Susan Abernethy

After Elizabeth: Fear, Treason and the Dangerous Spring of 1603 - Aspects of History The author of After Elizabeth explores the dangerous and uncertain months that followed the death of Elizabeth I.

After Elizabeth: Fear, Treason and the Dangerous Spring of 1603

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Born on this day in 1503, Ferdinand, son of Joanna of Castile & Archduke Philip the Handsome. Holy Roman Emperor & King of lots of places. Here in c. 1510 before all the titles.

Is this the same person? Comparing Hans Holbein sketches linked to Anne Boleyn

Is this the same person? - Comparing Hans Holbein sketches linked to Anne Boleyn

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'She-intelligencers' - nothing so simple as spying - The History Jar If you haven’t read Nadine Akkerman’s work, Invisible Agents, I heartily recommend it. It covers the world of espionage and women during the seventeenth century in Britain. It has been suggested that…

‘She-intelligencers’ – nothing so simple as spying

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March 9, 1578 – Death of Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox - Janet Wertman This is a wild woman we don’t hear about enough. Talk about a woman who stirred up drama! Margaret Douglas was the daughter of Margaret…

March 9, 1578 – Death of Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox

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Mary Queen of Scots and the Murder of David Rizzio Presumed portrait of David Rizzio,   The murder of David Rizzio, personal secretary of Mary Queen of Scots, in my mind is one of the most dramatic moments in Scottish history, if not all history. R…

Mary Queen of Scots and the Murder of David Rizzio - March 9, 1566

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Meet the Forgotten Women of the Flemish Golden Age | Artnet News At the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent, a new exhibition uncovers a long-forgotten 17th-century creative economy.

Meet the Forgotten Women of the Flemish Golden Age

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Charles II's Portuguese Queen Catherine of Braganza has regularly been referred to as 'the forgotten queen' and there is much truth in this statement. Despite her sheltered and religious upb

For International Women's Day - Was Catherine of Braganza a forgotten Queen? For a deep dive into her personality, check out this book.

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Germaine de Foix, Queen of Aragon, Naples, Sardinia, Navarre and Sicily and Vicereine of Valencia Ferdinand of Aragon was married to Isabella of Castile for thirty-five years. Even though he promised Isabella he would never marry again and in his early fifties, the wily king decided for politic…

Germaine de Foix and Ferdinand of Aragon were married on this day in 1505

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Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian, French Writer and Poet In 17th and 18th Century France, there were an extraordinary number of men and women artists that emerged, making a name for themselves. They were poets, fabulists, painters, playwrights, actors, c…

Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian, French Writer and Poet, was born on this day in 1755

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Emma of Normandy, Queen of England While on tour in England in 2008, our British tour guide mentioned “We don’t do much medieval here”. My husband and I were standing in Salisbury Cathedral later in the day and I was thinking to mys…

Emma of Normandy, twice Queen of England, died on this day in 1052

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#books

Happy World Book Day!
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Louise of Savoy, Duchess of Angoulême and Regent of France The men of France invoked the ancient Merovingian Salic Law to bar women from inheriting the throne of France but this hasn’t stopped women from ruling the kingdom. There is a prominent tradition o…

Louise of Savoy, Duchess of Angoulême and Regent of France, died on this day in 1531

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Joan Plantagenet, Queen of Scots The unfortunate Joan Plantagenet was married to the King of Scots while very young. Due to the vagaries of politics between Scotland and England and conflicts between her husband and her brother, h…

Joan Plantagenet, Queen of Scots, died on this day in 1238

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The Brutal 1527 Sack of Rome That Forced the Pope to Flee | TheCollector In 1527, the city of Rome was sacked by mutinous forces of the Holy Roman Empire, and the Pope was forced to flee for his life, protected by his elite Swiss Guards.

The Brutal 1527 Sack of Rome That Forced the Pope to Flee

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Book Review: "Charles II's Portuguese Wife" by Susan Abernethy A powerful reexamination of Catherine of Braganza, her far-reaching legacy, and her impact on English history.

Book Review: "Charles II's Portuguese Wife" by Susan Abernethy - A powerful reexamination of Catherine of Braganza, her far-reaching legacy, and her impact on English history.

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The Consequences of the Massacre of Wassy Commerative plaque to the Massacre at Wassy (Photo credit: Ji-Elle from Wikimedia Commons) French history has been a favorite of mine since college days when the designated professor was eccentric …

The Consequences of the Massacre of Wassy - March 1572

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The Formidable Women Who Shaped Medieval Europe The formation of the Burgundian Empire by the four Valois Dukes of Burgundy would not have happened without the formidable royal and aristocratic women in their

Blackwell's is now offering The Formidable Women Who Shaped Medieval Europe for 52% off! Shipment to the US is included. Order your copy today.

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6 Lesser Known Women Who Served Queen Elizabeth I - Pen & Sword Blog Women’s History Month guest post from Heather Shanette. Many women served Queen Elizabeth I over the years – in fact, over 300! – but very few

Article: 6 Lesser Known Women Who Served Queen Elizabeth I

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Marjorie Bruce, Princess of Scotland Marjorie Bruce, Princess of Scotland, was the only child of the first marriage of King Robert I the Bruce with Isabella of Mar. Marjorie would suffer greatly through the Scottish Wars of Independen…

Marjorie Bruce, Princess of Scotland, died on this day in 1316 from injuries suffered in a horseback riding accident

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How Henry VII Used His Welsh Ancestry to Secure the English Crown Today, to celebrate St David’s Day, I have a SPECIAL article for you, written in collaboration with my friends at Historic Royal Palaces.

Article: How Henry VII Used His Welsh Ancestry to Secure the English Crown

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The Life and Death of Henry, Duke of Cornwall, Son of King Henry VIII The year was 1510 and Katherine of Aragon, Queen of England was pregnant. As the months passed, her pregnancy was progressing and it was almost time for her to retire to the birthing chamber for he…

Henry Tudor, Duke of Cornwall, son of King Henry VIII, died on this day in 1511

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Jane Gordon, Countess of Bothwell and Sutherland Jane Gordon is one of those women who was caught up in the tumultuous life of Mary Queen of Scots.  Used as a pawn on the marriage market by her family, she was espoused to the Earl of Bothw…

Jane Gordon married James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, on this day in 1566

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Claude de Valois, Duchess of Lorraine Claude of France, Duchess of Lorraine by Francois Clouet With Claude de Valois, we have a unique example of a happy aristocratic marriage. Having grown up together at the French court, the couple k…

Claude de Valois, Duchess of Lorraine, died on this day in 1575

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The Assassination of King James I of Scotland There are many versions telling the story of the assassination of the King of Scots, James I. Earlier versions vary from those written well after it happened. This could be attributed to Queen Joan…

The Assassination of James I, King of Scots - February 21, 1437

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The Life and Death of Edmund Tudor, Duke of Somerset The history of the Tudor kings is preoccupied with the effort to produce male heirs to maintain the dynasty. We all know of King Henry VIII and his six wives and how Elizabeth I had no children cau…

Edmund Tudor, Duke of Somerset, was born on this day in 1499

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Isabel of Portugal, Duchess of Burgundy Photo copyright of The Freelance History Writer Isabel was born into the Portuguese royal family known as the Illustrious Generation.  Her parents were renowned rulers and they were to raise s…

Isabel of Portugal, Duchess of Burgundy, was born on this day in 1397

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Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll and “The Argyll Rising” of 1685 ~ A guest post by Bob Reid Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll Following the Reformation in 1560 Scotland became a Protestant nation and the old Catholic church was banned. Many Catholic families fled to the Continent. Anyone continuing to celebrate mass or follow any Catholic practices were severely dealt with. Penalties included execution, imprisonment, or banishment. During this period of huge upheaval one constant force was the rule of the Stuart dynasty. Stuart Kings had ruled Scotland from 1371 claiming the authority of God to do so. The dynasty was interrupted only by the occupation of Oliver Cromwell’s Commonwealth forces from 1652 until 1658.

Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll and “The Argyll Rising” of 1685 ~ A guest post by Bob Reid

Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll Following the Reformation in 1560 Scotland became a Protestant nation and the old Catholic church was banned. Many Catholic families fled to the Continent.…

King Edward VI's Coronation The nine-year-old Edward Tudor had learned of his father King Henry VIII's death on (or just before) January 31st, and in the days since, his newly-formed Regency Council (made up of sixteen...

King Edward VI of England was crowned on this day in 1547

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