On March 13, 1194, the real King Richard reached England after his involuntary stay in Germany. My fictional Richard has just landed. I am happy to report that Lionheart is now in British bookshops at long last. It is also available as an e-book. And it looks as if Richard is going to get bragging rights over Henry again, which, if I know my Angevins, is going to tick Henry off–royally, of course. My British publisher tells me that Lionheart debuted as #21 on the UK hardback bestseller list—sorry, Henry.
This seems like a good time to discuss a book I mentioned in the Lionheart AN. I recommended a number of books relating to the research I did for Lionheart, primarily chronicles. I did list several biographies, too, among them Frank McLynn’s Richard and John, published in the UK under the more memorable title Lionheart and Lackland. I explained that I had not read the second half of the book that deals with John’s reign, but I found Richard’s section to be historically accurate. I should have been more specific, saying that I read the portions of the book that began with Richard’s coronation. I had not read the earlier sections as they were not relevant for my research. Well, recently I browsed some of these chapters and I was taken aback by the very negative views he takes of both Geoffrey and Henry. I most definitely do not agree with his conclusions about either man. I still say read the book if you are interested in the time period, just do not accept his “take” on Geoffrey and Henry as gospel. We know that mine is the accurate depiction, after all. 🙂
In terms of research and historical accuracy, I think the definitive biographies of Henry and Richard remain the ones written by W. Warren and John Gillingham. There is no definitive biography of Eleanor, but there are a number of them out there, more than for her husband—sorry again, Henry. Ralph Turner’s biography is particularly good on his analysis of the scandal in Antioch. I highly recommend Eleanor of Aquitaine, Lord and Lady, a series of essays about our favorite queen. The biographies by Amy Kelly and Marion Meade are beautifully written, but their views on the Courts of Love must be discounted as they are very outdated. For some reason, biographies do not seem to have proof readers, for I am sure many of the mistakes about names are just that, errors due to fatigue or a momentary mental lapse. For example, McLynn tells us that William Marshal’s father was named Geoffrey, not John. I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt there. Same for Dr. Kessler’s excellent German biography of Coeur de Lion, Richard I. Lowenherz, when she misidentifies the brothers, Lord of Gorz, whom Richard encounters on his ill-fated journey home from the Holy Land.
But I’d be the last one to lambaste someone for fumbling a name after my latest mental lapse. I was answering a Facebook reader’s question about the name of Richard’s illegitimate son, Philip, assuring her that he was not named after the French king, Philippe Capet. I then pointed out that Richard’s own name was not a common one in either of his parents’ families. So far, so good. But then I had to mention his second son, Fulk, whose existence has not been confirmed, saying that was unusual, too. Yikes. As my friend Chuck kindly reminded me, Fulk is an Angevin staple. How could I have forgotten Henry’s grandfather, the fifth Fulk of that name to rule Anjou, who went on to wed the Queen of Jerusalem. Or the notorious Fulk Nerra, who’d probably give the Demon Countess of Anjou a run for her money. I lost track of all the penitential pilgrimages he had to make to the Holy Land, but I remain haunted by the fate of his wife, who’d been reckless enough to take a lover. Fulk had her burned at the stake in her wedding gown. So I cast no stones for name mishaps.
It is more difficult to explain another historian’s faux pas; he tells us that when a teenage John invaded his brother Richard’s lands in Aquitaine, he was accompanied by his brother Geoffrey, the future Archbishop of York. Definitely the wrong Geoffrey there, sir. I was truly taken aback by David Boyle’s speculation that Richard I could have been a secret Templar. And I remain infuriated with the French historian Jean Flori who labeled Henry a pedophile for his alleged affair with the unhappy Alys of France. As I’ve said repeatedly, I have no problems whatsoever if someone concludes that there was indeed an affair, for these rumors were current during their lifetimes. I was rather disappointed, in fact, when I concluded that these rumors were political slanders put about by Henry’s multitude of foes and given some credence by his history of womanizing. Writers crave drama the way my dogs crave liver, and what could be more dramatic than a man seducing his own son’s betrothed? What wonderful scenes I could have written…sigh. But no one suggested any liaison between Henry and Alys before Rosamund Clifford’s death, when Alys was in her 17th year. Now today an older man and a seventeen year old girl would likely stir up some disapproval, but this was the 12th century, Monsieur Flori. By his standards, Llywelyn Fawr would be a pedophile for wedding Joanna at age fourteen. Now John did raise some eyebrows by bedding his twelve year old bride, Isabelle a’Angouleme, but that is another story for another time.
Okay, end of rant. I should alert my British readers that the Lionheart Author’s Note is lengthy even by my self-indulgent standards—11 pages. The novel itself weighs in at a brisk 600 pages. I thought it might be fun to include physical descriptions of my Angevins. Here is a contemporary account of Richard’s appearance. “He was tall, of elegant build; the color of his hair was between red and gold; his limbs were supple and straight. He had long arms suited to wielding a sword. His long legs matched the rest of his body.”
From the Itinerarium peregrinorum et gesta regis Ricardi by Richard de Templo.”
Here is one of Henry, his sire. “He was a little over medium height, a man blessed with sound limbs and a handsome countenance, one upon whom men gazed a thousand times, yet took occassion to return. In physical capacity he was second to none, capable of any activity which another could perform, lacking no courtesy, well read to a degree both seemly and profitable, having a knowledge of all tongues spoken from the coasts of France to the river Jordan, but making use of only Latin and French.”
From De Nugis of Walter Map.
And here is a wonderfully detailed one of Henry by Peter of Blois. “The lord king has been red-haired so far, except that the coming of old age and gray hair has altered that color somewhat. His height is medium, so that neither does he appear great among the small, nor yet does he seem small among the great. His head is spherical…his eyes are full, guileless, and dove-like when he is at peace, gleaming like fire when his temper is aroused, and in bursts of passion they flash like lightning. As to his hair he is in no danger of baldness, but his head has been closely shaved. He has a broad, square, lion-like face. Curved legs, a horseman’s shins, broad chest, and a boxer’s arms all announce him as a man strong, agile and bold… he never sits, unless riding a horse or eating… In a single day, if necessary, he can run through four or five day-marches and, thus foiling the plots of his enemies, frequently mocks their plots with surprise sudden arrivals…Always are in his hands bow, sword, spear and arrow, unless he be in council or in books.”
From the Epistolae of Peter of Blois (1070-1117)
Here is one of Geoffrey and John. John, King of England, son of Henry II (1166-1216)
Geoffrey and John both “were of rather short stature, a little below the middle height, and for their size were well-shaped enough.”
From The Topography of Ireland by Gerald of Wales John’s body was exhumed in 1797 and measured at five feet, six inches and half, as related by Valentine Green in The Gentleman’s Magazine, 67, pt 2, 1797.
Notice who is missing? Yes, while they praised her great beauty, not a single medieval chronicler thought to mention the color of Eleanor’s hair or eyes. That did not stop Frank McLynn, though, from telling us she had black hair and eyes and a voluptuous figure. I don’t mean to pick on him, but he has strayed into the province of the historical novelist here. I can do that; so can Elizabeth Chadwick. As novelists, we have to be able to paint a word picture for our readers. But writers of non-fiction need to throw in a “I think” or “it is likely” before presenting their readers with such a detailed description.
However, thanks to a Saracen chronicler who actually sounds rather smitten, we do have this poetic image of Isabella, Queen of Jerusalem, an important character in Lionheart. Isabella of Jerusalem “One of the daughters of heaven; her face, shining white, appeared like the morning in the night of her very black hair.”
From the Conqu阾e de la Syrie et de la Palestine par Saladin of Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani
And here is Richard’s nemesis, Heinrich von Hohenstaufen, the Holy Roman Emperor. Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor, son of Frederick Barbarossa and Beatrix of Burgundy, father of Frederick II (1165-1197)
“[His] face was pleasant but very thin, and he was only moderately tall with a slight and frail physique.”
From Burchard of Ursperg.
And while Heinrich’s son does not appear in Lionheart, his birth is dramatized in my first ever short story, so here are two remarkably contrasting views of this extraordinary man. Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor and king of Sicily, son of the Emperor Henry VI and Constance of Sicily, grandson of Frederick Barbarossa and Roger II of Sicily (1194-1250)
“The Emperor was covered with red hair, was bald and myopic. Had he been a slave, he would not have fetched 200 dirhams at market.”
From the Muntazam by Sibt Ibn al-Jawzi
“He could read, write, sing, and compose music and songs. He was a handsome man, well-built but of medium stature.” From the Cronica of Salimbene.
Most of the time, historical novelists have to rely upon happenstance to get a contemporary description of the people we write about. One of my favorites comes from the chronicler who explained that when Llywelyn Fawr’s son Gruffydd attempted to escape from the Tower of London, the knotted sheets broke, plunging him to his death, because he was such a large man and had grown corpulent in captivity. In the final analysis, though, we can only image what these historical figures actually looked like….unless they have effigies that the gifted Jude Maris can resurrect for us. If you have not seen her work on YouTube, you’re in for a treat. Here is the link. Click onto it and you will watch as Eleanor and her favorite son Richard come to life like Sleeping Beauty. Say what you will about the Angevins, they were a very good-looking family. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvCodhi9nXU&list=UUTy1lP38Za7MgbfWsJ-2u-A&index=7&feature=plcp And http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVOFwLfchWA
For my readers who’ve already read Lionheart, thanks for indulging me in this. For my British readers, I hope you find the Richard of Lionheart to be as surprising as I did.
March 28, 2012
Given what I know about Fulk Nerra of Anjou, I’d have to say that his wife was suicidally stupid. Taking a lover when you’re the wife of a man known as “Black Fulk” for his evildoing, with a rep that would probably scare Vlad Dracula of Wallachia…that’s the equivalent of jumping up and down on Father Darwin’s doorstep, pounding on the door and yelling for him to come out and get you.
Sharon, so much has been written here about the Angevins that I’m not going to dwell on Richard, Henry, or John :-), but instead I’m coming up with a question: what do we know about Peter of Blois? He was a clerk ( a Latin secretary) in Henry’s (later Eleanor’s) household, and we owe him a lot. Thanks to his “moaning and goraning” we have an insight into the everyday life of Henry’s court (especially the one on the move:-)). But what was his background and later whereabouts?
Recently I have cpme across his letter of consolation to Eleanor, for the death of Hal. Peter wrote it in Ancona. I determined it’s a town in central Italy, but what was Peter doing there? I would be grateful for any information. I’ve already read the Wikipedia article but I’m not sure whether I can rely on it. Besides, I’ve found it too short and too general.
PS Forgive me my neverending interest in minor characters:-)
And Sharon, did Old Ralph get his dates wrong again? According to him, Richard landed in England at Sandwich on Sunday, 20 March [1194].
On 23 March, Ralph claimed the king to be received in procession through the decorated city into the church of St Paul’s. Ralph was a dean of St Paul’s, was he not? So he must have had a first-hand information and probably been an eyewitness to the whole event.
If he had been in the wrong this time, I will never trust him again:-)
Fascinating, Sharon. I loved reading the physical descriptions of all our favorite characters.
Today, the bloodiest battle in England took place: Towton. Edward IV defeated the Lancastrians under Henry Beaufort, the Duke of Somerset. Among the (estimated) over 25,000 dead were Lord Clifford (who actually died on the 28th in the engagement in Ferrybridge from a freak arrow to the throat, having removed his gorget), Lord Dacre, Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland, Lord Andrew Trollope (all Lancastrians) and The Bastard of Salisbury (Warwick’s half-brother, also died at Ferrybridge on the 28th).
Kasia, I’ll try to get back to you later; I’m really pressed for time today.
Here is today’s Facebook post.
The more things change….Facebook just erased an entire, rather long post, so I am trying again in Word, after having scalded Holly’s innocent little spaniel ears with language she should not hear; she is in my lap so she was right in the line of fire. March 29, 1461—the date of the bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil. It occurred during a blinding snowstorm and the casualties were appalling. His victory clinched the young Edward IV’s claim to the crown and sent Marguerite d’Anjou and her small son fleeing into exile. I debated dramatizing it, but decided that it was more important to give the reader an intimate glimpse into the heart and soul of the Lancastrian queen. I figured I’d have other battles to write about, and was I ever right about that. I’ve lost track of how many I’ve fought over the years, some major battles like Barnet, Tewkesbury, Bosworth, Lewes, Evesham, and Lincoln, others more in the line of skirmishes or raids, ambushes, and castle sieges. I had to write no less than 13 military conflicts of one kind or another in Lionheart!
Speaking of Lionheart, whose official “birthday” is today in the UK, I would like to ask my readers, particularly in the UK, to help get the word out that it is finally available in hardback and as an e-book. My British readers have been so patiently waiting for it these six months past that I’d hate for any of them to wait any longer than necessary. It is surprising how often I hear from readers expressing surprise that one of my books came out and they didn’t learn about it till months afterward. So I’d be most grateful for Facebook posts to help spread the news. Maybe even on Twitter? I confess I have not been intrepid enough to venture into that forum yet, although being urged to do so, but I suspect it is coming eventually. So many people now get their news mainly from social media like Facebook and Twitter.
I am so pleased that so many of you like the British cover. I feel blessed this time around, for I am delighted with both covers for Lionheart and that has not always been the case. Generally speaking, I get input into the hardback editions but for a long time, I had no voice at all in the paperback covers and there have been a few clunkers over the years. Happily I now do get a say even in the paperback covers, so I need never fear every historical novelist’s secret dread—a naked wench on a bearskin rug.
And we can start the countdown now till the second season of the HBO series, Game of Thrones! The current TV Guide has a very entertaining interview with the actors playing Jaime, Jon Snow, and my own favorite, the Imp Tyrion, so perfectly cast as Peter Dinklage
Sharon, no pressure. I’ll wait patiently. I should have started with congratulations, since both covers for Lionheart, the American and the British, are indeed praiseworthy.
Although, IMHO, the cover of the American edition of Devil’s Brood is the best of all your books.
Today, Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury who crowned Edward IV, Richard III and Henry VII [VIII], and also convinced Elizabeth Woodville to allow her son Richard to leave sanctuary and join his brother in the Tower died.
I also like both cover versions. Whoever came up with the splash of blood on the sword is genius.
Kasia, contact me at sharonkaypenman@gmail.com with your e-mail address and I will e-mail you the Oxford National Biography entry for Peter of Blois. One of the benefits of membership is that I am allowed to e-mail entries to others.
I am very happy with both covers–for a change, Britta.
Here is today’s Facebook Note.
March 30, 1191, in retrospect not a particularly good day for Richard, as Pope Celestine was elected to the Holy See. Lionheart readers may remember that Richard hustled a reluctant Eleanor off to Rome soon after her arrival in Sicily so she could interact with the new pope. It is not that Celestine was hostile to England; to the contrary. But he was already at a vast age for the 12th century—85. So he was 87 when Richard was captured and he simply did not have the backbone or intestinal fortitude for drawing a line in the sand with the Holy Roman emperor. He was very indignant that a crusader king should have been abused in blatant defiance of the Church’s protection, but he feared the consequences of excommunicating a powerful ruler like Heinrich—even though the Church saw the Holy Roman emperor as a genuine threat because of his ambtions in Italy. I am not a fan of Celestine’s successor, Innocent III, but he was undoubtedly one of the most forceful popes of the MA, and I have no doubt that he’d have taken decisive action against Heinrich and also Philippe and John. Not for Richard himself, but because he’d have seen their actions as an attack on the Church. But elderly, cautious Celestine could only work up the gumption to excommunicate the smaller fish—Leopold—while letting the sharks swim free. There is a legend that Heinrich was later excommunicated, but historians dismiss it because there is no documentation of this. One of the nastier twists in the ransom demands made upon Richard was that he would have to get the pope to absolve Leopold of all blame for his part in the crime. Rather like a kidnap victim being forced to agree not to contact the police or press charges after the ransom was paid. The more I research this episode, the more unsavory details I unearth—all of which will be found in A King’s Ransom, of course.
Thank you, Sharon. I’m sending my e-mail address straightaway.
Here is today’s Facebook Note.
Sharon Kay Penman
Thanks to my friend Lesley for informing me today is Hug a Medievalist Day. http://www.facebook.com/events/304780259560487/
And on this date in 1146, Bernard of Clairvaux preached his famous sermon at Vezelay which launched the Second Crusade and set in motion the events that would result in the end of Louis and Eleanor’s marriage and bring our Plantagenets onto history’s stage.
And just 9 days till the return of Game of Thrones (and Tyrion) on HBO
Indeed Sharon, and I’m sure we can’t wait. Also, today, Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon issued the Alhambra decree, ordering the 150,000 Jewish subjects of Spain to convert to Christianity or face expulsion.
Sharon, bearing in mind my problems with sending e-mails to Malcolm, I just want to make sure that my message reached you. The one concerning Peter of Blois???
Malcolm, I’m meeting my friend, the computer geek I mentioned to you, during the approaching Easter break. I hope he will be able to determine the problem and I, in turn, will be able to communicate with you freely and effortlessly:-)
Sharon, thank you. I’ve just received your reply and Peter’s most precious biography. I’ve already checked the link and encountered no problems on the way. Again, thank you.
Koby, thank you! How could I have forgotten something so significant?
Kasia, I read your e-mail this afternoon and sent you the Oxford Dictionary of Nat. biography entry for Peter of Blois. Let me know if you don’t get it and we’ll try atgain.
Oops–I just read your entry above; I am glad it got there. As you know, wikipedia is so hit or miss. some of its entries are very knowledgeable, but some are pitiful. Whereas the Oxford biographies are all written by scholars renowned in their fields. I am still stunned, though, that they do not have an entry for Hal’s wife, Marguerite. She was crowned Queen of England, after all.
Indeed, it is hard to believe, especially that after Hal’s death she became Queen of Hungary. Twice anointed, twice crowned, and yet forgotten. Sad, isn’t it?
Sharon, as for Peter of Blois, do make him one of the characters in your book. I always find it most delightful to encounter a minor character in the course of reading. Like Jocelin of Brakelond in Devil’s Brood:-)
Kasia, I hope your friend will be able to counteract the “bugs.” I do find your messages interesting.
Kasia, I love to sneak real characters into my books in minor roles, like Jocelyn of Brakeford and Giraldus Cambrensus, who has flitted through several of them. If i give the full name of a castellan or sheriff, etc, that usually means that this is someone who really lived. Of course most of them are like extras in a Hollywood film.
We ought to start a Justice for Marguerite club! I was astonished that they hadn’t felt her worthy of her own entry. As you said, not only was she Queen of England, she was Queen of Hungary, too. And she died in the Holy Land on a pilgrimage! She also was related to some of the most interesting players on the 12th century stage.
I am sure Sharon will mention in much more detail the important death which happened today… meanwhile, I will content myself with mentioning that Amalric II of Jerusalem, Guy de Lusginan’s older brother who married Isabella of Jerusalem after Henri of Champagne’s death died today, four days before his wife. Also, Happy April’s Fool Day.
Thanks for reminding me about Amaury’s death, Koby. I seem to remember that his death was attributed to eating a bad fish? He appears to have been a shrewd political operative as well as a good soldier, for he succeeded in getting Heinrich to recognize him as King of Cyprus before his marriage to Isabella made him King of Jeruslaem. Unlike Henri of Champagne, who never claimed that title, Amaury was only too happy to do so. The Kingdom of Jerusalem would not survive into the 14th century, but the de Lusignan rule in Cyprus would last 300 years.
And here is today’s Facebook Note,
On this date in 1204 died one of history’s more remarkable women, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Hers was a long and eventful and controversial life. She lived to be eighty, impressive for the twelfth century, outliving most of her enemies and both of her husbands. But she had the tragedy of outliving eight of her ten children; at the time of her death, only John and her daughter in Castile still lived. She was the mother of three kings and two queens, and living proof of the fallacy of Scott Fitzgerald’s claim that there were no second acts. (Though he did limit that observation to the United States.) Eleanor’s second act was even more memorable than her first. Most queens are identified by their husbands, but she is known as Eleanor of Aquitaine, the duchy she so loved. I think that would have pleased her. I think it would have pleased her, too, that she is remembered more than eight centuries after her death and celebrated for the very traits that her contemporaries saw as character flaws. I’m not sure what she’d have made of The Lion in Winter, though.
Yes, Sharon. He died of dysentery brought about by eating white mullet, which was apparently bad.
And today, is the assumed/estimated/calculated date of Charlemagne’s birth. In addition, The First King of Jerusalem, Baldwin I, Richard of Cornwall, King of the Romans (John and Isabelle’s son), and Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales (Elizabeth and Henry VII’s [VIII] so) all died on this date.
Thanks to Koby for the following events on this date: Birth of Charlmagne in 742, deaths of Arthur, first son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York in 1502 and Richard, king of the Romans and brother of Henry III, in 1272. It is interesting to speculate how history would have been changed if Arthur had survived to become king–had to have been a change for the better. 🙂
And here is a stunning video of Wales set to the marvelous music of a male Welsh choir. One of the shots is of the waterfall that is featured in Here Be Dragons.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCKEa53J2Bk
The above was my Facebook Note for today. For some reason the Welsh link did not come through, so here it is again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCKEa53J2Bk
Sharon, marvelous music indeed, and marvelous Wales! It seems that I’m going to read all your books in a reversed order since I have just read… Falls the Shadow. And I already know how it is all going to end up. With tears and broken heart. And not so much because of Simon. He’s already dead. No! It will have to wait till The Reckoning, and Lello’s, Ellen’s and Davydd’s deaths. I do not claim myself an expert, but the most dangerous weapon writers do have at hand, is introducing their main characters as mere children (lost in the woods in chase of the fox; torn between loyalty to their fathers and grandfathers; munching contentedly a sugared wafer in the middle of the night (a precious gift from departing elder brother)) only to lead them to their inevitable ends.
Llello. Sounds like sheer music. I think Welsh is going to be next on my list of the languages to learn.
Do not get me wrong everyone, I’m far from being flippant (Sharon’s blog is a serious blog, concerning serious matters), but if it ever comes to this, and a good film about Henry, Eleanor and their children is made, I would be delighted to meet Richard in a very form I present to you now. Behold!
http://www.infamouskidd.com/michael-fassbender-to-work-with-ridley-scott-again/
Here’s my Richard (only try to dress him in some decent medieval clothes), in his prime. Let’s say, on the evening of 2 February 1191, helding a bohort at Messina, still enjoying himself shortly before his infamous encounter with the celebrated French knight, Wlater de Barres:-)
What say you?
PS I know! Michael Fassbender, one of my favourite actors, has nothing to do with MA, but since he’s celebrating his birthday today, I have mustered up enough courage to cram him into the throng of our favourite medieval characters:-)
This is for my fellow Game of Thrones addicts, an amusing review of last night’s show. If you haven’t watched it yet, though, probably better not to read it.
http://theclicker.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/02/10982728-game-of-thrones-season-premiere-highlights-dragons-death-direwolves-and-one-bad-dad
Kasia, I will definitely check out your link when I get home this afternoon. How many languages do you speak now?
My hands are firmly gripped around my copy, and I consider it irreplaceable! But I will spread the word on GoodReads.
I find all those contemporary descriptions and facial reconstructions fascinating. In some small way, it’s as if by looking into their real faces I am hoping that I will gain some insight into their souls – as in the idea that eyes are windows to souls. What an excellent Youtube link too, Sharon, I have saved it so that I can watch through ALL of the videos at my leisure. Now, where was it that I read that Eleanor had dark auburn hair?!
I wanted to inform any who has access to BBC iplayer that in the films section, Becket is playing for the next week only! It’s the one starring Peter O’Toole as Henry II, John Gielgud as Louis VII, Richard Burton as Eleanor of Aquitaine, Pamela Brown as Eleanor, and Martita Hunt as the Empress Maude.
“Richard Burton as Eleanor of Aquitaine” – Wait, what?
In any case, today Edward the Confessor was crowned King of England, and Henry IV [V] of England was born.
Good morning, Koby:-) You are indeed merciless! I’ve too noticed Poor Richard Burton as Eleanor of Aquitaine. Or rather Poor Eleanor?
Beth, forgive me, but I find myself so amused that I can’t help chuckling in front of my computer screen.
All right, I’ll be honest! I have just almost laughed my head off on the very image of Richard Burton wearing a tunic with sleeves to the wrist, and with his head covered with veil 🙂
BTW, Beth, I remember about 20 July and take heed while doing my little research. I’ll certainly let you know when I find anything worth mentioning!
PS Sharon, I can only speak four languages. So far! I hope I will be able to learn more. Did you see my Richard above? I would love to learn your opinion:-)
HAHA! Burton, of course, plays Becket. Still what I picture when I see the Archbishop. And here you go, Kasia: http://bit.ly/Hd7uFx
Also, in non-medieval history: today in 33 AD, the Jewish prophet Jesus of Nazareth was executed on the orders of Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect of Judaea, on charges of sedition. The date corresponds with a lunar eclipse visible over the province.
Today’s Facebook Note:
April 3, 1203 is given by two chroniclers as the date when John’s nephew Arthur was allegedly killed by his uncle. This story is found in the French chronicle written by Guillaume le Breton, and had it stood alone, it would be suspect since the French king was doing all he could to tarnish John’s name. But the second source is not as easily dismissed, the Welsh Annals of Margam. It reported that John visited Arthur in his confinement at Rouen, lost his temper, and struck the youth, killing him; his body was dumped in the River Seine, where it was supposedly later found by fishermen and secretly buried at Ste Marie des Pres. Its credibility comes from the fact that William de Braose is believed to be the source for this account, and as most of you know, de Braose and John later had a serious falling-out and de Braose’s wife, Maude, publicly accused John of killing his nephew. When she was taken prisoner by John, he imprisoned her and her grown son and starved them to death; I discuss the gruesome details in Here Be Dragons, which are not for the faint of heart.
The usually reliable Ralph de Coggeshall (disregarding his story of the green children found in Kent ) reported that John had given the command that Arthur be mutilated so that he would not be fit to rule, but that Hubert de Burgh, was so moved by Arthur’s pleas for mercy that he could not bring himself to order it done. This is interesting, for rivals to the Byzantine crown were often blinded to render them ineligible. And de Burgh was the castellan of Falaise Castle where Arthur was being held at the time. But I find it hard to believe that de Burgh could have defied such an order from John without suffering severe consequences, and that was not the case. He lived on into the reign of John’s son and played a very prominent role in Henry III’s government.
So what about the Annals of Margam story? Well, John and de Braose were in Rouen on that date, and de Braose was known to be a patron of Margam Abbey. I think that if Arthur’s death was premeditated, John would have seen to it that he was a hundred miles away at the time the killing was done. But it is certainly possible that John struck Arthur in a fit of temper; he certainly inherited his share of the Angevin demons. This might be as close as we get to the truth of Arthur’s fate. Certainly John’s contemporaries had no doubt that he was responsible for Arthur’s death. Nor do I. He was never seen alive after this time, and sadly, we know John was capable of such an act; he had some of the knights and lords captured with Arthur at Mirebeau starved to death, too. I’ve always been glad that Constance died before Mirebeau, so she at least was spared knowing the fate of her son and daughter, who would be held prisoner by John and then his son for almost forty years.
And a non-medieval but famous death also occurred on this date in 1882, when Jesse James was shot in St Joseph, MO, by Robert Ford. One of my uncles lived for a time in a house that had been owned by Jesse, which may be of interest only to me. I found the Brad Pitt film about Jesse James to be rather grim, but I thought it did a good job of exploring the celebrity phenomenon and it is considered to be one of the more historically accurate films about the outlaw, who was transformed by legend into the American version of Robin Hood. As bizarre as it sounds, Robert Ford toured the country in a play about the shooting of James, which was not usually well received since he’d shot an unarmed Jesse from behind, thus apparently offending people’s sense of fair play. Ironically, Ford would himself be assassinated.
How interesting, Sharon. Your whole blog, of course, but I am also interested in the Jesse James story. My grandmother lived in St. Joseph when she was young and everyone said Ford was the coward that shot Jesse in the back. My mom was born in Hannibal, MO so I heard alot about Mark Twain, too.
Malcolm, here we have the answer to our question. Or rather it was me who was asking wether you thought it probable that John had struck Arthur himself.
As for the annals of the abbey of Margram, I’ve found the snippet concerning the very event in Amy Kelly’s Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Four Kings.
“On the day before Good Friday, after dinner, when he was drunk with wine and filled with the devil, he [John] killed him [Arthur] with his own hand and tied a heavy stone to his body and cast it into the Seine, whence it was dragged up in the nets of fishermen and, having been brought to shore, was identified and secretly buried in Notre-Dame des Pres, a priory of Bec, for fear of the tyrant”.
As I’m reading, John’s companions, staying with him at Molineaux (a fortified manor a few miles down the river from Rouen, to which John retired frequently from the commotion of the capital) revealed nothing, and “the chroniclers of events in Normandy dared not set down to their annals any of the circumstances that may have come to their hearing.”
But almost at once, in spite of the strictest secrecy, it was known that, after the eve of Good Friday, Arthur was seen no more by any man. Matthew Paris says that it was not safe to write of him even when he was dead.
So it was for the monks in far-off Wales to pass the account to posterity.
Poor Arthur and poor John. The very act (even if John wasn’t the one who actually killed Arthur) and the fact that it all happened in the course of the Holy Week, on the eve of Good Friday, must have been disastrous to the latter’s, already tarnished reputation.
P.S. If it is true, and Arthur was buried in Notre Dame des Pres, a priory of Bec, it seems that poor lad “sailed” straight into his great-grandmother’s (whom he had never known) embrace:-)
The smiley I used above was supposed to indicate how poignant the very thought appeared to me. I didn’t mean to sound flippant. Just in case of any misunderstandings. Good day to everyone:-)
Today’s Facebook Note.
George of Clarence raised betrayal to an art form. First he betrayed his brother Edward by allying with Edward’s cousin and his father-in-law, the Earl of Warwick. Then on April 3rd in 1471, he betrayed Warwick by reconciling with his brothers on the Banbury Road instead of joining the earl at Coventry, bringing his 4,000 men back into the Yorkist fold. I doubt that Warwick was all that surprised.
I’m sure there were more spectacular events that took place on this day (and Sharon and Koby will take care of them:-)) than the one I want to mention. In 1170, Isabelle of Hainaut was born at Valenciennes (Internet sources give also 23 April as her birthdate, but I’d rather rely on the books concerning the subject, and they all mention 5 April).
For me, as a staunch supporter of William Marshal, Hal, and the tournamnet in general, the place of her birth is of great importance, since the earliest historical reference to the tournament by that name comes from the records of the town of Valenciennes, in 1114.
Also today is Fryderyk Węglorz’s birthday. A violinist, eccentric, and my beloved grandfather who passed away two years ago.
Well, Kasia, today, Robert de Beaumont, Earl of Leicester who appeared in When Christ and His Saints Slept and was Henry II’s Justiciar died. In addition, the Battle on the Ice took place, where the Russians defeated the Teutonic knights, causing the Teutonic order to drop all territorial claims over Russian lands.
Koby, I was reading recently about that Battle on the Ice, which apparently took place on a frozen canal, and found myself thinking that wouldf be fun to write about–yes, writers have an odd sense of fun. But my “favorite” battles are those that involve something out of the ordinary, like the fog at Barnet or the ambush at Tewkesbury, the snowstorm at Wakefield, etc.
Sharon, as for Earl of Leicester, or rather his daughter-in-law, was Peronelle (Petronilla) really wearing an armour when she was caught?
Sharon will no doubt have much to say about the death that occurred this day; I will simply say that the Battle of Fariskur took place, where the Ayyubid Egyptians utterly defeated the Seventh Crusade, capturing Louis IX of France.
So it was reported at the time, Kasia.
Thanks, Koby–this was certainly a significant event in medieval history. Anyone interested in knowing more should read Jean de Joinville’s The Life of St Louis; he provides fascinating eye-witness testimony to much of what he reports.
And as Koby guessed, here is today’s rather lenghty Note.
On this date in 1199, Richard Lionheart died of the crossbow wound he’d suffered at the siege of Chalus. Gangrene had set in, and so his could not have been an easy death. Eleanor was with him as he breathed his last; Berengaria was not. He was forty-one and given how reckless he was with his personal safety, it is surprising he reached that age. He was not seeking a treasure at Chalus as is sometimes reported; he was attempting to punish a rebellious vassal, the Viscount of Limoges. The latter became an inveterate enemy of the Angevins after Henry confiscated the earldom of Cornwall rather than allowing it to be divided between his uncle Rainald’s four daughters, one of whom was Viscount Aimar’s wife, Sarah. The usually reliable chronicler Roger de Hoveden claimed that Richard’s son then killed the viscount to avenge his father’s death, but since no other source reports this, historians remain dubious.
It is interesting to speculate how history would have changed if Richard had only worn his hauberk when he went out to inspect the siege. The French Crown would probably have still claimed the Angevin domains on the continent simply because they had geography on their side, but it would not have happened in Richard’s lifetime; he was winning the war with Philippe at the time of his death. French historians would not be so enamored of Philippe if he had not been able to claim Normandy, etc, for the French Crown. Would John still have become king? Hard to say. Richard might have put Berengaria aside, taken another wife, and had a son; there is some rather slight evidence that he may have been contemplating this. Or he might have patched things up with Arthur if he’d had more time; he does seem to have preferred Arthur to John and if he could have pried his nephew loose from the French king, he may have formally chosen Arthur as his heir. I always thought Constance made a great mistake in not sending Arthur to Richard’s court.
What else might have changed had Richard not died at Chalus? Well, if John was never king, no Magna Carta, at least not in that form. And it is likely that the Albigensian “Crusade” would not have happened for Richard would never have allowed a French army to move into a land he considered within the Angevin orbit. He would not have stood aside while his sister’s husband and her son were under assault by grasping opportunists and religious zealots. Philippe was never that keen on French participation in the war against Toulouse, not like his son and heir. He’d not have wanted to take Richard on in the south when his real interest was in laying claim to Normandy. So Raymond would not have died excommunicate, unable to be buried; when his coffin was later opened, it was discovered his bones had been gnawed by rats. His son’s life would have been much happier. I think Toulouse would eventually have come to grief; the shadow of the Inquisition was already falling across that unhappy land. But I don’t think it would have happened during Richard’s lifetime. So it is conceivable that Toulouse would have gained a little more time, England may have had a King Arthur, and no Magna Carta if Richard had not been so careless on that March evening before the siege of Chalus.
Sharon, what a wonderful picture you have just painted before our eyes:-). Richard, safe and sound, and alive; Arthur, safe and sound, and alive; the Angevin domains intact (at least for a time being)… Well, we can only regret and speculate.
As for Peronelle, I found her an intriguing and brave woman. I was almost certain that the “armour” incident must have actually occured. You always repeat that the more improbable an event, the more probable it really happened:-)
That is especially true when it concerns the Angevins, Kasia. They all seemed to live lives that were more improbable than fiction.
Sharon, I’ve just determined that Peronelle died on 1 April, the same day as Eleanor, but in 1212. I have found the information in Noblewomen, Aristocracy and Power in the Twelfth-Century Anglo-Norman Realm by Susan M. Johns (on Google Books). Have you read this one? I would love to see it on my bookshelf:-) It seems very well written and meticulous study.
Yes, I have that book, Kasia, and found it very useful. One of the reasons why I’d like to win the lottery is that I could then spend all I wanted on books! Research books are usually rather pricey.
And I would like to wish a Happy Passover to my Jewish friends and readers.
Sharon, I cannot agree more! I would do the same with my lottery win. Only add travels to the ever-growing book pile:-)
As for today anniversaries, Godfrey (b. 1147), son of countess Alix of Hainaut and count Baldwin, elder brother of the future Baldwin V, and the first husband of Eleanor of Vermandois (Petronilla and Raoul’s younger daughter) died, in 1163.
Gislebertus of Mons, in his Chroicle of Hainaut, wrote:
“Godfrey was handsome, gentle, and esteemed greatly by everyone, he married the most noble Eleanor, daughter of Count Raoul of Vermandois. When Godfrey was about sixteen years old, and the time of his knighthood approached, he grew ill to death at Mons. And there he died, he was buried in the monastery of Blessed Waudru in the choir of the nuns”.
Here is today’s rather long Facebook Note, which started out with a French king and then took quite a detour.
I was going to do a brief note today on a historical figure who did not appear in any of my novels, King Charles VIII of France, the son of Louis XI, the Spider King, who was the nemesis of Edward IV. Charles died in a freak accident, collapsing hours after striking his head on a low doorway in Amboise Castle; in an interesting non sequitur, he was said to have been on his way to a tennis game. He was succeeded by his cousin, who ruled as Louis XII and would later make Mary Tudor happy by dying just three months after their marriage, thus freeing her to wed the man she loved, Charles Brandon.
But in verifying the dates for Charles VIII, I discovered that he’d been betrothed to a woman with a very interesting story of her own. She was known as Margaret of Austria, the daughter of Maximilian, the Holy Roman Emperor, and Mary, Duchess of Burgundy. Mary was the beloved stepdaughter of Edward and Richard’s sister, Margaret of York, and she named her daughter after Margaret. Margaret of Austria was sent to the French court as a small child, her marriage with Charles having been arranged by the Spider King. But she would never be Queen of France, for Charles instead wed her stepmother, Anne, Duchess of Brittany in 1491. Young Margaret was kept in France, though, and was understandably miserable, writing to her father that she would flee Paris in her nightgown if need be. When she was finally returned to her family, she wed the son of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, but he died six months after their marriage, and Margaret then gave birth to a stillborn daughter in late 1497. She returned home and in 1501, she was wed to the Duke of Savoy, but he died after three years, leaving Margaret a widow again at age 24. Like another young widow, Eleanor de Montfort (Nell in Falls the Shadow), Margaret vowed never to wed again. Nell, of course, changed her mind after meeting Simon. But Margaret did not.
Her brother was Philip the Handsome, who became Holy Roman Emperor and treated his wife, Juana la Loca, badly; Juana was the sister of Katherine of Aragon and her sad story is well told in C. W. Gortner’s The Last Queen. Margaret was appointed guardian for her nephew, Philip and Juana’s son, and was considered to be a wise and shrewd adviser; she also acted as Governor of the Netherlands from time to time. She was a poet and musician, and a generous patron of the arts. She died in Mechelen in December of 1530, only fifty, having had more than her share of sorrow. But her refusal to wed again gave her what so few medieval women ever had—independence. To see how cruel royal destiny could be for women, check out the stories of Anne of Brittany, unwilling wife to Charles VIII and then to his successor, Louis XII, and Joan of France, the Spider King’s daughter and first wife of Louis XII, who was treated so shamefully that she would later be canonized by the Catholic Church. After reading their histories, it is much easier to understand why Margaret of Austria chose not to get on the marital merry-go-round again.
Margaret was a very interesting woman. There are many who believe that she greatly affected Charles V, and he learned much of governing and politics from her. Charles rebelled against her influence at first, but he soon recognized her as one of his wisest advisers, and she negotiated the Paix des Dames for him.
Also, in the furor of Passover cleaning, I completely forgot to mention it, so good catch, Sharon.
Comin g from you, Koby, I consider that a real compliment! Happy Passover.
Thanks, Sharon. Happy Easter to all who celebrate.
Happy Easter.
Happy Easter! I’ll write when I come to myself after celebrating. In Poland it means meeting family and friends, and having an occasional drink (or two) with them:-)
And today, William X ‘The Saint’ of Aquitaine, Eleanor’s father died, as did Edward IV of England. Edward of Middleham, Richard III and Anne’s son was also said to have died today. And Henry V [VI] was crowned King of England.
Now, I promised to give my take on the Battle of Legnica which took place today, as did Kasia. But first allow me to mention that the Battle of Nafels also took place today, where the Old Swiss Confederacy defeated the Archduchy of Austria, despite being outnumbered by about 15-to-1. This victory cemented the Confederacy’s hold on all the territories they had taken from Austria.
The Battle of Legnica came on the heels of Mongol victories at Sandomierz, Tursk, Chmielnik and Kraków. The Mongol force was actually a diversionary one, meant to distract the Poles from the main force under Subutai and Batu Khan that was invading Hungary (and would crush it in the Battle of Mohi, two days later). The Mongol force could at most be 20,000 light cavalry and horse archers; a more accurate figure would be about 10,000, reduced to 8,000-9,000 by casualties in the previous battles. The Polish forces with their allies are estimated to be between 20,000-30,000.
The Mongols used their distinctive tactic, the feigned retreat. They allowed Henry’s cavalry to charge, and retreated, drawing the cavalry away from the infantry. They kept using Parthian shots and smokescreens to focus the cavalry on them while flanking it on the sides. Then the Mongol heavy cavalry charged from the front, with the light cavalry closing from the sides. The cavalry was utterly defeated, and then the Mongols turned their attention on the infantry, easily defeating it with showers of arrows and charges. Henry II of Poland was killed on the field, along with nearly the entire army.
Thank you, Koby! I haven’t forgotten, but my Easter celebrating has resulted in a small delay 🙂
What can I add to your exhaustive account?
The defeat of the Polish-Czech-Moravian-German (by German I mean volunteer Bavarian miners, not the trained knights) coalition at Legnica, in 1241, was widely blamed on the European monarchs, especially Emperor Frederick II and King Bela IV of Hungary. At the time they were more interested in the struggles between Empire and Papacy, and ignored Henry II’s requests for help. The Pope sent only a small contingent of Knights Templars and Hospitallers.
It was also blamed on the fact that the war tactics used by Mongols (and ennumerated by Koby), were completely unknown to the European knights. In comparison to the Mongol swiftness and good communication on the battlefield, the European system proved to be ineffective and clumsy one.
As for Henry II himself, despite ruling only three years, he remained in the memories of Silesia, Greater Poland and Kraków as the embodiment of the perfect Christian knight and lord, whose brilliant career came to an abrupt stop with his early death.
Unfortunately, after his death the line of the Silesian Piasts, who were no longer able to prevail as Polish High Dukes, fragmented into numerous Dukes of Silesia, marking the beginning of ever-growing influence of the neighbouring Kingdom of Bohemia.
The battle of Legnica came two days before the Mongol even greater victory over the Hungarians at the much larger Battle of Mohi. I’m sure Koby will write about it.
To sum up, feudal Europe was saved from the Mongol invasion (and sharing the fate of China and Muscovy) only by the unexpected death of the Mongols’ supreme ruler and subsequent retreat of his armies.
P.S. What’s interesting, after the battle, Henry’s naked and beheaded body, could only be identified by his wife, Anna, thanks to a unique anatomical defect: he had six toes on his left foot (which was later cofirmed at the opening of his tomb in 1832).
As for Eleanor’s father and his death, I highly recommend Marion Meade’s detailed and moving account in her Eleanor of Aquitaine. I would be grateful for any suggestion where more information concerning Eleanor’s dashing ancestors can be found (chronicles, biographies, etc).
Sorry to go incommunicado on everyone, but I’ve been trapped in Speyer with Richard. He had his first meeting iwth Emperor Heinrich yesterday. It did not go well.
But I have good news for my fellow Game of Thrones fans. It has just been renewed for Season Three!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/10/game-of-thrones-season-3-renewed_n_1400121.html
Sharon, I promised to mention the important events concerning Polish history, that’s why: today, in 1079, bishop Stanislaus (Stanisław) of Kraków (our Polish Thomas Becket:-)), was executed by order of Bolesław II (the Bald) of Poland. I wrote about the famous (or rather infamous) clash somewhere in the course of your previous blogs.
I’m sure both you and Koby will write more about the important death that occured on this day, in 1240. I have read about it quite recently in Falls the Shadow. And Koby will probably mention the battle that took place in 1241.
P.S. I will write later in the day (after I’m back home), since I want to share one of my latest little discoveries with you:-). Concerning the Angevins of course.
Today’s Facebook Note.
April 11, 1471 was an important date for the Yorkists. It was on this day that London opened its gates to Edward IV. It was exactly one month to the day since he’d sailed from Burgundy. What he achieved in that month is as remarkable today as it was in his own time. Edward was one of those men who was at his best when things were at their worst, as he proved in his return to reclaim his crown. Sadly, the flip side of that coin is that he did not prosper when life was going well for him, for then his self-indulgence was given free rein.
April 11th is a sad day for Wales and for those of us who love Welsh history, for on this date in 1240, Llywelyn ab Iorwerth died at Aberconwy Abbey; he’d taken holy vows in his last hours. This was a popular thing to do in the 13th century. Others who’d done so were William Marshal, Llywelyn’s son Davydd, and Eleanor of Aquitaine. I’ve been privileged to write about some fascinating men and women in the course of my books, but I think Llywelyn is one of the most gifted. He was an extraordinary man, who well deserved to be called Llywelyn Fawr.
Well, I would have let Sharon write about Llywelyn in any case – it is just good fortune that I was on an all-day-hike, and unable to write of the happenings of the day until now.
Firstly, Phillipa Mortimer, daughter of Lionel of Antwerp gave birth to Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, who was Richard II’s heir presumptive until his death. He was Duke Richard of York’s grandfather, and the root for his superior claim to the throne.
Second, I will briefly mention two great battles that also took place today: The Battle of Ravenna and the Battle of Ceresole. Though technically unconnected, in both of them France defeated Spain in pitched battles where each side had about 15,00-20,00 troops.
Lastly, one of my favorite battles took place today – the Battle of Mohi, betweent he Mongols and the Kingdom of Hungary. Estimates of troop numbers range between 20,000 to 80,000 – for each army separately! Modern researchers usually accept a number somewhere in the middle (40,000-50,000), with the Hungarians with an advantage of 10,000 men or so over the Mongols.
The Hungraians were led by King Bela IV, and among his commanders were King Kalman of Galicia-Lodomeria, two archbishops and three bishops, and many noblemen. The Mongols were principally commanded by Batu Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, and Subutai (upwards of 60 at the time, one of the greatest generals ever, estimated to have participated in over 70 battles, and one of my favorites).
The battle was notable for showcasing the Mongols’ ability to use many tactics. Subutai led most of the force away from the camp on one side of the river, and set to building a makeshift emergency bridge to cross. Batu used stone throwers to clear the crossbowmen holding the actual bridge, and charged across. There, he was surrounded while outnumbered, and such fierce fighting took place that 30 of his bodyguards were lost. But he managed to hold his troops together long enough for Subutai to fianlly succeed in building and crossing the makehsift bridge, at which point he attacked the camp and Hungarian flanks. The Hungarians were utterly defeated, with over half of them killed, so they could not field another army. Among the dead were Prince Kalman, Archbishops Ugrin and Matthias, Bishops Reynold of Transylvania and Jacob of Nitra , and many others. The Mongols themselves also suffered losses in the heavy fighting that happened when Batu crossed the bridge (a few thousands) so that Subutai had to convince Batu to pursue the fleeing Hungarians.
Nevertheless, it was an utter defeat for the Hungarians, and would have let the Mongol Hordes plunge into central Europe if not for the death of Ogedei Khan that same year.
Koby, this is so interesting! Thank you!
A busy day in history, isn’t it? 🙂
In comparison to your notes, mine is going to be a short one.
On this day in 1182, a meeting was held at La Grange St Arnoult, between Senlis and Crepy to discuss Vermandois succession. Isabelle of Vermandois (Petronilla and Raoul’s elder daughter) had died on 26 March and the matter of her inheritance was of great importance for all the parties involved. It was the second such meeting. The first had taken place on 4 April 1182 at
a place between Gerberoy (Oise, arr. Beauvais) and Gournay-en-Bray (Seine-Mar. arr.Neufchatel). Except for the main “players” involved, namely Philip of Flanders, Philippe Capet, Henry II, Baldwin of Hainaut, and Isabelle’s younger sister, Eleanor (Countess of Beaumont-sur-Oise), it was there where Hal and his half-sister Marie met.
It’s one of those rare occasions when we know exactly who, when, and where met, and that’s why I’m so excited.
My source is Elizabeth van Houts’s The Warenne View of the Past (1066-1203).
And Koby, I wanted to be the first today, since I was afraid you would mention the death of Bishop Stanislaus before me, and thus put me to shame (just like in the Battle of Legnica’s case):-). BTW, how was your all-day-hike?
That is quite understandable, Kasia. The hike was quite enjoyable, thank you.
Today, the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade breached the walls of Constantinople and entered the city, Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury who baptized Henry VI [VII] died, and so did Joanna of Castile, Charles V’s mother, better known as Juana La Loca.
As for Polish history, yesterday I wrote about the father, king Bolesław II the Bald, and today I want to mention his only son, Mieszko Bolesławowic, Prince of Kraków. He was born on this day, in 1069. From an early age Mieszko was forced to take up responsibilities of a monarch. After his father had been deposed (because of his order to put Bishop Stanislaus to death), Mieszko had to seek refuge with him abroad, in Hungary.
After his father’s death, he returned to Kraków in 1086, and accepted over-lordship of his uncle Wladyslaw I Herman. He also gave up his hereditary claim to the crown of Poland in exchange for becoming first in line to succeed Władysław I.
Judging from the chronicles, Mieszko was our Polish Hal, the epitome of youth, charm and generosity, loved by everyone, only bestowed with more talents and acute political judgement :-). Sadly that was not enough to help him in avoiding his tragic fate. In 1089, aged 20, the young prince was poisoned during a feast on orders of palatine Sieciech, who wanted to kill off the entire Piast dynasty (with all probability Sieciech had also been the one responsible for Mieszko’s father death). The death of Bolesławowic, the rightful pretender to the throne, allowed his uncle Władysław to strengthen his rule over Poland.
Kasia and Koby, fascinating posts, as always.
Today’s Facebook Note.
Thanks to Koby for letting me know that today was the death date in 1555 for one of history’s tragic figures, the Queen of Castile, who is better known as Juana la Loca. C.W. Gortner did her justice in his fascinating novel, The Last Queen.
Today’s Facebook Note.
April 9th was a busy day in medieval history, but I was busy in Speyer at the imperial court. So here is a belated post, for it was too interesting a day to ignore. It was, of course, the date in 1483 that Edward IV died, just a few weeks shy of his 41st birthday. We sometimes play the What If game here. Well, Edward’s death offers a gigantic What if. Had he not died prematurely, had he lived another fifteen years, the consequences of that would be mind-boggling. His son would have been grown at the time of his eventual death and most likely would have succeeded to the throne. It is impossible to say what would have happened then. We can only be sure of the obvious. No King Richard III. No Shakespeare play. No Sunne in Splendour. No Tudors! Would England have remained Catholic? Or would it have heeded Martin Luther’s siren song? Who knows? But it is fascinating to speculate about it.
April 9th was also the death date of Eleanor’s father, William, the 10th Duke of Aquitaine, and thanks to Koby for reminding me of that. He was only thirty-eight. And on this date in 1413, Henry V was crowned as King of England.
April 9th is often given as the death date for Richard III and Anne Neville’s son, Edward of Middleham. I’ve always been skeptical of this; it sounded like Tudor propaganda, for if Richard’s son had died on the same day as his brother, it would seem as if it was the punishment of God for his sin in claiming the throne and supposedly putting his nephews to death. The Croyland Chronicler was not a friend to Richard, but this is what he wrote:
“However, in a short time after, it was fully seen how vain are the thoughts of a man who desires to establish his interests without the aid of God. For, in the following month of April, on a day not very far distant from the anniversary of king Edward, this only son of his, in whom all the hopes of the royal succession, fortified with so many oaths, were centred, was seized with an illness of but short duration, and died at Middleham Castle, in the year of our Lord, 1484, being the first of the reign of the said king Richard. On hearing the news of this, at Nottingham, where they were then residing, you might have seen his father and mother in a state almost bordering on madness, by reason of their sudden grief.”
What an awesome blog. Not that they aren’t always! I love the saying by the Croyland Chronicler and it is so true. I really admire how you make the characters come to life for your readers. Can’t wait for Ransom.
Sharon, no Shakespeare’s Richard III? It proved to have been disastrous concerning Richard’s reputation, but, on the other hand, Shakespeare, unintentionally, gave you a chance to remedy it, in Sunne in Splendour, did he not?:-)
No Richard III? Who, then, would have become the main hero of your first book? Have you ever given it a thought? I’m very curious.
Malcolm, following my friend’s (the computer expert’s) advice, I’m sending one more e-mail to you, as a test, to determine the problem. I need Deamon Mailer information to show it to my friend. How are you, by the way?:-)
Kasia, my agent once made a very interesting observation. She said that if I’d written about Llywelyn Fawr first, I might have found it harder to find a publisher, for I’d be an unknown, novice wirter with no track record writing about an equally unknown Welsh prince. Whereas Richard III is much better known, thanks to Shakespeare!
Thanks, Evelyne!
Today’s Facebook Note:
April 14, 1471 was a very significant date for the House of York. On this day, the battle of Barnet was fought between the forces of Edward IV and the Earl of Warwick. This was the first major battle I’d “fought,” and it set the bar high for drama—the eerie, dense fog blanketing the field, Richard’s vanguard outflanking the enemy, and then the Earl of Oxford returning to the field after shattering Edward’s left wing and accidentally attacking his own side. It was eighteen year old Richard’s first taste of battle and he acquitted himself well. The victory went to Edward and among the dead were the Earl of Warwick and his brother John. But Warwick’s allies still had to be defeated, for on that same Easter Sunday, Queen Marguerite and her seventeen year old son landed at Weymouth, ending seven years of French exile. So Edward and I would have another battle to fight in just three weeks.
Exhausted from Passover, the Seventh Day of Passover and Sabbath, I have returned. Sharon has covered the Battle of Barnet (which I read about in Battles in Britain: 1066-1746 ). I will merely add that Godwin Earl of Wessex, the father of Harold II died today.
Welcome back, Koby.
Today’s Facebook Note.
Richard III shared a birth year with a genius–Leonardo da Vinci, who was born on April 15, 1452.
And on April 15, 1912, one of history’s most famous catastrophes occurred, the sinking of the Titanic with the loss of over 1,500 people. I read that the Titanic could fit inside one of today’s massive cruise ships! Here is an excellent article about why this particular tragedy has such a hold on the public imagination.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/06/opinion/cox-titanic/index.html?hpt=hp_bn7
Sharon, the sinking of the Titanic has lingered in the minds of people and I think partly because it was labeled as unsinkable. People were truly caught off guard. The Titanic Museum in Southampton, England is really a great place to visit. I visited it and would love to go back.
Evelyne, in the article I cite above, the interesting point was made that the sinkng took several hours, time enough for the passengers to confront their own mortality and for people to react with courage or not. It was like a mini-morality play. Whereas the Lusitania had a similar loss of life, but it sank almost at once. I think we all find ourselves speculating how it must have been for the trapped passengers, empathizing with their plight and imagining ourselves on the decks of the doomed ship.
I adopted Holly (below) from Last Chance Ranch, and I’d love for them to win the ASPCA $100,000 challenge. You can vote for them at this link today. You have to register, but your information is safe. Last Chance started out rescuing horses, now takes in all animals in need. Since they do rescue large animals, their needs are greater than many shelters. I feel blessed to have gotten Holly from them. http://challenge.aspcapro.org/shelter/Last%20Chance%20Ranch%2C%20Inc.
I was able to post a photo of Holly on Facebook, but unfortunately can’t do so here. So my Facebook friends can zip over there to see Holly, world’s smallest cocker spaniel, aspiring basketball star, and Tristan’s little groupie. Kasia, you and the other Facebook holdouts will have to take my world for it that she is beyond adorable–which has saved her life more times than I can count, for she has a puppy-like zeal for getting into trouble.
The link above for Last Chance did not come through. Here is it again.
http://challenge.aspcapro.org/shelter/Last%20Chance%20Ranch%2C%20Inc.
Sharon, you do not have to try hard to convince me that Holly is adorable. Ever since I’ve read Virginia Woolf’s Flush, cocker spaniel is one of my favourite breeds. That’s why I’m the happy owner of …. a two-year-old dachshund :-). And, believe me, I’m well acquainted with a puppy-like zeal for getting into trouble. My Bufka is a disarming creature, a gift from my husband’s friend, and, to be honest, I cannot imagine my family without her lively presence. Although, sometimes, it seems that we all live on a ticking bomb:-)
Oh! Sharon, one more thing. I’ve just ordered The Kings and Their Hawks by Robin S. Oggins. Are you familiar with this work? I would love to learn your opinion. I’ve read it’s a good one. Have I mentioned that I’m an avid birdwatcher, with a keen interest in falconry? I can’t quite recall. But, I do hope that one day I will be able to become a falconer myself (is there a feminine form of “a falconer” in English, I beg for your help:-)).
Sharon,
I’m eagerly reading the UK Lionheart, and so far it’s everything I was expecting and hoping for. But I can’t help wondering how the use of ‘gotten’ (chapter 8, referring to Richard’s temper) passed the edit process? It feels like modern day usage that doesn’t match up to the usual tone and language in your books.
Claire, gotten is the correct American usage, as you may know. That is not true, of course, in the UK, and my publisher’s copy editors are usually very good about changing this. Every now and then something gets by them and that sounds like this is what happened. It is not a modern usage, but for some reason it really seems to jar with British readers; I have actually been scolded for using it in the American edition, told that there is no such word! So I am sorry to hear they missed one. I am very glad, though, that you are enjoying the book so far. If you come across another gotten, please ignore it! I was not given a chance to read the galley proofs, as is always the case, so I had no opportunity to catch it myself. Assuming I would have, of course; the brain can be funny that way and since it is the correct usage on this side of the Atlantic, I may well have passed right over it. At least I hope they did Anglicize the spelling! I once had an e-mail from a British reader who told me he’d enjoyed my mystery Prince of Darkness, but he was put off by the American spelling and did not understand why my British publisher had not “corrected” it, saying it had spoiled some of his pleasure in the book. I had to find a tactful way to tell him that it had American spelling because he’d read the American edition; it is the only one of my books not to have been published in the UK.
Kasia, if you are interested in Falconry and history, you must get hold of ‘Hawk Quest’ a fantastic novel by Robert Lyndon. I read it on the way to Australia and couldn’t put it down! An opinion shared by many contributors to HFO.
Sharon, Have arrived in the South of France. I can scent that Othon is here! Your blog is excelling itself with you, Koby and Kasia. However, there seems to be a bit of infiltration by some dubious sites. Can your provider block them?
Ken, thank you for the recommendation above! I will certainly take a closer look at Robert Lyndon’s novel.
If my memory serves me, you are a writer too, aren’t you? I don’t know whether I’m right or wrong, but did your Othon have something to do with Eleanor of Castile? I won’t be surprised if I’ve just mixed up the facts:-)
I am Eleanor and Henry’s hearth knight (or rather maid) and rarely venture out into different time periods, that’s why I count on your understanding:-)
Ken, I’m glad you’re there and obviously having fun. I am sure Othan will be a very cooperative ghost, utterly unlike Longshanks. I have to delete those spams, which someone got through the net.
Kasia, I have that book and thought it was excellent. Another book about medieval hunting and falconry that I recommend highly is The Hound and the Hawk, by John Cummins. And yes, Ken has been working on a novel for some time–I wish he’d hurry up, for we’re all eager to read it. 🙂
Yes, I’ve got John Cummins’s book at home and find it really enjoyable. I like re-reading it from time to time. Nevertheless, I would like to learn more about medieval falconry. That’s why, before ordering it, I looked inside The Kings and Their Hawks on Amazon, found the index and made sure that there’s a lot of info concerning Henry II, and even Hal! I would be most delighted to learn something about, let’s say, Hal’s favourite gerfalcon (of course if he ever had one:-)).
Ah, hawking/falconry. Such a fascinating business. Kasia, you do know that according to the Book of St Albans, you may only use a Merlin, yes? Although Phillip Glasier did dismiss the book as “merely a formalized and rather fanciful listing of birds”. I think all in all, the Mongolians had the greatest birds – they would hunt with Golden Eagles. And I can think of a t least four English expressions that may come from falconry.
In any case, today Theobald of Bec, Archishop of Canterbury died, eventually leading to the Thomas Becket mess. Also, this evening Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel) will begin, so a meaningful Yom HaShoah to any who observe it.
Koby, Golden Eagles are Golden Eagles (once I even got one peacefully perched on my hand:-)), but I do find falcons the most graceful creatures in the world. Not to mention that they are the most effective killers:-)). To tell you the truth, I would be perfectly happy and content to be the owner of a merlin, or a kestrel, or a hobby. As for the social order and the hawking, I read in The Time Travellers’s Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer, that, in practice, lords had not been too fussy about what they had hunted with. Young Edward II had hunted partridges with sparrowhawks and spaniels, and Edward III had kept goshawks, tiercels, lanners and several lesser birds, not just gerfalcons.
Wish you all beautiful day! I’d better be going now or I’ll be late for work:-)
Here is today’s Facebook Note.
On this date in 1480, Lucrezia Borgia was born. Her reputation has been rehabilitated in recent years, with many historians viewing her as a pawn of her father and brothers. Here is an interesting, rather detailed description of Lucrezia.
Lucrezia Borgia, illegitimate daughter of Alexander VI and Vannozza Catanei, sister of Cesare (1480-1519)
“She is of medium height, delicate of appearance, her face rather long as is her finely cut nose; her hair golden, the eyes greyish, the mouth rather large with brilliantly white teeth; the throat smooth and white yet becomingly full. Her whole being breathes laughing good humor and gaity.”
From Niccolo Cagnolo
Kasia, Othon became Edward 1’s most faithful knight and companion. He was utterly devoted to Eleanor (of Castile) and was actually banished from Edward’s court for having remonstrated against Edward’s early bedding of the 13 yr old Eleanor against his parents wishes, resulting in Eleanor giving birth to a still born child in 1255. Edward later relented and Othon was once again ‘received into his peace'(isn’t that a wonderful medieval statement?).
Othon lived to be 90, never married and upon Eleanors’s death, Edward asked him to take her mantle to Jerusalem to pray for her soul. A picture of Othon carrying out this mission is to be seen today on Eleanor’s tomb in Westminster Abbey.
So, Ken, when is it coming out?
And Kasia, I certainly agree with you. The Peregrine Falcon is my favorite bird, in all respects. But Golden Eagles are the largest birds known to be used for falconry, and the skill and strength needed to handle such birds was probably the hardest, especially as they would often do so from while riding.
Ken, thank you! I will certainly read your book! The story sounds fascinating to me. Is Othon’s life well documented? Where did he come from? His name sounds German-like. Did he come to England with Eleanor? As her escort and household knight? That would have explained his devotion to her. Forgive me so many questions but you have stirred my interest for good:-)
Koby, I know how heavy eagles are. I really had an opportunity (and used it, of course) to hold one during one of my trips to Slovak castles. I don’t know how the situation looks like where you live, but here, in central Europe, we experience the real falconry renaissance. It’s getting more and more trendy:-) The society or brotherhood I met, was called St Bavo’s Brotherhood. St Bavo (or Bavon) is the patron saint of falconers. He is depicted as a knight, with a sword and falcon. The legend concerning his adventure with falcons is really worth reading.
Ken, I know so little about Othan, so I am really looking forward to reading your novel. When do you think it will be done? (No pressure, of course)
Today’s Facebook Note:
I’d like to thank Elizabeth Chadwick for inviting me to visit her blog today to chat about Lionheart. Here is the link. http://livingthehistoryelizabethchadwick.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/lionheart-sharon-kay-penman-talks-about.html
Great interview Sharon. As far as Othon is concerned, I found him hiding here in Port Grimaud and he has promised to come out of hiding and to jump into my computer, starting tomorrow!
Kasia, Othon came from Grandson in Savoy (now Western Switzerland) on the shores of lake Neuchatel. He was brought to England with his cousin Pierre de Champvent in 1249-50 by Peter of Savoy, the uncle of Eleanor of Provence, Henry III’s wife to reinforce the Savoyard influence in Henry’s court.
Pierre was placed in King Henry’s court and Othon was placed in the Lord Edward’s household. Together, they went through (created?) a great deal of the history of England, Wales and Scotland and the crusades of the second half of the 13th Century and I am trying to do him justice (he really deserves an SKP, although she has mentioned him in ‘the Reckoning!’)
There are two (very old) biographies that I know of ‘A Knight of Great Renown’ by Esther Clifford and a shorter one by Kingsford Smith.
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