I must say that adored The Raven’s Widow, both as a historian and as an avid reader. The book is a narrative of the life of Jane Parker Boleyn, widow of George Boleyn and a woman who has been used as a malignant foil for many fictional writers based on unsubstantiated historical rumors and not… Read more The Raven’s Widow
Henry VIII died on 28 January 1547, but the time needed to have his body lavishly embalmed and his funeral procession planned meant that the king was not actually buried in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor until almost three weeks later. On 14 February the king’s funeral procession began its journey from Whitehall, where the… Read more Bluff King Hal is Laid to Rest
Happy Valentines Day! As a treat, here is a guest post by the talented romance writer, Maria Grace. She is also a fan of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, resulting one of the best author photos of all time: Romance writing and a fabulous sense of humor? Yes, please! Take it away Grace — … Read more A Guest Post by Maria Grace!
Henry VIII died on January 28, 1547 … on what would have been his father’s 90th birthday. The relationship between Henry VII and Henry VIII is a bit of a historical conundrum, inasmuch as there is little certainty about any of it. Henry VIII’s love for his mother and grief upon her death is well… Read more Birth and Death and Two Henry’s
In Jane Austen’s books, most naval men come home to their wives, sisters, mothers, and sweethearts. Service at sea in the Napoleonic Wars was cast in Austen’s novels as more opportunity than threat, with young men going forth to make their fortune and returning as captains ready to wed. The only seaman to not… Read more The Danger of His Majesty’s Service — The Wreck of the HMS Brazen
On 2 December 1546 Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk and his son, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, were both thrown into the Tower for the shadiest of reasons and for the weakest of excuses. Only the duke would survive. Henry Howard, one of the great poets of the Tudor age, would be executed for trumped up… Read more Henry Howard, the Earl of Surrey
The Dutch Republic ended on 18 January 1795 with the founding of the Batavian Republic. The authoritarian regime of the stadtholder, William V, Prince of Orange was overthrow by the Dutch Patriots demanding a democratic government, after which William fled to England, taking refuge in the “Dutch House” at Kew Palace. During the last quarter… Read more Revolutions Everywhere
In my opinion, Whig politician William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville, is an incredibly underrated Prime Minister of Great Britain. He was in power only a year (11 February 1806 – 31 March 1807) but he used that brief time to drag the UK kicking and screaming onto the moral high ground by leading the… Read more Honor Isn’t Profitable, But it IS Good
The state funeral of Admiral Horatio Nelson was held on 9 January, 1806 and frankly there were Roman Emperors who were mourned with less gravitas and pomp than the Hero of Trafalgar was lamented by the English. The funeral was lavish to say the least. Nelson’s body, inside of a lead coffin that was in… Read more Lady Hamilton’s Lover in Cardinal Wolsey’s Sarcophagus
I have often thought it was regrettable that the modern push for sales has moved all the emphasis of the Season to before the actual day rather than leaving that time for proper Advent and making the real Christmastide – the Twelve Days of Christmas – the time of celebrations and fun. By the time… Read more Regency Twelfth Night