On this day in History: 1066 Death of Harald Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Having two wives at the same time seems to have been fashionable in the 11th century. Here's a look at Thora, Harald Hardrada’s Other Wife

In the latest fabulous episode of A Slice of Medieval, Derek Birks and I get to chat with Angus Donald about his new hero, The Templar Traitor #medievalsky bit.ly/3IhzPnQ

Having two wives at the same time seems to have been fashionable in the 11th century. So, following on from Elisiv of Kyiv, here's a look at Thora, Harald Hardrada’s Other Wife #medievalsky #kingandconqueror historytheinterestingbits.com/2020/02/01/t...

One of the few things I thought they got right in King and Conqueror was the portrayal of the relationship between Harold and Edith Swanneck. The history was off in places, but the partnership and mutual affection and trust was spot on! #KingandConqueror historytheinterestingbits.com/2018/10/14/t...

Telling the real stories! Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066. #KingandConqueror mybook.to/SilkandSword

Harald Hardrada's story is almost just a byline in King & Conqueror. And yet his story, and that of his wives, is fascinating,, even if some of the information, especially on Elisiv of Kyiv, is elusive #medievalsky #womeninhistory #kingandconqueror historytheinterestingbits.com/2020/01/26/h...

🎨Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales🎨 'Heav’n and Earth’s Delight’ 'Our rising sun' 'so celestiall a creature' I've put together this 4 minute video about a special portrait of Henry, which held a secret revealed through x-radiography. 📽️https://youtu.be/V9TP9OoitKQ (Please do subscribe to too!)

Hosted by the Friends of Gainsborough Old Hall, my next talk will be on Lincolnshire's Tudor Heroines. Renaissance women from writers and mistresses to martyrs, duchesses and queens. Including some with close links to Gainsborough Old Hall. £4 on the door 7 October 2025, 7.30pm

New! Helena Snakenborg, Marchioness of Northampton, was the only foreigner to serve as one of Queen Elizabeth I’s ladies. Arriving from Sweden in 1565 in the entourage of a Swedish princess, she fell in love and made her life in England #womeninhistory historytheinterestingbits.com/2025/09/20/h...

Helena Snakenborg: A Swedish Woman Living in Tudor England Helena Snakenborg, Marchioness of Northampton, in coronation robes, 1603 An Elizabethan whose story I became aware of through a novel is Helena Snakenborg, who features in Tracy Borman’s novel, The King’s Witch. I had to know more about…

Ooh, my new treat! 😍😍😍 Thank you @oldstpublishing.bsky.social and @ianmortimer.bsky.social 😘 I'm going to enjoy this!

I'm sorry, worldwide, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable permission to my voice and likeness? For what now? In any manner for any purpose??? This is in academia/.edu's new ToS, which you're prompted to agree to on login. Anyway I'll be jumping ship. You can find my stuff at hcommons.org.

On this day in History: 17 September 1179 Death at Rupertsberg of Hildegard of Bingen, one of the most remarkable women of the medieval era. Hildegard was brilliant, a polymath ahead of her time! #womeninhistory #medievalwomen historytheinterestingbits.com/2024/03/03/h...

8 years ago today I realised a lifelong dream when my 1st book, Heroines of the Medieval World was published. Finally holding my own book in my hands was one of the best feelings ever. I owe huge thanks to Amberley Books, my family, friends and readers for the incredible support they've shown me

I love that Judith of Flanders was included in the #KingAndConqueror version of 1066, but they did gat her story a tad warped. Her lasting legacy is four wonderful Gospels, commissioned by Judith, which have the most stunning jeweled covers historytheinterestingbits.com/2019/10/05/j...

Wordly Women: Gillian Bagwell Time for another edition of Wordly Women! Today I get to chat with one of my favourite writers, Gillian Bagwell, who has written a wonderful novel about one of my Tudor Heroines, Bess of Hardwick.

#OTD in 1368 Death at Tutbury of Blanche of Lancaster, the first wife of John of Gaunt and mother of Henry IV. She was just 23 years old and had given birth to 7 children: 3 would survive #medievalsky #womeninhistory #historyheroines historytheinterestingbits.com/2015/08/08/b... via @Thehistorybits

It's done! Book no. 10 is finished. Princesses of the Later Middle Ages: Royal Daughter of the Plantagenets is now with my editor. Now the nervous wait for feedback begins...

The Royal Historical Society welcomes Fellowship applications from historians working in higher education and other sectors, as well as independent researchers. Fellows make original contributions to historical understanding via research, public history and heritage bit.ly/4iOu51g #Skystorians 1/2

#OTD in 1167. Death of Empress Matilda, Lady of the English. The first woman to claim the throne of England as hers by right of inheritance. She never war the crown, but her son did, thanks to her tenacity #medievalsky historytheinterestingbits.com/2024/01/14/e... via @Thehistorybits

Ever wondered what was the role of a medieval sheriff? @derekbirks.bsky.social and I have a chat with the not-so-dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham #SoundCloud #medievalsky @penandswordbooks.bsky.social on.soundcloud.com/OagmhCM2pKmm...

Emma of Normandy was the most influential woman of the first half of the 11th century. The only woman to be queen of England, twice. Her story is a little different to that depicted in #KingandConqueror, but no less dramatic. #medievalsky historytheinterestingbits.com/2019/03/06/e...

My next talk will be on Lincolnshire's Tudor Heroines. Renaissance women from writers and mistresses to martyrs, duchesses and queens. Including some with close links to Gainsborough Old Hall. 7 October 2025 at 7.30pm Venue: Gainsborough House, Parnell Street , Gainsborough (opposite the Old Hall)

Anna of Kyiv, Queen of France Anna of Kyiv, Queen of France, was the wife of Henry I of France, was also regent for her son, Philip I. Educated and capable, she was one of the most remarkable women of the 11th century.

Fundraising is taking place for archaeological excavations and a small museum at Littleborough in Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire. The Segelocum Roman fort was sited at Littleborough near, or at, an important crossing of the River Trent. Find out more: www.life-publications.com/retford/comm...

On this day in History: 1199 Death at Fontevraud of my favourite medieval princess. Joanna of England, Queen of Sicily and Countess of Toulouse, was a remarkably well travelled woman who knew when to stand up for herself. #medievalsky historytheinterestingbits.com/2015/05/21/j...

Book Corner: My thoughts on Templar Traitor, the rather excellent new novel by Angus Donald, which sees a Templar knight fighting in the Mongol horde... @angusdonald.bsky.social #histfic #medieval #crusaders historytheinterestingbits.com/2025/09/04/b...

Writing And Publishing Short Stories And Poetry With J.F. Penn And Orna Ross www.thecreativepenn.com/2025/09/01/w... #writing #Podcast #WritingCommunity

The "Aethel" in King and Conqueror is actually Alfred, the younger brother of Edward the Confessor, who did indeed come to a sticky end, but not on the beach. So, what was the real story? #medieval #KingandConqueror historytheinterestingbits.com/2018/10/27/t...

Wordly Women: Elizabeth Chadwick New: It is a pleasure to welcome Elizabeth Chadwick to History ... the Interesting Bits as part of my Wordly Women series, to discuss her writing career and her love of history - and William Marshal, of course!

New! A Triumvirate of English Earls @derekbirks.bsky.social and I discuss the 3 great Anglo-Saxons earls of 11th century England: Godwin, Leofric and Siward. How influential were they? #podcast #kingandconqueror @penandswordbooks.bsky.social @historia-hwa.bsky.social soundcloud.com/user-1425259...

Telling the real stories! Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066. #KingandConqueror mybook.to/SilkandSword

One of the few things I thought they got right in King and Conqueror was the portrayal of the relationship between Harold and Edith Swanneck. The history was off in places, but the partnership and mutual affection and trust was spot on! #KingandConqueror historytheinterestingbits.com/2018/10/14/t...

Off down "the local" - castle, that is - this morning to chat about the Warenne family and some amazing medievall women.

Sybilla of Normandy, Queen of Scots New article: One of the many illegitimate daughters of Henry I of England, Sybilla of Normandy became Queen of Scots as the wife of Alexander I, but what impression has she made on History?

On this day in History: 1138 Bosworth was not the only battle fought on English soil on 22 August. 347 years earlier the Battle of the Standard was fought. At Northallerton in North Yorkshire, an English army faced a Scots army... #medieval #theanarchy historytheinterestingbits.com/2024/08/22/t...

Book Corner: The Queen’s Musician by Martha Jean Johnson New review: What an interesting take on a well known story! The Queen's Musician by Martha Jean Johnson looks at the story of Anne Boleyn's downfall through the eyes of her musician, Mark Smeaton.

Book Corner: The Druid’s Prey by Steven A. McKay Yes! Bellicus is back! And better than ever. My latest review is of the excellent novel The Druid's Prey by Steven A. McKay

I'm off back to my 'local' this Bank Holiday weekend. On Saturday, I will be giving 2 free talks in the Visitor Centre. 11am The Women of Conisbrough Castle and 1pm The Warennes of Conisbrough Castle Both talks are child friendly and I will hang around to chat and answer questions afterwards.

On this day in History: 1355 Birth of Philippa, only child of Edward III's second surviving son, Lionel Duke of Clarence. It is through its descent from Philippa her the House of York claimed seniority over that of Lancaster #medievalsky #houseofyork historytheinterestingbits.com/2015/10/03/t...

Wordly Women: Kathryn Warner History…the Interesting Bits has a new instalment of my Author Spotlight series, Wordly Women. Kathryn Warner is the 'go to' person for all-things Edward II...

Tomorrow! PowerPoint done ✔ Notes revised ✔ Bags packed ✔ Outfit picked ✔ Ready to go! ✔

Episode 73 of A Slice of Medieval In this fabulous episode, @derekbirks.bsky.social and Sharon chat with Catherine Hanley, author of Lionessheart, about Richard I's baby sister, Joanna Plantagenet, Queen of Sicily and Countess of Toulouse #medieval #podcast #womeninhistory bit.ly/4loVVSA

Can't believe I've never thought to do this, but here's the Top 10 most popular articles on my blog over the last 3 years historytheinterestingbits.com

Anne de Beaujeu, ‘the least foolish woman in France’ New: Anne de Beaujeu, Duchesse de Bourbon, was Regent of France for her brother, Charles VIII. She was once described by her father as 'the least foolish woman in France'

Would be grateful if someone could date these #shoes please. My (wild) guess is C19-C20. Due to their size I guess they are women’s shoes. #georgianfashion #victorianfashion #edwardianfashion

On this day in History: 1385 Death of Joan, Dowager Princess of Wales and Countess of Kent. A famed beauty, Joan's marriage 'issues' had scandalised Europe before marrying Edward, the Black Prince. She was the mother of Richard II historytheinterestingbits.com/2015/10/10/t...

Guest Post: Announcing Gothic Precarity by Tim Rideout Today, it is a pleasure to welcome to History...the Interesting Bits, Dr Tim Rideout, whose first book, ‘Gothic Precarity: Fear and Anxiety in Twenty-First-Century Fiction’ comes out next month.

From the archives: A brief summary of the medieval Earls of Warenne and Surrey, a noble family remarkable for a distinct lack of family feuds and their familial connections to the noble and royal houses of England, France and Scotland #medieval historytheinterestingbits.com/2021/07/10/m...

Wordly Women: Aimee Fleming In today's episode of my Wordly Women, author spotlight series, I have a chat with Tudor historian Aimee Fleming.