I’m sharing where to find this blog from the British Library as it’s one of many of theirs which I’ve found a fascinating read.
Did you know that the British Library puts out articles of quality which are definitely worth a read if you’re at all interested in –
- history
- how people have and haven’t changed over time
- drawings of curious artefacts
and – in the case of the creatives amongst us –
inspiration for ‘modern’ gardens, interiors and art
These British Library articles are free to read and enjoy and are frequently shared on their social media (see below).
You can read their complete article here:- The Nine Worthy Women
The manuscript about the 9 Worthy Ancient & Medieval Women was written in the late sixteenth century, a period which had seen two Queens Regnant, ie rulers in their own right. Both of them were Tudors – Mary and Elizabeth – and they were half-sisters, sharing Henry VIII as their father.
Or possibly three Queens Regnant, depending on your viewpoint. I’m thinking of Matilda, as in Empress Matilda, oldest daughter of Henry I, who lived in the early 12th century.
Historical note: For those of you who aren’t sure, the Medieval period in Britain is generally taken as ‘finished’ in 1485, when the Tudor dynasty took over ruling England.
The picture at the top is of Eleanor of Aquitaine’s tomb. This remarkable woman was Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, Queen consort of France, then Queen consort of England, and later Regent for her son Richard I, the Lionheart. One of my personal heroes, she rightly appears in the list of worthies.
However, I must give a shout out to @BLMedieval which is the British Library’s Medieval manuscripts Twitter account.
Not only do they share manuscripts and blogs but encourage conversation. Sometimes the thread can be as enlightening as the original article. I’ve often found myself checking up on an historical person or fact mentioned in the comment stream and discovering lots of new things as a result 🙂
And this from someone who rarely goes onto Twitter these days…
