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
The Young King
Henry Plantagenet (who I’ll refer to as the young king for the rest of the post for clarity) was born in 1155 the second son of medieval power couple Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He became their heir the following year when his elder brother William tragically died. His father’s domains were … Continue reading The Young King
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
Beaumaris Castle
Known as an unfinished masterpiece, Beaumaris Castle was the last castle built in Wales by King Edward I of England. Construction began in 1295, with Edward’s ‘master of the king's works in Wales' James of St George overseeing the project. James is intrinsically tied to Beaumaris Castle, and it is considered “Britain's most perfect example … Continue reading Beaumaris Castle
Conwy Castle
On our way to Anglesey, we decided to take a break in Conwy and see the famous castle. We hadn’t checked in advance whether it was open, and alas it wasn’t, so learn from us folks and check websites in advance! We had a second go at visiting later in the week and it was … Continue reading Conwy Castle
Caernarfon Castle
Since watching Dan Jones’ Secret of Great British Castles, I’ve been wanting to visit Caernarfon Castle. Earlier this year I finally achieved my goal and stood at Caernarfon Castle! It was built by Edward I and alongside nearby Conwy, Beaumaris and Harlech castles is a World Heritage Site. For good reason too, as it is … Continue reading Caernarfon Castle
Top 5 Tips for History Students
September has arrived and with it a new academic year! Started a history degree (or in the middle of one) and looking for some tips? Then check out my Top 5 Tips for History Students booklet below! Free to download, this highlights tips I would recommend based on my own experience doing a history and … Continue reading Top 5 Tips for History Students
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 Hidden Gardens of Anglesey
On the island of Anglesey is a little slice of heaven – the Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens. As we drove up the winding drive (having to be careful of the many sheep wandering about!) it became apparent we were visiting a secret hideaway off the beaten track. After purchasing our tickets at the information cabin, … Continue reading The Hidden Gardens of Anglesey
Some Sources Say 