Plantagenets
So, as we have gathered, I’m a little bit odd (understatement!) and I LOVE reading about Queens and Kings throughout history and I have been taking ages to compile a list of all the books you can read and a timeline of how they all fit together…. enjoy :]
I have already covered the Tudors… and this next collection are from the time BEFORE the Tudors. This is the Plantagenet period. For me, the most interesting and crazy part of our history! I’m starting from King Henry II as he claimed the throne of England to unite the kingdom under one leader. (Before him it was all a bit muddled)
King Henry II & Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine
9) To Be Queen – Christy English
Eleanor is my favourrriteeeeee. I have a bit of love for this lady. Which I know is a super bizarre thing to say, but oh well! This book follows Eleanor’s early life. She was brought up to be a powerful queen by her father, when he unexpectedly dies and she inherits all of Aquitaine. She then goes on to marry King Louis VII of France. However, this marriage proves to be so different to what she imagines! Then comes along Henry… *cliffhanger noises*
4) The Captive Queen – Alison Weir [Read my review here]
This is one of my favourite books and follows on from where ‘To Be Queen’ finishes. Eleanor’s life really began when she divorced her first husband and became Duchess in her own right. She married Henry Plantagenet, nine years younger than herself, and became Queen of England due to Henry’s claim to England through his mother, Matilda.. Over the next thirteen years she gave birth to eight children… however her clear favourite was her third borne, Richard the Lionheart. Eleanor and Henry’s relationship was passionate but full of pretty serious fights. They loved each other so intensely but when Eleanor openly defied Henry he imprisoned her for the remainder of his life. Hence ‘the Captive Queen’.
(Eleanor and Henry’s II 3rd son) King Richard I Richard the Lionheart
(Eleanor and Henry’s II youngest son) King John I & Queen Isabella of Angoulême
5) The battle of the Queens – Jean Plaidy
Queen Isabella,was a beautiful but wild queen. She was supposedly kidnapped by King John to be his wife. As John was a bit naff at ruling (had to sign the Magna Carta limiting his powers) she was in for a challenge. This book also follows Blanche of Castile, the Queen of France, wife of Louis VIII, who could not have been more opposite! Let the battle commence.
King Henry III & Queen Eleanor of Provence
2) Four Sisters, All Queens – Sherry Jones
For me, Queen Eleanor takes centre stage in this relationship. She has three sisters, all who were Queens. Margaret – Queen of France, Sanchia – Queen of Germany and the youngest Beatrice – Queen of Sicily. That is some competition! The problem was, she was HATED in London (they actually tried to sink her barge once by throwing stones at her) as people saw her as a foreigner who’s relatives sucked the nation’s resources. This book follows all four sister’s stories.
King Edward I Edward Longshanks & Queen Eleanor of Castile
Know the story of Braveheart? Well, Edward I was Braveheart’s nightmare. Enough said.
King Edward II & Queen Isabella of France The she-wolf of France
1) Harlot Queen – Hilda Lewis
Wow. What a couple. Edward II had big boots to fill, his father being pretty nifty with a sword and successful in most of his battles. Also, it was widely accepted that Edward II was probably gay, and back in this age, that wasn’t a good thing as the people wanted more heirs. This leads to the battle of husband vs. wife… with Isabella joining forces with a solider called Roger Mortimer and taking the throne from her husband!! This book outlines her view, as she fights her own husband for leadership.
King Edward III & Queen Philippa of Hainault
6) Katherine - Anya Seton
John of Gaunt was the third son of Edward III. He was married to a princess and had heaps of ambition. Then enters the beautiful Katherine Swynford, who was straight out of the convent into court life. This is really a fairy-tale story… its about an orphan girl who ends up marrying a prince… right?? [Read my review here]
King Richard II
3) The First Princess of Wales – Karen Harper
As far as books go, this one is also one of my favourites! King Richard II’s father was the Black Price Edward (son of Edward III) and his mother was actually his cousin (a little gross!) Princess Joan of Kent, The Fair Maid of Kent. She was a feisty young lady and a real challenge for the Prince! This book follows their relationship, how they got together after years of turmoil and became the first Prince and Princess of Wales.
King Henry IV (Overthrew Richard II, as they were cousins this starts the cousins war)
King Henry V & Queen Catherine of Valois
7) The Forbidden Queen – Anne O’Brien
King Henry V was a pretty heroic king. He marries a french Princess, Catherine, saving her from her pretty mad father! However, Catherine de Valois is a young innocent girl wanting to be loved and it soon becomes apparent to her that the purpose of her marriage to King Henry is that so Katherine can produce an heir that will unite both England and France. However, she gets an unexpected chance to love again when Henry dies…
8) The Tudor Bride – Joanna Hickson
This is the second book, following the first “The Agincourt Bride” (by Joanna Hickson). The Tudor Bride is still told through the eyes of her nursemaid, Mette, and the second book picks up after she becomes Queen. I chose to focus on this book as when the King dies very, very young her son inherits the throne… Catherine is free to marry again. She ends up falling for Owen Tudor, who was a sexy Welsh servant in her household!! (Tudor, eh eh?) Both are great reads!
King Henry VI The mad king & Queen Margaret of Anjou
(Overthrew Henry VI through his claim to the throne as his great-grandfather was Edmund, the forth son to Edward III) Edward IV & Queen Elizabeth Woodville
King Richard III & Queen Anne Neville
10) The Kingmaker’s Daughter – Philippa Gregory
Phillippa Gregory has a series of books on the war of the roses, including The White Queen (Queen Elizabeth Woodville), The Red Queen (mother of King Henry VII) and The Lady of the Rivers (which focuses on the mother of the White Queen but also her relationship with Queen Margaret of Anjou) [Read my reviews of those books here]. So that was a bit of a historical run down!! The Kingmaker’s Daughter follows Queen Anne Neville who is almost non-existent in history. She was daughter of the Kingmaker, the Earl of Warwick (hence the title of the book!) but she is often left alone and overshadowed by other girls in court. Her husband was King Richard III (Boo hissss) is one of those guys you just can’t seem to trust. When King Edward IV, his brother, dies and leaves his young 12 year old son Edward (goddamit, choose different names!) the throne – Richard III becomes Lord Protector. However, young Prince Edward and his younger brother Prince Richard (wow, confusing) are disinherited and go missing, presumably murdered by their uncle Richard III. Queue the Prince in the tower mystery.
