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’
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.
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.
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.
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 theA 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 Twitterand Instagram.
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.
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.
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.
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 theA 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 Twitterand Instagram.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 theA 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 Twitterand Instagram.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 theA 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 Twitterand Instagram.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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 theA 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 Twitterand Instagram.
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.
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.
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.
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 theA 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 Twitterand Instagram.
We have another fabulous guest post to celebrate Women’s History Month 2024. Laura Adkins is visiting History … the Interesting Bits to talk about my favourite of Henry VIII’s six queens, Katherine (or Kateryn, as she would have written it) Parr.
Over to Laura…
A Fairy Step-mother – Kateryn Parr
Kateryn Parr
Although she only had one biological child, two of Kateryn Parr’s marriages would bring her five stepchildren whom she loved dearly as if they were her own.
Katheryn first foray into motherhood was when she became stepmother to Lord Latimer’s teenage son and daughter. It is more than likely that Latimer, when looking for a wife, was after someone who could be a mother to his children and be present in their lives as he was away a lot. He may have seen those motherly qualities in Kateryn. It would be his daughter, Margaret, 9 years old at the time of her father’s marriage to Kateryn, who would grow close to her new stepmother.
Margaret’s own mother had died in 1527 and her first stepmother died in 1530. This led to Kateryn becoming the only mother figure in the young girl’s life, and at an impressionable age. Kateryn would fill the role of mother, treating Margaret as if she were her own, even after Latimer’s death. Kateryn not only had a legal duty to the two teenagers at this time but a sense of parental duty and love.
Margaret’s father had been strongly Catholic, therefore, his children would have been Catholic. However, times were changing and in Margaret’s will there are curtain wordings which give an indication that she was more inclined towards the reformed religion. Could Kateryn have played a role in this? We do not know for certain, but Kateryn would certainly have been aware of Margaret’s beliefs and most likely had some impact on it. The only thing that would separate the two was Margaret’s death at the young age of 21, in 1545. In her will Margaret thanks Kateryn for ‘the godly education and tender love and bountiful goodness which I have ever found in her highness’. Kathryn had provided a mother figure for Margaret during her short life. She had provided the young girl with companionship when an alternative could have been a very lonely existence. Throughout her marriage to Henry, she was then able to bring her stepdaughter into court life and provide her with connections which she may never have had initially.
Mary I, Queen of England
Of Latimer’s eldest child, John, things would be slightly different; however not as a result of Kateryn’s parenting. John was 14 years old when Kateryn and his father married, an age where he would have already established his own views, thoughts and personality. The young boy had been without a mother figure through puberty and his adolescent development. We know, from Kateryn’s own words, that things had been a bit more difficult between stepmother and son than with Kateryn and Margaret. His father did not leave his properties to John, nor appoint him executor of his will. That his father did not have much faith in his sensitive, sulking and lying teenager gives an indication that John was maybe a bit more of a handful than most. And given what he went on to do later in his life (arrested for attempted rape of one of his servants in 1557 and murder in 1563) one can quite believe his upbringing was not an easy task for Kateryn. There must have been some mutual fondness for one another, as when she became queen, she gave his wife a place as one of her ladies-in-waiting. Also, the fact that his aggressive nature came to the surface after her death shows that maybe she had some influence on his nature.
On her marriage to Henry VIII in 1543, Kateryn found herself a stepmother once more, this time to two daughters and a son. These royal children would be familiar to Kateryn and were all at various stages of their lives. Mary was only four years younger than her new stepmother; Elizabeth Tudor was 9, the same age that Margaret had been when Kateryn entered her life and Edward who was approaching the age of 6. Kateryn had a real impact on all three of Henry’s children, so much so that it helped shape their future as monarchs and for Elizabeth as a woman. All three have left in their own words their affection for Kateryn, the first of Henry’s wives that they all accepted and most likely loved.
It was through her love for her stepchildren and not a power play which made Kateryn try to reunite them with their father. She wanted to reconcile the broken family and bring happiness back to the court. She knew such love and happiness growing up and sadness with the loss of her father and wanted to try and assist her stepchildren to have some happiness like she did. Henry had both Mary and Elizabeth re-established in the line of succession, something which Kateryn at least had some part in. It would be at Ashridge in August 1543 where the three Tudor children, Kateryn and their father would stay together for the first time.
Edward VI, King of England
During her role as regent all three of the royal children would stay at the court, with their stepmother. It would be Elizabeth’s longest stay since she was a baby and one which most historians agree had a huge impact on her. Here both Mary and Elizabeth witnessed a woman governing and imposing her authority on her male counsellors. And not just a woman from afar but their stepmother, one who loved them and could and most likely help guide and mentor them, preparing them for their potential futures as powerful women in a world of men.
With Mary, the relationship was more of close friendship. Kateryn was not stupid to try and push herself as stepmother to Mary. She used her new position as queen to try and help Mary, not only to restore her in the line of succession but also to reunite her with her father. The two bonded over their love of fashion, jewellery and music. This friendship had already been established when Kateryn was a lady in Mary’s household after the death of Latimer. Mary would also see Kateryn as another female of learning and virtue and held her stepmother in high regard. The Spanish ambassadors wrote that Kateryn has behaved affectionately towards her [Mary] and go on to thank Kateryn for the kindness shown to the princess. Even their opposing religious beliefs did not seem to hinder their relationship. Kateryn had nothing but love for Mary. and it was through this love which brought her, for the first time in over a decade, some sense of peace, happiness and a form of stability.
For Elizabeth and Edward, her role was ever more impressionable. Edward’s mother, Jane Seymour had died when he was only a few days old. The next two of Henry’s wives were in and out of his life so quickly the young boy barely had time get to know them. A boy who had only had one parent in his life, the distant albeit slightly affectionate Henry. Edward lacked someone who showed him love and affection. It seems he grew with a fence up from female affection. When Kateryn came along, she wanted to knock down the fence and show the boy that it is ok to love and that he was loved and displays of affection were allowed. And she succeeded. From an early stage he was referring to her as his dearest mother and signing himself as her most abundant son. This young boy, who was a secretive cold and judgmental child who showed genuine fondness for very few people had grown attached to his new stepmother and finally had a mother whom he could love and who would love him in return.
For Elizabeth, Kateryn appeared at the time when she was needed the most. The stepmother and daughter were most likely the closest of the Tudor children. Elizabeth was at an age when she needed guidance and understanding; she also needed a mother’s love and someone who could match her growing intelligence. It would be Kateryn who also brought William Grindle onboard to teach Elizabeth, which led to the future queen’s love of the humanist principles. The earliest surviving letter of Elizabeth’s in existence is one she had written to her stepmother, dated 31 July 1544 . She despairs of not seeing Kateryn’s illustrious presence for a whole year and appeals to Kateryn’s clemency to speak to the king on her behalf so she can join them at court. Here Elizabeth feels she can approach her stepmother without repercussions and that her stepmother loved her greatly. She wanted to be not only with the king but Kateryn too at court.
Elizabeth would always sign her letters to Kateryn as ‘Your most obedient daughter and most faithful servant…’ Kateryn had captured the young princess’s heart and interest.
Elizabeth was a bright and intelligent child and noticed what was going on around her. She would not fail to miss the authority of her new stepmother and how she wielded her own power whilst keeping the right balance of femininity, and without, most of the time offending Henry or the men around her.
Elizabeth I, Queen of England
After the death of Henry, Kateryn set up her home at Chelsea, along with Elizabeth. It would be at Chelsea where Elizabeth and Kateryn’s relationship was tested to its limit, nearly severing the close ties these two had for good. Kateryns forth husband, Thomas Seymour began to grow an unhealthy interest in Elizabeth. He started to enter her bedchamber in the early morning before she was dressed and wearing only her undergarments. Her governess, Kat Ashley had tried to dissuade him from doing so and even approached Kateryn herself. There was even an occasion where Kateryn held Elizabeth in a supposed playful jest while Thomas cut Elizabeth’s gown to shreds. Not appropriate behaviour from either of them. It was eventually evident to Kateryn that Elizabeth had feelings for Thomas. Because of his lust for her stepdaughter and for reasons of propriety, Kateryn sent Elizabeth away from Chelsea. Kateryn had by this time found out she was pregnant; she wanted Thomas to only have eyes for her and knew the implications that could happen should word get out of what was going on, and under her own roof. It had to stop, and more importantly she needed it to stop for the love she bore Elizabeth as her stepmother, even though she was hurt by Elizabeth’s actions. Although this flirtation with Thomas and the danger it had put them in had been a huge thrust of the knife at Kateryn, her love for Elizabeth did not wane. Within weeks Kateryn had written to Elizabeth, and she had written back. Both were declaring their love for one another, with Kateryn missing her young charge.
Kateryn approached the role of motherhood with all her heart and passion for her stepchildren as if they were her own flesh and blood. Lord Latimer certainly saw something in her when he chose her to be his wife, he wanted not only a companion but a mother to John and Margaret. Kateryn’s involvement with Henry’s children’s lives was accepted, encouraged and appreciated by the king. He may have even finally enjoyed playing happy families after all the turmoil of the previous few decades. Her warmth and affection assisted her in persuading him to place his daughters back into the line of succession. For Mary it was a little different as she had experienced it from her biological mother, but this love had been torn from her when she needed it most. Maybe Kateryn had helped bring back those cherished memories to her. Kateryn was able to provide her stepdaughters with a female role model, who they could look up to and learn from. Particularly as two of her stepdaughters were of royal blood who might one day become queens. This mother’s love she provided would have certainly made an impact on how they approached womanhood and their confidence that they could perform their role as queen.
About the Author:
Ever since being inspired by her history teacher in secondary school and the 1997 movie Titanic, Laura has had a passion for history, especially medieval and Tudor eras. She writes her blog the Local History Blogger which focuses on her home county of Essex, England. In her past jobs, she has been fortunate to work in historic locations such as the Tower of London and Banqueting House, Whitehall where she gave public talks on its history and talks on the Tudors and Stuarts. Her other passion in life is her daughter who now joins Laura on her history trips and outings. When she is not exploring Laura enjoys reading and adding to her growing collection of books. Katheryn Parr: Henry VIII’s Sixth Queen is her first book.
To Buy the Book:
Laura’s book Kateryn Parr: Henry VIII’s sixth queen is now available in Hardback from Pen and Sword.
1. Kateryn Parr – after Master John, c.1545. Oil on panel. The original portrait was initially thought to be of Lady Jane Grey and was only recently attributed to be Kateryn. Public domain image, via Wikimedia Common
2. Queen Mary Tudor – Anthonis Mor, 1554. Oil on panel. Public domain image, via Wikimedia Commons
3. King Edward VI – Workshop of Master John, c.1547. Public domain image, via Wikimedia Common
4. The young Princess Elizabeth – attributed to William Scrots, c.1546-1547. Oil on oak panel .Public domain image, via Wikimedia Commons
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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.
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.
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.
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 theA 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 Twitterand Instagram.
For Women’s History Month it is my pleasure to welcome Rozsa Gaston to History…the Interesting Bits, with an article on Margaret of Austria. Rozsa is here to share with you why Margaret is important to history as a founding figure of European coalition politics.
Over to Rozsa….
Margaret knew, or was related to, most of early 16th century Europe’s rulers.
Her action-packed childhood prepared her for a lifetime of leadership as ruler of the Burgundian-Habsburg Netherlands, and as one of the most important treaty negotiators of her era.
Let’s look at the players in Margaret of Austria’s life:
Maximilian I, archduke of Austria and the future Holy Roman Emperor – was Margaret’s father.
Charles V –future King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor, is her nephew and ward. Margaret was Charles V’s legal guardian until he was 15 years old.
Henry VIII of England –Margaret’s trade partner.English sheep provided the wool for Flanders’ cloth industry. Flanders, in the Low Countries, was world renown from the 12th century on for its fine cloth textiles and its tapestries, which were sought after the world over as a display of wealth and power.
Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s queen– was Margaret’s former sister-in-law.
Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s 2nd queen -maid-of-honor at Margaret’s Court of Savoy in Mechelen (Malines) in the Burgundian-Habsburg Low Countries (now Belgium).
Philip the Handsome, Duke of Burgundy –was Margaret’s brother.
Juana the Mad – the daughter of Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain was Philip’s wife and Margaret’s sister-in-law.
Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain – Margaret’s former in-laws.
Louise of Savoy – former sister-in-law & the mother of Francis the First, King of France, Louise was the power behind the throne during her son’s reign.
Margaret of Austria was born in 1480 in Brussels, the only daughter of the heads of two of Europe’s top dynastic houses: the House of Burgundy and the House of Habsburg. Her mother, Mary of Burgundy, was ruler of Burgundy, the only child of Burgundy’s last duke. She was known throughout Europe as Mary the Rich.
Margaret’s father was Maximilian the First of Austria, head of the House of Habsburg and later to become Holy Roman Emperor. Mary and Maximilian’s dramatic love story is told in the 2017 Starz Mini Series Maximilian. Well worth viewing.
Margaret lost her mother in a riding accident at age two. One year later her father contracted with the French king, Louis the Eleventh, known as the Spider King, to marry Margaret to Louis’ son and heir, the future Charles VIII of France. Margaret was sent to France at age 3 to be raised at the French court to prepare her to become Queen of France one day.
Margaret’s statue towers over the main market square of Mechelen (pronounced “Meh ku luhn”) Belgium, 18 miles, or 29 kilometers, north of Brussels. Erected in 1849, it was made by sculptor Joseph Tuerlinckx.
Her palace in Mechelen is called the Court of Savoy. It was the first Renaissance palace built in the Low Countries and is a main tourist destination. The Low Countries are now known as the Benelux countries: Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Margaret held one of Europe’s most important Renaissance courts at her Court of Savoy for the duration of her career from 1507-1530 as ruler of the Burgundian-Habsburg Netherlands.
Here is Margaret’s palace, the Court of Savoy, in Mechelen, Belgium. Despite her title, Margaret of Austria hailed from what is now called Belgium, a country that was created in 1830, 300 years after she died.
In the 16th century the northern part of Belgium was known as Flanders, a Low Countries province within the realm of Burgundy. Everything in orange on this map is Burgundy. Burgundy now no longer exists, but it was the wealthiest realm in Europe in the 14th to late 15th centuries.
Margaret’s native tongue was French. She ruled the Burgundian-Habsburg Netherlands for 23 years, with the exception of two years, from 1515-1517. During those two years, her nephew and ward, Charles the Fifth, came of age, and typical of a teenage boy, he wanted to take control of his realm for himself.
But after two years of seeing how difficult it was to manage the Netherlands’ 17 different provinces all with conflicting economic interests, he handed back control to his aunt Margaret, who was a master at negotiating trade agreements and at putting together coalitions for the greater good of the Netherlands’ economic prosperity.
Margaret was confident, self-possessed, well-organized, and enjoyed being in charge. She did not show her hand. An excellent bluffer at both diplomatic negotiations and the gaming table, she played cards and gambled with heads of state and diplomats to the Low Countries who were sent to her Court of Savoy in Mechelen.
Margaret’s travels by the age of twenty-seven made her one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan princesses.
Jan. 10, 1480 – Margaret of Austria is born in Brussels.
Age 3 – She’s sent to France to be raised under Anne of France or Anne de Beaujeu to become its queen one day.
Age 11 –Margaret is jilted by Charles VIII of France, who marries Anne of Brittany instead.
Age 13- Margaret returns to Flanders in the Low Countries and waits for her father to make another match for her.
Age 17 – Margaret goes to Spain to marry Isabella and Ferdinand’s son Juan, heir to the Spanish throne. But – he dies six months after they marry.
Ages 19-21 – Back in Flanders in the Low Countries, Margaret awaits her father’s next marriage choice for her.
Age 21 – Margaret moves to Savoy when luck arrives with her marriage to Philibert, Duke of Savoy, a childhood friend who becomes the love of her life.
Age 24 – Luck departs when Philibert dies.
Age 26 – Margaret’s life changes completely when her brother, Philip the Handsome, Duke of Burgundy, dies in Spain, possibly of poisoning, and Margaret takes over rulership of the Burgundian-Habsburg Netherlands. She also takes over guardianship of Philip’s children, the future Charles the Fifth and his three sisters, all Habsburg royals who live in Brussels, and are now functionally orphaned, as their father has died and their mother, Juana of Castile, has gone insane and remains in Spain.
Ages 27-50 – Margaret lives in Mechelen where she rules the Netherlands and conducts her government from her palace, the Court of Savoy.
Age 50 – Margaret dies. Two years later her body is transported to Brou, France, where she is buried next to her beloved 2nd husband Philibert of Savoy. Savoy was a region between France, Switzerland and the duchy of Milan, which was very strategic in the 16th century because it controlled the pass through the Alps for French soldiers to march to Milan. At that time in history all the great European powers were interested in gaining a piece of Italy.
Margaret lived just at the moment that the feudal age gave way to the Renaissance.
Stuck at the French court for two years after being jilted by the French king, an unexpected friendship formed between Margaret and Anne of Brittany, who was three years older and who took her place as Queen of France.
Instead of hating each other, Margaret and Anne were both politically astute enough to recognize that they were pawns in the hands of the French. They became lifelong friends and wrote to each other until Anne of Brittany’s death. They sent scholars to serve at each other’s courts and were both instrumental in bringing Renaissance art and humanist learning to their respective courts of Burgundy and France.
After returning to the Low Countries from France at age 13, Margaret’s father Maximilian arranges a match for her with Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain’s son and heir, Juan. Maximilian also arranges for Margaret’s older brother Philip, Duke of Burgundy, to marry Juan’s sister, Juana, known to history as Juana the Mad. At age 17 Margaret is on track to become Queen of Spain. But after only 6 months of marriage her 19-year-old husband dies. 6 months later Margaret gives birth to their child, a stillborn daughter. She never has another child.
Margaret spends the year after Juan’s death at Isabella and Ferdinand’s Alhambra Palace in Granada, teaching French to their youngest daughter Catherine of Aragon, future Queen of England.
Queen Isabella of Spain is a huge influence on Margaret, who spends two years observing her ruling her kingdom as well as managing her husband Ferdinand, whose kingdom of Aragon is much smaller than Isabella’s kingdom of Castile.
Margaret and Catherine of Aragon remained lifelong friends.
At age 19 Margaret leaves Spain and returns to the Low Countries to await her father’s next marriage choice for her. Margaret’s 2nd husband, Philibert, Duke of Savoy, was a childhood friend from Amboise, where he also grew up at the French court with his sister Louise of Savoy. The same age as Margaret, he and she fell madly in love.
But Philibert was not interested in ruling Savoy and had left it to his illegitimate half brother to manage. Soon after Margaret arrived, she ousted his half brother and took over ruling Savoy herself. Philibert was not a natural-born leader, but an excellent athlete and hunter, very good-looking with a faithful heart. He was happy for Margaret to take the reins and he supported her leadership.
But at age 24, Philibert went out hunting on a hot day and developed a lung inflammation after drinking ice cold water from a mountain stream. He died 9 days later. Margaret remained in Savoy as Duchess and ruler for two more years, devoting herself to building a church to honor Philibert, and where she intended to be buried with him.
Margaret’s church at Brou is a masterpiece of flamboyant Gothic architecture. It’s a must-see for visitors to the Geneva-Lyon area. Commissioned by her in 1506 it took 26 years to build. Margaret is buried there with her husband Philibert and his mother, Margaret of Bourbon, who was from the same Bourbon or Bourbon dynasty that rules Spain today with King Felipe of Spain at its head.
The Church and Royal Monastery at Brou is 69 miles west of Geneva and 50 miles north of Lyon. Author of the foreword to my book on Margaret of Austria, Austrian archduke Géza von Habsburg has visited and says that the restaurant in its town square serves the best coq au vin (or chicken in wine sauce) in all of France.
These are the tomb effigies of Philibert and Margaret. Someone has placed a rose on Philibert’s chest, undoubtedly because he was so handsome.
Margaret designed the placement of Philibert’s effigy so that he appears to be looking at her.
The standard Renaissance style of the day was to place the lying-in-state effigy on top and the deathbed effigy on the bottom. Their actual tombs are in the crypt below the church nave. Unusually, they were not desecrated during the French Revolution because Brou was so obscurely located that the revolutionaries couldn’t find it. When Margaret’s tomb was opened in the 19th century, her long dark blonde hair was still intact.
Margaret of Austria and her father Maximilian I both hated the French. Why?
They had both been jilted by the French, due to the land grab of Charles the Eighth’s powerful older sister, Anne of France, who ruled France as regent while Charles was still a child.
In 1490 when Anne of Brittany was 13 and ruling Brittany, she was married by proxyto Margaret’s father Maximilian I. But he failed to come to her rescue when France invaded Brittany the next year. Anne never actually met Maximilian.
Charles, the 21-year-old king of France, was betrothed to Margaret, who was only 11 at that time. But in Dec. of 1491 Charles wed Anne of Brittany in order to acquire Brittany for France.
Margaret spent the next two years from ages 11-13 in limboin France, while Charles VIII of France and Maximilian I argued over the return of her dowry.
Anne of France was one of Europe’s most politically powerful women of the late 15th century. She escorted Margaret of Austria at age 3 from the Low Countries border to the French court in Amboise where Margaret lived for the next 10 years under her guardianship.
Plans to marry Margaret to the French king changed when Anne of France decided Brittany was a bigger plum for France to acquire than Margaret’s dowry lands on the French/Low Countries border. After eight years of overseeing Margaret’s education Anne of France cast Margaret aside overnight and replaced her with Anne of Brittany as Charles’ wife.
Margaret never forgave Anne of France or her younger brother Charles for their betrayal. But — the lessons Margaret learned from Anne of France in self-control and political maneuvering honed Margaret’s political skills as governor of the Netherlands and as an important treaty negotiator years later.
Game of Queens by well-known British historian and author Sarah Gristwood opens with a chapter on Margaret of Austria. I highly recommend Game of Queens to those interested in women who held political power in 16th century Europe.
Margaret not only ruled the Netherlands but negotiated pan-European treaties on behalf of her father Maximilian, the Holy Roman Emperor, her father-in-law Ferdinand of Aragon, and her nephew, Charles V, King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor.
Treaty of Cambrai by Francisco Jover y Casanova, 1871
Margaret’s most important treaty was the 1529 Treaty of Cambrai that she negotiated with her sister-in-law Louise of Savoy. Louise of Savoy was the power behind the throne of her son Francis, King of France. The 1529 Treaty ofCambrai took 2 and a half weeks to negotiate and ended the war between the Holy Roman Empire and France. It is known to history as The Ladies’ Peace.
Margaret on the left signs on behalf of her nephew, Charles the Fifth, King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor.
Louise of Savoy on the right signs on behalf of her son, Francis I, King of France.
In 1529 Charles V and Francis I were Europe’s two most powerful rulers. A close third was Henry VIII of England, but he was still up-and-coming in those days, and England was still a bit of a backwater compared to continental Europe.
All three of these men were young and ambitious, all ruled by powers behind the throne: Francis by his mother Louise, Henry by his chancellor Cardinal Wolsey, and Charles V by his aunt Margaret.
Charles V’s title of Holy Roman Emperor was an elected position. He ran against Francis I and Henry VIII for that office and won in 1519, due to Margaret’s gifts, visits, trade incentives, and bribes to the seven German Prince-Electors who voted him into office.
What was the secret of Margaret’s success? She had strong female mentors.She was mentored by Europe’s most powerful female political leaders of her times, Anne of France, and Isabella of Spain.
Secondly, Margaret had a devoted support team. She was supported in her political leadership by both her father, Maximilian of Austria, and her 2nd husband, Philibert of Savoy.She brought a team of six counselors with her to the Low Countries in 1507 from Savoy, including her legal counsel and two private secretaries. These men were devoted to her and served at her court for their entire lives.
The Card Players by Lucas van Leyden, c. 1525, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid
Another secret to Margaret’s success was that Margaret was a master bluffer both at cards and at the diplomatic negotiating table. She never showed her hand.
Henry VIII’s chancellor Cardinal Thomas Wolsey is thought to be on the right. You can see how worried he looks, up against master card shark Margaret. Margaret got a lot of deals done over the gaming table at her evening parties at the Court of Savoy. She was sociable, vivacious, charming, and careful not to let anyone know what she was really thinking. Her evening entertainments functioned in the same way as present-day CEO’s golf outings do where important decisions are made on the golf course.
This is a painting of Margaret of Austria’s nephew Charles V’s palace in Brussels, to give you an idea of the scope of Burgundian splendor. Coudenberg Palace burned down in 1731. You can tour its ruins today on Coudenberg Hill in the Royal Quarter neighborhood of Brussels in Belgium.
Without a doubt, I would say that Margaret of Austria was one of the most powerful and influential historical figures of the northern European Renaissance.
She set the precedent for successful female rule in the Netherlands, a tradition that continues to this day with unbroken female rulership from 1890 to 2013 thru Queens Wilhelmina, Juliana, and Beatrix.
Discover more of Margaret’s story in my 2023 book on her life, Margaret of Austria, with a foreword by noted historian Susan Abernethy of The Freelance Writer’s blog and European Women in History.
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About the author:
Rozsa Gaston is a historical fiction author who writes books on women who reach for what they want out of life.
She is the author of Margaret of Austria, 2023 Chaucer Book Awards finalist for Pre-1750s Historical Fiction, the Anne of Brittany Series: Anne and Charles; Anne and Louis, General Fiction Winner of the 2018 Publishers Weekly Booklife Prize; Anne and Louis: Rulers and Lovers; and Anne and Louis Forever Bound, First Place Winner of the 2022 Chaucer Book Award for Pre-1750s Historical Fiction.
Other works include Sense of Touch, Marguerite and Gaston, and The Least Foolish Woman in France.
Gaston studied European history at Yale and received her master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia. She worked at Institutional Investor magazine, then as a columnist for The Westchester Guardian.
She is currently working on a book on Anne Boleyn at Margaret of Austria’s court. She lives in Bronxville, New York with her family.
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.
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.
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.
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 theA 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 Twitterand Instagram.
Today it is an absolute pleasure to welcome author Wendy J. Dunn to History…the Interesting Bits, to talk about her latest book, Henry VIII’s True Daughter: Catherine Carey, A Tudor Life. Wendy is an award-winning historical novelist but Henry VIII’s True Daughter: Catherine Carey, A Tudor Life is her first foray into historical non-fiction. It is a fascinating investigation into the life and paternity of Catherine Carey, daughter of Mary Boleyn and … well, that’s the question!
Over to Wendy…
Catherine Carey
There’s a question I am answering a lot since the publication of Henry VIII’s True Daughter: Catherine Carey, A Tudor Life.
Why did I decide to write a nonfiction book about Catherine Carey?
Well, the answer is a story in itself, and it all began when a commissioning editor for Pen & Sword Books approached me on twitter and asked me if I would be interested in writing a book for them. After spending some time googling her and establishing she was, in fact, who she claimed to be, I asked her to tell me more, and she offered me three projects to select from. One project was about the life and times of Catherine Carey. The teenage Catherine was my point of view character in The Light in the Labyrinth, my second Anne Boleyn novel —so I was well and truly already fascinated by Catherine’s story that pointed to her being the unrecognised daughter of Henry VIII. The opportunity to discover more about her and life was too tempting and too good an opportunity to pass up.
What makes her fascinating?
For me, it is because she is yet another important Tudor woman whose life story should be better known. The fact we know so little about her – even the year of her birth is a mystery —intrigued me.
Catherine was the daughter of Mary Boleyn, the sister of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second queen. She was born during Mary Boleyn’s marriage to William Carey — a man of good birth but not high in the Tudor hierarchy who closely served Henry VIII in his private chambers. The years put forward for Catherine’s birth are also years when Mary was sexually involved with Henry VIII.
Henry Carey, Catherine’s brother
We don’t know when or where Catherine was born. A strong possibility is for her birthplace is Chilton Folist, Wiltshire, the place where William Carey was born. Hever Castle is also a possibility, when you consider it was usual for Tudor women to give birth to their children supported by their close women kin, and Mary’s mother and grandmother lived at Hever Castle. As for her birthyear, what little information history provides for us seems to point to early 1524.
William Carey died early in Catherine’s life. Mary Boleyn returned to Hever Castle at this time — and I believe she returned with both her children. Henry, her son, soon left her care as six-year-old and her sister Anne Boleyn took over as his guardian.
As a well born Tudor girl, Catherine would have received her first training from the adult women in her family. Catherine belonged to the Boleyn family — a family that believed in educating their daughters – and that points to Catherine receiving a good education. We also have Elizabeth’s heartfelt ‘Cor Rotto’ letter to her cousin Catherine (and, I believe, also her half-sister) in 1553 that supports this. Elizabeth is writing to someone with intelligence, someone who understood Latin and also mythology.
When Catherine was eight or perhaps ten, Mary married William Stafford for love and ended up in her family’s bad books and cut off financially. A big question lingers over where Mary and William lived after their marriage, but Catherine had reached the age to be ‘put out’ to another household by this stage. I suspect the Boleyn family placed her either in the household of Anne Boleyn, or her Uncle George Boleyn. Anne was already looking after Mary’s son, Henry, so why not her daughter too? That there are many gaps in the household records of this time could explain the non-mention of Catherine’s name as part of either her aunt or uncle’s household.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Henry VIII sired Catherine. Writing True Daughter has now made me believe the king also was the father of Henry Carey. What evidence do I have to support this? I will share some of what other historians have put forward — as for the evidence I have put forward in True Daughter— well, I am hoping people will buy my book to find out.
First and most powerful bit of evidence is that Mary Boleyn was in a sexual relationship with Henry VIII – something that Henry admitted and also used to annul his marriage with Anne Boleyn just days before her execution. Henry VIII’s involvement with Mary lasted for years – and throughout the years put forward as possible birth years for Catherine Carey.
Even before Catherine’s birth, we are provided with smoke about the possibility of Mary’s pregnancy when the king named one of his ships in Mary’s honour. After Catherine’s birth, William Carey received several grants from Henry VIII – and the money provided from at least one of these grants continued to go to Mary Boleyn after his death.
While Henry VIII lived, it appears he was more than simply an interested bystander in Catherine’s life. Before her marriage, Catherine gained a very sought for position as one of Anne of Cleves’ ‘Maid of honours, despite the fact she was the niece of Anne Boleyn. The Boleyns, by this time, were a family no longer favoured by Henry VIII. When Catherine Carey married Francis Knollys, the king granted them ownership of property in both their names.
Wendy J. Dunn is an award-winning Australian writer fascinated by Tudor history – so much so she was not surprised to discover a family connection to the Tudors, not long after the publication of her first Anne Boleyn novel, which narrated the Anne Boleyn story through the eyes of Sir Thomas Wyatt, the elder. Her family tree reveals the intriguing fact that one of her ancestral families – possibly over three generations – had purchased land from both the Boleyn and Wyatt families to build up their own holdings. It seems very likely Wendy’s ancestors knew the Wyatts and Boleyns personally. Wendy is married, the mother of three sons and one daughter—named after a certain Tudor queen, surprisingly, not Anne. She is also the grandmother of two amazing small boys. She gained her PhD in 2014 and loves walking in the footsteps of the historical people she gives voice to in her novels. Wendy also tutors at Swinburne University of Technology, Australia.
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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.
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.
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.
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 theA 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 Twitterand Instagram.
Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Maxine Sommer to History…the Interesting Bits, a lover of Medieval History, if ever there was one. Next year, Maxine will run her first History tours through England and France, following the trail of the Plantagenets.
I fell down a rabbit hole…
And emerged into a historical realm alive with chivalry, intrigue and power struggles.
You may ask what on earth would impel an unassuming middle-aged woman who only braved her first flight outside Australia at the age of 41, to decide to create a tour company specializing in historical-themed tours of France and the UK. The answer my friends resides within the above-mentioned rabbit hole.
I simply picked up a book.
That’s right, imagine if you will, a moment some two decades past when destiny beckoned me towards an unexpected treasure. I have always been an avid reader, but in recent years my enthusiasm for this pastime had been stifled by adulthood’s demands, not least the nurturing of five children. Now it was time… full of excitement at the thought of once again becoming engrossed in a magnificent tale, I explored my sister’s book-laden shelves. I finally opted for one from her collection – as it turns out, a choice guided by the inexplicable precision of fate’s hand. And so dear readers, I found myself totally absorbed within the pages of “The Sunne in Splendour”, penned by the astounding Sharon Kay Penman. The chronicle of Richard III, a monarch enshrouded in a tapestry of infamy, though totally unfamiliar to me at the time, seized my imagination with a tenacious grip. Unbelievably, history, a subject I had spurned in my school days, suddenly beckoned irresistibly. It is a huge book, definitely not for the faint-hearted, and I read it in record time… staying up until the wee hours of the morning because I simply could not put it down. After finishing this, and guided by an unyielding curiosity, I became a well-known visitor to my local library, searching for more of Sharon’s books. The next one I read was “When Christ and his Saints Slept” and with it came the realization that each page was opening another facet of history’s dramatic picture.
Alfred the Great coin
I quickly became totally hooked on this genre, my fascination knew no borders, enjoying tales that ranged from the illustrious King Alfred the Great and the Vikings, to the turmoil of the 18th century. Like a mosaic artist, I pieced together a chronology that unfolded across centuries, each novel augmenting my list of captivating historical figures. Yet in the labyrinth of historical sagas, one dynasty held me spellbound – the indomitable Plantagenets, sovereigns who reigned for more than three centuries, and totally transformed England’s destiny.
The following decade saw me immerse myself in an array of historical fiction, discovering all I could about this powerful dynasty. I even ventured into the uncharted territory of non-fiction, a realm I had never before explored for mere enjoyment. During this time, an unexpected, and slightly off-track obsession took root: the enthralling “Outlander” series by Diana Gabaldon, a time-travelling tale of the final 1745 Jacobite rebellion in Scotland. I was ecstatic when this saga leapt from page to screen in 2014. With recent images of the series in my mind and fueled with a life-long desire to see Scotland, a travel adventure beckoned. Plans were made, the saving began and with much excitement, my sister and I finally embarked on the gruelling 24hr flight to Glasgow in June 2017, to begin an Outlander adventure. We had a ball, and I found that I thoroughly enjoyed the small group atmosphere, which was both friendly and welcoming. Having the services of a Tour Manager as well as a local Tour Guide made our adventure not only personal but truly unique. Little did I realise then that this tour would kindle the spark for my future endeavours.
While the Scottish adventure might not have directly concerned the Plantagenets, my love for this era showed no sign of dimming. My interest was captivated by so many of the historical figures of the time, names like Eleanor of Aquitaine, Edward the Black Prince, and William Marshal, the greatest knight of the Middle Ages, and the power behind five of the Plantagenet kings. Reminiscing on the amazing time I had in Scotland, I began to search for a themed tour in France based on the Plantagenets, surely there had to be one. Unfortunately, and to my absolute disappointment, my search yielded no results whatsoever. The seeds planted in my mind by my tour in Scotland began to take root, a vision took form, and I dared to dream. It would be the words of one of my dearest friends that eventually gave me that final push… she simply said “Max, what is stopping you”? And thus, the idea of Plantagenet Discoveries was born, and I began to read and research the people, history and places I planned to visit.
The Gallery of Kings, Lincoln Cathedral
I worked on convincing my best friend of 30 years to come with me on this epic journey as she too was fascinated with medieval history, and after much deliberation, she decided to join me on this life-changing adventure. Together we embarked on a rollercoaster of meticulous planning, fervent study of tourism and business, and ceaseless research, we even began French lessons. For almost two years we navigated the crazy path between ordinary life, family obligations, our full-time jobs, and all that was necessary to get a new tour business off the ground. Remarkably, the onset of Covid-19 was a blessing in disguise as it allowed us ample planning time. Financial contributions were huge, our optimism continued to grow, and we remained positive this dream would become a reality. That dream was a tour company where we could share our passion for this incredible part of history. It would be a unique small group experience for our guests that would be fun, friendly, and informative, while providing them with the utmost in personal service. With the help of my wonderful son Chris (who happens to be a Digital Marketing Head for an advertising agency), we finally unveiled our website and social media presence in August 2022, it is very handy having our own personal social media guru.
Our flight bookings were confirmed, and the countdown began to September 2nd when we would fly to France and England for our reconnaissance mission. Chris and his partner Martin, who live in Sweden, met us and we enjoyed a short stay in the beautiful city of Paris before we headed off to explore. Serving as chauffeurs for a month, the boys skillfully navigated us across the landscapes of both France and England. While laughter and fun were in abundance, our schedule proved relentless, every moment earmarked for visits to hotels and historic sites, as well as the perpetual task of tending to our social media presence, which is almost a part-time job in itself. The return journey home on September 30th found us both weary to the bone, but looking at the task ahead of us with a mixture of excitement and enthusiasm.
I feel the need to divert off track here for a bit and talk about an extraordinary event that happened during our travels. It was the 8th of September 2022 – a date etched in history as Queen Elizabeth II passed away. For an Australian like me, the surrealism of being present during such a pivotal moment defies description. I will always remember the news reaching us as we ate dinner at a lovely little outdoor café in the historic city of Le Mans, France. For me, the sadness I felt was only surpassed by the profound local response to her death. The French people echoed the lament, and as we travelled around France our shared grief forged connections with all those we encountered. Our foresight in procuring Eurostar tickets months prior to our travels provided us with easy passage across the channel, despite the masses attempting to reach London for the funeral which was scheduled for the 19th of September. As it happened, this was the very day we planned to depart the city, casting us into the logistics of travel amidst large crowds and road closures. Bad timing you would say – well at first that is exactly what I thought. Gradually however, the irony of this situation dawned on me like an epiphany, fate actually has magnificent timing. On a reconnaissance adventure, where we were tracing the footsteps of bygone royalty, we found ourselves in London during the most momentous historic event that most of us will ever see in our lifetime. Up until now we could only read about or imagine the impact that the death of a monarch would have on its people, and yet here we were, given the opportunity of witnessing it firsthand. An entire nation, and a significant part of the world, ground to a halt, queue’s stretched for days as the people sought a final glimpse of their queen. There was an extraordinary sense of ‘something’ that is impossible to verbalise. The myriad of emotions were tangible, sadness, fear, apprehension, but above all an overwhelming sense of loss. We stood there, participants in a sombre yet pivotal chapter of history, another thread woven into the tapestry of the past.
Effigy of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Fontevrault Abbey
But let us return to our narrative, in the spirit of determination, Deb and I set to work. One of the main challenges we faced was the time difference, Australia’s vast isolation meant that all correspondence depended on email. This works fine if you receive responses, but all too often, this does not happen. If it came to having to make phone calls, which it often did, navigating time zones together with full-time working hours certainly is not an easy task. It involves a well-managed calendar I can tell you.
Then there was the language barrier, a real hurdle in communication. It is simple to translate a digital document or email, but when it comes to phone calls, it can be more challenging. I found in France, that many people speak English, occasionally however, challenges arise due to a lack of fluency. I remember the night we stayed at Chateau Castel Novel (a stunning 12th-century castle in central France), we were served the most beautiful and enticing appetizer. The room abounded with laughter as we tried to find out exactly what this dish was made from. The path to success lay in the beacon of humour, for those willing to chuckle at their own linguistic escapades. The mood lightened, communication flowed, and we discovered that the dish was in fact made from potato. With the spirit of laughter as our guide, we began to sow the seeds of rapport, nurturing relationships that we hope will stand the test of time.
Earlier this year, life, often the master of unforeseen twists, dealt us our biggest blow. Due to personal reasons, Deb found herself at a crossroads, her only choice to step away from the venture entirely. The fallout was profound – for us both, it felt like the world had momentarily lost its rhythm. Amid our devastation, a realization emerged that life weaves its own threads of trial and triumph, and God’s plan does not always align with ours, compelling us to soldier on, adapting and accepting.
I am now navigating these waters unaccompanied, and while the quiet absence of another’s counsel is sorely missed, I’ve discovered a reservoir of resilience and unwavering optimism. I have come to terms with my solo voyage, and each wave of uncertainty is met with an anchor of positivity. Numbers were slow initially, but now a silver lining peeks through the clouds in the form of bookings and deposits, heralding the success of my long-anticipated adventure in September 2024.
For me, this has been more than just a business endeavour, it has been a story of remarkable personal growth and transformation. My life has echoed with the mantra “Every day is a school day”, a truth etched into the fabric of my experience. A habit of burying my head in the sand has given way to a newfound tenacity, a willingness to face challenges head-on.
Edward I and Eleanor of Castile, Lincoln Cathedral
As I reach the closing chapter of this article, I can’t help but radiate my enthusiasm. My passion and my vision are no longer confined within the chambers of my imagination, this dream has now become a reality. And you know what is even more fantastic – along the journey, I have found my tribe, and I couldn’t be happier about that!!
So, if this story has resonated with you, I invite you to delve deeper by visiting http://www.plantagenetdiscoveries.com. There, amidst the pages, you will unearth not only the itineraries of our tours, but the musings of heart, encapsulated in my blog posts. You can also follow me on both Facebook and Instagram @plantagenetdiscoveries and I have a friendly Facebook group community where we share photos and stories of medieval history and travel. http://www.facebook.com/groups/loversofmedievalhistorytravel
And for all those among Sharon’s incredible community, a special treat awaits – a 10% discount on each tour, with an additional 5% for the adventurous souls embracing the Back-to-Back option.
Join me on this extraordinary time-travel adventure as we let the echoes of history guide our steps, but more importantly, as we make incredible friendships and memories that will be sure to last a lifetime.
Max
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My Books
Christmas is coming!
Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.
Coming 15 January 2024:Women of the Anarchy
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. Both women are granddaughters of St Margaret, Queen of Scotland and descendants of Alfred the Great of Wessex. 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.
Out now: King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye is the story of a truly remarkable lady. Nicholaa de la Haye was the hereditary constable of Lincoln Castle and the first woman in England to be appointed sheriff in her own right. Her strength and tenacity saved England at one of the lowest points in its history. Nicholaa de la Haye is one woman in English history whose story needs to be told…
Defenders of the Norman Crown: The Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey tells the fascinating story of the Warenne dynasty, of the successes and failures of one of the most powerful families in England, 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. Defenders of the Norman Crown: Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey is now available from Pen & Sword Books, Amazon in the UK and US, 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 theA 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 Twitterand Instagram.
History... the interesting bits! 