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
Category: Articles
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
Daughters of Castile
A contemporary of Anne of France, who we explored last week, was Queen Isabella of Castile. She was one of the most powerful women of her era, and along with Anne dominated European politics and “set a precedent for the female rulers of the sixteenth century”. Isabella of Castile Isabella’s rise to Queenship wasn’t easy … Continue reading Daughters of Castile
Lessons for my Daughter: Anne of France & Suzanne of Bourbon
“My daughter, the perfect natural love that I have for you…gives me the desire and the determination to prepare a few little lessons for you while I am still with you, knowing well your inexperience and extreme youth and hoping that in time you will recall these lessons and that they will help you a … Continue reading Lessons for my Daughter: Anne of France & Suzanne of Bourbon
Leeds Corn Exchange
It's that time again - Local History Month! As a Leeds resident I will be exploring the history of my wonderful adopted city (as I did last year when I wrote about Leeds’ First Theatre & Leeds Library). This year I’m going to be focusing on iconic buildings in Leeds City Centre, starting with the … Continue reading Leeds Corn Exchange
The Rise of the Angevins
In 1142 after nearly a decade of war Empress Matilda must have realized that the crown of England would never be placed upon her head. Her chance had come and gone in the dramatic events of 1141, when she had been bested by the equally formidable Matilda of Boulogne. However, just because she knew the … Continue reading The Rise of the Angevins
A Tale of Two Matilda’s
When exploring the Anarchy, the majority of attention understandably goes on the two key rivals for the throne King Stephen and Empress Matilda. However, there was another Matilda who was an incredibly important figure in this period of history: Matilda of Boulogne, wife of Stephen and Queen of England. As Sharon Bennett Connolly said in … Continue reading A Tale of Two Matilda’s
Women of the Anarchy with Sharon Bennett Connolly
Today on Some Sources I’m excited to announce a Q&A with the brilliant Sharon Bennett Connolly. As well as running her own fantastic blog History…the Interesting Bits! since 2014 she’s also written four books (and counting!) relating to medieval history: Heroines of the Medieval World, Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest, … Continue reading Women of the Anarchy with Sharon Bennett Connolly
Origins of the Anarchy: The White Ship Disaster
This month on Some Sources Say we’re exploring the Anarchy, a civil war that tore the fabric of England apart. As recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, “wherever the land was tilled, the earth bore no corn, for the land was all ruined with such deeds; and they said openly that Christ slept, and his saints. … Continue reading Origins of the Anarchy: The White Ship Disaster
