In 13th century Provence there lived four sisters. Daughters of Count Raymond Berengar V of Provence and his wife Beatrice of Savoy, all would rise to greatness becoming Queens of France, England, Germany and Sicily respectively. These sisters had a huge impact on Western Christendom, and this month we’ll explore how the personal affected the … Continue reading Sisters & Queens
Tag: Women's History
Nell: The Australian Heiress Who Saved her husband from Stalin & the Nazis by Susanna De Vries
Susanna De Vries biography on Nell Kerensky (nee’ Tritton) is a must-read, bringing to life this fascinating woman and the adventurous life she led. Nell Tritton (1899-1946) was born in Brisbane, Australia and was the daughter of successful businessman Fred Tritton and his wife Leila. Despite their privileged upbringing, the eldest four of the six … Continue reading Nell: The Australian Heiress Who Saved her husband from Stalin & the Nazis by Susanna De Vries
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
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
Queens: Mothers, Warriors, Icons Lecture by Dr Estelle Paranque
I attended Dr Estelle Paranque’s talk Queens: Mothers, Warriors, Icons which was hosted by the New College of the Humanities for Women’s History Month. Queenship is something I have always had an interest in, so from the title I knew this talk was definitely going to be up my street! The lecture was in two … Continue reading Queens: Mothers, Warriors, Icons Lecture by Dr Estelle Paranque
Trailblazers: Marina Raskova
Marina Raskova (1912-1943) was a famous female aviator. Aviation was largely a man’s world in the beginning of the 20th century, but across the globe women like Marina Raskova, Amelia Earhart and Amy Johnson were proving that women had a right to be involved in this developing industry too. Marina blazed the trail for women … Continue reading Trailblazers: Marina Raskova
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
Some Sources Say 