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New Book Coming Soon from The Freelance History Writer

The Freelance History Writer is pleased to announce a signed contract with a UK publisher and the submission of the manuscript for my first book. Looking for a publishing date of April 2025 for ‘Charles II’s Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza’. Will update when more information is available.

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Reimagining the Sons of York ~ A guest post by Wendy Johnson

Richard III (1452 – 1485) (Wendy Johnson) Re-imagining the Sons of York ~ A guest post by Wendy Johnson When I began work on my debut novel, The Traitor’s Son, a retelling of the turbulent life of a young Richard III, I decided to keep the action close. Focussing on deep-seated family relationships, the novel reimagines Richard’s early years as he matures from a troubled child to a courageous…

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The Wars of the Roses: The Medieval Art of Graham Turner ~ A guest post by Graham Turner

The Battle of Bosworth Although I have provided paintings for many books, The Wars of the Roses is my first as an author, evolving from my passion for this fascinating period of history that first captured my imagination 30 years ago and has been central to my life and career ever since. My first steps down the route that has now resulted in this book were a few canvases inspired by Arthurian…

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Eastbridge Pilgrims Hospital, Canterbury

The Freelance History Writer is pleased to welcome back historian and author, Toni Mount on a blog tour for her new novel. Toni enjoys really getting a deep understanding of her characters, the lives they lived and the places they visited. For “The Colour of Sin”, her main characters were off on pilgrimage and that meant a lot of interesting places to research. Here, Toni talks about Eastbridge…

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French Historical Fiction Survey

The Freelance History Writer’s author friends of French historical fiction need your help. Please take this short survey. Tell us what you like about Fiction and France! We are five writers of novels, movie scripts, and blogs set in France. We really want to know: What is the allure of France to readers and movie buffs? What time periods? What subjects? What genres?  How can you help? Click…

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Claude de Valois, Duchess of Lorraine

Claude of France, Duchess of Lorraine by Francois Clouet With Claude de Valois, we have a unique example of a happy aristocratic marriage. Having grown up together at the French court, the couple knew each other and were compatible. A favorite of her mother, Queen Catherine de’Medici, the many years of childbirth took a harsh toll on her body. Claude was born at the palace of Fontainebleau on…

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Cecily of York, Viscountess of Welles

Not as well known as her sister Elizabeth of York, Queen of England, Cecily attended many important events at the court of her father King Edward IV of England and her brother-in-law, King Henry VII. There are scattered references to her appearances throughout the historical records. Despite this, we know very little about her personality. Born on March 20, 1469, Cecily was the third daughter…

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Silesian Sainte-Chapelle: St Thomas Becket’s Chapel, Piast Castle, Racibórz ~ Guest Post by Katarzyna Ogrodnik-Fujcik

Henry IV the Righteous in Codex Manesse. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons ‘’Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?’’ The words of King Henry II still echo ominously through the centuries and remain one of the best known in English history. The murder of Thomas Becket at the steps of his own cathedral shocked the Christian world. Henry II himself was deeply shaken. He may have not given…

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The Coronation Banquet of Queen Elizabeth of York

The Coronation Banquet of Queen Elizabeth of York - Two courses of yummy food on the menu

Following the coronation of Elizabeth of York, as was the custom, they staged a magnificent banquet. In Westminster Hall, the High Steward, the Duke of Bedford, acted as the Queen’s Champion, riding a horse trapped in red roses and dragons. He led other mounted lords around the hall, keeping the crowds under control. On at stage built near a window on the left side of the hall, the king and his…

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The Coronation of Elizabeth of York ~ The First Tudor Queen

Detail of a miniature of the anointing of the breast of Queen Jeanne, from the Coronation Book of Charles V, France (Paris), 1365, Cotton Tiberius B. VIII, f. 68r Henry Tudor had gained the throne of England by conquest after the battle of Bosworth in August 1485. As king of a new dynasty, he had numerous crises to attend to in establishing his authority. It is therefore not remarkable that he…

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Margaret of Austria's Table at the Court of Savoy, Mechelen

Laid Table by Nicholaes Gillis, 1611 (Photo credit: https://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/g/gillis/laidtabl.html) When Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, designated his daughter Margaret of Austria as his procurator of the Netherlands, she bought a complex of buildings in Mechelen located across the street from the home of his grandchildren, the son and daughters of Margaret’s brother, Philip…

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Book Review: “Henry VII and the Tudor Pretenders: Simnel, Warbeck and Warwick” by Nathen Amin

My initial reaction of disbelief to the new ‘revelations’ regarding the Princes in the Tower has not changed, even after viewing the BBC program on US Public TV. In fact, that program was just embarrassing. There is no doubt the documents discovered and viewed are authentic and from the time period in question. Of course, Maximilian provided troops and supplies. Yes, Perkin Warbeck promised the…

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Poll: Royal and Aristocratic Women in the Era of the Valois Dukes of Burgundy

A very unscientific poll. Thank you for your participation!

Catherine of Burgundy, Duchess of Austria, daughter of Philip the Bold The Freelance History Writer has now completed a four-part series on the history of the formation of the Valois Burgundian Empire and sincerely hope you have enjoyed reading about this topic. For review, here are links to the articles: Philip the Bold, John the Fearless, Philip the Good and Charles the Bold. In an effort to…

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Robin Hood of Bohemia ~ Interview with film director Leoš Kastner with reporter Kasia Ogrodnik-Fujcik

The adventures of Robin Hood have fired the imagination of filmmakers since time immemorial. Or, to be precise, since 1938 when they made the first famous film with Errol Flynn. There have been numerous versions of the story retold over the years. Little wonder it has also (and inevitably) made its way into foreign lands. In the Kingdom of Bohemia, upon the death of Přemysl  Otakar II on 26…

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Margaret of Austria is Shipwrecked and King Henry VII of England Writes to Her at Southampton – 1497

Probably by Pieter van Coninxloo Diptych: Philip the Handsome and Margaret of Austria about 1493-5 https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/GROUP20 When King Charles VIII of France put into motion his plans to extend his power basis into Italy, he attacked Naples which belonged to the sphere of influence of King Ferdinand of Aragon. Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I concluded an anti-French…

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Brother Marijan, the Knight of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem  ~Interview with Marijan Krumlovský with reporter Kasia Ogrodnik-Fujcik

Fully clad in armour he measures 6’7’’ (2 m) and weighs 330.69 Ib (150 kg). This bear of a man proudly wears the green cross on his chest. Brother Marijan, the knight of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, medievalist, reenactor, founder of SHŠ Ordo Military, historical consultant of a new project Zbojník (The Robber). Today he tells Katarzyna Ogrodnik-Fujcik about his love of history,…

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Irene of Athens - The First Sole Byzantine Empress ~ A guest post by Powee Cheldran

Concept art of Empress Irene of Athens (r. 797-802) by Powee Celdran The Freelance History Writer is pleased to welcome back Powee Celdran with an article about an early Byzantine Empress. Empress Irene of Athens is perhaps one of the most fascinating women in Byzantine if not, in all of medieval history, having a long and eventful story arc. She went from empress-consort to empress-regent, and…