British Monarchs From Alfred to Elizabeth: Edmund I

Edmund was the son of Edward the Elder, and the grandson of Alfred the Great. Edmund ascended to the throne in 939 at the age of 18, following the death of his elder half-brother King Aethelstan. Edmund's reign was a short one, lasting just shy of seven years. It was dominated by war and threats … Continue reading British Monarchs From Alfred to Elizabeth: Edmund I →

British Monarchs From Alfred to Elizabeth: Aethelstan

Aethelstan was born in 894 to Edmund the Elder and his first wife Ecgwynn. He was the grandson of Alfred the Great. Aethelstan was the eldest of fourteen children and became king in 924 following the death of his father. Aethelstan's reign was very successful - in 927 he conquered York, the final kingdom still … Continue reading British Monarchs From Alfred to Elizabeth: Aethelstan →

British Monarchs From Alfred to Elizabeth – Edward the Elder

Edward the Elder was the eldest son of the legendary Saxon king, Alfred the Great. He was born c. 874, and ascended to the throne in 899 following the death of his father. He reigned for 25 years and died in 924 at the age of 50 (very elderly in those times!). Edward's ascension was … Continue reading British Monarchs From Alfred to Elizabeth – Edward the Elder →

Book Review: ‘Elizabeth’s Women: The Hidden Story of the Virgin Queen’ by Tracy Borman

‘Elizabeth’s Women, The Hidden Story of the Virgin Queen’ by Tracy Borman My rating: 5/5 - I was immediately drawn to this book when I saw it in the bookshop. The premise of Elizabeth’s Women – all about the women who shaped the life of Queen Elizabeth I – was something I had not seen … Continue reading Book Review: ‘Elizabeth’s Women: The Hidden Story of the Virgin Queen’ by Tracy Borman →

British Monarchs From Alfred to Elizabeth – Alfred the Great

Alfred the Great - Saxon King of Wessex Alfred the Great has gone down in history as one of Britain’s most successful rulers. Born in Berkshire in the mid-ninth century, Alfred succeeded to the throne in 871 following the death of his elder brother Aethelred I. Alfred had six children with his wife, Ethelswida, including … Continue reading British Monarchs From Alfred to Elizabeth – Alfred the Great →

The Funeral of Mary Tudor, Queen of France

I recently wrote a blog post about the death of Mary Tudor, Queen of France, which you can read here. This post however will be all about Mary's impressive, but understated funeral. When Mary Tudor, Dowager Queen of France and Duchess of Suffolk died at her home at Westhorpe, Suffolk, she was just 37 years … Continue reading The Funeral of Mary Tudor, Queen of France →

Book Review: ‘Divorced, Beheaded, Died…The History of Britain’s Kings and Queens in Bite-Sized Chunks’ by Kevin Flude

“Divorced, Beheaded, Died...The History of Britain’s Kings and Queens in Bite-Sized Chunks” by Kevin Flude. My rating: 4/5 ⭐️ - I chose this book for my first review as it is a fantastic introductory guide into the history of Britain’s monarchy. It spans many different eras, from ancient warrior kings to the modern-day House of … Continue reading Book Review: ‘Divorced, Beheaded, Died…The History of Britain’s Kings and Queens in Bite-Sized Chunks’ by Kevin Flude →

Jane Seymour: Innocent ‘doormat’ or ambitious queen?

Since the reign of Henry VIII, people's opinions of the Tudor court has been divided. This is remarkably true for the six wives of Henry VIII. Ask people today about their opinions of Anne Boleyn for example, and you are likely to receive a strong response. The same could be said about the other queens … Continue reading Jane Seymour: Innocent ‘doormat’ or ambitious queen? →