#History Blog

[historyslittlebish]

Illness won't stop love (Cured!King Baldwin IV x Witch!Female!Reader)

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a/n: I have never watched kingdom of heaven before but I know of it because my sister watched it so I am gonna write for the king :)

Warning: unrealistic but okay, religious stuff, occ?

Baldwin groaned as he sat on his throne. He praised himself for getting all the diplomatic work done half the time he usually completes.

Every passing day his bones and muscles ached, his mind spinning, overwhelmed with his kingly duties. His mind was filled with thoughts and plans but he was too weak to act on them.

While determined and strong willed, he was aware of his sickly disease and how weak he is compared to anyone else. He often spent time looking up, thoughts of gods plan with him.

Why?

Why would god plague him with such illness, what had he done? What was his sin against his creator? he often found himself praying that he could, maybe, just maybe, be cured and continue to live and be the greatest king he could be, have a wife and an heir, to live his life to the fullest with no worry of death coming as soon as he always prepared himself for.

He knows he should not question God, and be grateful for his life but even then his mind does not stop thinking such thoughts.

He sat still staring into nothing, deep in thought as a few servants scuttled about, cleaning and tending to the throne room. The sounds of their whispering had started bothering him, the constant sound of pattering feet didn't allow him to think.

He slowly rose before clearing his throat. Some of the servants looked over in surprise and curiosity.

"I would like to be left alone, please." His voice is steady, firm, but gentle and warm. His servants rushed to leave the room allowing the king his privacy.

He sighed as he sat down once more. Alone in his own thoughts, he allowed himself to be consumed by his own mind, each thought, idea, word, running through his brain as he rested his eyes, deeply in his imagination.

Not too long after however does he hear a female yelp, a loud thud, and someone shuffling around the marble floor.

His eyes snapped open as he saw a small amount of mist covering a figure slightly. His eyes widened in surprise and shock as he stared at the woman in front of him. She wore odd clothes, not the kind he's seen before, her H/C was beautiful to him, mesmerizing even. Her S/C looked so soft in comparison to his heavily scarred and sore ridden skin.

He stood up and suddenly the strange and foreign woman stared at him before getting on her knees and bowing deeply, lifting her head enough to look back up at him.

"My king." She stated.

"Rise." Baldwin said as he motioned with his hand for the woman to stand. Slowly she did stand and still have a respectful demeanor.

"Who are you, and why do you come here?" She looked up, her E/C looking into his blue irises. She inhaled before kneeling and leaving her hands by her side "My king, I present myself as a witch from the North. I've heard of a prophecy that you will need to defeat Saladin but not without outside forces," She rose from her knees and reached into a small pouch, holding a vile with blue liquid, glowing and bubbling. "I've come to present to you a cure. You have my heart should I speak the lies of the devil himself.".

Baldwin was shocked and scared. A witch in his holy kingdom? Witchcraft is the devil's work. He could not decide if he should call his soldiers and risk the witch woman to hex him or to continue the conversation, only to eventually be found dead without reason, or to many, his leprosy being the cause.

He took the latter and prayed that no harm would come to him.

"Well witch, I want proof." The woman nodded and held her arm to her side, F/C mist circling the room, a wall of fog covered the walls of the room. The mist streamed into the middle of the room and created a circle, creating a pocket of white particles creating images.

They showed him being crowned king all the way to his death at an old age.

he could not believe his eyes. The images showed such small moments in his life that he could not recollect well but they were perfect for what he was told.

The mist that engulfed the room suddenly retracted and disappeared into the air.

He stared at the witch who stared back but with a slight fear in her eyes, not knowing if she would be in danger or not. Baldwin's breath hitched but he sat down. He racked his brain for thoughts but he was very overwhelmed by the information. He clutched his head and rubbed at his temples.

The two stayed in silence for a few minutes before the king made his choice.

"I shall take this potion if what you say is true." He murmured.

The witch stepped forward towards the kind on his throne and handed him the bottle gently before stepping back.

"I warn you my king, you will fall in a deep slumber, alive and well, but deep for the whole day." The king contemplated her words but slowly opened the bottle and drank the liquid completely.

After a few moments his head began to spun and he almost collapsed to the floor before a warm pair of arms caught him and held him before his eyes completely shut and he fell into a deep slumber.

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Baldwin squinted his eyes as the sun peaked through the window in the early morning. The light was dim due to the window covers but it was still bright to him. He slowly raised his body but was confused when he could feel his body weight shift onto his legs. He had lost feelings partly in his legs and arms but he could feel himself twitch and move on his entire body.

He was wearing some white sleepwear that he doesn't remember putting on and his mask was on the side of his bed. He was confused but slowly walked over to the mirror.

His eyes widened and he stumbled back but caught himself before he fell on the cold, hard floor.

He saw himself but no longer disfigured or ridden with rashes and sores. His golden locks framed his face, his eyes looking deep into his in the mirror, his skin was just glowey as the witch he had seen.

That's when it hit him.

The witch had saved him, the lovely witch that had given him a potion that she said would heal him and allow him to live his life fully.

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The whole castle was chattering with loud and bright voices. Their king was not only cured by gods miracle but he would be able to soon produce an heir should he be willing.

He sat on his throne thinking of the memory of you. You, you were to be his wife, you saved him, he could live without the fear of dying anytime soon.

Baldwin got a surge of confidence, he was determined to get you to come back but first he had to deal with royal affairs but nothing could slow him down, not anymore.

a/n: Part 2? Yes. I need to make a male version for anon OR male reader hcs for our king. Sorry if its shit though.

a/n 2: the part 2 will be linked to this post and mostly everyone who comments will be tagged (I'll try) but yeah! It's in the works

[taraross-1787]

This Day in History: Paul Revere's Ride

America's 250th birthday is approaching . . . Here is the first of many 250th anniversaries that we will be celebrating......

On this day in 1775, Paul Revere makes his famous ride. I am so sorry to tell you that he did not really yell “the British are coming!” as he rode. But he did accomplish one important goal: He warned Samuel Adams and John Hancock that British soldiers were coming to arrest them.

He’d intended to continue on to Concord, warning those townspeople about British movements so weapons and stores could be secured. Unfortunately, his ride was interrupted.

FULL STORY: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-paul-revere-ride

[simbistardis]

It should be clear already but this is a Black history blog. I'm not sharing general LGBTQIA posts, I'm sharing *Black* LGBTQIA posts. This isn't a general queer blog it's a *Black* queer blog. These aren't butchfemme + futch posts these are studies on studfemme + stemme dynamics. These aren't ace and aro positivity posts these are essays and articles on Black asexual and Black aromantic thought. If you aren't Black but relate to the posts anyway that's fine but don't ignore the specific context behind these articles, essays and zines. The erasure of Black queer voices is literally why I made this page...

[yornationalanthem]

Grand Duchess Olga and Tatiana Nikolaevna and their evening dresses

✧ ೃ༄*ੈ✩

[lordkryze]

The Ides of March

On this day, the 15th of March, in 44 BCE, Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of about 60 senators. Seventeen years later, in 27 BCE, his adopted son and heir, Octavian, became the first Roman Emperor, taking the title Augustus Caesar.

[otmaaromanovas]

You might have heard that Pinterest is randomly banning accounts currently. I know that a lot of people in the history community use Pinterest to search + save photos and share their discoveries, so consider not logging onto your account until there has been some updates and clarity

[bunnysarchive]

Modern Maidens

artist: Gerard Mas

[historynavigator]

Anna Komnene, Princess and Historian

Anna Komnene is one of our only sources on the First Crusade from the Byzantine perspective. She was a Byzantine princess, historian, and intellectual. Read more about her life here! #history #crusades #womenshistory #AnnaKomnene #historian #writer

“For even the greatest of deeds, if not haply preserved in written words and handed down to remembrance, become extinguished in the obscurity of silence” -Preface, The Alexiad Anna Komnene is one of the first female historians and one of the most valuable primary sources of the Middle Ages. Her written account of her father’s reign, The Alexiad, is our only source of the First Crusade from a…

[ruzqtx]

got to your blog through lexus, I'm already INVESTED.

y'all are pulling me into the Alamo fandom ngl <3

AWWWH THANK YOUU 💗💗 i love @lexusinsannus ,, i see her as a sister! a lot of the alamo fandom i see as really close friends they’re all so sweet!!

hopefully i’ll post more soon! i’ve been a little busy lately but ive got more drawings coming up mwhahah

[kennedydrives]

walter schmith jr, aged 6

6/20/1920 - 12/18/1926

son of walter mogens schmith and margret asplund, siblings unknown. on dec 17, walter was lured with candy into a hayloft by harold j. croarkin. harold, who was deemed a moron (having a mild intellectual diasbility), then attacked schmith with a hammer. walter's skull was fractured, and he succumbed to his injuries 5 hours later at 2:30 AM - croarkin was sentenced to life in prison

walter died in illinois, his burial details are unknown

[historyslittlebish]

Illness won't stop love (Cured!King Baldwin IV x Witch!Female!Reader) (Part 2)

a/n: here is the part 2 that everyone wanted. I need a taglist maybe but lemme know if I should make a taglist and what/who for.

============================================

Warning: art on deviant art, fluff, ooc?, plot twist?!

Many noticed that the king was often pacing and in a rush. The second he could he gathered all the greatest men to find the witch that cured him of his leprosy.

Many of his servants and staff were surprised about the fact that their leper king was no longer ill. Many rejoiced and many felt envy and malice but in Baldwin's mind he couldn't care less. His mind often wandered to the witch, unexpected yet he took joy in the fact that he now has feelings in his body, he can be normal, and he looks just like he used to when he was a young boy (if not older).

But even then his mind was all on the woman that cured him. How could it be possible? Who was this lady shrouded in mystery? Why would she cure him? So many questions yet little to answer.

He had been keeping note of everything of the past few days.

Gifts, notes, and odd items would show up next to his bed every morning. At first he thought it was his sisters doing but as he read the notes and letters left for him, he saw odd symbols, words, dialects he was unfamiliar with. As more gifts and items showed up he became suspicious.

He began to think it was the witches doing. He decided that he was going to catch who it was tonight!

As he neared his quarters, a candle slightly covered by his hand, the door to his bedroom creaked open as he slowly stepped inside and softly shut the door behind him.

He decided he was going to stay posted by his cracked open door, whoever was leaving the gifts

.....

After about 30 minutes of waiting, Baldwin heard quiet and soft footsteps approaching the door and stopping in front of it. His breath hitches as he was prepared to stand up from his sitting position and catch the person.

As he used the wall to stand, he calmly pushed the doors open as he stepped out into the hall and caught the person red handed.

He heard a female gasp and the smaller cloaked figure stumbles back in surprise. He looked down at them and spoke in a soft and calm voice "Ah, so you are the one leaving me gifts....are you courting me?".

The female looked around and tried to sprint away but he quickly grabbed them and tried to stop her, stepping in front of her preventing her from dashing away immediately.

"I just wish to know your identity.." He carefully reached his healed yet scarred hand up and carefully lowered the hood of the cloak, blue eyes widening as he saw the very woman that managed to cure him of his worst ailment.

He gently brushed her H/C behind her ears and smiled softly. "Never have I imagined myself being able to love another...I feared that I would kill them...but you cured me and made that possible.". He gently grasped her hand close "Would you allow me to share my heart with you, my lady?".

Suddenly, Baldwin leaned in and gently yet passionately kissed the witch, making her eyes widen before she melted into the kiss. What were once his cracked and splitting lips, were now silky smooth and soft, making the woman's heart flutter and he gently held her hips.

He prayed that you would join him in his Kingdom of Heaven.

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Taglist:

@beqchll

@migirizuki

@fujiwarafuji

@deepstarlighttraveler

@originalsoulstrawberry

@zjebanamajapostig

@shrinrj

[taraross-1787]

This Day in History: The Doolittle Raid

On this day in 1942, renowned aviator Lt. Colonel James “Jimmy” Doolittle prepares for his famous Doolittle Raid. Americans would not let the attack on Pearl Harbor go unanswered! Instead, Doolittle would lead sixteen B-25 bomber crews in a surprise attack on the Japanese homeland. “The president was insistent that we find ways and means of carrying home to Japan proper, in the form of a bombing raid, the real meaning of war,” Lt. General Henry “Hap” Arnold would later describe. Military leaders settled on a bold plan: Bombers would be towed across the Pacific by an aircraft carrier, USS Hornet. When they were about 400 miles from Japan, the B-25s would take off, headed for Tokyo and other industrial centers. Bombs would be dropped on military targets, then the planes would head for a Chinese airfield. A return to USS Hornet simply wasn’t feasible.

FULL STORY: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-doolittle-raid

[city-of-ladies]

I'm back to take you on a journey through time!

Encyclopedia Amazonica now becomes City of Ladies! I’m Niniane, your humble curator. I missed writing about women’s history, so here I am. 

An empress being celebrated like a goddess, a female doctor during the crusades, a forgotten composer…here are some of the stories that you will find on this blog. 

This time, I won’t just focus on warriors (though they will still be there). I want to shine a light on women and facts that caught my interest. I’ve dreamed of a place where I could do that and decided to make it come true.

So, let’s jump in the time machine and embark on this new journey!

And as before, please note that English is not my first language ;).

If you want to support me and enjoy what I do, here is the link to my Ko-Fi.

Hope you enjoy your stay here!

[madamherstory]

Women on the World Stage — the Ladies’ Peace

For week one of Women's History Month, I'd like to (belatedly) share with you the historic event of the Treaty of Cambrai (1529), otherwise known as the Ladies' Peace.

Margaret of Austria had been largely raised in France (from the age of three to thirteen), as the fianceé of the French King, and knew Louise of Savoy from these early years, both having been reared by the Princess Anne de Beaujeu, who served as the regent of France for her brother (Margaret's betrothed). But the French union was not to be and, instead, Margaret later (after being widowed by the heir to the Spanish throne) married Louise's brother, the Duke of Savoy. The marriage wouldn't last long, as he'd pass away a few years later, and a childless Margaret returned to her father, who later named her the Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands.

Louise was no more lucky in love, married to a man who was poor in funds but rich in ancestry (being the grandson of a French King) and in mistresses, of which he had two. But she did have issue, a son and a daughter, Marguerite. Her son would later become King of France as Francis I (in 1515) and her daughter the Queen Consort of Navarre (in 1526). Louise was a great supporter of her son, since his birth, and became his most trusted advisor after his accession, he left her (not his wife or any of his ministers) as Regent of France in his absence. This is where learning under Anne de Beaujeu (the regent of a previous French King) must have paid off.

Francis and his mother essentially ruled together from his accession in 1515 until her death in 1531. […] Louise of Savoy was an exemplary guardian of Francis’s interests, assessing every situation for its possible impact on his future. […] Unlike a mistress or a wife who conformed to her royal consort’s context, Louise, as Francis’s mother, shaped a future king and set the stage for his reign. […] When Francis became king, he turned to Louise for advice and assistance and relied on her to govern in his stead during his absences, certain that his own interests would be cultivated assiduously. Contemporary chroniclers acknowledged Louise’s fundamental influence over the young king, and artists portrayed her solicitous care for the kingdom and her son . Louise’s biographer, Paule Henry-Bordeaux, insists that she merited the title of “king” and recognition as one of the greatest “men of state” France has ever known. […] Louise functioned as Francis’s full political partner from the beginning of his reign. […] “She advised, she oriented, she proposed, and Francis’s choices were often hers.” […] Francis both proclaimed Louise’s qualifications and explicitly empowered her to act with his full authority [as shown in the next quote].

— Kathleen Wellman, Queens and Mistresses of Renaissance France (nonfiction historical biography; chapter three: THE WOMEN OF THE COURT OF FRANCIS I — Wives and Mistresses, Sister and Mother)

Francis was, on his father's side, the grandson of a Milanese princess of the duchy’s previous ruling house and thus had a claim to said duchy, which was a fief of the Holy Roman Empire (ruled by Charles V, Margaret of Austria's nephew). He pressed this claim almost immedietly upon his ascension, capturing Milan. During this time, Louise served as regent and she must have done well, as—upon his return—Francis left her to do most of the ruling for him, as he much preffered hunting and entertaining ladies of the court (even though he was fathering children with his wife at a pace of almost one per year).

“We have decided to leave the government of our realm to our well beloved and dear Lady and Mother … in whom we have entire and perfect confidence, who will, by her virtue and prudence, know how to acquit this trust.”

— Francis I appointing his mother as regent in 1515 while he went to claim Milan

Charles V wasn't content to let France keep Milan and so he recaptured it in 1522, giving it back to the ruling family Francis had taken it from. Francis went to take it again in 1523 (once again leaving his mother as regent) but this campaign would prove infinitely less successful, not only was Francis himself captured but many of his noblemen lost their lives (and many still would from injuries sustained and/or the poor conditions they experienced in captivity). The Battle of Pavia (1525) proved almost as fatal to the French nobility as the Battle of Agincourt (1415) had, during the Hundred Years' War. This was not just a political loss to Francis but a personal one as some of his childhood companions counted amongst the deceased.

Although Francis fought valiantly, he was crushingly defeated. The French army was completely routed; the nobility suffered its greatest loss of life since Agincourt (1415); and Francis was captured and held for ransom.

It is, of course, easier to second-guess any battle after the fact, but Francis’s charge without sufficient backup seems rather strikingly ill-advised and perhaps reflects his impetuousness or youthful sense of inviolability, fueled by his success at Marignano and chivalric notion of kingship. Many of the closest friends of his youth died in the battle, and in its aftermath he himself had to endure the humiliation and rigors of imprisonment.

— Kathleen Wellman, Queens and Mistresses of Renaissance France (nonfiction historical biography; chapter three: THE WOMEN OF THE COURT OF FRANCIS I — Wives and Mistresses, Sister and Mother)

“To inform you of how the rest of my ill-fortune is proceeding, all is lost to me save honor and life, which is safe.”

— Francis I, writing to his mother Louise of Savoy after his capture

Neither Francis nor Louise was willing to cede French territory. Francis signed documents indicating that he would abdicate in favor of his son rather than give up Burgundy. He also refused to negotiate as a prisoner and turned authority over to Louise. […] Even from prison, Francis supported Louise as much as he could. He wrote to the nobility of France, praising their obedience to Louise as proof they were “good Frenchmen.”

— Kathleen Wellman, Queens and Mistresses of Renaissance France (nonfiction historical biography; chapter three: THE WOMEN OF THE COURT OF FRANCIS I — Wives and Mistresses, Sister and Mother)

Louise tried to pay for her son's release but the Spanish wanted more than gold (even though Charles V was perpetually in debt). An imprisoned Francis became gravelly ill and Louise, still acting as regent, sent her daughter Marguerite to nurse him back to health, which she slowly managed to do. But Francis was still not in the best of health and Louise feared for his life, she needed to secure his release as soon as possible.

Charles V was the first monarch in history who did not care about his notable captive’s royal status, mostly due to the hatred that simmered between these rulers throughout their lives like a cauldron of always bubbling tensions. […] It seems that Marguerite [Francis’ sister] persuaded the emperor to move François to more comfortable building and rooms and even meet face-to-face. However, when Charles appeared in front of François, they had a seemingly friendly conversation, and the emperor encouraged his foe not to be in despair and, according to some sources, promised to ensure his release in the near future.

Whether it happened or not in reality, Charles V seems to have reneged on his word. Although François was now treated better, he remained the prisoner in Spain for over a year. These were the most unfortunate moments in the Valois ruler’s life when he was close even to abdication. […] It is quite interesting that King Henri II of Navarre [Marguerite’s future husband], who had fought alongside François at Pavia and who had been jailed in Madrid as well, managed to run away.

— Olivia Longueville, ‘the Peace of the Ladies’, and the misfortunes of King François I of France (history blog)

The treaty Francis was forced to sign would be nothing sort of extortion: to give up numerous French territories, marry Charles' sister, reinstate one of Francis' nemeses (for which he'd have to take back territories and titles he'd given his mother), give up his claims to the Italian territories (including Millan), have his navy protect Charles on his way to an imperial coronation in Rome, and join Charles in an alliance against the encroaching threat of the Ottoman Sultan and the Catholic problem that was the German Lutherans (the Holy Roman Empire basically equaled Germany and Charles was the Catholic grandson of the Most Catholic Monarchs, though that wouldn't stop him from sacking Rome, the crown jewel of the Christian world, in 1525).

Francis signed (and probably sighed as he did). He gave up his two eldest sons as hostage (to ensure he kept his word, was released back into the world... and promptly retracted everything he said. "A deal under duress is not one I attest!" He didn't say that, I just like rhyming. Anyway, the little French princes went from being treated as royal guests to being confined to a single room, having their servants dismissed, and having to learn Spanish to communicate with their jailers (through which they forgot French as no one was there to speak it but them). More warring ensued (1526–1529).

Meanwhile, the French princes, who had been previously growing up in a loving environment, languished in some Spanish shabby place, slowly being deprived of even basic comforts and surrounded by soldiers who did not speak their native tongue and were indifferent to their sufferings. This is a horrendous example of how the emperor treated innocent royal children.

— Olivia Longueville, ‘the Peace of the Ladies’, and the misfortunes of King François I of France

Even after Francis’s return, Louise retained the title and functions of regent: She remained at the center of French diplomacy; foreign ambassadors continued to consult with her; and Francis decreed that Louise would remain regent until her death.

— Kathleen Wellman, Queens and Mistresses of Renaissance France (nonfiction historical biography; chapter three: THE WOMEN OF THE COURT OF FRANCIS I — Wives and Mistresses, Sister and Mother)

A desperate Louise started working behind the scenes for her grandbabies, who had been taken away at eight and seven and were now eleven and ten. She started sending secret correspondence to her sister-in-law, Margaret of Austria (if you remember, she’s Charles V's aunt). Both women greatly wanted peace and they managed to achieve it. Francis actively sought peace (after his defeat in 1529) and so negotiations were opened in Cambrai, with Louise representing her son and France and Margaret representing her nephew, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, etcetera. This conference would have the treaty be known as the Ladies' Peace. This treaty was similar to the previous one: some French territories were given up, Francis would marry Charles' sister, and he'd pay a king's ransom for the release of his sons.

The two women [Louise of Savoy and Margaret of Austria] also found ways to speak to each other under the diplomatic radar; even the well-connected Italian ambassadors were unaware of their activities.

— Kathleen Wellman, Queens and Mistresses of Renaissance France (nonfiction historical biography; chapter three: THE WOMEN OF THE COURT OF FRANCIS I — Wives and Mistresses, Sister and Mother)

Louise, given permission by Margaret, then sent a representative to inform the boys of their imminent release, only to find that they hadn't been as well-treated as she'd expected. In fact, they had no servants or companions, received no education of toys, and shared only one dark and damp room. Their only reprieve from life in prison was a single lap dog. This is when Louise found out that her grandsons no longer knew how to speak French, that they'd had to learn Spanish just to communicate. Louise wept. Margret had assured her former sister-in-law of her nephew's kindness (even though he kept his mother locked up in a convent) and firmly believed that the little princes had not been mistreated. She was appalled when Louise informed her of their true circumstance. Writing to her nephew, she demanded the better treatment for the children and appealed to his better nature by having the new father (his first child having been born in 1527) think of his own.

Their attendants were returned to them but their situation didn't change much. But Louise's efforts to raise their ransom had been invigorated by her grandsons' plight and it was finally raised in March of 1530 and they were released in July. The boys had been prisoners since February of 1526. Francis promised to marry Charles' sister and said princess, Eleanor of Austria, was to travel with her future stepsons to France. Louise, unable to go and retrieve them due to ill health (she’d pass away the following year), sent a retinue of noblewoman to accompany them.

Preparing for Cambrai, Louise de Savoy wrote to Margaret’s envoy: “We must necessarily contend and argue, but I sincerely hope it will be without anger or ill-will.”

[…] The whole of Europe was watching. […] As the event neared, foreign ambassadors wrote letters to their masters, expressing their opinions that this meeting would probably accomplish nothing, much because of the enmity between France and Spain. Margaret was warned by her many councilors that King François could take her hostage after what he had endured in Spain during his imprisonment, but Margaret refused to listen, claiming that she would go. Louise promised to bring to Cambrai her chancellor, the women of her chamber, but no French nobility. There was a strict prohibition from carrying arms.

The two women met in Cambrai is July and negotiated for about 3 weeks. Margaret of Austria arrived before the other woman in a splendid litter surrounded by 24 archers. Two hours later, Louise appeared in a sumptuous litter, accompanied by her daughter [Marguerite, Queen Consort of Navarre], her chaplain, her painter, and choristers. [choir singers] At the beginning of August, Margaret and Louise attended Vespers together, and on the 5th of the same month, they celebrated a public mass in Cambrai Cathedral. The treaty was signed, and just as it was anticipated, the terms were beneficial for the emperor, so François was later angry, but he had to accept them in order to ensure the release of his two sons from captivity.

Therefore, Madame Louise and Savoy and Archduchess Margaret of Austria proved that women could not only survive in a man-dominated world, but also rise to prominence if they were allowed to by their male relatives, which was a necessary condition […] The Treaty of Cambrai is a rare example of a treaty negotiated by two intelligent and astute women, which allows us to understand how women could deploy intellectual and peace-making strategies in their provision of counsel back then. […] It was perhaps the greatest triumph for Louise, and a remarkable experience for Margaret.

— Olivia Longueville, ‘the Peace of the Ladies’, and the misfortunes of King François I of France

Upon their arrival, Francis embraced and kissed his boys happily and he married Eleanor two days later. The princes were welcomed back ecstatically by the people on the road to Paris and the boys would re-learn French but never truly recover from the ordeal, with Francis' youngest son (the only one who hadn't been taken captive) proving his favourite.

An overjoyed François embraced and kissed both of his boys, who were somber and found it rather difficult to speak French. It would take them some time to adapt to their former good life in France – the princes were scarred for life by their horrible experience in Spain.

— Olivia Longueville, ‘the Peace of the Ladies’, and the misfortunes of King François I of France

The younger of the two prisoner princes, Henri, would be the gloomier of the two and so his father entrusted the boy to the decades older Diane de Poitiers, a lively widow who had also been raised in Anne de Beaujeu’s household. Francis thought the sophisticated and cultured women might brighten him up, which she did, and the two already knew each other. Diane had sent a seven-year-old Henri off to Spain (in 1526) with a kiss when she was twenty-six and had counted among the noblewomen that went to Spain retrieve him (in 1530). The two would later embark on a passionate love affair, with Diane remaining as the foremost woman in his life until his death in 1559. It’s unsure when their relationship took on a sexual nature, perhaps around the time of his marriage to Catherine de’ Medici in 1533 or his instalment as Dauphin in 1536, but, by the time he became King in 1547, Diane had son intrenched herself in his heart (as the love of his life) that no one, not even his wife, could dig her out.

The other captive prince, Dauphin Francis, would strike up a genuine friendship with their stepmother Queen Eleanor, who wished to marry him to her daughter, a wealthy Portuguese princess, but the Dauphin would pass away before the match could be made. And with him, Eleanor lost the last of her great supporters.

The marriage between Eleanor and Francis had not be a happy one. By the time she arrived in France, Francis had become enamoured with a much younger, prettier, and wittier noblewoman named Anne de Pisseleu d'Heilly. And Eleanor, who was a romantic and had been taken in by Francis' chivalric promises of love, was absolutely heartbroken. They'd have no children and she'd largely fade into the shadows cast by Francis' favourite mistress (who took his mother's role as his chief advisor after Louise's passing in 1531 and the traditional queenly roles along with it). Eleanor would lose her greatest allies, her mother-in-law in 1531 and her stepson Francis in 1536, as Anne rose and rose in preeminence. Francis I's own death in 1547 had Eleanor’s role in France coming to an end, she left France for the Netherlands the following year.

The king’s first reaction to Eleanor is unknown, but given his courteous manners, François must have greeted her gallantly, masking his antipathy towards the woman, who later became his second wife and for whom he never found it in his heart to treat her with affection during their long marriage. Quite understandable feelings on his part, right?

However, the peace between François I and Charles V could not last for long. Not after the captivity of the French ruler in Spain. Not after the almost four-year imprisonment of his two sons in bad conditions. Not after François was forced into marriage to Eleanor. She paid a high price for the enmity of her brother and her husband with the miserable years she spent in France neglected, with her only daughter from her marriage to King Manuel I of Portugal – Maria, Duchess of Viseu – estranged from her in Portugal. The Italian wars soon resumed, and the French troops occupied Savoy and Piedmont in 1536, already after Louise’s death, but Lady Luck did not smile upon François – his dream to reclaim the Duchy of Milan did not materialize.

— Olivia Longueville, ‘the Peace of the Ladies’, and the misfortunes of King François I of France

Sources:

Kathleen Wellman, Queens and Mistresses of Renaissance France (nonfiction historical biography; chapter three: THE WOMEN OF THE COURT OF FRANCIS I — Wives and Mistresses, Sister and Mother)

Olivia Longueville, ‘the Peace of the Ladies’, and the misfortunes of King François I of France (post on a history blog, no sources listed)

The Freelance History Writer, King François I of France’s Sons are Held Hostage by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (post on a history blog, sources listed)

And my memory lol

[john-fitzgerald-kennedy]

[archive-anecdotes]

how did tony blair use cool britannia to win the 1997 election?

cool britannia - a surge in pride for british culture that led to a feeling of optimism, tapped into and fueled by bands like blur, oasis, suede, and pulp, as well as tony blair.

getting his photo taken with noel gallagher, the guitarist from oasis, at a downing street party after winning the election? not a coincidence.

but this photo is one of many public instances in which tony blair harnessed the immense power and influence that the music industry had on the population at the time to gain voter support and carefully craft his image and that of new labour.

read my full article on WordPress.