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
Tag: Europe
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
Love Letters: Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn
Henry VIII famously had six wives, yet only for one of them did he rip the fabric of England apart in order to marry her and make her his queen. The lady in question? The iconic Anne Boleyn. Anne Boleyn by unknown artist Anne is first thought to have caught Henry’s eye in 1526. He … Continue reading Love Letters: Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn
The Scottish Queen
Mary Queen of Scots. What new is there to say? She is one of the most well known historical figures in British history, and her dramatic life of passion and intrigue has enthralled people for centuries. Yet today I want to focus on a very specific moment in her early life, one that often gets … Continue reading The Scottish Queen
The Accursed Kings
“Accursed! Accursed! You shall be accursed to the thirteenth generation!” This was the curse roared from the flames of Jacques de Molay’s pyre in Maurice Druon’s classic novel The Iron King. In 1314 the death of Molay, last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, symbolized the end of this powerful organisation of “holy soldiers”. This … Continue reading The Accursed Kings
Snapshot of History: Queen Victoria ‘Grandmother of Europe’
On this week's Snapshot of History* we'll be exploring Victoria's legacy as the 'Grandmother of Europe'. With her most politically prominent grandchildren including: George V, Wilhelm II and Alexandra of Russia! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoIPXoLIa88&feature=youtu.be If videos aren’t accessible to you, or they’re just not your thing, you can read the full script below. VIDEO SCRIPT Recently on … Continue reading Snapshot of History: Queen Victoria ‘Grandmother of Europe’
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