Keira Morgan's Blog

Front piece of the 1st Edition of John Playford, The English Dancing Master, London, 1651

Catherine of Braganza began to engage more readily in the activities of the Stuart Court following a visit from her mother-in-law, Dowager Queen Henrietta Maria. Henrietta had encouraged her to accept his husband’s infidelities and participate and even organize events. Charles also inspired her to be more involved, just as his mother had done during her time as queen.

Catherine actively took part in w...

Charles II’s Portuguese Queen – Blog tour

Please Join me to welcome guest blogger Susan Abernethy!

Nothing delights me more than to welcome Susan Abernethy as Wednesday’s guest blogger. Susan is one of the most admired and widely read historical bloggers writing today. Her blog, The Freelance History Writer, has been a trusted treasure trove since 2012. It contains over 500 richly researched articles and covers everything from the European Middle Ages to the Renaissance and Tudor worlds....

Step back in time to the life of Antoinette de Maignelais (1434?–1474) to read a tale of love and intrigue. She was mistress of Duke François II of Brittany (1461-1474). A little-known figure otherwise, her importance lies in her role as the the duke’s favorite and mistress. Their illicit (to our eyes) affair left an indelible impact on medieval Breton history. Her journey led her through the treacherous French courts of Charles VII and his estranged son, Louis XI, to the embattled court of Duke...

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

In the tapestry of the French Renaissance, the figure of Anne Malet de Graville stands out as an literary icon of renaissance intellect and literary creativity. Born into the prestigious Norman Malet de Graville family around 1490, Anne’s literary contribution to this a period of the flourishing literary world of her time is now receiving renewed recognition.

Table of contentsAnne Malet de Graville’s FamilyAnne de GravilleA Woman Poet at CourtAnne Malet ...

On 27 March 1615, the notorious Reine Margot, Queen of Navarre, much vilified first wife of the great King Henry IV of France, died. At the time of her death, she was the last member of the royal Valois line that had ruled in France since 1328.

Table of contentsA Bright, Clever ChildA Disastrous MarriageA Captive RebelHer Literary LegacyIn her own words:More About the Scandalous Reine Margot of Navarre Fictionally:Why THREE Marguerites De Valois?

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

A B...

The 16th century in France saw big changes in intellectual life, culture, religion, and politics, for both women and men. Italian influences brought new ideas in humanism, arts, architecture, and literature. Like men, women writers and thinkers began to explore ideas about the dignity and potential of the individual, reflecting the influence of humanism. At the same time, corruption in the Catholic Church triggered religious unrest that led to the French Wars of Religion.

Women Writing in the...

According to Caroline zum Kolk, “In the long history of the household of the queen of France, the sixteenth century marked a peak: never before or since was its staff so numerous, or was it so deeply involved in life at court.”

To give a sense of the size and complexity of the French queens’ household, this blog article will cover why it blossomed during the period, provide numbers and summarize the 10 household dpartments and their functions.

The Expansion of the Court

First, he...

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

The Renaissance marriage of Germaine [Germana] de Foix, King Louis XII’s niece, is a perfect example that for centuries, royal women were pawns on the chessboard of power and politics. She even lost her name when she married King Ferdinand II of Aragon in 1505.

Germaine de Foix, Queen of Aragon ...

The Serpent’s Spell by Rae St. Clair Bridgman is a captivating tale of magic spells, a journey and a young hero. It begins with a news report of a fire, then switches to a girl and her cat, then switches again to a boy and his snake taking a train journey from Toronto to Winnipeg. So, it is a Canadian novel.  

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Table of contentsThe Hero’s Journey with his SerpentMagic, Heroism and JourneyThe Serpent’s SpellThe Hero’s Journey with his Serpent

Wil Wy...

When I started Passion for Compasses, I did not expect to discover a medieval eyeopener. Although the subtitle–Medieval Master Builders and their Cathedral Building Plans–intrigued me, I thought I would learn a bit about how medieval architects built the great gothic cathedrals without understanding any of the technicalities. I picked it up from Book Sirens in exchange for a review, so I figured it was worth a try to read it.

Table of contentsMedieval Europe as a Foreign CultureThe Surprising...