tudor World examines the threats and challenges faced by the women of the era, and how they overcame them. From writers to regents, from nuns to queens, Heroines of the Tudor World shines the spotlight on the women helped to shape Early Modern Europe.

Heroines of the Tudor World is now available for pre-order from Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK.

Also by Sharon Bennett Connolly:

Women of the Anarchy demonstrates how Empress Matilda and Matilda of Boulogne, unable to wield a sword themselves, were prime movers in this time of conflict and lawlessness. It shows how their strengths, weaknesses, and personal ambitions swung the fortunes of war one way – and then the other. Available from Bookshop.org, Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK. King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye is the story of a truly remarkable lady, the hereditary constable of Lincoln Castle and the first woman in England to be appointed sheriff in her own right. Available from all good bookshops Pen & Sword Books, bookshop.org and Amazon. Defenders of the Norman Crown: The Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey tells the fascinating story of the Warenne dynasty, from its origins in Normandy, through the Conquest, Magna Carta, the wars and marriages that led to its ultimate demise in the reign of Edward III. Available from Pen & Sword Books, Amazon in the UK and US, and Bookshop.org. 

Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of Influence in Thirteenth Century England looks into the relationships of the various noble families of the 13th century, and how they were affected by the Barons’ Wars, Magna Carta and its aftermath; the bonds that were formed and those that were broken. It is now available in paperback and hardback from Pen & Sword,  Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Heroines of the Medieval World tells the stories of some of the most remarkable women from Medieval history, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Julian of Norwich. Available now from Amberley Publishing and Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066. Available now from Amazon,  Amberley Publishing, and Bookshop.org.

Alternate Endings: An anthology of historical fiction short stories including Long Live the King… which is my take what might have happened had King John not died in October 1216. Available in paperback and kindle from Amazon.

Podcast:

Have a listen to the A Slice of Medieval podcast, which I co-host with Historical fiction novelist Derek Birks. Derek and I welcome guests, such as Bernard Cornwell and discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved. There are now over 40 episodes to listen to!

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Don’t forget! Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

For forthcoming online and in-person talks, please check out my Events Page.

You can be the first to read new articles by clicking the ‘Follow’ button, liking our Facebook page or joining me on Twitter and Instagram.

©2024 Sharon Bennett Connolly FRHistS

Guest Post: Frances – Tudor Countess: The History Behind the Book, by Tony Riches

Sharon Bennett Connolly3 Comments

Today, it is a pleasure to welcome Tony Riches back to History…the Interesting Bits, with an article about the story behind his new novel, Frances: Tudor Countess. Frances Walsingham was the daughter of Queen Elizabeth’s spymaster, Francis Walsingham who married three times, including the soldier-poet, Sir Philip Sidney and, later, Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex

So, over to Tony…

Frances – Tudor Countess: The History Behind the Book

The origins of my latest book can be traced to my birth in Pembroke, Wales, close to the medieval castle where Henry Tudor was born. I couldn’t find any books which brought his story to life, and was inspired to write the Tudor Trilogy, where Henry is born in the first book, comes of age in the second, and becomes King of England in the third.

The success of the Tudor Trilogy led to the idea of following the dynasty in a continuous thread to the end, with the death of Queen Elizabeth I. I enjoy studying the real history to understand the social, political and economic context, and like to offer readers an historically authentic ‘immersive’ experience.

Over the past ten years I’ve built an extensive reference collection of books on everything Tudor and Elizabethan, from medicine to recipes, childbirth to government, as well as numerous biographies of key players in the story of the Tudors. All this research provides the backdrop within which the real lives and relationships of my chosen subjects develop and evolve.

For my second trilogy I decided to write about the reign of Henry VIII as the ‘Brandon Trilogy’, from the perspective of his youngest sister, Mary, his best friend, Charles Brandon, and the woman who some say could have become his seventh wife, Katherine Willoughby.

This took me to the Elizabethan era, and the decision to explore the enigmatic queen through three of her favourite men, Drake, Essex and Raleigh. Each saw her very differently, as Drake was in awe of her, Essex was like the son she never had, and Raleigh became captain of her guard.

I found that most of what I thought I knew about these men was wrong or missing vital details. I discovered Drake strived to understand and help liberate enslaved people. The heroic failure of the Essex rebellion was more about his lack of emotional intelligence than political ambition, and Raleigh’s colonisation of the New World was conducted from the comfort of his home through the courageous sacrifices of others.

I also realised I would need to make the Elizabethan books a series of six, rather than a trilogy, and explore the complexity of Queen Elizabeth through the eyes of three of her ladies. I had plenty to choose from, but found the most interesting were Penelope, eldest daughter of the queen’s nemesis, Lady Lettice Knollys, Frances, the only surviving child of the queen’s spymaster, Walsingham, and one of her ‘Gentlewomen’, Bess Raleigh.

One of my favourite historical sources for the Elizabethan series is “The Elizabethan Court Day by Day” by Marion E. Colthorpe. A rich and varied collection of research, this is where I discovered such details as the queen’s chambers being infested with fleas, which accumulated at the windows, the lists of participants in Accession Day jousts, and actual menus for royal banquets. Most importantly, this resource enabled me to cross-check events on any day at the Elizabethan court with other sources to ensure historical accuracy.

Of the many biographies I’ve studied, an unexpected source I found useful was Daphne du Maurier’s work on Francis and Anthony Bacon, who became important advisors to Frances in her struggle to understand and influence events at court. I also collected the works of the late Professor David Loades, particularly on the lives of William and Robert Cecil, who provide a connection between the books of the Elizabethan series.

To anyone looking for a deeper understanding of the Elizabethan world, I also recommend Liza Picard’s Elizabeth’s London: Everyday Life in Elizabethan London and The Time Traveller’s Guide to Elizabethan England by Ian Mortimer. There are plenty of well-researched books about the great events of the period, such as the Spanish Armada, but I was keen to develop a sense of how my subjects lived from day to day, what they wore, what they ate, and most importantly, how they thought about their world.

When I set out on this ‘journey’ to tell the story of the Tudors I had no idea how much I would learn about fascinating women such as Frances Walsingham, who witnessed the key events of the Elizabethan era first-hand, yet is so little known – until now.

To Buy the book:

Frances – Tudor Countess is new from Amazon in the United Kingdom and United States in eBook and Paperback, and an audiobook edition will be produced this year:

About the Author:

Tony Riches is a full-time UK author of best-selling Tudor historical fiction. He lives in Pembrokeshire, West Wales and is a specialist in the history of the Wars of the Roses and the lives of the Tudors. For more information about Tony’s books please visit his website tonyriches.com and his blog, The Writing Desk and find him on Facebook, Twitter @tonyriches and Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyriches.bsky.social. You can find out more about his research on his popular podcast series, ‘Stories of the Tudors’

Media Links:

Website: https://www.tonyriches.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonyriches Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyriches.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyriches.author/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyriches/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyriches.author/ Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Tony-Riches/e/B006UZWOXA Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5604088.Tony_Riches

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My Books

Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

Coming on 15 June 2024: Heroines of the Tudor World

Heroines of the Tudor World tells the stories of the most remarkable women from European history in the time of the Tudor dynasty, 1485-1603. These are the women who ruled, the women who founded dynasties, the women who fought for religious freedom, their families and love. These are the women who made a difference, who influenced countries, kings and the Reformation. In the era dominated by the Renaissance and Reformation, Heroines of the Tudor World examines the threats and challenges faced by the women of the era, and how they overcame them. From writers to regents, from nuns to queens, Heroines of the Tudor World shines the spotlight on the women helped to shape Early Modern Europe.

Heroines of the Tudor World is now available for pre-order from Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK.

Out Now! Women of the Anarchy

Two cousins. On the one side is Empress Matilda, or Maud. The sole surviving legitimate child of Henry I, she is fighting for her birthright and that of her children. On the other side is her cousin, Queen Matilda, supporting her husband, King Stephen, and fighting to see her own son inherit the English crown. Women of the Anarchy demonstrates how these women, unable to wield a sword, were prime movers in this time of conflict and lawlessness. It show how their strengths, weaknesses, and personal ambitions swung the fortunes of war one way – and then the other.

Available from Bookshop.org, Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK.

Also by Sharon Bennett Connolly:

King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye is the story of a truly remarkable lady, the hereditary constable of Lincoln Castle and the first woman in England to be appointed sheriff in her own right. Available from all good bookshops or direct from Pen & Sword Books, bookshop.org and Amazon. Defenders of the Norman Crown: The Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey tells the fascinating story of the Warenne dynasty, from its origins in Normandy, through the Conquest, Magna Carta, the wars and marriages that led to its ultimate demise in the reign of Edward III. Available from Pen & Sword Books, Amazon in the UK and US, and Bookshop.org. 

Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of Influence in Thirteenth Century England looks into the relationships of the various noble families of the 13th century, and how they were affected by the Barons’ Wars, Magna Carta and its aftermath; the bonds that were formed and those that were broken. It is now available in paperback and hardback from Pen & Sword,  Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Heroines of the Medieval World tells the stories of some of the most remarkable women from Medieval history, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Julian of Norwich. Available now from Amberley Publishing and Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066. Available now from Amazon,  Amberley Publishing, and Bookshop.org.

Alternate Endings: An anthology of historical fiction short stories including Long Live the King… which is my take what might have happened had King John not died in October 1216. Available in paperback and kindle from Amazon.

Podcast:

Have a listen to the A Slice of Medieval podcast, which I co-host with Historical fiction novelist Derek Birks. Derek and I welcome guests, such as Bernard Cornwell – and Tony Riches. We discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved.

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Don’t forget! Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

For forthcoming online and in-person talks, please check out my Events Page.

You can be the first to read new articles by clicking the ‘Follow’ button, liking our Facebook page or joining me on Twitter and Instagram.

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©2024 Sharon Bennett Connolly FRHistS and Tony Riches

Guest Post: Sarah Siddons by Jo Willett

Sharon Bennett ConnollyLeave a comment

It is a pleasure to welcome Jo Willett back to History…the Interesting Bits with a guest post about the subject of her latest book, the Georgian actress Sarah Siddons:

The famous actress Sarah Siddons, the Muse of Tragedy and the Queen of Drury Lane as she was known, was an expert on what we would today call brand control. The characters she played on stage were almost without exception highly moral, upstanding and noble. So, it was important that Sarah’s fans were encouraged to see her in the same light. In an age where many of her contemporary actresses on the London stage were either former sex workers or the mistresses of wealthy men (or both) Sarah ensured that every opportunity was taken to project the message that she was, by contrast, a happily married woman and a devoted mother.

Sarah had met her husband-to-be, William Siddons, when he joined her parents’ travelling acting troupe. She was aged 11 and he was 23. Biographers have tended to gloss over how quickly it was before the two started having romantic feelings for each other, for obvious reasons, but her parents soon became aware that the two were in love. They were wary of the relationship, not because of the age difference – Sarah’s father was similarly several years older than her mother and they had also met when her mother was young – but because they could see that William was not a particularly good actor. The story of how Sarah’s parents attempted to separate the lovers bears all the hallmarks of having been romanticised by Sarah in later life. But whatever happened, Sarah’s parents eventually decided to give their reluctant consent, and Sarah and William Siddons were married in Coventry in November 1773, when Sarah was 18 years old. The Siddons would always affectionately refer to each other as Sal and Sid.

So, Sarah was a married woman by the time she acquired fame and fortune as the greatest tragic actress of her generation. She had a false start at Drury Lane in David Garrick’s final season, but then rebuilt her career and returned to appear on stage at Drury Lane again, this time with Richard Brinsley Sheridan as manager, in 1782. Her first night was said to be one of the greatest ever seen on the British stage and she continued for some thirty years as the highest paid performer of her generation, mobbed by fans wherever she went. By 1782 she was already the mother of four children.

Sarah Siddons as Euphrasia in The Grecian Daughter

Sarah’s success enabled William to give up acting and to become her manager. In this role he proved himself often to be over-zealous in his demands for the fees he asked for her. The more Sarah earned in performance fees as the star, particularly in the regional theatres she toured every summer, the less was available to pay other actors in the company. Inevitably resentments festered. This was made worse when it appeared as if William had got Sarah out of appearing in ‘benefit’ performances, where the night’s takings went to a deserving actor in the cast. Her reputation suffered as a result, and she earned herself the nickname Lady Sarah Save-All.

Even though Sarah was the sole breadwinner, everything she earned was legally in William’s name. There is no evidence she questioned this – it was just how things were at the time. But William was not always wise when it came to investing. One year, for instance, he lost nearly a third of Sarah’s annual earnings, speculating on a new building at Saddlers Wells. Sarah never complained but she did find herself increasingly exhausted by her punishing work schedule and her health certainly suffered as a result.

It must also have been difficult for William that Sarah had such star status, whilst he was relatively unknown. She became the darling of King George III and his wife Queen Charlotte, for instance, but no mention was ever made of William’s having been introduced to the king and queen. It was as if he didn’t exist. Perhaps inevitably, William began to seek solace elsewhere. A friend called at the Siddons’ house one day to find Sarah weeping as she burned some papers which had alerted her to the fact her husband now had a mistress.

In 1792, ten years after Sarah’s triumph at Drury Lane, Hester Piozzi, a friend of Sarah’s, wrote in a letter to a mutual friend that the famous actress’s recent bout of ill-health could be put down to the fact that William had given his wife a Sexually Transmitted Infection, probably syphilis. This was far from being an uncommon problem at the time, but without the wonders of modern medicine it was incurable. Despite this, the couple clearly patched things up between the two of them, as their final child, a daughter named Cecilia, was born the following year.

Sarah Siddons as Lady MacBeth

Sarah never seems to have mentioned her STI. The only hint at it remains to this day Hester Piozzi’s letter. She would have dreaded any news of it escaping into the public domain. Her reputation as a happily married woman, the essence of respectability, would have been dangerously undermined. She was attended by the Royal Physician, Sir Lucas Pepys, who advised her to spend time recuperating at a spa. From then on she often suffered from what her public were told was erisypelas, a condition of the skin. In my biography I suggest that this was a means of covering up the fact her syphilis was developing.

But this was not the only problematic area in the Siddons’ relationship. Their two eldest daughters both suffered from increasingly serious diseases of the lungs, from which both of them were to die, Maria in 1798 and Sally in 1803. Sarah was able to rush to Maria’s bedside to be with her daughter for her last few weeks of life. But when Sally began to sicken during what would prove to be her last few months, her mother was on a long tour of Ireland. William wrote to his wife assuring her that Sally was recovering. He urged her to extend her tour from Dublin to Cork, specifically because there were bills to be met at home. Family life in London was proving to be particularly expensive at the time. Inevitably, and tragically, Sally worsened and died before her mother could make it back to be at her bedside for her end.

Sarah was always exceptionally guarded in her personal correspondence about her feelings towards her husband, but she let her mask slip around this time. ‘I have suffered too much from a husband’s unkindness,’ she wrote, ‘not to detest the man who treats a creature ill that depends on her husband for all her comforts.’ Clearly she blamed William for what had happened.

But Sarah herself was not entirely blameless. During her tour of Ireland she had met a young Spanish fencing master, Philomen Galindo. At first she could persuade herself that she was equally fond of Philomen and of his wife Catherine. But as the relationship developed, Catherine began to feel increasingly excluded and paranoid. Infatuated with Philomen, Sarah did her best to procure acting jobs for the couple in the new company of actors Sarah’s brother, the actor/manager John Philip Kemble, was putting together at Covent Garden. But John Philip made it very clear immediately that the Galindos were not the sort of people his celebrated sister should be associating with. It is impossible to prove whether Sarah was having a sexual relationship with Philomen Galindo, but his wife clearly thought she was. And when, several years later, Catherine had a pamphlet published, arguing her case and making public her side of the story, Sarah declined to sue for libel.

Sarah Siddons as The Tragic Muse by Joshua Reynolds

How much William knew about this is again hard to know, but it was just a year after their daughter Sally’s death, and just as Sarah had encouraged the Galindos to come to London on the false promise of finding jobs for them, that William and Sarah Siddons finally decided to separate. Very little adverse comment appeared in the press about this. All Sarah’s biographers up until now have played the separation right down and praised the actress for the dignity with which she handled the end of her marriage. One who was writing during Sarah’s lifetime wrote that William ‘retained at all times the sincerest regard for his incomparable lady.’ But the truth remained that the Siddons could no longer live with each other.

William drew up his will at the same time. He had asked Sarah to tell him what she would like from it. But, as she herself put it: ‘I can expect nothing more than you yourself have designed’. Despite all her worldly success, her reputation as the greatest tragic actress of her generation, and her image as someone as morally upright as the tragic heroines she played each night on stage, in real life her future was just as in jeopardy as theirs, dependent for her security on the goodwill of the husband from whom she was parting.

About the book:

Sarah Siddons grew up as a member of a family troupe of travelling actors, always poor and often hungry, resorting to foraging for turnips to eat. But before she was 30 she had become a superstar, her fees greater than any actor – male or female – had previously achieved. Her rise was not easy. Her London debut, aged just 20, was a disaster and could have condemned her to poverty and anonymity. But the young actress – already a mother of two – rebuilt her career, returning triumphantly to the capital after years of remorseless provincial touring. She became Britain’s greatest tragic actress, electrifying audiences with her performances. Her shows were sell-outs. Adored by theatre audiences, writers, artists and the royal family alike, Sarah grasped the importance of her image. She made sure that every leading portrait painter captured her likeness, so that engravings could be sold to her adoring public. In an eighteenth-century world of vicious satire and gossip, she also battled to manage her reputation. Married young, she took constant pains to portray herself as a respectable and happily married woman, even though her marriage did not live up to this ideal. Sarah’s story is not just about rags to riches; this remarkable woman also redefined the world of theatre and became the first celebrity actress.

Sarah Siddons: The First Celebrity Actress is available from Amazon

About the author:

Jo Willett has been an award-winning TV drama and comedy producer all her working life. Her credits range from the recent Manhunt, starring Martin Clunes, to Birds of a Feather. Her most relevant productions include Brief Encounters (a fictionalised story of the first women who ran Ann Summers parties in the 1980s), The Making of a Lady (an adaption of the Frances Hodgson Burnett novel _The Making of a Marchioness_), Bertie and Elizabeth (telling the story of the Queen Mother’s marriage) and the BAFTA-and-RTS Award-Winning A Rather English Marriage (starring Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay and Joanna Lumley, adapted from the novel of the same name by Angela Lambert). She studied English at Queens’ College Cambridge and has an MA in Arts Policy. She is married with a daughter, a son and a step-son. She lives in London. www.devoniaroad.co.uk.

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My Books

Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

Coming on 15 June 2024: Heroines of the Tudor World

Heroines of the Tudor World tells the stories of the most remarkable women from European history in the time of the Tudor dynasty, 1485-1603. These are the women who ruled, the women who founded dynasties, the women who fought for religious freedom, their families and love. These are the women who made a difference, who influenced countries, kings and the Reformation. In the era dominated by the Renaissance and Reformation, Heroines of the Tudor World examines the threats and challenges faced by the women of the era, and how they overcame them. From writers to regents, from nuns to queens, Heroines of the Tudor World shines the spotlight on the women helped to shape Early Modern Europe.

Heroines of the Tudor World is now available for pre-order from Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK.

Out Now! Women of the Anarchy

Two cousins. On the one side is Empress Matilda, or Maud. The sole surviving legitimate child of Henry I, she is fighting for her birthright and that of her children. On the other side is her cousin, Queen Matilda, supporting her husband, King Stephen, and fighting to see her own son inherit the English crown. Women of the Anarchy demonstrates how these women, unable to wield a sword, were prime movers in this time of conflict and lawlessness. It show how their strengths, weaknesses, and personal ambitions swung the fortunes of war one way – and then the other.

Available from Bookshop.org, Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK.

Also by Sharon Bennett Connolly:

King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye is the story of a truly remarkable lady, the hereditary constable of Lincoln Castle and the first woman in England to be appointed sheriff in her own right. Available from all good bookshops or direct from Pen & Sword Books, bookshop.org and Amazon. Defenders of the Norman Crown: The Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey tells the fascinating story of the Warenne dynasty, from its origins in Normandy, through the Conquest, Magna Carta, the wars and marriages that led to its ultimate demise in the reign of Edward III. Available from Pen & Sword Books, Amazon in the UK and US, and Bookshop.org. 

Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of Influence in Thirteenth Century England looks into the relationships of the various noble families of the 13th century, and how they were affected by the Barons’ Wars, Magna Carta and its aftermath; the bonds that were formed and those that were broken. It is now available in paperback and hardback from Pen & Sword,  Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Heroines of the Medieval World tells the stories of some of the most remarkable women from Medieval history, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Julian of Norwich. Available now from Amberley Publishing and Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066. Available now from Amazon,  Amberley Publishing, and Bookshop.org.

Alternate Endings: An anthology of historical fiction short stories including Long Live the King… which is my take what might have happened had King John not died in October 1216. Available in paperback and kindle from Amazon.

Podcast:

Have a listen to the A Slice of Medieval podcast, which I co-host with Historical fiction novelist Derek Birks. Derek and I welcome guests, such as Bernard Cornwell and discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved.

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Don’t forget! Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

For forthcoming online and in-person talks, please check out my Events Page.

You can be the first to read new articles by clicking the ‘Follow’ button, liking our Facebook page or joining me on Twitter and Instagram.

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©2024 Jo Willett and Sharon Bennett Connolly FRHistS.

Guest Post: Medieval Hungary by Katerina Dunne

Sharon Bennett Connolly1 Comment

Today, it is a pleasure to welcome author Katerina Dunne to History…the Interesting Bits. With her fabulous novel, Lord of the Eyrie, Katerina introduced me to the fascinating history of medieval Hungary, something a knew very little about. And I wanted to know more. Katerina has just released a sequel, Return to the Eyrie and has joined me to give us a little historical background to her stories.

Medieval Hungary by Katerina Dunne

The history of medieval Hungary is fascinating, yet few in the English-speaking world know much about it. From groups of nomadic people raiding across Europe in the 9th – 10th century, the Hungarian conquerors settled in the Carpathian basin, converted to Christianity and, together with the peoples they found already living there, created a powerful multi-ethnic and multi-lingual kingdom, which at its peak stretched from Southern Poland to the Adriatic Sea and from lower Austria to Central Romania as the below map of 15th century Europe demonstrates:

Map copied from: https://www.gifex.com/detail-en/2009-09-17-811/Europe-during-the-15th-Century.html

My two historical fiction novels, Lord of the Eyrie (released in February 2022) and Return to the Eyrie (released in April 2024) make up a family saga that spans forty years (1440 to 1480) and two generations. They are set mostly in Transylvania (a province of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary) The noble family is fictional, but I have presented them as branches of powerful baronial clans from Transylvania and Eastern Hungary, so they interact with real historical figures and participate in real historical events.

The 15th century was a turbulent time for the Kingdom of Hungary due to internal conflict as well as the expansionist efforts of the Ottoman Empire towards the west and north. After the Ottoman conquest of Serbia and Bosnia, and the submission of Wallachia to the Sultan as a vassal state, Hungary became the last frontier holding back the Ottoman advance towards Central Europe.

The years between 1440 and 1456 were dominated by the formidable personality of János Hunyadi, a lesser nobleman with obscure origins (likely Wallachian or possibly Cuman), whose military successes against the Ottomans elevated him to the ranks of the most powerful barons and earned him the title of Voivode (governor) of Transylvania and later Captain General and Regent of the Kingdom. At the peak of his power, Hunyadi was the richest landowner in the Kingdom of Hungary, holding about 2 million acres of land spread over 5 modern-day countries (Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine) He even loaned money to the king at times.

János Hunyadi in the Chronica Hungarorum by János Thuróczy – picture from Wikipedia

Although Hunyadi lost two major pitched battles against the Ottomans (the battle of Varna in 1444 and the battle of Kosovo in 1448), he achieved several victories against them in various campaigns and sieges. His last and biggest triumph was at the siege of Belgrade in July 1456, when the united forces of the city’s Serbian defenders, Hunyadi’s Transylvanian and mercenary army and a motley crowd of crusaders from lesser nobility, burghers, students, clergy and peasants defeated the mighty Sultan Mehmed the Second, the conqueror of Contstantinople. Hunyadi died in August 1456 of the plague which had spread in Belgrade in the aftermath of the siege.

As it often happens, when a powerful leader dies, chaos ensues among those who strive to take advantage. Hunyadi’s eldest son, László, inherited his father’s vast estates and titles. However, Hunyadi’s old rival, Count Ulrich of Cilli (modern-day Celje in Slovenia) – who was the Hungarian king’s relative – was not going to let this go. Cilli and László Hunyadi got involved in an incident during the king’s visit to Belgrade (which was under the Hunyadi family’s control) that led to Cilli’s death. Although the king (also called László) forgave the younger Hunyadi, he changed his mind when he returned to his palace in Buda. Under the influence of several powerful barons who opposed the Hunyadi family, the king arrested both Hunyadi’s sons, László and fourteen-year-old Mátyás, in the spring of 1457. While he had László executed, he imprisoned Mátyás and many of their supporters.

Furious about the events, Hunyadi’s widow, Erzsébet Szilágyi and her brother Mihály, started a rebellion in Transylvania which almost brought the kingdom to its knees. King László fled to Vienna but took Mátyás with him. When the king died suddenly at the young age of 17 from an illness, the Bohemian ruler George of Podebrady became Mátyás’ captor.

But the king’s death meant that Hungary was in need of a new ruler. After intense negotiations (which probably included promises, bribes and intimidation), Erzsébet and Mihály Szilágyi won the support of the other barons and declared the absent young Mátyás as the new king in January 1458. The legend has it that the Royal Council deliberated in Buda Castle and made the public announcement while the crowds of lesser nobles stood literally on the river Danube, the waters of which had frozen solid.

Following negotiations and a large ransom of 60,000 gold florins, Podebrady released Mátyás to his family, and the teenager was finally enthroned in February 1458. He could not be crowned though because the Hungarian Holy Crown was in the hands of the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick III. How the crown had ended up there is another story—one of the most fascinating episodes in late medieval Hungarian history— which deserves a separate post. It took another four years and the astronomical sum of 80,000 gold florins to recover the crown. Mátyás was finally crowned with all the appropriate ceremony on 29 March 1464.

King Mátyás Hunyadi in the Chronica Hungarorum by János Thuróczy – picture from Wikipedia

He became known as Mátyás Corvinus (nicknamed The Raven King because of the Hunyadi coat of arms, which depicted a raven with a golden ring in its beak) One of the most important rulers in 15th century Europe, he brought the Italian Renaissance and Humanism to Hungary, upgraded the royal palance in Buda, established the famous Corvina Library and was the patron of many scholars and artists. Due to the fact that he was a member of the nobility rather than of royal blood, he faced strong opposition both from inside Hungary and from abroad (Holy Roman Empire, Bohemia and Poland) and he had to fight several wars to secure his grip on the throne. He kept a defensive stance towards the Ottomans, with relative success, and competed with them in his efforts to influence politics in neighbouring Wallachia, Moldavia and Bosnia. Mátyás is well-known for keeping Prince Vlad III of Wallachia (Vlad the Impaler) imprisoned for several years before finally releasing him in 1475 in order to place him on the Wallachian throne as an ally.

Mátyás conquered Vienna in 1485 and was negotiating his possible future designation as Holy Roman Emperor when he died in April 1490.

He has since become the subject of many legends not only in Hungary, but in several neighbouring Central European countries.

About the books:

János Hunyadi appears as a secondary character in my first book, Lord of the Eyrie, while King Mátyás plays a small but pivotal role in the sequel, Return to the Eyrie.

Even though these are parts of a two-volume family saga, each book can be read as a standalone.

Both novels are available in ebook and paperback format on Amazon:

To Buy:

Lord of the Eyrie is available from Amazon in the UK and the US.

Return to the Eyrie is now available in the UK and the US.

About the Author:

Katerina Dunne is the pen-name of Katerina Vavoulidou. Originally from Athens, Greece, Katerina has been living in Ireland since 1999. She has a degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Athens, an MA in Film Studies from University College Dublin and an MPhil in Medieval History from Trinity College Dublin.

Katerina is passionate about history, especially medieval history, and her main area of interest is 13th to 15th century Hungary. Although the main characters of her stories are fictional, Katerina uses real events and personalities as part of her narrative in order to bring to life the fascinating history of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary, a location and time period not so well-known to English-speaking readers.

You can contact Katerina by email: through her FB page: and on Goodreads.

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My Books:

Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

Out Now! Women of the Anarchy

Two cousins. On the one side is Empress Matilda, or Maud. The sole surviving legitimate child of Henry I, she is fighting for her birthright and that of her children. On the other side is her cousin, Queen Matilda, supporting her husband, King Stephen, and fighting to see her own son inherit the English crown. Women of the Anarchy demonstrates how these women, unable to wield a sword, were prime movers in this time of conflict and lawlessness. It show how their strengths, weaknesses, and personal ambitions swung the fortunes of war one way – and then the other.

Available from Bookshop.org, Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK.

Coming on 15 June 2024: Heroines of the Tudor World

Heroines of the Tudor World tells the stories of the most remarkable women from European history in the time of the Tudor dynasty, 1485-1603. These are the women who ruled, the women who founded dynasties, the women who fought for religious freedom, their families and love. These are the women who made a difference, who influenced countries, kings and the Reformation. In the era dominated by the Renaissance and Reformation, Heroines of the Tudor World examines the threats and challenges faced by the women of the era, and how they overcame them. From writers to regents, from nuns to queens, Heroines of the Tudor World shines the spotlight on the women helped to shape Early Modern Europe.

Heroines of the Tudor World is now available for pre-order from Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK.

Also by Sharon Bennett Connolly:

King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye is the story of a truly remarkable lady, the hereditary constable of Lincoln Castle and the first woman in England to be appointed sheriff in her own right. Available from all good bookshops or direct from Pen & Sword Books, bookshop.org and Amazon. Defenders of the Norman Crown: The Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey tells the fascinating story of the Warenne dynasty, from its origins in Normandy, through the Conquest, Magna Carta, the wars and marriages that led to its ultimate demise in the reign of Edward III. Available from Pen & Sword Books, Amazon in the UK and US, and Bookshop.org. 

Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of Influence in Thirteenth Century England looks into the relationships of the various noble families of the 13th century, and how they were affected by the Barons’ Wars, Magna Carta and its aftermath; the bonds that were formed and those that were broken. It is now available in paperback and hardback from Pen & Sword,  Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Heroines of the Medieval World tells the stories of some of the most remarkable women from Medieval history, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Julian of Norwich. Available now from Amberley Publishing and Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066. Available now from Amazon,  Amberley Publishing, and Bookshop.org.

Alternate Endings: An anthology of historical fiction short stories including Long Live the King… which is my take what might have happened had King John not died in October 1216. Available in paperback and kindle from Amazon.

Podcast:

Have a listen to the A Slice of Medieval podcast, which I co-host with Historical fiction novelist Derek Birks. Derek and I welcome guests, such as Bernard Cornwell and Elizabeth Chadwick, and discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved.

*

Don’t forget! Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

For forthcoming online and in-person talks, please check out my Events Page.

You can be the first to read new articles by clicking the ‘Follow’ button, liking our Facebook page or joining me on Twitter and Instagram.

*

©2024 Katerina Dunne and Sharon Bennett Connolly FRHistS.

Guest Post: Researching the 11th Century by G.K. Holloway

Sharon Bennett Connolly1 Comment

It is a pleasure to welcome novelist G.K. Holloway to History…the Interesting Bits today, to talk about the research behind his wonderful series The 1066 Saga.

Norman invasion fleet, Bayeux Tapestry

Research for my books consists of mainly reading – books, magazines, academic papers, and blogs. It’s also good to get out a bit and visit and talking with experts, in my case locations of mainly locations of battles where I can talk with resident historians, reenactors and history fans, especially those with local knowledge.

Some of my reading consists of trawling around on the internet. It’s surprising what you can find, other than Wikipedia, as a source of material. And of course there are all sorts of groups on social media that specialise in my period in history. There are podcasts and blogs rich with information for recycling.

Books too, are an obvious place to look; the Doomsday Book is the first to spring to mind, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, and the Ecclesiastical History of Orderic Vitalis are useful too. But reader beware, it’s often the case with original material that objectivity wasn’t a strong point of the authors. Academic papers are nowadays can be easily accessed, although the cost of some of them is prohibitive. I’ve had read papers that have shone light into the dark recesses of history I hadn’t dreamed about. This means I’ll able to surprise readers with fascinating snippets that can give a glimpse of life a millennium ago.

Norman cavalry at the Battle of Hastings

Thank heavens for You Tube. There is a wealth of information to be found here, and a lot of it from top quality presenters and historians.

It’s not just what you see but what you don’t see that can be important. A prime example of this is the Bayeux Tapestry. It’s the closet you’ll get to newsreel footage of events covering the Norman Invasion. The full horror of war is not shied away from, burning houses, screaming women, decapitated soldiers and a horse running amok amongst dead bodies, all in glorious colour. But just as in modern times, news can be censored and people and events can be ’air brushed’ out of history, so too, it was the case way back then.

What remains of the well preserved embroidery, that’s correct, it is not a tapestry, is a sight to behold and worth a visit to Normandy to see. It’s surprising how colourful it is even after almost a thousand years. The imagery is clear and easy to follow but some scenes are missing. The story is told accurately enough and details like the appearance of Halley’s Comet are included. However, the Battle of Stamford Bridge is nowhere to be seen. Could it be that King William didn’t want it know that the army he fought at Senlac was exhausted from several hundred miles of marching and a huge battle against the biggest Norse army ever to have set foot in England. There is no depiction of the Battle of London Bridge, or the violence committed by his rampaging troops during his coronation. History has been, ‘cleaned up a bit,’ to the advantage of the victors. Nothing new there then.

Death of King Harold in the Bayeux Tapestry

It’s always a good idea to visit key locations. It’s one thing to look at maps and photographs but when you find yourself looking across the lagoons at Bosham, wandering around the castle at Falaise, starring up at Clifford’s Tower in York, or watching a reenactment at Battle Abbey, a much more realistic picture forms in your mind about what it must have been like to live all that time ago. To boost one’s knowledge it’s always a good idea to talk to reenactors; most of them have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the time period and especially their character’s part in it. Whether it be as a soldier, arrowsmith or seamstress.

Doing all the above is a great way of researching the history, but if like me, you write historical fiction rather than non-fiction, you would do well to read a good book. One I could recommend if, Story by Robert McKee. He deals with scriptwriting but it’s quite easy to apply his ideas to novels. You could also spend a lot of money and quite a bit of time on a creative writing course, but you might be better off getting a good editor.

So there you have it. Use as many sources as you can, and you’ll find many a nugget amongst the raw material.

1066: What Fates Impose

England is in crisis. King Edward has no heir and promises never to produce one. There are no obvious successors available to replace him, but quite a few claimants are eager to take the crown. While power struggles break out between the various factions at court, enemies abroad plot to make England their own. There are raids across the borders with Wales and Scotland.

Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, is seen by many as the one man who can bring stability to the kingdom. He has powerful friends and two women who love him, but he has enemies will stop at nothing to gain power. As 1066 begins, England heads for an uncertain future. It seems even the heavens are against Harold.

In the Shadows of Castles

It’s the 1060s, and William of Normandy is establishing a new and brutal regime in England, but there are those who would defy him. As Norman soldiers spread like a plague across the land, resistance builds, but will it be enough to topple William and restore the rightful king to his throne? The English have the courage to fight, but the Normans, already victorious at Hastings, now build castles seeking to secure their tenuous foothold in these lands.

And what of the people caught up in these catastrophic events? Dispossessed but not defeated, their lives ripped apart, the English struggle for freedom from tyranny; amongst them, caught up in the turmoil, are a soldier, a thane and two sisters. As events unfold, their destinies become intertwined, bringing drastic changes that alter their lives forever.

Firmly embedded in the history of the Conquest, ‘In the Shadows of Castles’ is ultimately a story of love, hope and survival in a time of war.

About the Author:

1066 What Fates Impose, won the Gold Medal in the 2014 Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards – Adult Fiction.

G K Holloway left university in 1980 with a degree in history and politics. After spending a year in Canada, he relocated to England’s West Country and began working in Secondary Education. Later he worked in Adult Education and then Further Education before finally working in Higher Education.

After reading a biography about Harold Godwinson, he became fascinated by the fall of Anglo Saxon England and spent several years researching events leading up to and beyond the Battle of Hastings. Eventually he decided he had enough material to make an engrossing novel. Using characters from the Bayeux Tapestry, the Norse Sagas, the Domesday Book and many other sources. He feels that he has brought the period and its characters to life in his own particular way. Following the major protagonists, as well as political, religious and personal themes, the downfall of Anglo-Saxon England is portrayed by a strong cast.

Nowadays he lives in Bristol with his wife and two children. When he’s not writing he works with his wife in their company.

1066 is his debut novel was originally published as an ebook. It has received very positive reviews and this has encouraged him to publish it in paperback. Currently he is working on a sequel. One day he hopes to write full time.

Visit G K Holloway’s website http://www.gkholloway.co.uk

GK Holloway’s books on Amazon

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My Books:

Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

Out Now! Women of the Anarchy

Two cousins. On the one side is Empress Matilda, or Maud. The sole surviving legitimate child of Henry I, she is fighting for her birthright and that of her children. On the other side is her cousin, Queen Matilda, supporting her husband, King Stephen, and fighting to see her own son inherit the English crown. Women of the Anarchy demonstrates how these women, unable to wield a sword, were prime movers in this time of conflict and lawlessness. It show how their strengths, weaknesses, and personal ambitions swung the fortunes of war one way – and then the other.

Available from Bookshop.org, Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK.

Coming on 15 June 2024: Heroines of the Tudor World

Heroines of the Tudor World tells the stories of the most remarkable women from European history in the time of the Tudor dynasty, 1485-1603. These are the women who ruled, the women who founded dynasties, the women who fought for religious freedom, their families and love. These are the women who made a difference, who influenced countries, kings and the Reformation. In the era dominated by the Renaissance and Reformation, Heroines of the Tudor World examines the threats and challenges faced by the women of the era, and how they overcame them. From writers to regents, from nuns to queens, Heroines of the Tudor World shines the spotlight on the women helped to shape Early Modern Europe.

Heroines of the Tudor World is now available for pre-order from Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK.

Also by Sharon Bennett Connolly:

King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye is the story of a truly remarkable lady, the hereditary constable of Lincoln Castle and the first woman in England to be appointed sheriff in her own right. Available from all good bookshops or direct from Pen & Sword Books, bookshop.org and Amazon. Defenders of the Norman Crown: The Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey tells the fascinating story of the Warenne dynasty, from its origins in Normandy, through the Conquest, Magna Carta, the wars and marriages that led to its ultimate demise in the reign of Edward III. Available from Pen & Sword Books, Amazon in the UK and US, and Bookshop.org. 

Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of Influence in Thirteenth Century England looks into the relationships of the various noble families of the 13th century, and how they were affected by the Barons’ Wars, Magna Carta and its aftermath; the bonds that were formed and those that were broken. It is now available in paperback and hardback from Pen & Sword,  Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Heroines of the Medieval World tells the stories of some of the most remarkable women from Medieval history, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Julian of Norwich. Available now from Amberley Publishing and Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066. Available now from Amazon,  Amberley Publishing, and Bookshop.org.

Alternate Endings: An anthology of historical fiction short stories including Long Live the King… which is my take what might have happened had King John not died in October 1216. Available in paperback and kindle from Amazon.

Podcast:

Have a listen to the A Slice of Medieval podcast, which I co-host with Historical fiction novelist Derek Birks. Derek and I welcome guests, such as Bernard Cornwell and Elizabeth Chadwick, and discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved.

*

Don’t forget! Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

For forthcoming online and in-person talks, please check out my Events Page.

You can be the first to read new articles by clicking the ‘Follow’ button, liking our Facebook page or joining me on Twitter and Instagram.

*

©2024 GK Holloway and Sharon Bennett Connolly FRHistS.

Guest Post: Middleham Castle – Home to Kings and Kingmakers by Wendy Johnson

Sharon Bennett ConnollyLeave a comment

Today, it is a pleasure to welcome debut author, Wendy Johnson, to History…the Interesting Bits as part of her blog tour to celebrate the launch of Wendy’s first novel, The Traitor’s Son.

Middleham Castle – Home to Kings and Kingmakers

Middleham Castle, North Yorkshire, bastion of the illustrious Neville family and home to both Richard Neville, earl of Warwick and his cousin, the future Richard III, is an evocative and fascinating place.

Eleven miles from the market town of Richmond, and a stone’s throw from Leyburn, the castle stands at the heart of Middleham, amid Wensleydale’s rolling hills. The visitor’s first impression, on approaching its cavernous gatehouse, is that these ruins have witnessed the very essence of history, and if only walls could talk, they would have a treasure trove of secrets to reveal.

An earlier castle once stood on nearby William’s Hill, but the present edifice began to rise in the 1170s. The fortress came into the possession of the Neville family when Mary FitzRanulph married Robert Neville in the thirteenth century. However, Middleham appears to have been considered less important than Robert’s other castles at Raby and Sheriff Hutton.1 Later Nevilles made a number of improvements – heightening the towers and creating a new and larger gatehouse – but it was in the later fifteenth century that the castle became the home of some of the most influential figures of the Wars of the Roses: the three Richards.

Richard Neville, earl of Salisbury; Richard Neville, earl of Warwick; and Richard Plantagenet, duke of Gloucester were each caught up in one of the most dramatic periods of English history, when the crown changed hands from Lancaster to York, York to Lancaster, and back again in the course of only ten years.

Following the fateful Battle of Wakefield in 1460, Salisbury was captured and executed. His son, the enigmatic and forceful Earl of Warwick, was largely responsible for helping Edward IV, the first Yorkist king, to win the throne in 1461.

Richard duke of Gloucester, Edward’s youngest brother, who ascended the throne as Richard III, spent much of his life at Middleham. Installed in his cousin, Warwick’s, household at the age of twelve, Richard embarked on his knightly training under the earl’s tutelage, learning the military and social graces required of a chivalric warrior. At the age of twenty, following his marriage to Warwick’s daughter, Anne, Middleham became Richard’s favourite residence.

My debut novel, The Traitor’s Son, re-imagines these early years. As a grieving and fatherless boy, Richard finds solace in the company of his cousin, the Earl of Warwick, whose paternal influence repairs the boy’s shattered life. The castle of Middleham plays an important role in the novel – representing a new and, at first, unnerving, part in Richard’s journey, as he wonders whether he is able to live up to the earl’s expectations. I have chosen to illustrate Richard’s early feelings for Middleham and for his formidable cousin in the following scene, when the boy has been summoned into Warwick’s presence.

‘Belly lurching, he follows the earl’s man down the tight spiral and out into the bailey. Kitchen boys are throwing out slops, bandying jests, sniggering. As he approaches, they fall silent, snatching caps and bobbing knees. The air is cool, pungent with the scent of verdure and horse dung, birds chirruping in the violet dusk. A solitary crow swoops from the keep, hops across the earth in the clumsy, jerking manner of his breed, then takes off again in the direction of the practice yard.

He should have fetched a cloak. It’s so much colder here in the land of the Nevilles, plagued as it is with a perpetual wind sweeping from the moors and striking like a whiplash. He shivers, wondering why Warwick has hauled him from what little comfort there is to be had on such a dismal evening. To draw conclusions on the day’s events? To tell him he has failed?

Torchlight bobs on towering stone as they mount the steps to the keep. Challenged twice in the ascent, he could be at Westminster, and Warwick a king at the heart of the labyrinth. Surely, he thinks, it’s the dread of the moment that gives this impression, the creeping suffocation of growing darkness, the brilliance of the wind-torn flames. Warwick is my cousin and my tutor; he is not my sovereign.

The Middleham known to both Richard and Warwick was larger than the ruined fabric we see today. In addition to the keep, towers and surrounding ranges, there would have been stables, an armoury, a blacksmith’s forge and many more domestic buildings all integral to the daily life of the castle, as well as to the role of its lord as upholder of his estates and a foremost figure in society. How magnificent that life was, can be gleaned by the splendour of the Middleham Jewel: a fifteenth century gold and sapphire pendent found in the vicinity of the castle in 1986. Current thinking is that the jewel belonged to a woman – the most likely candidate being Anne Beauchamp, Warwick’s countess, or possibly Anne Neville, Warwick’s daughter, and wife of Richard III. Although the original pendent is on display in the Yorkshire Museum, York, a replica has pride of place in the castle’s English Heritage shop.

I find that visualising the past can help stir the imagination, as one explores Middleham’s evocative and dramatic ruins. If you’ve never experienced Middleham’s magic for yourself, then try following in the footsteps of kings and kingmakers, you’ll not regret it.

About the book:

Click here to buy: The Traitor’s Son

Review quotes:

“Exquisitely written. An evocative and thoughtful retelling of the early life of Richard III.” Philippa Langley, MBE

Synopsis:

Caught between a king and a kingmaker, young Richard Plantagenet knows he’ll have to choose…

1461: Richard Duke of York, King by Right, has been branded a traitor and slain by his Lancastrian foes. For his eight-year-old son—Richard Plantagenet—England has become a dangerous place.

As the boy grapples with grief and uncertainty, his elder brother, Edward, defeats the enemy and claims the throne. Dazzled by his glorious sibling, young Richard soon discovers that imperfections lurk beneath his brother’s majestic façade. Enter Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick—cousin, tutor, luminary—whose life has given him everything but that which he truly craves: a son. A filial bond forms between man and boy as they fill the void in each other’s lives. Yet, when treachery tears their world asunder, Richard faces an agonizing dilemma: pledge allegiance to Edward—his blood brother and king—or to Warwick, the father figure who has shaped his life and affections.

Painfully trapped between duty and devotion, Richard faces a grim reality: whatever he decides will mean a fight to the death.

In “The Traitor’s Son”, Wendy Johnson masterfully weaves a tapestry of loyalty, love, and sacrifice against the backdrop of England’s turbulent history. Through the eyes of a young Richard III, readers are transported into a world where every choice is fraught with peril, and the bonds of kinship are tested to their limits. As Richard Plantagenet navigates the explosive tensions within his own family, readers are swept along on a journey of intrigue and passion that will leave them spellbound until the final page.

Note: 1. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/middleham-castle/history/

Images:

1) Middleham Castle from the Gatehouse (Wendy Johnson); 2) Middleham Castle: North Range (Wendy Johnson); 3) Middleham Castle: Towards the Gatehouse (Wendy Johnson).

About the author:

Wendy has a lifelong passion for medieval history, its people, and for bringing their incredible stories to life. Her specific areas of interest are the fifteenth century, the Wars of the Roses, and Richard III in particular. She enjoys narratives which immerse the reader in the past, and tries faithfully to recreate the later Middle Ages within in her own writing. She has contributed to a number of historical anthologies and was a runner up in the Woman and Home Short Story Competition 2008.

A member of the Richard III Society since 1986, Wendy is also a founder member of Philippa Langley’s Looking for Richard Project, which located the king’s lost grave in 2012. She co-authored Finding Richard III: the Official Account of Research by the Retrieval and Reburial Project in 2014, and in 2019 received the Richard III Society’s Robert Hamblin Award.

THE TRAITOR’S SON, volume one in a Richard III trilogy, is Wendy’s debut novel and she is currently working on the sequel.

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My Books:

Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

Out Now! Women of the Anarchy

Two cousins. On the one side is Empress Matilda, or Maud. The sole surviving legitimate child of Henry I, she is fighting for her birthright and that of her children. On the other side is her cousin, Queen Matilda, supporting her husband, King Stephen, and fighting to see her own son inherit the English crown. Women of the Anarchy demonstrates how these women, unable to wield a sword, were prime movers in this time of conflict and lawlessness. It show how their strengths, weaknesses, and personal ambitions swung the fortunes of war one way – and then the other.

Available from Bookshop.org, Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK.

Coming on 15 June 2024: Heroines of the Tudor World

Heroines of the Tudor World tells the stories of the most remarkable women from European history in the time of the Tudor dynasty, 1485-1603. These are the women who ruled, the women who founded dynasties, the women who fought for religious freedom, their families and love. These are the women who made a difference, who influenced countries, kings and the Reformation. In the era dominated by the Renaissance and Reformation, Heroines of the Tudor World examines the threats and challenges faced by the women of the era, and how they overcame them. From writers to regents, from nuns to queens, Heroines of the Tudor World shines the spotlight on the women helped to shape Early Modern Europe.

Heroines of the Tudor World is now available for pre-order from Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK.

Also by Sharon Bennett Connolly:

King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye is the story of a truly remarkable lady, the hereditary constable of Lincoln Castle and the first woman in England to be appointed sheriff in her own right. Available from all good bookshops or direct from Pen & Sword Books, bookshop.org and Amazon. Defenders of the Norman Crown: The Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey tells the fascinating story of the Warenne dynasty, from its origins in Normandy, through the Conquest, Magna Carta, the wars and marriages that led to its ultimate demise in the reign of Edward III. Available from Pen & Sword Books, Amazon in the UK and US, and Bookshop.org. 

Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of Influence in Thirteenth Century England looks into the relationships of the various noble families of the 13th century, and how they were affected by the Barons’ Wars, Magna Carta and its aftermath; the bonds that were formed and those that were broken. It is now available in paperback and hardback from Pen & Sword,  Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Heroines of the Medieval World tells the stories of some of the most remarkable women from Medieval history, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Julian of Norwich. Available now from Amberley Publishing and Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066. Available now from Amazon,  Amberley Publishing, and Bookshop.org.

Alternate Endings: An anthology of historical fiction short stories including Long Live the King… which is my take what might have happened had King John not died in October 1216. Available in paperback and kindle from Amazon.

Podcast:

Have a listen to the A Slice of Medieval podcast, which I co-host with Historical fiction novelist Derek Birks. Derek and I welcome guests, such as Bernard Cornwell and Elizabeth Chadwick, and discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved.

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Don’t forget! Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

For forthcoming online and in-person talks, please check out my Events Page.

You can be the first to read new articles by clicking the ‘Follow’ button, liking our Facebook page or joining me on Twitter and Instagram.

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©2024 Sharon Bennett Connolly FRHistS 

Guest Post: Through Their Stories: The Women of 1066 by L.P. O’Bryan

Sharon Bennett Connolly2 Comments

As my long-time readers will know, I have always had an interest in the Norman Conquest and the women involved in the struggle for England, on all three sides of the fight. My book, Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest, is now recommended by the Historical Association for teaching the Norman Conquest in schools and I love to give talks to classes of Year 7 students who are studying the Conquest from this unique angle. So when author L.P. O’Bryan offered to write an article on his research into the women of the era, I could not resist.

So, over to L.P. O’Bryan

Through Their Stories: The Women of 1066

Edith of Wessex, Queen of England, grieving for Edward the Confessor, Bayeux Tapestry. 

The year 1066 stands as a watershed moment for England and Europe. The Battle of Hastings and the subsequent Norman Conquest altered the course of England’s history, reshaping its culture, language, and legal system.

While much has been written about the warriors and kings, the stories of the women who lived through these tumultuous times are often left untold. This article aims to explore the experiences of women amidst the upheaval of their society and the personal losses they endured.

The Prelude to Conquest

The year 1066 began with the death of Edward the Confessor, leaving a power vacuum that would draw Harold Godwinson, Harald Hardrada, and William of Normandy into a struggle for the English throne. Amidst this political turmoil, women of all stations managed their households and lands, often overseeing the welfare of their communities. Edith of Wessex, widow of Edward, and Gytha Thorkelsdóttir, mother of Harold Godwinson, were two examples of women who played significant roles in the fabric of English society at that time. Their lives, filled with the duties of governance and care, were about to be irrevocably changed.

The Battle of Hastings: A Turning Point

Edith Swan-Neck after Hastings looking for King Harold’s body. School of Lawrence Alma-Tadema.  

On October 14, 1066, the fate of England was decided on the battlefield near Hastings. For the women awaiting news, the battle represented a moment of profound anxiety and fear. The loss of life from the battle was staggering, with many women losing husbands, sons, brothers, and fathers. The immediate aftermath of the battle saw a shift in the social landscape too, as Norman forces began to assert control over the conquered lands.

Imagine the heartache of a woman like Edith Swan-Neck, Harold’s common-law wife, identifying his body on the battlefield. Her grief mirrored by thousands of others, whose lives were transformed overnight, their futures uncertain in a country now ruled by foreign invaders.

Adapting to Norman Rule

The Norman Conquest introduced significant changes to English society, including the imposition of Norman customs, laws, and, more slowly, language. For English women, this meant navigating a new order that often placed them at a disadvantage. Land rights, inheritance laws, and social statuses were all subject to the whims of the new Norman elite.

Despite these challenges, many English women found ways to adapt and survive. Some, like the legendary Lady Godiva, who is said to have protested against oppressive taxation under Norman rule, became symbols of resistance. The concept of a Peeping Tom, came from her ride, as a man named Tom was the only one believed to have opened his window to look at her. Such stories, whether more myth than real, highlight the resilience of women during this period of transition.

The Legacy of 1066 for Women

Lady Godiva by John Collier

The long-term effects of the Norman Conquest on English women were profound. The introduction of Norman customs and laws reshaped England, influencing women’s roles and rights for generations to come. The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey ordered by William the Conqueror, provides insight into the changes in land ownership and societal structures that affected women’s lives.

Women who inherited family land because their husbands or fathers had been killed at Hastings in 1066, were allowed to keep their land if they married a Norman or Frenchman. Such marriages were intended to further the post-conquest social order and peace in England.

William the Conqueror betrothed his daughter Adeliza to the English Earl Edwin, though he was killed in 1070 before the marriage could take place.

Most intermarriages took place at the highest aristocratic level, intended to bring peace, though there were instances of intermarriage at other levels. One example is Wigot of Wallingford, the English guardian of an important crossing of the Thames near Oxford, agreed to have his daughter Ealdgyth marry Robert d’Ouilly, one of King William’s henchmen and later Castellan of Oxford.

The Domesday Book, completed in 1086, reveals that Judith was the most important woman landholder on the date when the Domesday survey was made. Omitting nunneries, she is one of about twenty women tenants-in-chief in 1086. Her extensive lands stretched throughout northern and eastern England, from Middlesex and Buckinghamshire to Yorkshire, with a concentration in the east Midlands. Judith was the widow of Earl Waltheof. She was also the niece of William the Conqueror. She was a northern French woman whose marriage was part of William’s attempts to come to terms with the English nobility after his conquest in 1066. By 1086 Judith’s husband was dead, executed for his part in rebellion. Judith was now a wealthy widow.

Many of the relatively small number of women mentioned in Domesday are relatives of William the Conqueror, illustrating how he had transferred most of the largest landholdings in England to his extended family. See this PDF article for more on the women in Domesday.

Other women, Godgifu and Allfgifu for example, the wives of two English earls, Edwin and Morcar, debated over their attitudes to the Conqueror, but still survived. These widows got to keep their dower and died in possession of at least some of it. They were part of a noble group whose power had arisen during the tenth and early eleventh centuries, and even within that group fortunes differed greatly.

The lack of information about lower born eleventh-century women does not justify sweeping generalization about them, however Domesday does provide some data. The statistics of Domesday suggest at first sight a deterioration in status. In Essex, for example, there were 25 women holding land in 1066, 9 in 1086; in Yorkshire, 19 in 1066, 4 in 1086; in Suffolk over 50 in 1066, 7 in 1066. Yet other shires show no decline, even a slight increase, as in Dorset where there were 9 women in 1066 and 10 in 1086 or in Warwickshire, with 8 in 1066 and 9 in 1086.

The women of 1066 experienced the Norman Conquest not just as a historical event, but as a deeply personal trauma that reshaped their lives and the lives of their descendants. Their stories, often overshadowed by the tales of kings and warriors, offer a poignant perspective on one of England’s most significant historical moments.

In remembering their stories, we honor their legacy, recognizing the vital role women have played in shaping our world. The women of 1066, through their resilience and adaptability, have left an indelible mark on history, reminding us of the power of the human spirit to endure, adapt, and overcome.

About the author:

L.P. O’Bryan is the author of a series of novels set in the aftermath of the Battle of Hastings, starting with, The Rise of Synne, more detail here. The series is about an orphan healer in the aftermath of Hastings.

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My Books:

Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

Out Now! Women of the Anarchy

Two cousins. On the one side is Empress Matilda, or Maud. The sole surviving legitimate child of Henry I, she is fighting for her birthright and that of her children. On the other side is her cousin, Queen Matilda, supporting her husband, King Stephen, and fighting to see her own son inherit the English crown. Women of the Anarchy demonstrates how these women, unable to wield a sword, were prime movers in this time of conflict and lawlessness. It show how their strengths, weaknesses, and personal ambitions swung the fortunes of war one way – and then the other.

Available from Bookshop.org, Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK.

Coming on 15 June 2024: Heroines of the Tudor World

Heroines of the Tudor World tells the stories of the most remarkable women from European history in the time of the Tudor dynasty, 1485-1603. These are the women who ruled, the women who founded dynasties, the women who fought for religious freedom, their families and love. These are the women who made a difference, who influenced countries, kings and the Reformation. In the era dominated by the Renaissance and Reformation, Heroines of the Tudor World examines the threats and challenges faced by the women of the era, and how they overcame them. From writers to regents, from nuns to queens, Heroines of the Tudor World shines the spotlight on the women helped to shape Early Modern Europe.

Heroines of the Tudor World is now available for pre-order from Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK.

Also by Sharon Bennett Connolly:

King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye is the story of a truly remarkable lady, the hereditary constable of Lincoln Castle and the first woman in England to be appointed sheriff in her own right. Available from all good bookshops or direct from Pen & Sword Books, bookshop.org and Amazon. Defenders of the Norman Crown: The Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey tells the fascinating story of the Warenne dynasty, from its origins in Normandy, through the Conquest, Magna Carta, the wars and marriages that led to its ultimate demise in the reign of Edward III. Available from Pen & Sword Books, Amazon in the UK and US, and Bookshop.org. 

Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of Influence in Thirteenth Century England looks into the relationships of the various noble families of the 13th century, and how they were affected by the Barons’ Wars, Magna Carta and its aftermath; the bonds that were formed and those that were broken. It is now available in paperback and hardback from Pen & Sword,  Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Heroines of the Medieval World tells the stories of some of the most remarkable women from Medieval history, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Julian of Norwich. Available now from Amberley Publishing and Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066. Available now from Amazon,  Amberley Publishing, and Bookshop.org.

Alternate Endings: An anthology of historical fiction short stories including Long Live the King… which is my take what might have happened had King John not died in October 1216. Available in paperback and kindle from Amazon.

Podcast:

Have a listen to the A Slice of Medieval podcast, which I co-host with Historical fiction novelist Derek Birks. Derek and I welcome guests, such as Bernard Cornwell and Elizabeth Chadwick, and discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved.

*

Don’t forget! Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

For forthcoming online and in-person talks, please check out my Events Page.

You can be the first to read new articles by clicking the ‘Follow’ button, liking our Facebook page or joining me on Twitter and Instagram.

*

©2024 Sharon Bennett Connolly FRHistS and L.P. O’Bryan