Edward I’s Jewel house was a thick walled, impregnable fortress to keep the king’s treasure safe. But some of his less salubrious and loyal subjects had an idea that maybeRead More
Plantagenets 1216 – 1485
Hawkwood Omnibus 7 EPs 19-21 - Members Only
Hawkwood's last campaign
Hawkwood 21 The Last Campaign - Members Only
Would Hawkwood's career end in triumph or disaster?
Hawkwood 20 A Tales of Two Captains - Members Only
A clash of titans
Hawkwood 19 A Tale of Two Cities - Members Only
The forces of light and liberty and imperial darkness seem destined to fight
The Lost King
The Lost King follows the remarkable story of Ricardian Phillipa Langley, whose steely determination and persistence led to the discovery of the body of Richard III and paints the academic community as determined to write out of the story.
Hawkwood Omnibus 6 EPs 16-18 - Members Only
The late 70s and 80s saw Hawkwood move his home from the Romagna to Tuscany, within the orbit of Florence; and despite fighting on a number of campaigns, the relationship with Florence deepened.
Hawkwood 18 Castagnaro - Members Only
In 1387 Hawkwood was approached by Giovanni Ubaldini, Padua's military commander, to come and fight against Verona. He agreed, and by March was in the field, facing his enemy by the River Adige near the village of Castagnaro.
Hawkwood 17 Civil War in Naples - Members Only
Christendom fights over the kingdom of Naples
Hawkwood 16 Homebody - Members Only
Making a new home in 14th Century Italy was not to prove easy for the Hawkwoods
Hawkwood Omnibus 5 EPs 13-15 - Members Only
From 1375 it is possible to sense a change in Hawkwood’s priorities; does war need to be so important? What about diplomacy, strategy – or home?
Hawkwood 15 Marriage and Divorce - Members Only
A marriage feast, a divorce, a diplomat – and a possible meeting with a literary genius and torturer of school children. Oh – plus fightiness, of course
Hawkwood 14 Cesena - Members Only
Cesena was an atrocity by any standards - today's or those of 14th century Italy
Hawkwood 13 Eight Saints - Members Only
Libertas! Cried the citizens of Florence, and Libertas! Replied many of the Pope’s ‘loyal’ cities – Urbino, Gibbio, Orvieto and many more. Ruggerio Cane and the Florentine diplomats wereRead More
Hawkwood 10 Cascina 2.0 - Members Only
A wedding, and a return to the scene of his greatest defeat as an independent captain – to Cascina. Would history repeat itself?
Hawkwood 9 Against the World - Members Only
1365-7 were confused years for Hawkwood without a consistent employer, and faced with the Papal anti mercenary league of Urban V – as well as picking up some payRead More
Hawkwood Omnibus 3 EPs 7-9 - Members Only
From 1364 Hawkwood’s status would grow, becoming an untitled head of the English mercenaries in Italy. But his employment was fractured and difficult.
Hawkwood 7 Pisa - Members Only
In 1363, Sterz and Hawkwood’s efforts helped bring the Visconti to a reluctant and truculent peace. Ironically they’d just done themselves out of a job. But never mind – theRead More
Hawkwood 6 The Vipers of Milan - Members Only
The Visconti of Milan had risen to power by defeating their local rivals. They constantly sought to use the fabulous wealth of the city to extend their patrimony, often confrontedRead More
Hawkwood Omnibus 2 EPs 4-6 - Members Only
The Pope did what many were forced to do with mercenaries – paid them to go away. Sterz took the White Company to northern Italy to fight for Montferrat, andRead More
Hawkwood 5 A Geographical Expression - Members Only
The Hawkwood into which Sterz led the White Company in 1361 was a patchwork of loyalties, families, political ambitions and trade wars – and it was rich beyond theRead More
Hawkwood 4 Go South, Young Man - Members Only
For 12,000 hardened warriors, Pont St Esprit was the perfect target – owned by the richest man in Christendom, the Pope, and vulnerable. So, a good place to pick upRead More
Hawkwood 3 To War - Members Only
The way from hearth son to captain of war
Hawkwood Omnibus 1 EPs 1-3 - Members Only
John Hawkwood’s reputation, and the little we know about his upbringing and origins, and his introduction to was in the glory days of Edward III
Hawkwood 2 Sible Hedingham - Members Only
The life of a hearth son beckoned. But John Hawkwood was not content with the idea.
Hawkwood 1 Man and Myth - Members Only
How a Condottiere's reputation has ebbed and flowed
Margaret Omnibus 7 EPs 19-21 - Members Only
After her son become king, Margaret’s life was transformed and she was able to become the great magnate and princess she felt was her due – as great lord, benefactressRead More
Margaret 21 Death of a Princess - Members Only
By 1502 Margaret surely had nothing more to trouble her – her son’s legitimacy assures, heirs in place, status firmly established. But the wheel of Fortune had a fewRead More
Margaret 20 A Pious Legacy - Members Only
Margaret’s personal life and charitable activities were dominated by three priorities – piety, social and moral responsibility, and family, in common with many powerful women of the time. OneRead More
Margaret 19 Magnate - Members Only
From 1499, Margaret moved her main place of residence to Collyweston in Northamptonshire. Once there, she operated as the king’s agent as a regional magnate, with powers that onRead More
MB Omnibus 6 EPs 16-18 - Members Only
After Bosworth, to the victors, the spoils. Yet while with hindsight we might feel Margaret and her lad had reached a safe harbour – that’s not the wayRead More
Margaret 18 Securing the Dynasty - Members Only
The first 15 years of Henry VII’s reign felt as though they were on a knife edge – a stream of rebellions and external threats, a lack of legitimacy.Read More
Margaret 17 Mother in Law - Members Only
After the marriage of Elizabeth of York and Henry VII, what sort of role was left for Margaret and how did she fulfill the role of the King’s Mother?Read More
Margaret 16 Enflushment - Members Only
1485 marked a watershed in Margaret’s life; though at the time, no one would have been expecting a bowl of cherries
Sh 36b King in Parliament - Members Only
The 14th to 16th centuries saw the increasingly professionalism of Common law, and the embedding of parliament at the centre of government. Jurists claimed that the people were sovereign, thoughRead More
Sh 36a British Constitution and Law The Early Middle Ages - Members Only
We discuss what a Constitution is; and then go in search of one and the development of justice in English Medieval history, from the Anglo Saxons to Edward IIRead More
MB Omnibus 5 EPs 13-15 - Members Only
Throughout the reign of Richard III, Margaret sought for ways to unseat the usurper who had acquired the throne of her ancestors and the King in Edward IV withRead More
Margaret 15 Gamble - Members Only
The big one – Henry Tudor risks all at Bosworth Field, while Margaret is forced to watch from the sidelines
Margaret 14 Rebel - Members Only
In 1483, someone turned Buckingham’s pretty head, and got him thinking about an even brighter future. Margaret Beaufort and Elizabeth Woodville saw that brighter future too.
Margaret 13 Murderer - Members Only
In 1483 Margaret had to decide whether to play with Richard, or try to destroy him. Especially after the Princes were locked in the Tower…what was she to do aboutRead More
Sh 35 Katherine Swynford with Caitlin Chapman - Members Only
Katherine Swynford’s life was full of drama. From a relatively lowly background, she became mistress to John of Gaunt, son of Edward III. Through her, descended the Tudor dynasty.Read More
Margaret 12 Usurpation - Members Only
The death of Edward IV came as a bit of a shock to England – and to Margaret and her attempts to rehabilitate Henry. But surely, with 2 sons andRead More
Margaret Omnibus 4 EPs 10-12 - Members Only
Through the most turbulent times in English politics, Margaret’s hopes fell, rose and fell again until in 1483 her son’s fortunes seemed dangerously threatened by one of the mostRead More
Margaret 11 Stanley - Members Only
While Jasper and Henry fled to Brittany, Margaret needed to find herself a husband of suitable status, but also well connected enough to help her protect her son andRead More
Margaret 10 Thirsty for Human Blood - Members Only
In 1471 Edward of York’s struggle for the throne of England would come to a conclusion, win or lose. His opponents were powerful – the Kingmaker, Margaret of Anjou, JasperRead More
Margaret Omnibus 3 EPs 7-9 - Members Only
Margaret and Henry Stafford made a home at Woking Palace during a time of changing lifestyles which prompted changes to the great houses. Despite a seemingly happy life, the vicissitudesRead More
Margaret 9 Readeption - Members Only
Warwick the Kingmaker supreme
Margaret 8 The Life Domestic - Members Only
Margaret seems to have fallen on her feet and her marriage from 1458-1471, as far as we can tell, would seem to have been happy and fulfilled, working together onRead More
Margaret 7 The Great House - Members Only
The image is of the Great Hall at Haddon Hall. Note the wooden screen in front of the 3 arches, which in turn lay before the Buttery and Pantry, andRead More
Margaret 6 After Towton - Members Only
Margaret’s marriage to Henry Stafford appears to have started as it would go on – reasonably happily as far as we can tell. But the political chaos of theRead More