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
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
Trailblazers: Joan of Arc ‘The Maid of Orléans’
During a war that lasted over 100 years, a French teenager rose from humble beginnings to become a famous warrior. She led an army into battle against the English, changing the course of the war and history. This warrior mystic who believed she received visions from God met a tragic end at the hands of … Continue reading Trailblazers: Joan of Arc ‘The Maid of Orléans’
Trailblazers: Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians
In Women’s History Month 2020 I started a mini-Trailblazers series where we looked at Empress Theodora, Marie Curie, Christine de Pizan and Ida B Wells, and this year I’ll be continuing this series exploring more kick-ass women! So, to get things started, we’re going to find out about Æthelflæd. She was daughter of Alfred the … Continue reading Trailblazers: Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians
Trailblazers: Christine de Pizan (GUEST POST: @galleryofthecityofladies)
When Some Sources Say asked me to write a post about a female trailblazer for ‘Women’s History Month’ Christine de Pizan came instantly to mind. She was the inspiration behind my Instagram account ‘Gallery of the City of Ladies’ and is widely thought to be the 'First professional woman of letters in Europe'. Christine was … Continue reading Trailblazers: Christine de Pizan (GUEST POST: @galleryofthecityofladies)
Recommendation: Museum of Liverpool
As Storm Dennis hit last weekend I decided to take myself into the warm and dry Museum of Liverpool for a look around, and friends it did not disappoint! With 3 floors covering the pre-historic to present day Liverpool, there was a lot to see! According to some interpretation training I once received, a museums … Continue reading Recommendation: Museum of Liverpool
