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William was the most notable member of the de Braose dynasty. His gradual rise and sudden fall at the hands of King John is often taken as evidence of that king’s capricious behaviour towards his barons. In 1175, William de Braose carried out the Abergavenny Massacre, luring three Welsh princes and other Welsh leaders to…
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Most people know of the murder of Thomas a Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, but far fewer know that, in the mid-15th century, another bishop was murdered in the quiet priory church of Edington in Wiltshire. Edington is a peaceful place today; however, it was anything but in medieval times. Its most famous event was when,…
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Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) was an important mediaeval herb. It is a bushy perennial with feathery, bright green leaves and small, daisy-like white flowers with yellow centres, similar to chamomile but its flowers are flat-topped. Its name, feverfew, or ‘fever reducer’ derives from the Latin febrifugia, meaning ‘to put fever to flight’. It was used, as…
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On this day, 6th January, 960 years ago was the coronation of Harold II (Godwinson). He was probably the first king to ever have been crowned in Westminster Abbey and was chosen by the Witan to be king after King Edward (The Confessor) died childless the previous day, 5th January 1066. Harold was the direct…
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Lady Godiva (or Godgifu, meaning gift of God), was not just a legend – she was real! And, what’s more, she was Richard III’s ancestor. Here’s how: From Sibyl de Neufmarché, follow the pink dots back (right to left) through Richard’s family tree. Lady Godiva, was a late Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who was the wife of…
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In 2008, archaeologists made a find that was possibly even more astounding than the discovery of Richard III’s remains. Beneath the floor of Magdeburg Cathedral in Germany, they opened a sarcophagus that was believed to be a cenotaph, or empty, symbolic memorial. Inside, they found a lead coffin which turned out to contain the remains…
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One of our contributors, Maria Leotta, recently posted this blogpost about a house belonging to Francis Lovell in York – read about it here. However, she has also now sent me a photograph of the beam that was apparently in said house, and on it is a depiction of a man wearing a medieval-style hat.…
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Recently I came across an archaeological article which I found very interesting as it had similarities to Richard III’s finding and identification. Duke Bela of Macso was a young Hungarian nobleman who was assassinated, aged approximately 25, in 1272. On August 6, King Stephen died, and his young son, Ladislaus, IV ascended the throne. Infighting…
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Thanks to the Yorkshire Branch for this information: Lancaster University will host a full day conference on Richard III on Saturday 6 December. Dr Christopher Tinmouth is one of the speakers and Philippa Gregory will be in conversation about her play Richard, MyRichard. Richard III Lord of the North & Dramatizing Richard III, Saturday 6…
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I have written recently about Jo Harkin’s new book, The Pretender, (https://murreyandblue.co.uk/2025/05/05/the-pretender-takes-the-same-old-attitude-to-richard-iii/) which tells the story of Lambert Simnel, who claimed to be Edward, Earl of Warwick, for whom the Yorkists fought (and lost) the Battle of Stoke Field in 1487. You can read about the earl here https://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/plantagenet_25.html. And about Lambert Simnel here https://richardiii.net/faqs/richard-and-his-world/aftermath/lambert-simnel-and-the-king-from-dublin/…
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