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. A Bright, Clever Child Born on 14 May
The Notorious Reine Margot Queen of Navarre Read More »
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
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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’
The Queens of France’s Households’ in 16th Century Read More »
The Renaissance marriage of Germaine [Germana] de Foix is a perfect example that for centuries, royal women were pawns in power and politics.
Power and Politics in Germaine de Foix’s Marriage Read More »
Discover the real lives behind the characters in ‘The Importance of Wives’. Explore the fascinating true stories that shaped this captivating novel.
The Real Lives Behind ‘The Importance of Wives” Characters Read More »
Follow the blog tour schedule for the May 31 launch of The Importance of Wives by Keira Morgan. It is the first book in her series about Anne of Brittany.
KEIRA’S VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR SCHEDULED EVENTS Read More »
Countess Françoise de Dinan, Breton Heiress and Powerbroker was one of the most sought-after women in 15th Century Brittany. she is best known to history as gouvernante to Duchess Anne of Brittany. She was also highly educated, extremely rich, and a peer in Brittany in her own right. As the sole heir of the great
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In the 16th Century as now, among the royals and the rich, it wasn’t so much what you knew as who you knew—and who your relations were. Blood was everything: more important than how rich you were; what you looked like; how healthy you were; what kind of temperament you had; and even what side
Louise de Savoy and the Savoy Connection Read More »
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes Historical romance meets period history These are two women with intelligence, in aristocratic roles without power. Mothers to children birthed to rule. Alienated from their natural instincts and obstructed from their abilities. Surrounded by wealth and privilege and yet locked in relationships defined by ancient customs of court and monarchy.
A Review of The Importance of Sons Read More »
What do Countess Louise, Astrology, and January 1 have in common? Readers of the Journal de Louise de Savoye, duchesse d’Angoulesme, d’Anjou et de Valois will know the answer. For the rest of you, let me explain. Estimated reading time: 4 minutes Three crucial events In the 20 years between 1496 to 1515, three crucial
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Estimated reading time: 5 minutes Table of contents When did Marguerite de Rohan live? Who were Marguerite’s brothers and sisters? Who was her husband, Count Jean d’Angoulême? Who were Marguerite and Jean’s children? Where Marguerite and Jean have their lands? Some sources for information about Marguerite de Rohan Marguerite de Rohan, Countess d’Angoulême was the
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What clothing did French Renaissance Noblewomen wear? As a writer, I ask myself this question each time I need to describe a woman. I focus on noblewomen because courts set the fashion. People of every class copied the one above it as closely as their finances allowed. Styles varied from one country to another and from
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