Plantagenets Dynasty

26th May 1465 - Elizabeth Woodville crowned Queen.

Elizabeth Woodville was crowned Queen of England at Westminster Abbey on 26th May 1465 - a year after her secret wedding to Edward IV.

Staying, as was tradition, at the Tower of London the night before, Elizabeth was escorted to Westminster by newly created Knights of the Bath. She was led into Westminster Hall by the Bishop of Durham and the Bishop of Salisbury, her train carried by the dowager Duchess of Buckingham. She was followed by her mother Jacquetta Woodville and two of the King's sisters, Elizabeth, Duchess of Suffolk, and Margaret (later Duchess of Burgundy). The Queen walked from Westminster Hall to the Abbey barefoot, and knelt at the high altar, after which she was anointed and crowned.

After the ceremony there was a feast at Westminster Hall.

Upcoming release: Robert the Bruce - Scotland's True Braveheart 🛡

Robert the Bruce is a detailed account of the life and times of the Scottish hero and monarch. It covers his life from childhood to death, looking at the political, social and military life of Scotland before, during and after the time of Robert the Bruce.

🛒 bit.ly/3LJ9zyn

Photos from The Yorkshire Museum's post

23rd May 1482 - Death of Mary of York.

Mary of York, the second daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville was born at Windsor Castle on 11th August 1467, 18 months to the day after the birth of her elder sister Elizabeth. At the age of 12, in May 1480, Mary and her younger sister Cecily were made Ladies of the Garter.

Mary died aged 14 on 23rd May 1482 at the Palace of Placentia in Greenwich. She is buried at St George's Chapel, Windsor.

Upcoming release: S*x and S*xuality in Medieval England 💘

S*x and S*xuality in Medieval England allows the reader a peek beneath the bedsheets of our medieval ancestors, in an informative and fascinating look at s*x and s*xuality in England from 1250 to 1450. It examines the prevailing attitudes towards male and female s*xual behaviour, and the ways in which these attitudes were often determined by those in positions of power and authority. It also explores our ancestors’ ingenious, surprising, bizarre and often entertaining solutions to the challenges associated with maintaining a healthy s*x life. This book will look at marriage, pre-marital s*x, adultery and fornication, pregnancy and fertility, illegitimacy, prostitution, consent, same-s*x relationships, gender roles and much more, to shed new light on the private lives of our medieval predecessors.

Preorder your copy here: bit.ly/3LuvCbN

22nd May 1455 - First Battle of St Albans

The First Battle of St Albans was the first battle of the Wars of the Roses.

Henry VI had been suffering from mental illness and had a breakdown in August 1453. During his incapacity, Richard, Duke of York, acted as Protector of the Realm. After the King's recovery, the Duke of Somerset, great rival of the Duke of York, who had been imprisoned during the protectorship, was released and York deprived of his office. The Duke of York, along with the Earl of Salisbury and the Earl of Warwick, raised an army. Somerset and the King also raised men, but there were fewer in the Lancastrian ranks, and they were not so well equipped.

On 22nd May 1455 the two sides met at St Albans. Very few were killed that day, although some prominent Lancastrians were among the dead - the Duke of Somerset, Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland, and Thomas Clifford, 8th Baron de Clifford. The King, waiting nearbym was captured by the Yorkists. York would later assume the role of Protector.

21 May 1471 Death of Henry VI. King from the age of 9 months old in 1422 after the death of his father Henry V, he is the only person crowned King of England & France in both countries.

Henry's inability to control factions dragged England into the Wars of the Roses. We know the official story of his death, but what might really have happened? And does this day mark the end of what we consider the Wars of the Roses?

Henry's death features in today's
https://podfollow.com/gone-medieval/view

Coming at the end of June, my latest book, a social history of London from 1300 to 1350!

In “Catherine Called Birdy,” Bella Ramsey Plays a Medieval Teen Heroine for Our Time

A new film based on the YA historical fiction novel "Catherine Called Birdy" coming out soon.

In “Catherine Called Birdy,” Bella Ramsey Plays a Medieval Teen Heroine for Our Time “This movie was a good reminder for me that it’s OK for you to not fit into the mold.”

18 May 1152 Marriage of Henry II (well, soon!) & Eleanor of Aquitaine. Europe's medieval power couple were about to explode onto the scene. I wonder if this image is Henry introducing Eleanor to his mom, Empress Matilda.
'Hi mom. This is the wife.'
'Hey!'
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Henry-II-Eleanor-Aquitaine-Founding/dp/1445671565

Timeline photos

This is a rare sight, a sight that visitors to the Abbey cannot usually see - it's the back of Britain's oldest door!

To be honest, it looks a lot like the front.

Uncover the truth of the two princes whose disappearance in 1483 led to centuries of mystery. Don't miss Lucy Worsley Investigates tonight at 8/7c.

Photos from Ticia Verveer - Archaeologist's post

With today being the anniversary of the Battle of Lewes – 14th May 1264 – here’s another of my paintings of the battle where Henry III was defeated by a rebel army under Simon de Montfort.

This one shows the charge of Prince Edward’s cavalry against the rebels, painted for the Osprey book ‘English Medieval Knight 1200-1300’. Available as a print - please visit my website for full details - https://www.studio88.co.uk/acatalog/The_Battle_of_Lewes.html

Happy Friday, everyone! What are you reading this weekend?

FRIDAY LIVE GIVEAWAY!!!

Gotta get rid of some of these. 4 pm U.K. time, I’ll be live on here doing so.

Who’s in?

Here is something really special. This is the only known complete example of a medieval woven silk and gold thread robe. It was crafted in Central Asia in the 13th century. Such luxurious garments were highly prized and often given ad diplomatic gifts of great importance.
Since textiles are fragile things nearly all that survives from this period are mere fragments of fabric.
The exchange of "cloth of gold" (nasij) long practiced by Umayyad rulers became more widespread following the Mongol invasions of Iran and Iraq in the early thirteenth century, when three artisan communities were relocated from Khorasan and Turkestan to Mongol-ruled China, the heart of silk production at the time.

Collection of the Courtauld Gallery's renowned collection of Islamic metalwork.

🎉New Episode! Stephanie Stohrer chats with Matthew Lewis about the king who had too many sons - Edward III.
🎧👇🎧👇🎧👇
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tudors-dynasty-podcast/id1308062825?i=1000560736913

Timeline photos

I photoshopped the BBC Hollow Crown to be more historically accurate. The Hollow Crown is a BBC drama adaption of Shakespeare’s English history plays. Tom Hiddleston plays Prince Hal, later to become King Henry V, famous victor of the Battle of Agincourt.
In 1403, a young prince Henry with his father King Henry IV marched against rebels lead by Henry “Hotspur” Percy. The battle of Shrewsbury was Prince Henry’s first battle, and the teenage prince lead his own section of the royal army. A contemporary chronicler wrote.
“Prince Henry, fighting his first battle, was shot in the face by an arrow; boy though he was, he did not falter, but with courage beyond his years, disregarding his wounds” -Thomas Walsingham
The arrow penetrated six inches into his left cheek, and pieced into his actual skull. Henry however already showed signs of the warrior king he was going to become, fought on. What makes this even more impressive, is that he was only sixteen.
The arrow wound came very close to threatening the Prince’s life. But the head of the arrow, lodged in his skull was removed with an amazing implement especially designed for the princes wound. Sadly Shakespeare ditched this episode in favour of a dramatic duel between Prince Hal and Henry Hotspur. So, that’s what we get in the show. Henry’s wound must have left a pretty impressive scar. Some historians have argued he must have been hit in right cheek not the left, since a portrait shows him in profile, with a scarless left cheek. However, this is a somewhat suspect. The portrait in question is 16th or 17th century.
There are no detailed contemporary portraits surviving of what Henry looked like. The silver head of his tomb effigy was stolen in 1546. So if you have a silver head that might be Henrys, Westminster Abbey would very much like it back.
In the show the Prince wears a short mail shirt. Entire mail shirts were still often worn by noblemen, but it would be under the plate armour. The English in particular were beginning to break up their mail shirts. So that mail was only used where it was needed, to cover the gaps and joints in the plate armour. While you might find a more lightly armoured Italian nobleman, sporting mailed sleeves. Mailed sleeves on their own were not considered adequate protection for an English Nobleman in 1400. Plate armour enclosed the whole armour. Almost none of the English field armour survives from this period, but we can get a good sense of what English knights were wearing from surviving tomb effigies. I’ve primarily based the princes armour on Thomas de Beauchamp, 12th Earl of Warwick, who’s tomb dates from around 1402. The armour is tailored to the individual. It fits exactly providing excellent mobility, and is highly decorative. The gold decoration does not indicate parade armour. What better way to demonstrate you wealth and status, by potentially destroying your priceless armour on the battlefield.
Thankfully, the prince in the show does wear a breastplate. Which is correct. Although it is very badly shaped. 15th century breastplates were rounded, to help blows glance off. They taper sharply at the waist, giving the figure that fashionable wasp-waisted look. Over breast plate, most knights wore a textile garment. There were various options available. Different forms of tabard, jupon or surcoat. In this case I’ve given him a sleeveless jupon. Henry would probably have been sewn into this garment to achieve the close-fitting look. A similar embroidered royal jupon appears on the effigy of Prince Edward, the Black prince. Who died 27 years before the battle at Shrewsbury. The tight fit allows you to see the shape of the breastplate underneath. It was the fashion to wear a low slung plated belt over this. On his head he wears a bascinet helmet with a coronet. The English knight did not always wear a visor, but I’ve decided to include one in this reconstruction. The coronet would have been made specifically for the helmet. Surviving designs show that the crown would have been flush with the skull of the helmet. He is not wearing a full mail hood or coif. The mail is a curtain, actually attached to the rim of the helmet. This is helping to save on weight. There is a sword from Westminster abbey attributed to Henry V, but experts now think this sword to be a style that dates to end of the 15th Century and therefore unlikely to belong to Henry.
I’ve given him a long sword. This is based on a beautifully preserved sword found in a river in Cambridgeshire, dated to around the 1400.

Photos from Denver Art Museum's post

The year is 1342. The English, led by Edward III, are laying waste to the French countryside. The army may be led by the King, but it is the archers, the common men, who are England’s secret weapon. The French know them as Harlequins.

HARLEQUIN – the first book in Bernard’s ‘The Grail Quest’ series – is a tale of longbows and butchery, as Thomas of Hookton leaves his native Dorset to fight the French in Brittany and at the Battle of Crécy in Picardy.

Star object ⭐

The Middleham Ring (1400-1425) is a large gold ring designed to be worn over a glove. It is decorated by a series of 12 letters of 'S', a motif used by supporters of the House of Lancaster. Inside is the word 'SOVEREYNLY' meaning 'In a regal or sovereign-like manner'. Due to its design, its discovered location of Middleham and its age, it was perhaps given to Ralph Neville as a personal gift by Henry IV.

It's great to be back open and have our wonderful visitors see incredible objects like this once again. Book your visit now > https://www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk/

A new statue has been unveiled in the shadow of Pembroke Castle.

William Marshal was Earl of Pembroke and widely regarded as the ‘Greatest Knight of the Middle Ages’.

Marshal, whose power base in Wales and Ireland was operated from Pembroke Castle, served four kings, became King Regent to young King Henry III, and was a signatory on the Magna Carta, as well as a member of the Knights Templar.

Visit Pembroke

8 May 1429 Joan of Arc lifts the Siege of Orléans, turning the tide of the Hundred Years' War.

Photos from London Mudlark: Lara Maiklem Mudlarking's post

Book Review: “Harry of England: The History of Eight Kings, From Henry I to Henry VIII” by Teresa Cole

Book Review: “Harry of England: The History of Eight Kings, From Henry I to Henry VIII” by Teresa Cole

Book Review: “Harry of England: The History of Eight Kings, From Henry I to Henry VIII” by Teresa Cole English kings are some of the most recognizable monarchs in all of European history, and when we think of Kings of England, a few names pop into our minds. Edward, George, and William tend to be po…

3 May 1415 Birth of Cecily Neville, daughter of Joan Beaufort, and later Duchess of York. Two of her sons would be kings of England, Edward IV and Richard III, and he granddaughter was the first Tudor queen. Cecily lived until 1495, witnessing so many rises and falls.

30 April 1598 Henry IV of France issues the Edict of Nantes, allowing freedom of religion to the Huguenots.

28th April 1442 - Birth of Edward IV.

Edward, Earl of March, the future King Edward IV, was born on 28th April 1442 in Rouen, Normandy. He was the eldest surviving son of Richard, Duke of York and Cecily Neville, Duchess of York. He and his younger brother, Edmund, Earl of Rutland, were both born in Rouen, where their father was serving as Lieutenant of France. The two brothers are likely to have had their own household at Ludlow , although they may have spent much time at Fotheringhay, as their mother seems to have spent most of her time there; and it was later one of Edward's favourite residences.

Timeline photos

This beautiful seal bag, embroidered with the Royal Arms of England, was made in 1280 to protect the wax seal attached to a royal charter from the reign of Edward I.

The bag is a fine example of 'opus anglicanum', a term coined in the 13th century to describe highly-prized English embroideries of silk with gold and silver thread.

Both the charter and the seal bag survive in our collection.

23rd April 1348 - Order of the Garter founded. Also St George's Day.

King Edward III founded the Order of the Garter in 1348 (although an alternative date of 1344 is sometimes given). The most senior order of knighthood in the country, membership is limited to no more than 24 companions. The motto of the Order is 'Honi soit qui mal y pense' (middle French for 'Shame on him who thinks evil of it').

The most famous legend regarding the Order of the Garter was that it was founded after the garter being worn by the Countess of Salisbury slipped down her leg while she was dancing. The King picked up the garter and returned it to her saying 'honi soit qui mal y pense', which is how the Order gained its motto. However, it is likely that this is a later story, dating from the 1460s.

The mother church of the Order is St George's Chapel, Windsor. Each member has a Garter Stall Plate - a small enamelled brass plate which is located in their stall in St George's Chapel. Each successive knight to occupy that stall adds their plate.

Picture show the Garter Stall Plate of King Richard III.