First we have “Perkin Warbeck”, who the 1493 Trois Enseignes Naturelz , as found by the Missing Princes Project in the Austrian State Archives, has confirmed to be Edward V’s brother Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York. The document title is a reference to his distinguishing features, as obliterated by the torture he underwent so… Continue reading Disappeared in Europe 500 years apart – the eyes have it?
Tag: Portugal
“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….
A new BBC2 documentary series about medieval pilgrimages in North Wales….
I am a little late for the first episode of this new three-part documentary series about seven modern celebrities of all different faiths and beliefs undertaking pilgrims’ travels through various parts of North Wales. They will hike through ancient Welsh sites, including Flint Castle and St Winefride’s Holy Well, but the final programme appears to… Continue reading A new BBC2 documentary series about medieval pilgrimages in North Wales….
THE GELDERLAND DOCUMENT – ‘PROOF OF LIFE OF RICHARD DUKE OF YORK* ALIAS PERKIN WARBECK
*This is the title of a chapter from The Princes in the Tower by Philippa Langley. Without the aid of this invaluable book I would never have been able to write this post… Reblogged from A Medieval Potpourri @sparkypus.com The Gelderland Document is a unique, tantalising and quite astonishing document that was discovered back in the… Continue reading THE GELDERLAND DOCUMENT – ‘PROOF OF LIFE OF RICHARD DUKE OF YORK* ALIAS PERKIN WARBECK
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.
Portugal, our oldest ally, honoured before the 2023 Trooping the Colour….
Trooping the Colour is purely ceremonial these days, but in times gone by, when there was no instant communication on the battlefield, prior to the conflict the flag (colours) was paraded (trooped) up and down the lines of soldiers to remind them of exactly what their own flag looked like. This may sound unnecessary, but… Continue reading Portugal, our oldest ally, honoured before the 2023 Trooping the Colour….
Elizabeth’s Letter
I am currently reading the new edition of The History of King Richard the Third by Sir George Buc. This is a massive tome, by any standards, and certainly, no light read. I have barely begun to absorb the contents, but one interesting discussion in the (very large) introduction is about the famous letter which… Continue reading Elizabeth’s Letter
Useful Charts on Italy
So now, having analysed Henry VIII’s will, the Jacobites, the Roman Empire, France, Russia, Germany and Portugal, we move on to a monarchy that was still extant eighty years ago: that of Italy, which was ended by referendum in 1946. Umberto II (pictured), who reigned for the (1861) House of Savoy’s last five weeks after… Continue reading Useful Charts on Italy
A full-size sailing replica of a 15th-century caravel….
Sometimes it’s hard for us to think of the small size of medieval ships. These brave vessels went to sea in all manner of weather, and crossed considerable distances from England to all parts of Europe. One of the swiftest and most manoeuverable was reckoned to be the caravel, which vessel Columbus used when he… Continue reading A full-size sailing replica of a 15th-century caravel….
The Wandering Butler: John, 6th Earl of Ormond
FAMILY BACKGROUND The Lancastrian leader who faced – or failed to face – Thomas, Earl of Desmond, at the Battle of Piltown in 1462 was the fourth of the five children born to James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormond (otherwise known as the White Earl), and his countess Joan Beauchamp, daughter of William Beauchamp, Lord… Continue reading The Wandering Butler: John, 6th Earl of Ormond
murreyandblue 