⛓️8 April 1680. Following the death of Nicolas Foucquet while still a prisoner at Pignerol, the two valets who served him, Danger and La Rivière, are hidden away in a secret cell. Neither man will see freedom again. Read my book to find out why...

🧅Do you know that d'Artagnan's mother had a cabinet in her bedroom to which only she kept the key ? The cabinet was used to store jams, pickles and chutneys. Source: the inventory taken after the death of Bertrand de Batz Castelmore, d'Artagnan's father, in 1635.

😉Now seems an appropriate time to re-post my article on d'Artagnan and the Musketeers... dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-...

More on d'Artagnan - www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2026/03/t...

⚔️It's a shame the skull is so damaged, otherwise they might have been able to make a facial reconstruction. It would be interesting to see if it was similar to this image, first seen c.1701.

🔎 So exciting ! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

🏰23 March 1680. Nicolas Foucquet dies at the fortress of Pignerol where he has been held prisoner for sixteen years - but what is the mystery surrounding his death ... dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2016/03/deat...

🎬 The lovers in both The Phantom of the Opera and The Man in the Iron Mask are called Raoul and Christine 💕

😟10 March 1661 - not such a happy day for Nicolas Foucquet. He wanted, and expected, to become first minister after the death of Mazarin. He was shocked when Louis announced he was not going to appoint a new first minister, but to rule alone, with all ministers deferring to him.

👑10 March 1661. Following the death of Cardinal Mazarin, to whom he had left the government of France, Louis takes power into his own hands. So began the personal reign of Louis XIV. He was still only twenty-two years old.

📒Crumbs, I can't believe this was seven years ago ! The US edition of my biography of Louis XIV.

🗝️What was life like for a State prisoner in Louis XIV's France ? Well, for a start, it depended on your social status...

💖 Happy Valentine's Day !

🏵️12 February 1542, ‘towards the evening,’ Sir John Gage, constable of the Tower of London, came to warn Katherine Howard ‘to dispose her soul and prepare for death, for she was to be beheaded next day.’ She asked to see the block because ‘she wanted to know how she was to place her head on it.’ 1/2

👻Here's a piece I wrote a year ago about the supernatural elements in the character of Milady de Winter as she appears in The Three Musketeers: dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-...

👻Did you know that The Wicked Lady began life as a ghost story ? A spooky start to the weekend... dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-...

📚 27 January 1615. Date of the baptism and possible birth of Nicolas Foucquet, a man of culture, intellect and learning. Here's a short piece I wrote a few years ago about his library. dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2020/10/nico...

👀 Thank you for following, liking, commenting and reposting - nighty night ! www.historyextra.com/period/stuar...

🤺21 December 1643. Death of Armand de Sillègue d’Athos d’Autevielle, almost certainly as a result of a duel. He was no more than 28 years old. Were it not for Alexandre Dumas, who found his name in an obscure pseudo-mémoire, Athos would probably have been forgotten by history.🍷

🎀A short but seasonal post from my blog - an extract from my book, John the Baptist: his Life and Afterlife dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2021/12/john...

🎁 He was arrested on a lettre de cachet. He was imprisoned without trial. He never knew freedom again. He became one of history's most famous prisoners. The true and tragic story of the Man in the Iron Mask constructed from primary sources (Suzie not included 😁).

🍞'We make so bold as to confess we think it so horrible and such a ruination to all upon which it imposes itself that we will not be associated with it. But we do use it for poultices !' Fanny and Johnnie Cradock on refusing to include bread sauce in their recipe book 😁

🪓10 December 1541. Francis Dereham is executed alongside Thomas Culpeper - but what was the truth about his association with Katherine Howard ? dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-...

How about a spooky story for a cold winter weekend... dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-...

💦Did you know that my PhD is in New Testament Studies, and my focus was John the Baptist ? You can read a bit about John by clicking this link : www.historyhit.com/facts-about-...

Today in 1703, the Man in the Iron Mask was buried in the cemerery of Saint-Paul, the parish cemetery of the Bastille. The event was recorded by Étienne Du Junca, who added it to his note on the prisoner's death. An old photograph shows the entrance to the now lost cemetery.

19 November 1703. The prisoner known to history as the Man in the Iron Mask died at the Bastille. You can read his fascinating story in my book😉

👨‍⚖️14 November 1664. The trial of Nicolas Foucquet enters its final stage - formal trial before a panel of judges. He was not expected to survive, with Louis and Colbert pressing for the death penalty. However, Foucquet skillfully defended himself.

I have posted my piece on Richard III's burial, if you would like a quick read (it's a 38 minute read, apparently !) www.academia.edu/144956019/Ri...

📝Just to let you know - I am unable to access my DMs on Bluesky because the age verification methods don't work. If you'd like to get in touch with me, please follow me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. It's annoying, as I now have a notification I can't get rid of !

💒6 November 1617, the teenaged Lucy Percy is married to Sir James Hay - but her journey to the alter was far from smooth: dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2025/05/marr...

🎃Happy Halloween👻

🌫️A damp and misty visit to Ludlow a few years ago. Lovely autumn🍂

Autumn at Fontainebleau

👣5 October 1640. Birth of Françoise Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, marquise de Montespan. She was arguably the most successful - and controversial - of Louis XIV's mistresses.

🌼Michaelmas 1599. Birth of Lucy Percy. Lucy, an intriguer and spy, was the second and youngest daughter of Henry Percy, ninth earl of Northumberland. It is believed by some that she provided the inspiration for Milady de Winter: www.historyextra.com/period/stuar...

My article, 'The Supernatural and the Ethereal in the Character of Milady de Winter' has been a bit of a slow burner, but it's really taking off now ! www.academia.edu/126935880/Th...

👑Another chapter completed !😊

🧾5 September 1661. Louis XIV summons d'Artagnan and gives him orders to arrest the superintendent of finances, Nicolas Foucquet. For the next four years, d'Artagnan will serve as Foucquet's gaoler. Image: Wax tableau by Daniel Druet dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2024/02/dart...

🎂5 September 1638. The birth of Louis XIV. Styled the gift from God, much would be expected from this new baby.

💦29 August marks the traditional anniversary of the execution of John the Baptist - but how do the Gospels compare with the history ? Images: 1, John the Baptist rebuking Herod by Giovanni Fattori 2, My book 😁 @amberleybooks

🪓The Musketeers, with Lord de Winter, pass judgement on Milady. The headsman takes her across the river to her execution. In The Three Musketeers, Dumas situates this event to five or so days after the asseasination of Buckingham. Images: Denis Gordeev and Leonid Nepomnyashchiy

🍷Having returned from England, where she succeeded in persuading Felton to assassinate Buckingham, Constance tracks down Constance to a convent. Startled by the approach of the Musketeers...

👑My new book, 1483: A Game of Kings, naturally features Richard III. Bosworth, of course, does not appear, but would you like to see how I tracked down Richard's burial place all the way back in 2006 ? dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2013/02/rich...

👻10 August 1901. Spooky goings-on at Versailles... dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2018/08/ghos... Portrait of Marie Antoinette by François Hubert Drouais.

🎠6 August 1644. Birth of Louise de La Vallière, the first official mistress of Louis XIV. Portrait of Louise by Jean Nocret.

🔊 What does Versailles sound like - soundcloud.com/user-9722711...

💍Sheriff Hutton, North Yorkshire. Henry VIII stayed here while on progress in 1541. During this visit, Thomas Culpepper sent a ring to Jane, Lady Rochford, while Katherine Howard sent him 'two bracelets with this message that they were sent him to keep his arms warm.'

🏰 The fall of the Bastille led to the discovery of many State documents to do with the mysterious prisoner known to history as the Man in the Iron Mask

👑I am thrilled to announce my new book - 1483: A Game of Kings - which will be published in 2027 Stay tuned for updates !