King Pedro I of Castile and Leon, known to some as ‘Pedro the Cruel’ and to others as ‘Pedro the Just’ was born in Burgos on 30 August 1334. His parents were Alphonso XI, King of Castile and Leon and Maria of Portugal, Alphonso’s queen and double cousin. Alphonso also had a mistress, Eleanor de… Continue reading Pedro I of Castile – an important ancestor of the House of York.
Tag: secret marriage
Elizabeth Wayte (Lucy) & Stoke Charity
Between rainstorms, we were out in the countryside doing some church-crawling, a grand way to do some ‘medievalling’ when long journeys to castles and houses, most still closed for the winter, are out of the question. We happened on Stoke Charity by pure accident. I was attracted by the unusual name, which also began ringing… Continue reading Elizabeth Wayte (Lucy) & Stoke Charity
On the same point …
… as our previous post: There is a further similarity between Edward II and Edward V and a difference between them: The similarity is that Richard Lord Talbot married Elizabeth Comyn in secret, Lady Eleanor being their great-great-granddaughter. The difference is that Richard III and Edward V both have mtDNA lines found by John Ashdown-Hill… Continue reading On the same point …
A circumstantial but viable clue to the eventual death of Edward II….
In a way the mystery of Edward II is not unlike that of the Princes in the Tower (see here). In both cases supposed royal murders have turned out to be untrue and the victims have escaped to the Continent. Also in both cases the murder aspect has been unchallenged until relatively recently, with all the old… Continue reading A circumstantial but viable clue to the eventual death of Edward II….
The fiction and non-fiction about Edward IV….
Above is an illustration of the coronation of Edward IV, showing the new king’s golden splendour, and bottom right, his dark brother, the “vile, scheming, murderous” Richard of Gloucester. This illustration is, to me, a perfect illustration of fiction and non-fiction. Yes, Edward was a splendid king, but no, Richard of Gloucester was never the… Continue reading The fiction and non-fiction about Edward IV….
The early Hollands – or Holands
Upholland is a village in Lancashire, about 4 miles from Wigan and these days only just outside Greater Manchester. It was formerly the HQ of the Lancashire gentry family of Holland. (Up until the 15th Century, it was often, if not invariably, spelt ‘Holand’, but I will stick with the modern spelling for consistency.) The… Continue reading The early Hollands – or Holands
Hugh Despenser the Younger
So here we have one of Kathryn Warner‘s earlier books. It describes the life and career of Edward II’s third and final favourite – his marriage to Eleanor de Clare, his lawless activitities but also the degree to which they were exaggerated, leading to his “trial” and execution. We can recommend it highly as part… Continue reading Hugh Despenser the Younger
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
Maria de Padilla
This link leads to an interesting article on Maria de Padilla. (The novel referred to is only available in the United States, it appears.) Maria de Padilla was, of course, the ancestress of the House of York, mother of Isabel of Castile who married Edmund of Langley. She was said to be the most beautiful… Continue reading Maria de Padilla
When there’s snow at midsummer….
A short story by Sandra Heath Wilson (viscountessw) Please remember, ladies and gentlemen, that this story is fiction. The great midsummer bonfire crackled and roared, and sparks billowed high into the dark sky. It was encircled by thirteen hooded black-robed figures, and the face of the youngest was pale as he accepted the carved wooden… Continue reading When there’s snow at midsummer….
murreyandblue 