The following list deals with fifteen unexpected rulers. Well, these things are in the eye of the beholder, of course, but (for readers of this blog) the salient name on the list is Henry VII, who apparently won at Bosworth “largely by chance”. Hmm…. How, pray, can deliberate desertion and treachery be regarded as… Continue reading Henry VII was an “unexpected” ruler….?
Tag: treachery
Sir John Wenlock’s Castle of Someries
Sir John Wenlock was a known side-swapper during the Wars of the Roses. Although not as infamous as Thomas Stanley, Wenlock also frequently changed allegiances, starting out as a Lancastrian, then becoming a Yorkist, then a Warwick supporter and then back to being a Lancastrian again. He fought for the House of Lancaster at… Continue reading Sir John Wenlock’s Castle of Someries
Northwich and the Stanleys….
When I read this Northwich Guardian link I was drawn by the fact that Richard III is mentioned. However, I was then a little confused by the following: “….The history of Northwich started on September 17, 1483, when King Richard III granted the manor and village of Northwich to Lord Stanley and his brother Sir… Continue reading Northwich and the Stanleys….
Richard III was one of the five most fearsome medieval warrior kings….?
I don’t know which five of our medieval monarchs you’d choose as the most fearsome warriors, but according to this article it seems the Fearsome Five are (in chronological order) William I, Edward I, Robert the Bruce, Henry V and … Richard III. Now, I’m not saying Richard wasn’t a fearsome warrior, because he was,… Continue reading Richard III was one of the five most fearsome medieval warrior kings….?
Two famous lovers I cannot love….!
We all know the story of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford/de Roët. It was a wonderful, passionate love affair that ended with Gaunt, a prince of the realm, making the relatively lowly Katherine his third duchess. Yes, a great romance, and it was fact, not fiction. However, historically speaking, both of them had… Continue reading Two famous lovers I cannot love….!
The Countess of Desmond remembered dancing with Richard….?
While searching for one thing, yet again I came upon another. This time it was a very interesting essay available on JSTOR. It is titled Lees and Moonshine: Remembering Richard III, 1485-1635 by Philip Schwyzer of the University of Exeter. You can find it here but need to register and give a password. However, for… Continue reading The Countess of Desmond remembered dancing with Richard….?
Treachery is one man’s meat and another’s poison….
I have been reading a very interesting article from the Journal of Medieval History by E. Amanda McVitty, called False knights and true men: contesting chivalric masculinity in English treason trials, 1388-1415. (Vol. 40, No. 4, 458–477) There is an old saying that one man’s meat is another man’s poison, and by the… Continue reading Treachery is one man’s meat and another’s poison….
What if Henry Tudor had been a handsome, charismatic challenger….?
As supporters of Richard III, we find it only too easy to dislike Henry VII. Not only did the churl defeat and kill Richard (not even through his own martial endeavours but through treachery!) but his looks mean we wouldn’t trust him an inch. He looks cold, calculating, shifty and downright untrustworthy, nor… Continue reading What if Henry Tudor had been a handsome, charismatic challenger….?
Do you fancy living in a STANLEY property….?
Well, as a selling point and “a little bit of history” it would seem that the above property’s provenance isn’t quite certain. It’s reportedly part of the Stanley family’s estates. This in itself is a dubious recommendation to any Ricardian! I mean, as far as supporters of Richard III are concerned, the mere name… Continue reading Do you fancy living in a STANLEY property….?
Settling the Bosworth Debt….
With the denizens of Hades gathering to do their worst, here is a horror tale of Sir William Stanley’s final Hallowe’en, when retribution snatches him at last. “Settling the Bosworth Debt” is the story of what happened to William when he was confronted by some terrible truths about Henry Tudor. Friday, 31 October, 1494, Hallowe’en,… Continue reading Settling the Bosworth Debt….
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