Susan Abernethy's Blog

The Freelance History Writer is pleased to welcome back Toni Mount, author of the medieval based Seb Foxley adventures. The Medieval Mystery Plays In my new Seb Foxley adventure, The Colour of Darkness, it is midsummer in medieval London, a time often celebrated with the performance of a cycle of mystery plays, telling the Bible […]

Pen & Sword is having an autumn sale! You can pre-order my upcoming book, The Formidable Women Who Shaped Medieval Europe: Power and Patronage at the Burgundian Court for 30% off. Order your copy today! (UK Residents from the Pen & Sword website only until October 31) The Formidable Women Who Shaped Medieval Europe: Power […]

In challenging her half-brother Henry IV for the crown of Castile, Isabella sought the ability to choose her own husband. Once Henry agreed to name Isabella his heir, the Castilian nobles entered a rivalry for control of her, as well as who she chose for a spouse. Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, Archbishop of Toledo, her […]

The Freelance History Writer and friends invite you to join us on a week long Blog Tour. Each day a new article about the life of Catherine of Braganza will be posted along with a delightful discussion with Natalie on the If It Ain’t Baroque podcast. July 28 Catherine of Braganza’s Agency as Queen with […]

The Freelance History Writer is pleased to welcome Sam Mee with a guest post “The power behind the throne”. Althouth this conjures images of Cardinal Richelieu or puppet masters, there are other effective ways to influence power and society. Queen Charlotte is one of the more consequential yet lowest profile Queen Consorts.   She was […]

Today is the US release date for Charles II’s Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza. Order your copy today from your favorite bookseller for immediate shipment. Charles II’s Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza restores this overlooked Queen to prominence, revealing her political influence, cultural patronage, and enduring legacy in both […]

The Freelance History Writer is pleased to welcome author Amy Fleming as a guest. Aimee’s latest book, Tudor Princes and Princesses: The Early Lives of the Children of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York will be released by Pen and Sword on June 20, 2025. She has a BA (Hons) in History from the University […]

Early Years Born April 22, 1451, in the town of Madrigal de las Altas Torres, Isabel was the daughter of John II, King of Castile, and his second wife, Isabella of Portugal. As a child, she grew up at Arevalo under the care of her mother and maternal grandmother, Isabel of Barcelos, and received an […]

The first king of the House of Oldenburg, Christian I’s reign as king of Denmark, began in 1448. At the time of his visit to Italy, he was also the king of Norway. In 1469, three years into the reign of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan, he received a message from King Christian requesting […]

Bianca was a woman ‘of strong and great spirit and prudent counsel’–from the journal of Pope Pius II Bianca (trans. white) Maria Visconti was born on March 31, 1425, in the castle of Settimo Pavese, the daughter of Filippo Maria Visconti and his mistress Agnese Del Maino. Her father harbored high hopes for her, as […]