Review: Killing Monarchs by Richard Heath

Synopsis: Rulers (and would-be rulers) have always faced the possibility of a violent death. Between the seventh and eighteenth centuries over 20% of all British and European monarchs suffered such a fate. Some died in battle or in accidents but most of them were murdered or executed.

During the time of the Tudors and Stuarts some monarchs were the victims of lone assassins, some were killed after palace coups led by relatives or royal officials, and others after being defeated in a civil war. Their manner of death included public beheading, internal injury as a result of a knife attack, being hacked down by a group of noblemen, and ritual strangulation with a silk cord.

Killing Monarchs takes us on a journey across Europe. Starting in England and Scotland (Lady Jane Grey and Mary Queen of Scots), it moves to France (Kings Henry III and Henry IV), and then further east to Russia (Tsar Feodor II and various pretenders to the throne) and the Ottoman Empire (Sultans Osman II and Ibrahim I). It then returns to Britain to consider why Charles I was executed.

It provides a clear picture of the various forces that existed in society at the time and these are reflected in the motives of the regicides - the killers of monarchs – even though many were not honest about them. The lust for power, the desire for a more effective leader, religious differences, and occasionally the wish to do away with monarchy altogether, all played a significant role.

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This book explores not only the regicides of England, but also of France, Russia and the Ottoman Empire. Whilst it is presented in an informative, easy to read fashion, some may find it a bit of a slog if you are new to certain components of the book (ie: Russian / Ottoman history). For me it was familiar ground which I enjoyed revisiting
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Review: The Six Loves of James I by Gareth Russell

Synopsis: From the assassination of his father to the explosive political and personal intrigues of his reign, this fresh biography reveals as never before the passions that drove King James I.

Gareth Russell’s “rollicking, gossipy” (Dan Jones, author of The Plantagenets), and scholarly voice invites us into James’s world, revealing a monarch whose reign was defined by both his public power and personal vulnerabilities. For too long, historians have shied away from or condemned the exploration of his sexuality. Now, Russell offers a candid narrative that not only reveals James’s relationships with five prominent men but also challenges the historical standards applied to the examination of royal intimacies.

This biography stands as a significant contribution to the understanding of royal history, illuminating the personal experiences that shaped James’s political decisions and his philosophical views on masculinity and sexuality.

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Russell aims to tell the story of James I - his life and rule - through the prism of the men and women he loved and was intimate with, from his youth until his death.

For a man "nurtured in fear", James placed great store in the intimate relations he cultivated, with men and women alike, and in both a sexual and non-sexual way. These close and strong attachments often reflected the way James acted and behaved in private and on the political field.

James was said to have "loved indiscreetly and obstinately" which gives an insight into the person and character of the monarch. However the reader cannot fall into the trap of assuming that every friendship or attachment was a camoflaged romance - a strong cohort of loyal and trusted intimates - whether personal or political - was important - and not just to James, but also to his kindred monarchs.

As mentioned, against the backdrop of James' personal and political life, Russell introduces the reader to the agreed consensus of those whom James held in great affection. We begin with his cousin, Esme Earl of Lennox, who was the first to organise James' household along more "royal" lines; Patrick Gray, who was dismissed amid accusations of of espionage and sedition; James, Earl of Huntley, later imprisoned by Charles I; Alexander Lindsay who was contemporary with James' marriage to Anne of Denmark; Alexander Ruthven, James' frequent hunting companion; followed by two lesser known favourites whose time in the sun coincided with James' succession to the English throne upon the death of Elizabeth I.

We the reader musn't overlook James' interaction with his female favourites and here Russell looks at James' brief relationship with Anne Murray, and - more importantly - that of his wife and queen, Anne. Again, the reader cannot assume that Anne was completely ignorant as to James' sexuality, indeed at times she was more than complicit in soliciting "companions" for her husband. This in itself shows that she was a powerful and influential figure on the political scene, even if her influence was channeled through others.

Finally we arrive at the two men who were considered to be the most influential of all of James' men - Robert Carr and George Villiers. Both men meet James after he takes the English throne, both become involved in politics and scandal - only one would outlive James.

Russell finishes with a brief outline of the events from the death of James to the accession of Charles II and the sisters, Mary and Anne Stuart; followed by the extension notes and references used in this well constructed biography.

The reader will be suitably entertained with the "gossipy scandal" of James' love-life, and informed through this user-friendly historical study of both English and Scottish politics under the first King of a united kingdom.

Review: Nemesis by Catherine Hanley

Synopsis: The extraordinary tale of Philip Augustus, one of medieval Europe's greatest monarchs, and the part he played in the downfall of four Plantagenet kings of England.

Philip II ruled France with an iron fist for over 40 years, expanding its borders and increasing its power. For his entire reign his counterpart on the English throne was a member of the Plantagenet dynasty, and Philip took on them all: Henry II, Richard the Lionheart, John and Henry III. And yet we know so little about medieval England's greatest enemy.

Historian Catherine Hanley, author of the critically acclaimed 1217, redresses this imbalance, bringing Philip out of the shadows in this fascinating new history. Delving into French medieval archives, Nemesis explores Philip's motives for attacking England and in doing so we learn not only about him but discover so much more about England's most colourful and controversial of rulers – the Plantagenets.

When Philip first succeeded to the throne in 1180, Henry II of England, thanks to his Angevin and Norman ancestry as well as his wife's inheritance of Aquitaine, ruled more of France than Philip himself. By the end of Philip's reign in 1223, the pendulum of power had swung the other way. Nemesis reveals how Philip exploited the constant familiar squabbles of the Plantagenets to secure his grip on France, his wily political manoeuvring combined with a mastery of the medieval battlefield turning France into a powerhouse of Europe.

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For those looking for a straight up biography of this French King, you may find yourselves disappointed - or might I suggest reading the synopsis wherein the author, Hanley, states her intent. 

This is literally a look at the man on a broader political scale, in context with four Plantagenet Kings - Henry II and his sons, Henry the young King, Richard, John and grandson, Henry III - all of who at one time or another were enemies, rivals and allies, often all three ... at once.

It is a study of a young man determined to rule on his own, "... fully aware of the nest of vipers that surrounded him..." - both within and without France. He was a shrewd, methodical ruler, who exploited the factions around him for his own benefit. Philip had a well-developed political acumen; he was a mentally competent and agile strategist, often both single-minded and ruthless - "... he did not necessarily have to draw his sword in order to achieve his political aims ...".

Philip was a monarch driven to protect and empower France, and as a consequence of this self-styled mission, he raised up men based upon their talent and aptitude. But his greatest quality was his patience - he was all about playing the long game, and stored up information for future use. Such was his military and political acumen that he outlived, outwitted and outfought Henry II, his four sons and grandson.

Hanley's book on Philip is well researched, informative, very readable, being neither dry nor pompously academic in tone. There are ample footnotes at the end of each chapter to allow the reader to explore more on their own.  Being slightly pro-Plantagent myself, I found myself moving into Philip's corner on more than one occasion.

For a more indepth biography and history of the period, you would do well to chase up books by Jim Bradbury and Elizabeth Hallam.

Review: Stuart Spouses by Heather R Darsie

Synopsis: Stuart Spouses looks at the oft-overshadowed consorts of the Stuart monarchs, from 1406 to 1714. By focusing on these people and detailing their rises to matrimony, the trials and tribulations of their courtships, and the impact their unions and dissolutions had on the kingdoms of Scotland, England, Ireland, and Wales, one learns not only the history of these kingdoms but the true, sometimes soft, power behind the throne.

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Personally, much of what is contained in this tome is not new to me. I would consider this to be more of an introductory tome for those new to Stuart history and its personalities. It also includes the interregnum period in which Cromwell and his son ruled - I am presuming for chronological purposes, and finishes with the installation of the House of Hanover. Finally, there is the inclusion of poems, written wither by or for the spouses. Though must say, glad to see the inclusion of the male consorts!

Recommended purely as an introductory tome for this period in both English and Scottish history.

Review: Tudor Executions by Helene Harrison

Synopsis: The Tudors as a dynasty executed many people, both high and low. But the nobility were the ones consistently involved in treason, either deliberately or unconsciously. Exploring the long sixteenth century under each of the Tudor monarchs gives a sense of how and why so many were executed for what was considered the worst possible crime and how the definition of treason changed over the period.

This book examines how and why Tudor nobles like Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham; Queen Consort Anne Boleyn; Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey; and Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, fell into the trap of treason and ended up on the block under the executioner’s axe. Treason and the Tudor nobility seem to go hand in hand as, by the end of the sixteenth century and the advent of the Stuart dynasty, no dukes remained in England. How did this happen and why?

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Rather good insight into the Tudor paranoia over the usurpation ..... I mean succession. And as the reader continues on their grisly journey, they will discover how closely related to each other were both monarch and executed noble, as well as noble to noble.

Harrison begins with Edward Plantagenet, Earl of Warwick (ex. 1499) and completed her list with Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex (ex. 1601) - spanning the reigns of Henry VII to Elizabeth I. All those "victims" contained within the pages of this tome are already known - so no new surprises. 

The narrative is not cumbersome, the research is obvious without being overbearing, the tome is easily readable, and dare I say it, entertaining.

One definitely for the Tudor history buffs!

Review: The Powerful Women of Outremer by Helen P Schrader

Synopsis: In the mild climate of the Mediterranean, a rare blossom once a prosperous, urbanized society inhabited by various ethnic and religious groups living harmoniously together for nearly two-hundred years. At the apex of this society, ruled a feudal elite notorious for its wealth and love of luxury. It was composed of politically savvy, diplomatically adept, well-educated and multilingual men – and women.

These women played an astonishing and indispensable role in shaping the character of their unique society. They were ruling queens, independent barons, nuns and pilgrims. They were merchants and artisans, diplomats and spies. They were warriors defending besieged cities and the most pitiful victims of conflict as slaves after a defeat.

While many primary sources readily recorded specific and noteworthy actions taken by individual women, there is no comprehensive or systematic description of women’s contribution to the life and society of Outremer. All we have are fragments of a mosaic badly damaged by time. Yet even these remnants have largely been neglected due to the prevailing emphasis on the era’s military history.

The Powerful Women of Outremer redresses that imbalance. In a chronological narrative, women’s contributions to the crusader states are highlighted. The book then explores women’s societal role in thematic chapters. Finally, a series of short biographies shine a light on the lives of individual women. By piecing together the scattered remnants of the historical mosaic, The Powerful Women of Outremer offers readers a clearer understanding of the importance of women to the history of the Near East and a richer picture of the women themselves.

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I remember quite a while ago when I was putting together my very first website "Women of History" - it was these women that intrigued me from my reading and research, and as such I was keen to share.  There was absolutely nothing about them on the web back in 1998 - so much so that the very first iteration of a new web encyclopedia "wikipedia" (Jan 2001) literally cut and paste without any acknowledgement.

So, to be honest, I think I came more into this to view another perspective of the history and women of Outremer, who were and are, as I mentioned, not unfamiliar to me.

The author emphasises that this is not for the expert but the hobby historian; it is a record of action and influence; it has no contemporary Moslem sources, nor does it provide any new evidence but instead collates it all in one place for the reader.

I found the first chapter provided no value to the reader - go straight to chapters 2 - 5 which talk about the formation of the Crusader State and the succession of its rulers. Chapter 6 provides a little more on Crusader society and provides three cases studies of notable women. Chapter 7 discusses legal rights. Chapter 8 royal power, again focusing on notable Crusader monarchs. Chapter 9 and 10 talks about the economy, patronage, and defence of the Holy Land, whilst Chapter 11 deals with the issues of defeat and enslavement.

All of this is followed by the biographies of the women discussed and featured in the tome - however, it is strictly a Eurocentric view. Which, of course it is - it is a study of those who came to Outremer, integrated with society through marriage, and "topped up" the gene pool with new arrivals from Europe.

Schrader, to give her her due, has put these women into context with the time and events, and has given them a little more "page time" than most standard Crusade texts - they are not invisible, you just needed to invest a little more time to seek them out.

If the reader is interested in this period, they will pick up this tome regardless - if you are solely interested in a collection of biographies on notable historical women, go straight to the end. Of course, the reader should always do their own research to gain perspective to to understand what each writer is trying to convey - no one tome should be taken as gospel, but should provide a platform for assessment and further discussion.

Review: The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr by June Woolerton

Synopsis: What killed Katherine Parr?

She was the ultimate Tudor survivor, the queen who managed to outwit and outlive Henry VIII. Yet just over eighteen months after his passing, Katherine Parr was dead. She had been one of the most powerful people in the country, even ruling England for her royal husband, yet she had died hundreds of miles from court and been quickly buried in a tiny chapel with few royal trappings. Her grave was lost for centuries only for her corpse to be mutilated after it was rediscovered during a tea party. The death of Katherine Parr is one of the strangest of any royals – and one of the most mysterious.

The final days of Henry VIII’s last queen included a faithless husband and rumors of a royal affair while the weeks after her funeral swirled with whispers of poison and murder. The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr dives into the calamitous and tumultuous events leading up to the last hours of a once powerful queen and the bizarre happenings that followed her passing.

From the elaborate embalming of her body, that left it in a state of perfect preservation for almost three centuries despite a burial just yards from her place of death, to the still unexplained disappearance, without trace, of her baby, the many questions surrounding the death of Queen Katherine are examined in a new light.

This brand new book from royal author and historian June Woolerton brings together, for the first time, all the known accounts of the strange rediscovery of Katherine’s tomb and the even odder decision to leave it open to the elements and grave-robbers for decades to ask – how did Katherine Parr really die?

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When Henry VIII died in 1547, his widow Katherine Parr was not only still considered to be Queen, she was also free to remarry - which she did, six months later, to the man who became her fourth husband, Thomas Seymour. Then Katherine found herself pregnant - and eight days after the birth of her only child, a daughter, Katherine was dead and hastily buried.

Woolerton takes the reader through the discovery of Katherine's tomb at Sudeley, the rumours surrounding her death, and her rather hasty and low key funeral. Katherine's husband - Thomas Seymour - hot-foots it back to London, leaving the newborn in the care - initially - of Katherine's attendants. We already know that Katherine's daughter Mary will soon be left without both mother or father, as after a plot was discovered to put the protestant Elizabeth on the throne, her father Sir Thomas Seymour was beheaded for treason.

Woolerton explores Katherine's final months and days, and notes her actions were in sharp contrast to the self-assured woman she was prior to and during her marriage to Henry VIII - and considers this against the backdrop of what we already know - or think we know. Katherine's funeral, in stark contrast to other female monarchs was, as mentioned, a rather hasty and covert affair, not even attended by her husband - and Woolerton delves into this quite deeply, as she does with Katherine's will.

I found Woolerton's exploration of events quite engaging and her open-mindedness to other hypothesis rather refreshing. She posits a number of plausible theories for Katherine's actions and behaviours after Henry's death whilst exploring Seymour's own actions against the changing political tableau.

A must for Tudor lovers, and for those with an interest in royalty and notable women.

Review: The Granddaughters of Edward III by Kathryn Warner

Synopsis: Edward III may be known for his restoration of English kingly authority after the disastrous and mysterious fall of his father, Edward II, and eventual demise of his mother, Queen Isabella. It was Edward III who arguably put England on the map as a military might. This show of power and strength was not simply through developments in government, success in warfare or the establishment of the Order of the Garter, which fused ideals of chivalry and national identity to form camaraderie between king and peerage. The expansion of England as a formidable European powerhouse was also achieved through the traditional lines of political marriages, particularly those of the king of England’s own granddaughters.

This is a joint biography of nine of those women who lived between 1355 and 1440, and their dramatic, turbulent lives. One was queen of Portugal and was the mother of the Illustrious Generation; one married into the family of her parents' deadly enemies and became queen of Castile; one became pregnant by the king of England's half-brother while married to someone else, and her third husband was imprisoned for marrying her without permission; one was widowed at about 24 when her husband was summarily beheaded by a mob, and some years later bore an illegitimate daughter to an earl; one saw her marriage annulled so that her husband could marry a Bohemian lady-in-waiting; one was born illegitimate, had sixteen children, and was the grandmother of two kings of England.

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An accessible history of the family of King Edward III of England.

At a mere 144 pages of biographical content, this book will provide a basic introduction to not only the granddaughters of Edward III and his queen, Philippa of Hainault, but also of their children and other grandchildren.

Warner provides a basic Who's Who and family trees at the start, and ends with the descendants of the featured granddaughters, and approx 50 pages of notes.

If this is your particular era of study, Warner's book will provide a handy introductory resource for the lineage and general biographical study of Edward's offspring. For those wanting a bit more substance to those featured granddaughters, you will find it lacking here.

read in 2023

Review: The Royal Women Who Made England by MJ Porter

Synopsis: Throughout the tenth century, England, as it would be recognised today, formed. No longer many Saxon kingdoms, but rather, just England. Yet, this development masks much in the century in which the Viking raiders were seemingly driven from England’s shores by Alfred, his children and grandchildren, only to return during the reign of his great, great-grandson, the much-maligned Æthelred II.

Not one but two kings would be murdered, others would die at a young age, and a child would be named king on four occasions. Two kings would never marry, and a third would be forcefully divorced from his wife. Yet, the development towards ‘England’ did not stop. At no point did it truly fracture back into its constituent parts. Who then ensured this stability? To whom did the witan turn when kings died, and children were raised to the kingship?

The royal woman of the House of Wessex came into prominence during the century, perhaps the most well-known being Æthelflæd, daughter of King Alfred. Perhaps the most maligned being Ælfthryth (Elfrida), accused of murdering her stepson to clear the path to the kingdom for her son, Æthelred II, but there were many more women, rich and powerful in their own right, where their names and landholdings can be traced in the scant historical record.

Using contemporary source material, The Royal Women Who Made England can be plucked from the obscurity that has seen their names and deeds lost, even within a generation of their own lives.

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MJ Porter brings to life some of the many royal women who inhabited 10th Century Anglo Saxon England. An the author of a number of historical fiction books set in this era, it should come as no surprise that this tome should be the germination of much of that self-same research.

"The Royal Women Who Made England" covers are number of areas such as royal brides, religious women, and women who have married into the royal family from areas both within and without England. There is a handy group of resources from family trees to wills and charters, and the women covered off stem from King Alfred unto Aethelred II.

However ..... it it the set up, the structure, of the tome that has me at odds. We begin with a brief history of the period and a list of royal women covered off by the Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England (PASE) database. Then the succeeding chapters diversify, providing biographies of the leading ladies of the period. There is a chapter dedicated to legal documents to and from these women, before concluding with a further set of biographical information of these women.

So my bug-bears with this book:

• the multiple uses of the following phrases: must have, probably, believed, often said, possibly, it appears,might have, the suggestions, potentially;
• the disjointed repetitiveness of the biographical information provided (especially for someone coming into this green)

A suggested structure may have looked like:

• introduction into the period covering off a short who's who of notable (men) connected to each woman followed by a purely biographical dictionary of the women (which might have eliminated the repeated biographical information provided in the relevant chapter then again at the end)

And then this final comment from Porter, who says that in writing this tome and presenting the lives of these women, she has "... drawn on my imagination when considering what their part might have been, for not to do so, would make it impossible to realise them as real people ...". I'm sorry, what??? Are you writing fact or fiction?? Are you using fiction to prop up fact?? What are you telling me - the reader - about this tome? I am left rather gobsmacked.

To put it bluntly, it is no easy task to place any of these women (with a few exceptions) at the forefront of Anglo Saxons politics, and certainly not in any firm role that would have shaped the destiny of England. Their role as wives, mothers, daughters, patrons, religious, was no different from many women of royal ruling houses - either before, after or contemporary. As I have said previously, its all well and good to bring forth a tome on a notable person, but to ascribe to them more than their due is being disingenuous to the reader.

As with a number of other books on notable women from this particular publisher, the author pool appears to be drawn from the blog-o-sphere and the presentation of the tomes in question reads like a collation of related blog posts, cobbled together with the sheerest thread of commonality. And it is disappointing that this book may well find its way into that same grouping. It is disappointing that this may be my last from this publisher.

Review: The Bastard Prince of Versailles by Will Bashor

Synopsis: A historical novel inspired by real events, The Bastard Prince of Versailles, narrates the escapades of a misborn "prince" during the reign of Louis XIV in seventeenth-century France.

Louis de Bourbon wasn't a real prince-even though his father was King Louis XIV. The illegitimate son of the King and his mistress, Louise de La Vallière, young Louis has been kept far from the court's eyes until summoned to bid adieu to his mother. To atone for her adultery, she joins a convent, abandoning Louis to an uncertain future. When Louis is humiliated by his father for his role in a secret gay society, he struggles to redeem himself through heroism and self-sacrifice in the king's army on the battlefield.

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The fictional account of the very short life of Louis, Count of Vermandois, son of King Louis XIV of France and his mistress, Louise de Valliere.

The synopsis covers it all really - Louis' short life from his birth to his ultimate sexual corruption by the Chevalier de Lorraine in revenge of some slight done unto him by the King, to his exile and death (1683).

During the reign of Louis XIV homosexuality was punishable with death.  However, it was, in reality - at least at the French Court -  difficult to pursue such deviates when the King’s own brother was a noted invert, beneath contempt but above the law. As most marriages in the aristocracy were arrangements of property, French society condoned concubinage; nearly every man who could afford it had a mistress; men plumed themselves on their liaisons almost as much as on their battles; a woman felt desolate if no man but her husband pursued her; and some faithless husbands winked at their wives’ infidelities.

This is the world into which the pretty, young and naive young Louis was thrust once Louis XIV decided his offspring would be better educated and monitored at Versailles.

At times, the narrative feels overly long and rambling, however, this is a fair reconstruction of Louis' young life.  Those with an interest in French history and the court of the Sun King will find this enjoyable.

The Shadow King by Lauren Johnson

A thrilling new account of the tragic story and troubled times of Henry VI, who inherited the crowns of both England and France and lost both.

Firstborn son of a warrior father who defeated the French at Agincourt, Henry VI of the House of Lancaster inherited the crown not only of England but also of France, at a time when Plantagenet dominance over the Valois dynasty was at its glorious height.

And yet, by the time he died in the Tower of London in 1471, France was lost, his throne had been seized by his rival, Edward IV of the House of York, and his kingdom had descended into the violent chaos of the Wars of the Roses.

Henry VI is perhaps the most troubled of English monarchs, a pious, gentle, well-intentioned man who was plagued by bouts of mental illness. In The Shadow King, Lauren Johnson tells his remarkable and sometimes shocking story in a fast-paced and colorful narrative that captures both the poignancy of Henry’s life and the tumultuous and bloody nature of the times in which he lived.

Review: Matilda II The Forgotten Queen by Joanna Arman

Synopsis: The wife of King Henry I and the mother of the Empress Maud is a woman and a Queen forgotten to history. She is frequently conflated with her daughter or her mother-in-law. She was born the daughter of the King of Scotland and an Anglo-Saxon princess. Her name was Edith, but her name was changed to Matilda at the time of her marriage.

The Queen who united the line of William the Conqueror with the House of Wessex lived during an age marked by transition and turbulence. She married Henry in the first year of the 12th century and for the eighteen years of her rule aided him in reforming the administrative and legal system due to her knowledge of languages and legal tradition. Together she and her husband founded a series of churches and arranged a marriage for their daughter to the Holy Roman Emperor. Matilda was a woman of letters to corresponded with Kings, Popes, and prelates, and was respected by them all.

Matilda’s greatest legacy was she united two dynasties and gave the Angevin Kings the legitimacy they needed so much. It was through her that the Empress Matilda and Henry II were able to claim the throne. She was the progenitor of the Plantagenet Kings, but the war and conflict which followed the death of her son William led to a negative stereotyping by Medieval Chroniclers. Although they saw her as pious, they said she was a runaway nun and her marriage to Henry was cursed.

This book provides a much-needed re-evaluation of Edith/Matilda’s role and place in the history of the Queens of England.

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I'll begin with a quote from the book: "... much of what we know about her is an idealised and carefully considered version of events written by people who had a specific view of gender norms and social role ...". In other words, much of what we know about early medieval women - their lives and roles - is based upon the stereotypical views of the predominantly male clerics who were writing at the time. 

In fact for this particular monarch, records on her activities are rather scarce, and much of what we do know is centred around her family, her husband, and her children. Her lineage, her education and piety were notable - she was the unifying link between the Anglo Saxon House of Wessex and Normandy.

Beginning with fourteen pages of who's who, Arman then sets out to trace Matilda's ancestry and her links to the religious foundations of Romsey and Wilton. We are treated to the history of the period, briefly under Williams I & II, the conflict between Church and Crown, and the succession of Henry I. Diversions to the Crusades and Henry I's early political career overshadow any real gleamings we have of Matilda.

However, Arman soon gets around to Matilda's family, her siblings Mary and David, her own children Matilda and William, and Henry's brood of illegitimate children. Matilda's patronage of scholarship, her pious building projects and relationships with clerics are also touched upon. In reality, much of Matilda's life was overshadowed by political events pertaining to her husband, even her time in the political spotlight as regent for Henry I was brief. She did not live to see death of her only son William in the White Ship disaster of 1120, not the succession wars of her daughter Matilda and her nephew Stephen.

I am hoping that prior to final print, a good editor will be going over this - there were numerous errors with dates and names that need attending to. I myself was not a fan of the layout of the book - it really is a very basic introductory work, and in fact much of the content could be readily found on the internet. Kudos for subject matter. However, to say that this work "provides a much-needed re-evaluation of Edith/Matilda’s role" I think is slightly ambitious.

Edward I and the Governance of England, 1272–1307 by Caroline Burt

This important exploration of the reign of Edward I – one of England's most lionised, feared and successful monarchs – presents his kingship in a radical new light. 

Through detailed case studies of Shropshire, Warwickshire and Kent, Caroline Burt examines how Edward's governance at a national level was reflected in different localities. She employs novel methodology to measure levels of disorder and the effects of government action, and uncovers a remarkably sophisticated approach to governance. 

This study combines an empirical examination of government with an understanding of developing political ideas and ideological motivation, and contributes towards a greater understanding of the development of local government and politics in England in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Edward emerges as a king with a coherent set of ideas about the governance of his realm, both intellectually and practically, whose achievements were even more remarkable than has previously been recognised.

The Valley Beyond: A Daughter's Bond by TS Nichols

TS Nichols, a passionate writer with an interest in medieval history who is currently retired and resides in New Jersey, has completed his most recent book “The Valley Beyond: A Daughter’s Bond”: a page-turning novel about a young girl of noble descent who deals with the plot against her life and other provocative events that involve her wealth and status.

Nichols writes, “Lucia is an active child whose curiosity and behavior tend to get her into trouble. At the age of thirteen, she inherits the Condado of Segoia from the presumed death of her father, Don Fernando, who perished while on a crusade to the Holy Land. In addition, she inherits several titles and a vast amount of wealth from her mother, Lady Margaret, who dies while giving birth to Lucia. Her wealth is coveted by Don Raimundo Ortega Diaz, the Conde of Donato. He needs Lucia’s wealth to raise an army to take the throne of Castile in order to plunder the vast riches that lie to the south in Al-Andalus, the home of the Moors. He plots her demise to obtain her wealth.

Set against the backdrop of the ongoing war against the Moors in late twelfth-century Spain, Lucia is challenged by her lack of maturity, assassination attempts, her love for her dearest friend Isabella, befriending a Moor, a love interest with a French knight, and the ongoing questions concerning her deceased mother. These questions lead her to Pomeroi, her duchy in France, only if she can survive her travels beyond the Pyrenees.”

Published by Fulton Books, TS Nichols’s book shares a tantalizing journey of an inexperienced young noblewoman as she struggles to balance and survive in her newfound position following the tragedies in her life.

This book will take the readers to an era filled with royalty, politics, and wars that defined a young noblewoman’s character and purpose amid such turmoil.

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Review: The White Ship by Charles Spencer

Synopsis: The sinking of the White Ship is one of the greatest disasters in English history. Here, Sunday Times bestselling author Charles Spencer tells the real story behind the legend to show how one cataclysmic shipwreck changed England’s course.

In 1120, the White Ship was known as the fastest ship afloat. When it sank sailing from Normandy to England it was carrying aboard the only legitimate heir to King Henry I, William of Ætheling. The raucous, arrogant young prince had made a party of the voyage, carousing with his companions and pushing wine into the eager hands of the crew. It was the middle of the night when the drunken helmsman rammed the ship into rocks.

The next day only one of the three hundred who had boarded the ship was alive to describe the horrors of the slow shipwreck. William, the face of England’s future had drowned along with scores of the social elite. The royal line severed and with no obvious heir to the crown, a civil war of untold violence erupted. Known fittingly as ‘The Anarchy’, this game of thrones saw families turned in on each other, with English barons, rebellious Welsh leaders and Scottish invaders all playing a part in the bloody, desperate scrum for power.

One incredible shipwreck and two decades of violent uncertainty; England’s course had changed forever. 

Spencer uses the White Ship itself as an anchor for the story of one of the most tragic events in English history - in fact Spencer writes, "... there as not a part of Henry's Anglo-Norman realm that remained shielded from the impact of the catastrophe ...".

In this tale, Spencer takes you the reader on a tour of the timeline of events from William the Conqueror leading up to the tragedy at sea, and the repercussions for the English throne beyond this.

His narrative is casual, almost conversational, as if he were giving you a conducted tour of Althorp. Yet this same narrative, with the gentle resonance of Spencer's voice, is concise, informative not dry or stuffy. For me, this is well-worn ground - however, I at no time found my attention waivering only eagerly looking forward to the build up to the disaster and to the fate of England, left without a legitimate male heir for the concept of a woman ruling in the 12th century was anathema in both England and Normandy. Spencer takes us through an abridged version of what became known as "The Anarchy" finishing up with the settlement of succession onto Henry Plantagenet.

Spencer finishes with this rather poignant quote from William of Malmesbury "... no ship that ever sailed brought England such disaster ..."

Highly recommended and one I will be adding to my shelves (upon which I already have two of Spencer's books - Killers of the King and To Catch A King).

Further reading:

The Anarchy by Teresa Cole

The Anarchy of King Stephen's Reign edited by Edmund King

King Stephen & The Anarchy by Chris Peers

Stephen & Matilda's Civil War by Matthew Lewis

Matilda: Empress, Queen, Warrior by Catherine Hanley

Stephen & Matilda by Jim Bradbury

The Normans by David Crouch

Henry I by Judith Green

King Stephen's Reign by Graeme White & Paul Dalton

The White Ship by Nicholas Salaman (fictional account)

Chronicle of King Pedro Volumes 1 - 3 ed by Peter Such

Pero López de Ayala's Chronicle of King Pedro provides a compelling and richly informative account of the turbulent reign of the notorious but enigmatic fourteenth-century Castilian monarch who came to be known as Pedro el Cruel. It is a vitally important source for our understanding of the history of the Iberian Peninsula during this critical period in its development and of the complex social and political divisions by which the Spanish kingdoms were torn. 

This three-volume Chronicle gives us a gripping and wide-ranging picture of a period characterized by harsh brutality, conflict and betrayal but at the same time by the ideals of chivalry, memorably personified in figures such as the Black Prince and Bertrand du Guesclin. At its centre is the chilling portrait of King Pedro, a brilliantly constructed image of self-destructive evil. 

The translation is accompanied by a Spanish text taken from Germán Orduna's groundbreaking edition and by detailed notes. The introduction explores the background to the Chronicle's composition and sets López de Ayala's account against a broad canvas of events in the Spanish kingdoms and beyond. It examines how the chronicler's subtle artistry was used to create a picture of a deeply flawed monarch which has continued to exercise a profound fascination over the centuries.

The King’s Bishops by E. Crosby

This is the first detailed comparative study of patronage as an instrument of power in the relations between kings and bishops in England and Normandy after the Conquest. Esteemed medievalist Everett U. Crosby considers new perspectives of medieval state-building and the vexed relations between secular and ecclesiastical authority. 

CUP bags 'thrilling' Bartlett book on medieval Europe

From The Bookseller: 

Cambridge University Press has bagged a “thrilling” book on dynastic political intrigue in medieval Europe by historian and presenter Robert Bartlett.

Liz Friend-Smith, senior commissioning editor in history, bought world print and digital rights to Blood Royal: Dynastic Politics in Medieval Europe direct from the author. It will be published in July 2020.

The book explores the role played by family dynamics and family consciousness in the politics of the royal and imperial dynasties of Europe, “from royal marriages and the birth of sons, to female sovereigns, mistresses and wicked uncles”.

The synopsis explains: “Throughout medieval Europe, for hundreds of years, monarchy was the way that politics worked in most countries. This meant power was in the hands of a family—a dynasty; that politics was family politics; and political life was shaped by the births, marriages and deaths of the ruling family. Bartlett looks at how the dynastic system coped with female rule and pretenders to the throne. It expplores how the dynasties used names, the numbering of rulers and the visual display of heraldry to express their identity. And it asks why some royal families survived and thrived, while others did not.”

Bartlett is writer and presenter of several BBC documentary series including “Inside the Medieval Mind”, “The Normans”, and “The Plantagenets”. Professor Emeritus at the University of St Andrews, his books include The Making of Europe: Conquest, Colonization and Cultural Change (Penguin), which won the Wolfson History Prize.

Friend-Smith said: “Robert is a master historian and a fabulous storyteller. He makes enthralling sense of the complex web of internal rivalries and loyalties of the ruling dynasties and casts fresh light on an essential feature of the medieval world. We’re very excited to be publishing his next book, it’s a tour de force.”

Royal Murder by Marc Alexander

‘And tell sad stories of the death of Kings: How some have deposed, some poisoned by their wives, some sleeping killed, all murdered . . .’

So wrote Shakespeare in Richard II, and in his new book Royal Murder Marc Alexander investigates the sad stories of the victims of royal murders.

Ignoring violent death by battle or political execution, this book is devoted to personal acts of jealousy and revenge which has stained the Crown with blue blood down the ages. The subjects range from those murders one may vaguely remember from schooldays without being aware of their backgrounds of intrigue and mystery, to lesser known scandals such as the secret murder of Count von Konigsmarck, the lover of Princess Sophia of Zell, wife of George the First.

Royal Favouritism by Alistair Malcolm

Royal Favouritism and the Governing Elite of the Spanish Monarchy, 1640-1665 presents a study of the later years of the reign of Philip IV from the perspective of his favourite (valido), don Luis Méndez de Haro, and of the other ministers who helped govern the Spanish Habsburg Monarchy. It offers a positive vision of a period that is often seen as one of failure and decline. Unlike his predecessors, Haro exercised the favour that he enjoyed in a discreet way, acting as a perfect courtier and honest broker between the king and his aristocratic subjects. 

Nevertheless, Alistair Malcolm also argues that the presence of a royal favourite at the head of the government of Spain amounted to a major problem. The king's delegation of his authority to a single nobleman was considered by many to have been incompatible with good kingship, and Philip IV was himself very uneasy about failing in his responsibilities as a ruler. Haro was thus in a highly insecure situation, and sought to justify his regime by organizing the management of a prestigious and expensive foreign policy. In this context, the eventual conclusion of the very honourable peace with France in 1659 is shown to have been as much the result of the independent actions of other ministers as it was of a royal favourite very reluctantly brought to the negotiating table at the Pyrenees. 

By conclusion, the quite sudden collapse of Spanish European hegemony after Haro's death in 1661 is represented as a delayed reaction to the repercussions of a flawed system of government.