August 5th in history

I am doing better, although I still have to limit my computer time. But here are some historical events that I was not able to post about on the date in question.
On August 5, 1063, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, was betrayed and slain by his own men while struggling to repulse an invasion by Harold Godwinson, later King of England. Gruffydd is the only man to rule over all of Wales, from 1057 until his death, although he was called King of the Britons, not King of Wales. His wife was Ealdgyth of Mercia, who would later wed Harold. Was she willing to wed the man responsible for her husband’s death? We know virtually nothing about this woman, aside from the fact she was said to be beautiful, so we can only conjecture about her marriage to Harold. She would be widowed again three years later when Harold was slain at Hastings, but she then disappears from history, her fate unknown.
August 5, 1100 was the coronation of Henry I, just days after his brother William Rufus’s very convenient death in the New Forest.
August 5, 1301 is the birthdate of Edmund of Woodstock, Earl of Kent, son of Edward I and thus half-brother to Edward II. He would be executed in 1330 for engaging in a plot to free Edward II from captivity. Since Edward had been declared dead in 1327, historians have not been kind to Edmund, seeing him as gullible at best, a fool at worst. His is a complicated story and I hope I can persuade Kathryn Warner to stop by and explain it since I am urgently needed back in Narbonne to finish a scene with Joanna and Berengaria and it is bad manners to keep queens waiting.
On August 5, 1305, William Wallace was captured near Glasgow, betrayed by a Scottish knight loyal to Edward I. He would be executed in a truly barbarous fashion (being drawn and quartered, one of Edward I’s more dubious contributions to the English judicial system). What he said at his trial could also serve as an epitaph for the last Welsh prince, Davydd ap Llywelyn, who was drawn and quartered for treason 22 years earlier: “I could not be a traitor to Edward for I was never his subject.”
Lastly, a non-medieval event worth mentioning. On August 5, 1620, the Mayflower and Speedwell sailed from Southampton for the New World. They had to turn back when the Speedwell sprang a leak. The Mayflower would subsequently sail alone on September 6th, anchoring off the tip of Cape Cod in November after two harrowing months at sea. I have always marveled at the courage it took to sail in bygone times. When I was writing Lionheart, I watched some truly terrifying videos on YouTube of ships being tossed around like toothpicks by angry seas, and these were large ships equipped with modern technology! Imagine how it would have been to be caught in a storm in a medieval ship like Richard’s galley, the Sea-Cleaver. I would so have been a stay-at-home had I been born back then.
12 likes ·   •  5 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on August 09, 2016 10:14
Comments Showing 1-5 of 5 (5 new)    post a comment »
dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Latoya (new)

Latoya Ahhhhh I have to read historical fiction again or at least the non fiction books on these characters.


message 2: by Leila (new)

Leila What a shame Sharon that there is almost nothing known about Gruffydd's wife Ealdgyth. It is really exciting how many women from history have been 'brought to life' and made so much better known to us by the brilliant novels written by modern authors of historical novels. An example for me is Llywelyn's wife Joanna. I didn't know much of her at all until I read your novel 'Here be Dragons' years ago. I have just read it again for the umpteenth time recently for I love your interpretation of Joanna's splendid character - so like John physically yet so unlike him in his worst ways. As much as I love 'The Sunne in Splendour' I have to confess 'Here be Dragons is my favourite for so many reasons but especially because of getting to know Joanna; romantically imagining Llywelyn (lol) and the very detailed very human portrait of John too. Look after yourself x Leila.


message 3: by Sharon (new)

Sharon Thank you, Leila! I find it frustrating to try to write about a historical character who remains a mystery to us for I prefer a few guidelines, if only birth and death dates and the like. But at least we cannot make a mistake when working on a blank canvas! In Joanna's case, there was some extant information and it was not difficult to use her known actions to draw conclusions about her life, marriage, and even her personality. Sometimes, though, we have nothing at all to build upon, and then we simply have to rely upon our writers' imaginations. When my readers have been polled about this, Dragons usually wins as their favorite of my books, narrowily edging out Sunne, with Saints usually in third. I confess that Dragons is my own favorite, for it began my love affair with Wales; also, it was so nice to have characters still alive at the end of the book after writing Sunne!


message 4: by RJay (new)

RJay You mention Edmund of Woodstock... and since I've been researching Edward of Woodstock who ultimately married Edmund's daughter, Joan, I've become much more familiar with the family. From what I've learned, the brothers were not "close": neither Thomas of Brotherton nor Edmund of Woodstock were treated well by their elder brother as he did not bestow the lands bequeathed to them by Edward I for quite some time. Edward II was generous to his 'favorites' but not to his brothers which did not instill loyalty in them. Edmund initially supported Isabella in her estrangement from Edward II due to the way in which she was being treated and allied with her in France. But he came to regret his part in his half-brother's deposition - hence his efforts to try and free him when he was maneuvered into believing Edward was still alive/held captive. It was all a set-up by Mortimer to demonstrate his power - and to ensure others were too afraid to oppose him. Edmund was not a 'schemer' like so many other nobles/royals; I think he just wanted to live quietly with his wife & children.


message 5: by Latoya (new)

Latoya Very interesting family oh the Plantagenets clan!


back to top

Sharon Kay Penman's Blog

Sharon Kay Penman
Sharon Kay Penman isn't a Goodreads Author (yet), but they do have a blog, so here are some recent posts imported from their feed.
Follow Sharon Kay Penman's blog with rss.