Today I wanted to share a great book about that: Femina by Janina Ramirez.
Something Ramirez says keeps inspiring me to learn more: “While some women have not left their mark on the written record, their truth is still there waiting to be discovered. We just have to dig for it.”
What we call “The Hundred Years War” actually was much longer than one century.
Historian and author @livingstonphd shares the larger impact of this period of history.
Learn more on episode 240 of Royals, Rebels, and Romantics!
Meet the women of the Middle Ages!
Empress Matilda, 1102-1167
Daughter of Henry I and Matilda of Scotland
Married Holy Roman Emperor Emperor Henry V and became Holy Roman Empress 1110-1125
Famous for her piety, she had influence on Henry II’s reign until her death in 1167
What love story do you read every Feb?
Mine is always, always, always Pride and Prejudice!
BEST novel of all time.
Change my mind!
Coming tomorrow on Royals, Rebels, and Romantics.
Michael Livingston joins us to double the scope of the Hundred Years War.
We know some of the key players—Edward III and Henry V.
But Michael’s book shows us we don’t know the whole story!
Meet Mary Seacole.
A Jamaican nurse and businesswoman, Mary served as a nurse during the Crimean War.
She was the first woman of African descent in Britain to publish an autobiography.
In 2004, she was voted the greatest Black Briton by Every Generation.
Here’s what I’m reading this weekend!
What are you reading?
Black Tudors by Miranda Kaufmann
Women have always had their own way of changing the world.
Two of my favorite examples from the sixteenth century are Catherine de Medici and Bess of Hardwick.
Don’t miss it!
Episode 239, Catherine de Medici and Bess of Hardwick, Wives and Mothers of Power
Meet Dido Elizabeth Belle, born in 1766.
Her parents were Naval Officer Sir John Lindsay and Maria Belle, an African woman.
She was brought into the Mansfield house as a companion for their daughter Elizabeth.
Dido may have influenced Lord Mansfield’s anti-slavery decisions.
While writing about Anne Boleyn and courtly love, I referred to Natalie's book and her discussion with Emma Leavitt about “jousting jealousy”.
Did Henry VIII’s jousting accident have more to do with Anne Boleyn’s death than we realize?
I’d love to hear what you think!
This week I look at how Catherine de Medici and Bess of Hardwick used the public aspects of marriage and motherhood to influence politics, religion, and the future.
Join me for episode 239, “Catherine de Medici and Bess of Hardwick: Wives and Mothers of Power”
The wealthiest woman in Elizabethan England was, of course, Queen Elizabeth I.
Who was the second wealthiest and second most powerful woman? Bess of Hardwick.
In a time where men usually called the shots, Bess chose wealthy and powerful husbands and married her way to the top.
Have you seen The Serpent Queen (2022-2024)? In it, Catherine de Medici is portrayed as being manipulative, sneaky, ruthless, and obsessed with power.
In reality, she was an ambitious woman who worked hard and made decisions that would protect her family and her sons’ dynasty.
On my nightstand:
The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion by Beth Brower (such a treat!)
The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn by Helene Harrison (re-reading in light of new research about Rose Portrait!)
The Next Day by Melinda French Gates (so important!)
What are you reading?
Have you listened to the story of Joanna Plantagenet, Queen of Sicily?
Catherine Hanley shares her book, Lionessheart, on Royals, Rebels, and Romantics.
Check out Heart of a Lioness with Catherine Hanley, episode 238.
Henry II: Yes, an important king, but what about the women around him?! As always, they get less credit than they deserve.
I believe true leadership is based on timeless principles: knowing what your team needs from you, choosing personal leadership, and speaking your truth—even when it’s hard. I’m thrilled to share these ideas with my latest TEDx talk! I would love to hear what you think.
bit.ly/CAatTEDx
Friday Fun! Coming soon from @penandswordbooks.bsky.social !
Join Royals, Rebels, and Romantics to learn about Joanna Plantagenet.
Author Catherine Hanley discusses her book, Lionessheart.
Joanna was a Plantagenet princess who eventually gave up royal life and made the scandalous decision to become a nun (though married and pregnant).
Join me for programs about powerful women who shaped the world. Catherine de Medici online 19 Feb with @SmithsonianAssociates bit.ly/CdeMedici and Elizabeth I & Bess of Hardwick in person at @AgecroftHall on
Jan 20 bit.ly/marrynotmarry . #womenrule!
Coming next week on #RoyalsRebelsRomantics! @CatherineHanley joins me to discuss the extraordinary life of Joanna Plantagenet! Mark your calendars!
Last week on Royals, Rebels, and Romantics I talked about a fascinating year: 1399.
Richard II was King, and Henry Bolingbroke was a noble whose lands the King had seized illegally.
Where was loyalty: to the King or to the law of the land?
Next month, join me for an online talk about Catherine de Medici!
Meet one of the most powerful women in France with Smithsonian Associates bit.ly/CdeMedici
Did you know she was almost mother-in-law to Elizabeth I?
Elizabeth I was crowned Queen of England 15 January 1559.
Elizabeth I was the second crowned Regnant Queen of England—the first was her half-sister, Mary I.
These two daughters of Henry VIII were never supposed to come to the throne of England, but both did!
It’s a new year for Royals, Rebels, and Romantics!
I’m sharing my thoughts about how Shakespeare and history matter right now.
Also, a few hints about what’s ahead for all the Royals, Rebels, and Romantics.
Join me to enjoy some fun facts about famous January events.
Elizabeth I experienced two stays in the Tower of London.
The first was March through May of 1554, when she was suspected of treason against her half-sister Mary I.
The second was in January 1559, when she spent a couple of nights at the Tower before her coronation.
Another Medieval holiday was the Feast of the Ass (yes, really).
It was used to celebrate the appearance of donkeys in Bible stories.
Its special focus was to celebrate the “Flight into Egypt,” when Mary and Joseph took baby Jesus to Egypt to avoid Herod.
The first lottery in England was held in January 1569, during the reign of Elizabeth I.
The government needed money to build ships and harbors to support England’s growing power.
Rather than raising taxes, Elizabeth decided to try a lottery instead.
The top prize was £5,000.
This month, I was honored to be featured in Sharron Bennett Connolly’s Wordly Women!
I had a chance to share some behind the scenes of what inspired me to write The Tudors by Numbers.
Check out Wordly Women!
bit.ly/CALWordlyWomen
Twelfth Night may be over, but you can still find ways of celebrating.
Our friend Rosemary Griggs celebrates Tudor women and their history through the year.
If you haven’t already listened to or watched Rosemary’s podcast, treat yourself!
