This beautiful medallion has traditionally been said to commemorate the marriage of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. Henry and Elizabeth were married on the …
WHO IS GETTING MARRIED?
Medieval
WHAT’S IN A NAME: THE MOST FAMOUS ELEANOR OF THEM ALL
Eleanor of Aquitaine, ca.1122-1204, is not only the most famous woman to have ever borne that name, but she is also very possibly the first …
BOOK REVIEW: ‘KING JOHN’S RIGHT HAND LADY: THE STORY OF NICHOLAA DE LA HAYE’ BY SHARON BENNETT CONNOLLY
In Sharon Bennett Connolly’s new book, ‘King John’s Right Hand Lady: the Story of Nicholaa de la Haye,’ a remarkable 12-13th century woman is brought …
HENRY VII’S REIGN FORETOLD: PROPHECY IN POLYDORE VERGIL’S ANGLICA HISTORIA
Henry VII’s claim to the throne of England was tenuous at best; he was descended from illicit unions on both sides of his family tree. …
FLEUR DE LYS AT THE CORONATION CEREMONY
England and France are renowned for their historic rivalry; a French author put it best when he described England as ‘our most dear enemies.’ One …
CORONATIONS: EDWARD THE CONFESSOR TO ELIZABETH I
The coronation the world is going to witness on Saturday is very much a medieval ceremony, even as it has evolved and continues to evolve …
HENRY II, THOMAS BECKET, AND A CLOAK
The relationship between Henry II and Thomas Becket is legendary; from closest of friends to the worst of enemies. Given that it ended in the …
RICHARD OC-E-NO
The first King Richard of England is most commonly known by his epithet ‘Cœur de Lion’ or ‘the Lionheart,’ which was derived from contemporary descriptions …
A GENEALOGY FROM ADAM AND EVE TO KING EDWARD VI OF ENGLAND
Just like today, people in the medieval and early modern periods were fascinated by their genealogies, especially kings and noblemen. Henry VIII possessed a particularly …
GERVASE AND THE MOON
Writing a decade later, Gervase of Canterbury recounted an extraordinary astronomical event that had been witnessed by a group of his fellow monks on the …
