If you follow Some Sources Say on social media you'll know that this month's history topic is 'Stories Behind Paintings'. The following painting of Dido Elizabeth Belle is one of my favourites, and today I'm going to introduce you to her story. Portrait of Dido Elizabeth Belle Lindsay and Lady Elizabeth Murray circa 1778 by … Continue reading The Story of Dido Elizabeth Belle
Category: Articles
Royal Portraits and Power (Guest post by Elizabeth Hill-Scott from Smart History Blogging)
Throughout history, royal portraits have been about more than just decorative pictures for Great Halls and bed chambers. They were the advertising signs or political propaganda mechanisms of their day. Here, I explore how English royal portraits have been used to forge alliances, marriages, scare off enemies, display power and wealth and combat insecurities whilst … Continue reading Royal Portraits and Power (Guest post by Elizabeth Hill-Scott from Smart History Blogging)
Namesake: The Daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine
It was pretty standard in medieval Europe for people to name their children after themselves, with Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine no different. Their second son was named Henry after his father, and their second daughter was named Eleanor after her mother. Upon her marriage she became Leonor so for clarity in … Continue reading Namesake: The Daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine
The Forgotten Brother: Geoffrey Plantagenet
Next in our series on the Angevins we’re going to be looking at Geoffrey Plantagenet and his family. Geoffrey Plantagenet, Duke of Brittany Born in 1158, Geoffrey is often overlooked by history in favour of his kingly brothers Henry the Young King, Richard the Lionheart and John. With so many brothers, his father Henry II … Continue reading The Forgotten Brother: Geoffrey Plantagenet
A Good King of England? Re-Evaluating the Lionheart.
Richard Plantagenet was never meant to rule England. His surviving elder brother Henry had been crowned in 1170 to secure the Angevin succession, but the medieval world was a deadly place and his brother died of dysentery in 1183. This led to Richard becoming his father Henry II’s primary heir. Richard Plantagenet With so many … Continue reading A Good King of England? Re-Evaluating the Lionheart.
The Exiled Duchess
Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine’s eldest daughter Matilda was born in 1156, and was likely named after her legendary paternal grandmother the Empress Matilda. She faced the fate of many princesses and was married off young to support her family’s political manoeuvrings. 13th century depiction of Matilda of England, Duchess of Saxony and Bavaria. … Continue reading The Exiled Duchess
Eleanor of Aquitaine: An Icon
Eleanor of Aquitaine was iconic and one blog post cannot do justice to the many interesting facets of her life, so today we’re going to focus on her later life during the reign of her sons Richard and John. Portrait in a 12th-century psalter thought to be an older Eleanor). When her husband Henry II died in … Continue reading Eleanor of Aquitaine: An Icon
Henry II: The Creator of a Dynasty
On the 19th December 1154, Henry was crowned King of England. His accession marked the beginning of the Angevin dynasty, the end of the Anarchy and the expansion of the Anglo-Norman empire. Henry II Born on the 5th March 1133, Henry was the eldest son of Empress Matilda and her second husband Count Geoffrey of … Continue reading Henry II: The Creator of a Dynasty
Madame Bevan – The Woman Who Helped Wales Read (Guest post by Claire from the Hisdoryan)
Today on Some Sources Say we have a brilliant guest post by Claire from the Hisdoryan (which is one of my favourite history blogs!) Keep up to date on her latest blog posts by following her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter. Without any further ado, read below to find out more about Madame Bevan, … Continue reading Madame Bevan – The Woman Who Helped Wales Read (Guest post by Claire from the Hisdoryan)
The Mother of France & her Daughters
Catherine de Medici waited a long time to become a mother, having her first child after 11 years of marriage to Henri II of France. They went on to have another 9 children with 3 of their sons becoming Kings of France: Francis II, Charles IX and Henri III. Despite being from the powerful Medici … Continue reading The Mother of France & her Daughters
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