Denbigh Castle The story of Alice de Lacey is like something straight from a novel, with rebellion, kidnappings and love all wrapped up in the life of this one Countess. Alice was born at Denbigh C…

Tomb effigy of Nicholaa de la Haye, St Michael’s Church, Swaton As you may have noticed, Nicholaa de la Haye is a favourite of mine. She is the subject of my 5th book, King John’s Right Hand …

Judith of Flanders Judith of Flanders was born sometime in the early 1030s. Her father was Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders; he died in 1035, when Judith was, at most, five years old and possibly stil…

Historian, Sharon Bennett Connolly and author, Derek Birks are joined by author, Nicola Cornick to discuss the life of Anne of Cleves. Music by Adriel Fair licensed from Epidemic Sound

Countess Gytha I have to admit, I expected Emma of Normandy to be the woman who stole the show with my second book, Silk and the Sword: the Women of the Norman Conquest, but I was pleasantly surpri…

Joan of Acre Joan of Acre had an exotic start in life; she was born in Palestine, whilst her parents were on the 9th Crusade, in the spring of 1272. Joan’s parents, Prince Edward of England a…

Empress Matilda depicted at the coronation of her granddaughter, Matilda of England, as Duchess of Saxony, in an image from the Gospels of Henry the Lion. In the mid-12th century, England was riven…

Historian, Sharon Bennett Connolly and author, Derek Birks discuss Queen Elizabeth Woodville. Music by Adriel Fair licensed from Epidemic Sound

Ӕlfgyva: The Mysterious Woman in the Bayeux Tapestry

YouTube video by Carol Ann Lloyd

Today I welcome Rosemary Griggs to History...the Interesting Bits, to give us some insights into Kat Ashley, Queen Elizabeth I's Governess. Kat dedicated her life to Elizabeth but what do we really know about her?

Joanna of England Joanna of England was born in October 1165, the 7th child and youngest daughter of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Ten years younger than her eldest brother, Henry t…

Alice Perrers and Edward III, painted by Ford Maddox Brown Alice Perrers is one royal mistress who did not fare as well as her contemporary, Katherine Swynford. Whereas Katherine eventually married…

How did the daughters of Plantagenet Kings of England deal with the tumults of the late Middle Ages? Sharon Bennett Connolly, historian and author, explains how they responded to the challenges of pla...

Old Sarum Ela of Salisbury was one of the most influential women of the thirteenth century. Ela was born at Amesbury in Wiltshire in 1187. She was the only surviving child – and sole heir &#8…

Mary of Woodstock To many noble women, the religious life was a career that had been decided for them by their parents when they were still children, as with Mary of Blois. However, for some, this …

Matilda of Flanders Matilda of Flanders was the consummate duchess and queen. Born in the early to mid-1030s, possibly around 1032, Matilda was the daughter of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders, and his…

Historian, Sharon Bennett Connolly and author, Derek Birks are joined by historian, Steven Veerapen, to discuss King Henry VIII, the subject of his new book, Overlord. Music by Adriel Fair licensed

YouTube video by Tudors Dynasty & Beyond

From dutiful daughters to runaway nuns, from empresses to rebels. The life of a medieval princess was, perhaps, not as predictable as we have been led to believe....

Elizabeth of Rhuddlan In July 1282 King Edward I was in the middle of subduing Wales when his wife, Eleanor of Castile, was reaching her final month of pregnancy. Unlike most royal wives, who would…

Richard of Conisbrough, Earl of Cambridge Richard of Conisbrough seems to have been a very controversial figure throughout his life, from questions of his paternity, through his secret marriage, to…

Arthur of Brittany A Plantagenet prince, Arthur of Brittany’s story is one of the most tragic of the Medieval period. The posthumous son of Geoffrey, 4th son of Henry II of England and Eleano…

Elizabeth Barton became a celebrated visionary, but when she defied the monarch, she paid the ultimate price. Was she a charlatan or a brave heroine of the Tudor world?

Historian, Sharon Bennett Connolly and historical author, Derek Birks discuss the origins and fortunes of the Warenne family. As Earls of Surrey they played a prominent part in all the major events of

Bess of Hardwick Bess of Hardwick is perhaps the most famous Tudor woman, outside of the extended Tudor royal family. A friend of Queen Elizabeth I, and confidant of Katherine Grey, she was also ga…

Mary’s mother, Matilda of Boulogne Mary of Blois was the youngest daughter of Stephen of Blois and his wife, Matilda of Boulogne, herself the granddaughter of St Margaret, queen of Scotland. …

Arms of Anne of Gloucester, Countess of Stafford Born sometime around 1382 Anne of Gloucester was the daughter of Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester, and Eleanor de Bohun. Anne’s par…

Guest Post: Anna of Denmark by Tony Riches Tony gives us an insight into some of the research behind his latest novel, Queen Anna