Sharon Kay Penman's Blog, page 127
January 17, 2013
When Christ and his Saints Slept
On January 17th, 1377, the papacy was moved back to Rome after more than seventy years in Avignon. The magnificent papal palace in Avignon is a wonderful legacy of this turbulent time in papal history.
And I received very welcome news from my British publisher, Macmillan. When Christ and his Saints Slept will be released in the UK as an e-book on February 14th. I assume it will also be released at that time Down Under, but I will verify that for my Australian readers. This leaves only Time and Chance among my historical sagas, and I’ve been assured it, too, will be made available within a few months. Sadly, I don’t see much hope for my mysteries unless I eventually do it myself. But all twelve of my books are available as e-books on my side of the Atlantic.
And I received very welcome news from my British publisher, Macmillan. When Christ and his Saints Slept will be released in the UK as an e-book on February 14th. I assume it will also be released at that time Down Under, but I will verify that for my Australian readers. This leaves only Time and Chance among my historical sagas, and I’ve been assured it, too, will be made available within a few months. Sadly, I don’t see much hope for my mysteries unless I eventually do it myself. But all twelve of my books are available as e-books on my side of the Atlantic.
January 16, 2013
A lost republic, a loyal brother, a drowned city
On January 16, 27 BC, Octavian was granted the title of Augustus by the Roman Senate, marking the beginning of the Roman Empire.
On January 16, 1245, Henry III’s second son, Edmund, was born. Edmund was a character in Falls the Shadow and The Reckoning, and I became quite fond of him and his French wife, Blanche. The history of kings is rife with troublesome younger brothers like George of Clarence. Edmund was an anomaly, for he was loyal to his own elder brother, Edward I. He was also the founder of the House of Lancaster, but I forgive him for that.
On January 16th, 1325, the poet Petrach’s beloved Laura was wed to a man named Hughes de Sade; it was Petrach, of course, who would give Laura literary immortality.
On January 16th, 1409, Rene, the Duke of Anjou, King of Naples and titular King of Jerusalem, was born. Rene was the father of Marguerite d’Anjou, the Red Queen of Lancaster. Although he was known as Good King Rene, I’ve always regarded him with a jaundiced eye, for he did little to ease the last years of his unhappy daughter, who was dependent upon a small pension given her by the French king.
And also on January 16th, 1362, a prosperous German city, Rungholt, sank below the waves when a powerful storm surge of the North Sea engulfed the island of Strand. A medieval Atlantis, Rungholt, would give rise to legends like that other “lost city,” with people claiming that they could hear the church bells of Rungholt chiming beneath the waters of the North Sea.
On January 16, 1245, Henry III’s second son, Edmund, was born. Edmund was a character in Falls the Shadow and The Reckoning, and I became quite fond of him and his French wife, Blanche. The history of kings is rife with troublesome younger brothers like George of Clarence. Edmund was an anomaly, for he was loyal to his own elder brother, Edward I. He was also the founder of the House of Lancaster, but I forgive him for that.
On January 16th, 1325, the poet Petrach’s beloved Laura was wed to a man named Hughes de Sade; it was Petrach, of course, who would give Laura literary immortality.
On January 16th, 1409, Rene, the Duke of Anjou, King of Naples and titular King of Jerusalem, was born. Rene was the father of Marguerite d’Anjou, the Red Queen of Lancaster. Although he was known as Good King Rene, I’ve always regarded him with a jaundiced eye, for he did little to ease the last years of his unhappy daughter, who was dependent upon a small pension given her by the French king.
And also on January 16th, 1362, a prosperous German city, Rungholt, sank below the waves when a powerful storm surge of the North Sea engulfed the island of Strand. A medieval Atlantis, Rungholt, would give rise to legends like that other “lost city,” with people claiming that they could hear the church bells of Rungholt chiming beneath the waters of the North Sea.
January 15, 2013
Gracie's Gifts
I can imagine few sorrows harder to bear than the loss of a child. My friend Patrice’s daughter, Holly, suffered such a tragic loss with the death of her infant daughter Gracie. Holly did not want her little girl to be forgotten and she came up with the wonderful idea of donating baby blankets to Temple Hospital in Gracie’s memory. She has been doing this for years now, bringing comfort to so many newborns and their mothers. If anyone would like to make a donation, here is the Facebook page for Gracie’s Gifts. There are several Facebook pages with this name, but this is the link if you’d like to find out more about donating blankets to Temple Hospital. http://www.facebook.com/sharonkay.pen...
You can also contact Patrice Batski via Facebook or you can contact me and I’ll forward the message. Below is the message that Patrice posted on her Facebook page.
“Holly is starting collections for Gracie's Gifts. Please pass the word around. Any donations of new blankets are greatly appreciated. Holly donates them to Temple where sometimes this is the only new thing the baby ever gets. The easiest way, we found last year, was to order from Amazon and have them sent to my address (for my Facebook friends). If you can make a donation, I can give you my address by private message. We're starting to get the word out about Gracie's Gifts for this year's collection... If you have any organizations, schools, etc. that would be able to participate, please let me know... Our goal is 1700 blankets this year, and with the kindness of others, I know we can make it....”
You can also contact Patrice Batski via Facebook or you can contact me and I’ll forward the message. Below is the message that Patrice posted on her Facebook page.
“Holly is starting collections for Gracie's Gifts. Please pass the word around. Any donations of new blankets are greatly appreciated. Holly donates them to Temple where sometimes this is the only new thing the baby ever gets. The easiest way, we found last year, was to order from Amazon and have them sent to my address (for my Facebook friends). If you can make a donation, I can give you my address by private message. We're starting to get the word out about Gracie's Gifts for this year's collection... If you have any organizations, schools, etc. that would be able to participate, please let me know... Our goal is 1700 blankets this year, and with the kindness of others, I know we can make it....”
A sad child wedding
On January 15th, 1478, a rather sad marriage took place, between the second son of Edward IV, Richard, and Anne Mowbray, daughter of the Duke of Norfolk. He was not yet five years old; she was around the same age. The idea of marriage between such young children is something hard for us to fathom today, and their wedding seems even more pathetic because we know that they both died so young, Anne three years later in 1481 and Richard most likely in 1183. Sad.
Those pushy Tudors have crashed today’s party, for on this date in 1535, Henry VIII declared himself the head of the English Church and on January 15th in 1559, his brilliant daughter Elizabeth was crowned as Queen of England.
Those pushy Tudors have crashed today’s party, for on this date in 1535, Henry VIII declared himself the head of the English Church and on January 15th in 1559, his brilliant daughter Elizabeth was crowned as Queen of England.
January 14, 2013
January 14th in history
I will only be making random appearances for a while, as Ransom is claiming almost all of my waking hours these days. I’ll stop by whenever I can, but I’m sure you all can carry on quite admirably without me. Meanwhile, on January 14, 1129, the Order of the Templars was formally approved at the Council of Troyes and on January 14, 1236, Henry III wed Eleanor of Provence, who would be a devoted wife and mother, but an unpopular queen.
January 13, 2013
an apology and the death of an abbot
I am sorry that I’ve dropped off the radar for a few days. I am likely to have to disappear from time to time until Ransom is done; just blame it on those troublesome Angevins, especially John. Given all that he’s been accused of over the years, keeping me off Facebook sounds positively benign. Nothing of medieval significance happened while I was away, though. And only one medieval event worth mentioning today, January 13th.
On this date in 1151, one of the more significant figures of the twelfth century died, Abbot Suger of St Denis. He was a highly influential and respected counselor to two French kings, Louis le Gros and his son, Louis VII, first husband of our Eleanor. He was also a historian, author, and artistic patron; at one time he was even considered the originator of gothic architecture, although historians today don’t give him quite as much credit for that. We have him to thank for the survival of the elegant crystal vase that Eleanor presented to Louis at the time of their wedding, which resides today in the Louvre. Some historians have speculated that if Suger had not died when he did, Louis and Eleanor might not have gotten divorced, for Suger was adamantly opposed to the dissolution of their marriage. From all I’ve read of Abbot Suger, he was a benevolent influence, clever and generous, his only “flaw” a taste for luxurious living. But since my livelihood depends upon the accession of the Plantagenets to the English throne, I suppose I have to be glad that Abbot Suger did not get more time on earth than his biblical three score years and ten.
On this date in 1151, one of the more significant figures of the twelfth century died, Abbot Suger of St Denis. He was a highly influential and respected counselor to two French kings, Louis le Gros and his son, Louis VII, first husband of our Eleanor. He was also a historian, author, and artistic patron; at one time he was even considered the originator of gothic architecture, although historians today don’t give him quite as much credit for that. We have him to thank for the survival of the elegant crystal vase that Eleanor presented to Louis at the time of their wedding, which resides today in the Louvre. Some historians have speculated that if Suger had not died when he did, Louis and Eleanor might not have gotten divorced, for Suger was adamantly opposed to the dissolution of their marriage. From all I’ve read of Abbot Suger, he was a benevolent influence, clever and generous, his only “flaw” a taste for luxurious living. But since my livelihood depends upon the accession of the Plantagenets to the English throne, I suppose I have to be glad that Abbot Suger did not get more time on earth than his biblical three score years and ten.
January 9, 2013
An unlikely pairing
Apparently, people in bygone times preferred to stay by their home fires during the cold month of January, for it has a number of “blank” history days. January 9th was one such day. For January 10th, I found two events worth mentioning, neither of them medieval, though. On January 10th, 49 BC, Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River with one legion, thus igniting civil war in Rome, for it was a capital offence for the governor of a province to lead his army beyond his province. When Caesar, the governor of Gaul, crossed the Rubicon River into Italy, his action gave rise to two well-known phrases. To “cross the Rubicon” means there is no going back. And Caesar is said to have uttered the words, “Alea iacta est,” or “The die is cast,” which is repeated even today. He won the civil war, by the way, was elected Dictator of Rome in the following year, although that did not turn out so well for him.
Also on January 10th, this time in 1776, a book was published that can truly be said to have changed the world. On this date, Thomas Paine published his manifesto Common Sense, a 78 page pamphlet calling for immediate independence from Great Britain. It became an instant bestseller and is believed to have exerted enormous influence upon those colonists who were still hesitating, not sure if independence was the right course or not. (John Adams estimated that one-fourth of the colonists were patriots, one-fourth were Tories, and the remainder were perched on the fence, not sure which way to jump.) For many, Common Sense nudged them into the camp for independence. Common Sense played a similar role in the French Revolution. Later, at a time when American morale was flagging badly, Paine again stepped into the breach with his American Crisis, which contained the famous lines, “These are the times that try men’s souls,” heaping scorn upon the “summer soldier and the sunshine patriot.” He would later write The Rights of Man in defense of the French Revolution.
Also on January 10th, this time in 1776, a book was published that can truly be said to have changed the world. On this date, Thomas Paine published his manifesto Common Sense, a 78 page pamphlet calling for immediate independence from Great Britain. It became an instant bestseller and is believed to have exerted enormous influence upon those colonists who were still hesitating, not sure if independence was the right course or not. (John Adams estimated that one-fourth of the colonists were patriots, one-fourth were Tories, and the remainder were perched on the fence, not sure which way to jump.) For many, Common Sense nudged them into the camp for independence. Common Sense played a similar role in the French Revolution. Later, at a time when American morale was flagging badly, Paine again stepped into the breach with his American Crisis, which contained the famous lines, “These are the times that try men’s souls,” heaping scorn upon the “summer soldier and the sunshine patriot.” He would later write The Rights of Man in defense of the French Revolution.
January 8, 2013
A Saxon victory, the deaths of a pope and an adventurer, and a meaningless batlte
Well, on January 8th, 871 AD, the future King Alfred the Great won a victory over the Danes at the battle of Ashdown. I can’t remember offhand if Bernard Cornwell let his fictional character, Uthred, take part in it, but I suspect he did—Uthred never missed a battle if he could help it! Any of my readers remember if Uthred was at Ashdown? (For those who’ve not read Conwell’s wonderful Saxon series, you are missing out on so much!)
On January 8th, 1198, Pope Celestine died, at the vast age of 92 or so. I think we can safely say that neither Richard nor Eleanor sent flowers; they were not happy with Celestine’s dithering during the fourteen months that Richard was held captive in Germany. He eventually got around to excommunicating Duke Leopold, but only after Richard was released and demanded it. There are some reports that he finally excommunicated Heinrich, but this has not been confirmed, and historians tend to discount it; I do, too. Celestine’s death led to the election of one of the most influential popes of the MA, Innocent III, who is not one of my favorites.
On January 8th, 1324, the famed Italian explorer Marco Polo died at age 69.
And though this is not medieval, on January 8th, 1215 was fought a meaningless battle in a needless war, the Battle of New Orleans, in which the Yanks defeated the British. It was meaningless because the War of 1812 was already over by then, but they didn’t know it yet. How sad is that—dying after peace had been made?
On January 8th, 1198, Pope Celestine died, at the vast age of 92 or so. I think we can safely say that neither Richard nor Eleanor sent flowers; they were not happy with Celestine’s dithering during the fourteen months that Richard was held captive in Germany. He eventually got around to excommunicating Duke Leopold, but only after Richard was released and demanded it. There are some reports that he finally excommunicated Heinrich, but this has not been confirmed, and historians tend to discount it; I do, too. Celestine’s death led to the election of one of the most influential popes of the MA, Innocent III, who is not one of my favorites.
On January 8th, 1324, the famed Italian explorer Marco Polo died at age 69.
And though this is not medieval, on January 8th, 1215 was fought a meaningless battle in a needless war, the Battle of New Orleans, in which the Yanks defeated the British. It was meaningless because the War of 1812 was already over by then, but they didn’t know it yet. How sad is that—dying after peace had been made?
January 7, 2013
Death Before Compline
I said not much happened on this date in my Facebook Note, but Koby reminded me that Katherine of Aragon died on January 7, 1536. Here is the rest of my post.
Nothing much happened on January 7th, but I have some interesting book news to relate. I know that many of you are, like me, fans of Sharan Newman’s medieval mystery series, and so I am sure you’ll be as happy as I was to learn that Sharan has a collection of short stories out, Death Before Compline. Catherine LeVendeur and her Jewish cousin, Solomon, are featured in most of them. Death Before Compline is available in paperback and in the e-book format. Amazon is temporarily out of stock but the paperback can be purchased at the Poisoned Pen, my favorite bookstore. In fact, Sharan is doing a book signing today at the Poisoned Pen at 7 PM, for those lucky enough to live close to Scottsdale. Here is the Poisoned Pen link and, of course, you can buy it in the e-book format from the Amazon mother-ship and Amazon.com.uk.
http://store.poisonedpen.com/?q=h.tvi...
Speaking of e-books, my British readers can still buy Sunne in Splendour for the amazing bargain price of 74 pence. I don’t know how long this promotion will last, so if any of you have friends who’d be interested, do let them know now.
Also, I wanted to remind my readers that the Book Depository offers free shipping worldwide. Here is their link. http://www.bookdepository.com/
And Awesome Books offers free shipping in the UK and free shipping of two or more books in North America and Western Europe. http://www.awesomebooks.com/
Nothing much happened on January 7th, but I have some interesting book news to relate. I know that many of you are, like me, fans of Sharan Newman’s medieval mystery series, and so I am sure you’ll be as happy as I was to learn that Sharan has a collection of short stories out, Death Before Compline. Catherine LeVendeur and her Jewish cousin, Solomon, are featured in most of them. Death Before Compline is available in paperback and in the e-book format. Amazon is temporarily out of stock but the paperback can be purchased at the Poisoned Pen, my favorite bookstore. In fact, Sharan is doing a book signing today at the Poisoned Pen at 7 PM, for those lucky enough to live close to Scottsdale. Here is the Poisoned Pen link and, of course, you can buy it in the e-book format from the Amazon mother-ship and Amazon.com.uk.
http://store.poisonedpen.com/?q=h.tvi...
Speaking of e-books, my British readers can still buy Sunne in Splendour for the amazing bargain price of 74 pence. I don’t know how long this promotion will last, so if any of you have friends who’d be interested, do let them know now.
Also, I wanted to remind my readers that the Book Depository offers free shipping worldwide. Here is their link. http://www.bookdepository.com/
And Awesome Books offers free shipping in the UK and free shipping of two or more books in North America and Western Europe. http://www.awesomebooks.com/
January 6, 2013
January 6th in history
January 6th was another busy day, historically speaking.
On this date in 1066, Harold Godwinson was crowned King of England. His reign would be a brief one, cut short by William the Conqueror at the battle of Hastings. Helen Hollick has written an interesting novel about Harold, which was published in the UK as Harold the King, but was published in the US under the title, I am the Chosen King. Maybe the publisher worried that American readers wouldn’t know there was a King Harold?
January 1169. Henry II and Thomas Becket met at Montmiral in an attempt to reconcile their differences, at the urgings of the French king, Louis. It did not go well, for once again Becket qualified his submission by adding “saving the Honour of God.” Since Henry was convinced that whenever Becket did not agree with a royal act, he’d declare it contrary to the Honour of God, this was not acceptable to him. He was eloquent enough to convince their audience, even the French king, who asked Becket, in unwitting irony, if he wished to be more than a saint. See page 392 of Time and Chance for this scene.
On January 6th, 1205, Philip of Swabia (the only good Hohenstaufen), youngest brother of Richard’s nemesis, Heinrich von Hohenstaufen, was crowned King of the Romans for the second time. He’d originally been crowned in 1198, but the Germans were split between him and Richard’s nephew Otto, who’d also been elected. Philip would eventually prevail over Otto, only to be tragically assassinated in 1208. Philip seems to have been an admirable individual, the anti-Heinrich, if you will, and if only I spoke German, I’d have loved to give him a book of his own.
Another ruler was crowned on January 6th, this time in 1286, but he could not be more unlike the upstanding, sympathetic Philip--Philippe le Bel, or Philippe IV, King of France. Philippe was a nasty piece of work, persecuting the Jews and Lombards and bringing about the destruction of the Templars.
On January 6th, 1367, Richard II was born. He became king at age 10, and his reign was neither happy nor successful. Sadly for him, his finest moment occurred at age 14 during the Peasant’s Revolt; from there, it was all downhill.
On January 6th, 1412, Joan of Arc was born. This seems to be her week, since I devoted a Facebook Note to her several days ago.
On this date in 1066, Harold Godwinson was crowned King of England. His reign would be a brief one, cut short by William the Conqueror at the battle of Hastings. Helen Hollick has written an interesting novel about Harold, which was published in the UK as Harold the King, but was published in the US under the title, I am the Chosen King. Maybe the publisher worried that American readers wouldn’t know there was a King Harold?
January 1169. Henry II and Thomas Becket met at Montmiral in an attempt to reconcile their differences, at the urgings of the French king, Louis. It did not go well, for once again Becket qualified his submission by adding “saving the Honour of God.” Since Henry was convinced that whenever Becket did not agree with a royal act, he’d declare it contrary to the Honour of God, this was not acceptable to him. He was eloquent enough to convince their audience, even the French king, who asked Becket, in unwitting irony, if he wished to be more than a saint. See page 392 of Time and Chance for this scene.
On January 6th, 1205, Philip of Swabia (the only good Hohenstaufen), youngest brother of Richard’s nemesis, Heinrich von Hohenstaufen, was crowned King of the Romans for the second time. He’d originally been crowned in 1198, but the Germans were split between him and Richard’s nephew Otto, who’d also been elected. Philip would eventually prevail over Otto, only to be tragically assassinated in 1208. Philip seems to have been an admirable individual, the anti-Heinrich, if you will, and if only I spoke German, I’d have loved to give him a book of his own.
Another ruler was crowned on January 6th, this time in 1286, but he could not be more unlike the upstanding, sympathetic Philip--Philippe le Bel, or Philippe IV, King of France. Philippe was a nasty piece of work, persecuting the Jews and Lombards and bringing about the destruction of the Templars.
On January 6th, 1367, Richard II was born. He became king at age 10, and his reign was neither happy nor successful. Sadly for him, his finest moment occurred at age 14 during the Peasant’s Revolt; from there, it was all downhill.
On January 6th, 1412, Joan of Arc was born. This seems to be her week, since I devoted a Facebook Note to her several days ago.
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