I hope that by the time you read this article you will already have visited yesterday’s Part I, which relates the English version of Marguerite de Courcy’s return to France. She left England under the cloud of having lived far too high a life for a governess and of stealing some English royal jewels. These… Continue reading The de Courcy Matter, Part II: The French side of the story….
Tag: Castile
“Time-honour’d Lancaster” was given to pressing on at the expense of his men….
In late April 1388, John of Gaunt‘s son-in-law Sir John Holand returned to England from the Spanish peninsula, where he had been constable of Gaunt’s army. Gaunt had invaded the peninsula in pursuit of the Crown of Castile, to which he had a claim through his marriage to the Infanta Constanza. I am now going… Continue reading “Time-honour’d Lancaster” was given to pressing on at the expense of his men….
Edmund of Langley in Portugal.
Edmund of Langley‘s expedition to Portugal is usually presented as a complete debacle, with Edmund’s ineptitude a major issue. This article by Douglas Biggs demonstrates that this is a complete falsehood. The political situation in Portugal was complex, and from the very start, there was disagreement in the Portuguese camp as to the policy to… Continue reading Edmund of Langley in Portugal.
Guy Ritchie’s inheritance blooper on Netflix….
There’s a new “blockbuster” coming up on Netflix. It’s called The Gentlemen, and is described as follows: “….Army captain Eddie Horniman is working for the UN abroad when he learns his aristocratic dad has died….everyone expects Eddie’s older brother Freddy to become next Duke of Halstead and inherit the estate…but his father has disinherited Freddy… Continue reading Guy Ritchie’s inheritance blooper on Netflix….
Why did Edward IV think he was (rightful) King of Castile?
There’s no doubt he did. Just see this link. The Edward IV Roll shows Edward mounted on a horse which is barded with a heraldic display. As you will see, Edward gives just as much prominence to the arms of Castile and Leon as he does to those of England and France. This is, very… Continue reading Why did Edward IV think he was (rightful) King of Castile?
A complete suit of early 16th-century armour found in Spanish castle….
Why the illustration of Catherine of Aragon’s arrival in England? Well, it starts with this article, where you’ll find the following opening paragraph: “….The castle was previously thought to have been constructed following the Arab conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, which became part of Umayyad Caliphate around AD 711–732. However, very little is known… Continue reading A complete suit of early 16th-century armour found in Spanish castle….
The Lancastrian daughter who walked like a man….
We all know that Philippa of Lancaster—John of Gaunt’s eldest daughter by his much-loved first wife, Blanche of Lancaster—was the ancestress of a line of Portuguese monarchs (do we not?). But do we all know that Gaunt’s second wife, Costanza/Constance of Castile, gave Gaunt’s a claim to the throne of Castile? Costanza was the… Continue reading The Lancastrian daughter who walked like a man….
Isabella of Castile takes the crown, in more way than one….
This article lists the top five great European queens as Elizabeth I, Maria Theresa of Austria, the Empress Elizabeth, Catherine the Great and Queen Victoria. Ah, but that’s the top five after Isabella of Castile, who reigned from 1474 until she died in 1504. Isabella snatches this particular crown right under the other ladies’… Continue reading Isabella of Castile takes the crown, in more way than one….
Another king slain by a treacherous Henry….
“….During his life and in the years following his death, Pedro [I of Castile, 1350 to 1369] became a central figure in a wide range of historical narratives composed in Castilian, French, English, Catalan, Latin, and Arabic. These accounts present contrasting depictions of Pedro; however, as it is well known, the lasting image of… Continue reading Another king slain by a treacherous Henry….
Maria de Padilla
I am surprised to find the internet has several images of Maria de Padilla. Her daughters married John of Gaunt and Edmund of Langley and she was the grandmother of Catherine of Lancaster, aka Catalina, Queen of Castile, Edward, Duke of York, Constance of York and Richard of Conisbrough. (Richard of Conisbrough is known thus to… Continue reading Maria de Padilla
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