We are in Warsaw this week, for the 2026 Medieval and Renaissance Music Conference. A great occasion the discover our newest titles in the field! More Info: bit.ly/44Q4xvF #MedRen2026 #Medren26 #MusicSky #MusicHistory

Following my trip to Latvia last week, may I present the dukes of Courland, with their amazing palaces at Jelgava and Rundale. The story of two ducal families, Kettler then Biron. dukesandprinces.org/2026/07/07/d...

Today #dukesandprinces visits the Palace of Mitau (today Jelgava, Latvia). The seat of the dukes of Courland, and temporary home of the French court in exile, 1798 to 1807.

Riga, even on a very very warm day, is lovely!

#Dukesandprinces visits Ireland this week for one of the very few Irish dukedoms: Ormond. Ceremonially butlers of the king from the 12th century, they dominated Kilkenny and Tipperary for centuries, sometimes pro-England, sometimes fiercely against. dukesandprinces.org/2026/06/27/d...

Nature reserve. Haven for birds and sealife. Uninhabited beauty of nature. And they want to destroy it all make it private luxury resort because the "fell in love" with it spiritually? Barbarians, all the awful developers. Especially anyone associate with trump. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

So, #NicholasGalitzine has a new movie this weekend. Instead of watching, I thought I'd research the Golitsyn family--no relation--the most powerful princely family in Russia, with prime ministers, patrons, collectors, even the 'Queen of Spades'! dukesandprinces.org/2026/06/06/g...

RIP #LadyPamela Hicks née Mountbatten, one of the last members of the princely house of Battenberg. Here is her family's story, written back in 2020. dukesandprinces.org/2020/11/16/p...

The Dukes of Galliera: an Italian duchy held by Genoese aristocrats then Orleans princes who act as Spanish infantes. Along the way, a Princess of Monaco and the owner of the Hotel de Matignon. In Two parts: The Brignole-Sale family and the Dukes of Montpensier dukesandprinces.org/2026/05/24/g...

Enjoy Philippe d'Orleans on You're Dead To Me? Want to know more? Here's me a bit racier and less polished, discussing his sex life and the show #Versailles Enjoy! open.spotify.com/episode/2AdM...

Come along if you’re in the area!

Two weeks ago #dukesandprinces explored parts of Wales once ruled by the princes of Gwynedd. Here is their story--full of fratricide, betrayal ... and stunning castle ruins. dukesandprinces.org/2026/05/11/p...

Arms of Duchy of Lorraine spotted today in Stirling Castle. They put a white label on to represent the Guise. I wrote to Lord Lyon to say it should be red. He said I was wrong and referred me to a heraldry manual from 300 years later.

#QueenCamilla is in the headlines today, so I’ll reshare a piece I wrote on her ancestry at the time of her husband’s accession. dukesandprinces.org/2023/09/08/a...

TLDR:

Criccieth Castle today, one of the last seats of the Princes of Gwynedd. ##dukesandprinces

To follow up on last week's visit to Eggenberg Palace, the short but dramatic story of the Eggenberg princes. dukesandprinces.org/2026/04/19/e...

Today's #dukesandprinces visit was to the palace of the princes of Eggenberg. An amazing tale of social rise from rich burgher to master of finance to imperial prince...to extinction. In only a few generations.

While visiting Ljubljana, #dukesandprinces had to pay a visit to the old palace of the princes of Auersperg, now the city museum.

In recent news, the body of d #Artagnan may have been found. Through his mother, the real Gascon Musketeer was related to the Montesquious, one of France's most ancient noble dynasties, connected to Blaise de Monluc and the dukes of Fezensac. dukesandprinces.org/2026/04/05/m...

The latest Friends of #Tabley Newsletter full of #TableyHouse stories. Plus details of coming events with our fabulous speakers from @jspan.bsky.social @suewilkesauthor.bsky.social @eilzabethgaskellsh.bsky.social details to follow but for now tea, cake and #Cheshire #Knutsford #stories

The Duke of Monmouth may have left a mark on the history of Great Britain, but so too have his descendants, the dukes of Buccleuch and Queensberry, with the triple-barrel surname Montagu-Douglas-Scott. dukesandprinces.org/2026/03/29/s...

Will you be in Vienna this Spring? Come hear me speak at the Institute for Habsburg and Balkan Studies, on the topic of unmarried royal women at the court of France. Here's the details: www.oeaw.ac.at/fileadmin/In...

See if you find yourself cited in this article! Hot off the presses!

We have a cover! Just in time for Christmas! www.amazon.co.uk/Bourbons-Sai...

For International Women's Day, I've written about Princess Feodora of Leiningen, the half-sister most people don't know Queen Victoria had. The princes of Leiningen have deep roots in the forests of the Palatinate and in the hills of the Vosges. dukesandprinces.org/2026/03/08/l...

Today we are so pleased to host Dr Samuel Clowes Huneke @schuneke.bsky.social to present his exciting new book "I Will Not Abandon You: Queen Women in Nazi Germany" to our research group and to our students. @mngupbooks.bsky.social

Well, I guess I know now what I'm doing this weekend... (I actually love doing my own ibdex--very cathartic).

Yesterday, touring the Cotswolds...no, actually this picture surfaced from 21 years ago!

Great to see our new series on Courts and Courtiers plkugged so strongly on the #RenSA26 app by @brepols.net and tovsee our first three books out in the world.

In today's #dukesandprinces, #RenSA26 conference edition, we attend three fascinating papers about Neopolitan princes, including Caraffa, including this erudite princess, Livia Doria.

The Duke of Clarence isn't the only royal arrest to be remembered by historians: in Scotland, about the same time, James III arrested abd executed his brother the Earl of Mar. And don't forget the arrest and trial of Mary, Queen of Scots!

Some are saying there’s no precedent for arresting a king’s brother like #Andrew. Think again: dukesandprinces.org/2023/01/02/s...

Excited to get in a long walk through the Presidio ahead of the start of #RenSA26 tomorrow. Come hear us on Saturday in discussion about noble genealogies.

And if you want to know more about the Orléans title used for spares, see my latest blog post dukesandprinces.org/2026/02/12/t...

Oh, by the way, our international listeners can now enjoy the hugely enjoyable You’re Dead To Me episode about Philippe Duc d’Orleans (Louis XIV’s extraordinary brother) Our excellent guests are expert historian @jspan.bsky.social and comedian Tom Allan — available globally on all podcast apps

My episode of BBC's You're Dead to Me, featuring Philippe d'Orleans and sexuality at Versailles, is now available outside the UK. And for more on the history of the Orleans title and family, I've written a two-part blog on #dukesandprinces (see comments for link). www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Excited to see this book arrive today, just in time to discuss this topic of French genealogical histories further next week at #RSA2026! @rsaorg.bsky.social

If anyone ever had doubts that Reform and/or Cruella were evil AND stupid... Well,

Discover our newest titles in #Medieval Studies with this newsletter. Go to: bit.ly/3NFLizM #Medievalsky #MiddleAges #Medievalists #History #Religion #Theology #Literature

On Monday 26 January, Matthew Howles (Science Museum) will delight us with his lecture on “Curating Versailles: Science and Splendour at the Science Museum”. 18:00 GMT – Online via Zoom Register for free using this link: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/matthew-ho...

A nice little video we recorded after the recording! #YoureDeadToMe

🚨New episode alert! This week’s YOU’RE DEAD TO ME is all about King Louis XIV’s fascinating, impressive, and sometimes scandalous brother, Phillipe Duc d’Orléans! My guests are the amazing comedian Tom Allen and the fab historian @jspan.bsky.social Listen now on BBC SOUNDS, or wait 28 days

I'm pleased to share a new episode of BBC's You're Dead to Me where I chat with @gregjenner.bsky.social and comedian Tom Allan about Philippe d'Orleans, sexuality and general shenanigans at Versailles! Available today on BBC Sounds and broadcast tomorrow at 10 on BBC 4. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

#History Philippe, Duc d’Orléans: in the shadow of the Sun King You're Dead to Me Sat 10:00 BBC Radio 4 @gregjenner.bsky.social is joined by @jspan.bsky.social and Tom Allen to learn all about Philippe, Duc d’Orléans, Louis XIV’s younger brother. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Are you fond of frangipane cake for New Years Day? How about Dalmatian princes with a name so unpronouncable (Krčki) that they borrowed another to become Frankopans? This family battled for independence against Venetians, Hungarians, Turks and Austrians, and are a symbol of Croatian nationhood today

Happy New Year to all! I am looking forward to 2026: a big podcast release, a new research project, a new *big* book, and a keynote in Prague!

Lecture on Carnival and violent festivities for my second years tomorrow. As I've long lost any dreams of possibly being The Cool Lecturer, I'm absolutely throwing in my love for the most excellent of exhibition adverts:

Reading for a rainy Sunday: dukes of Manchester, dukes of Montagu; Kimbolton, last residence of Katherine of Aragon; Boughton, the Versailles of Northamptonshire; the British Museum and the Wallace Collection; American heiresses; debt and prison...it's all here! dukesandprinces.org/2025/12/07/l...

Very excited to see this new book fresh off the presses: a variety of approaches to writing narratives of history, including a chapter on noble genealogy by yours truly! iterpress.org/978164959143...