Royal Grief in Medieval Iberia with Nuria Silleras-Fernandez
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Núria Silleras-Fernández about what grief and widowhood were “supposed” to look like, how grief and madness were thought to be intertwined with love, and how the grieving women in the famous Isabella the Catholic’s family shaped the history of Spain and Portugal.
Royal Women of Sweden with Caroline Wilhelmsson
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Caroline Wilhelmsson about the royal women of Sweden, how they became queens, and how they exercised their power.
New Medieval Books: The Queens and Royal Women of Sweden, c. 970–1330
Over thirty Swedish queens are profiled in this book, the first major study of royal women in Sweden between the 10th and 14th centuries. It offers new insights into the evolution of medieval queenship.
Medieval Ladies-in-Waiting with Caroline Dunn
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Caroline Dunn about the lives of ladies in waiting.
Dowager Queens of Korea with Alban Schmid – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 275
Though they’re often overlooked, the dowager queens of Korea were the one of the most powerful legitimizing forces behind the throne. This week, Danièle speaks with Alban Schmid about how Korea was ruled in the late Middle Ages, its relationship to Ming China, and the power wielded by the women at the top.
Early English Queens with Matthew Firth – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 273
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Matthew Firth about what early queenship looked like, the role queens played in legitimizing a king’s right to rule, and how three incredible women shaped English royal history.
How Medieval English Queens Used Gifts to Influence Power and Loyalty
A new study reveals how medieval English queens used gift-giving as a powerful tool to secure alliances and demonstrate authority. From Margaret of Anjou’s lavish gold cups to Elizabeth of York’s symbolic gestures, the research uncovers the political and social significance behind these royal acts of generosity.
New Medieval Books: Early English Queens, 850-1000
A look at queenship in early medieval England, this book focuses on three women: Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians, Eadgifu of Wessex, and Ælfthryth, Queen of the English. It examines the nature and role of their authority when it came to ruling England.
The Queens Who Shaped Medieval Christianity: Gregory the Great’s Forgotten Allies
While Gregory’s influence is well known, the role of several powerful queens in promoting Catholic Christianity during his time is a fascinating but often overlooked aspect of this period.
New Medieval Books: Radegund
The story of Radegund, a 6th-century princess who would find herself being married to the man who had killed her family. From high politics in the Merovingian Empire to the creation of a monastery, Radegund’s life is a very interesting tale.
New Medieval Books: Dynasty in Motion
A look at royal weddings in the 15th and 16th centuries, focusing on the travel that took place before getting to the ceremony.
Eleanor of Aquitaine with Karen Sullivan
She’s one of the most well-known figures in history: married to two kings, mother to three, and a powerful duchess in her own right. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Karen Sullivan about the legendary Eleanor of Aquitaine, her famous – and infamous – relationships, and what makes her such a fascinating subject for historians and fiction writers alike.
When this medieval English queen died, 68,000 people were fed
The death of a medieval queen was often an occasion for great sorrow throughout their own country – even more so when the…
The Queen and the Mistress with Gemma Hollman
It’s not that easy being queen, especially when one of your ladies-in-waiting catches the eye of your husband. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Gemma Hollman about Philippa of Hainault and Alice Perrers, the wife and the mistress of Edward III.
The story of a Rusian Princess who became a European Empress
Her story is a fascinating one, and one which sheds light not only on Rus and the German Empire, but on relations throughout Europe.
New Medieval Books: Queens of Jerusalem: The Women Who Dared to Rule
Read an excerpt from Queens of Jerusalem: The Women Who Dared to Rule, by Katherine Pangonis
Medieval Noble Ladies and Their Servants: Who Wore What and Why
How clothing instantly messaged status, wealth, and place in noble society – from the royal ladies through the ranks of their household servants.
The Emperor in Politics and Love: The Four Wives of Charles IV
Here are the stories of these four wives and their marriages to the emperor.
Medieval Princesses, with Kelcey Wilson-Lee
Did medieval princesses live that typical fairy-tale role? This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle talks with Kelcey Wilson-Lee, author of Daughters of Chivalry: The Forgotten Children of Edward I, to learn about how these English princesses actually lived during the Middle Ages.
Medieval Scottish Queens, with Amy Hayes
What can we learn about queens in medieval Scotland? In this episode of Scotichronicast, Kate Buchanan is joined by Amy Hayes to talk about queens and becoming a medieval historian.
Isabella of France, Queen of England
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle tells the story of one of her favourite queens, Isabella of France, who went from being a child bride to storming England and toppling an anointed king.
A comparative study of Urraca of León-Castilla (d. 1126), Melisende of Jerusalem (d. 1161), and Empress Matilda of England (d. 1167) as royal heiresses
This thesis explores aspects of rulership over five chapters, aimed at understanding how a royal heiress might succeed or fail to gain the throne, keep the throne, and preserve it for future generations.
Imperatrix, Domina, Rex: Conceptualizing the Female King in Twelfth-Century England
This study makes a case for the inclusion of the identity of the “female king,” specifically through the example of the early twelfth-century Empress Matilda, in trans studies.
Medieval witches with Gemma Hollman
It’s the spookiest season, which means it’s the perfect time to investigate medieval witches. This week, Danièle speaks with Gemma Hollman, author of Royal Witches, about some of the fifteenth century’s most high profile accusations of witchcraft.
Corporate Monarchy in the Twelfth-Century Kingdom of Jerusalem
While the conflicts between Queen Melisende of Jerusalem and the men in her family have received considerable scholarly attention, explanations for the ease with which they reconciled remain elusive.