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
Tag: Medieval History
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
Thomas Becket: The Murder and Making of a Saint Exhibition
“Very quickly you would turn your heart and favour away from me, which is now so great between us, and replace it with the most savage hatred” - Thomas Becket to Henry II in 1162 I recently visited the British Museum in London to see their current exhibition about Thomas Becket, who was the Royal … Continue reading Thomas Becket: The Murder and Making of a Saint Exhibition
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
Women and Power in the Kingdom of Heaven: Melisende and Sybil Lecture by Professor Helen Nicholson and Hayley Bassett
Earlier this week I attended the fantastic Eileen Younghusband Memorial Lecture Women and Power in the Kingdom of Heaven: Melisende and Sybil hosted by the Centre for Lifelong Learning at Cardiff University. I’ve been interested in the queens of Jerusalem since picking up a copy of Queens of Jerusalem: The Women Who Dared to Rule … Continue reading Women and Power in the Kingdom of Heaven: Melisende and Sybil Lecture by Professor Helen Nicholson and Hayley Bassett
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
