Historical Fiction and Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction, Book Reviews and ruminations on life
30
Jan
On the 30th of January 1649 King Charles I of England was beheaded – the first and only English monarch to be executed for treason. The execution occurred at the end of a trial which itself was controversial. England had NO law that allowed a king to stand trial and indeed the court had to write its own rules based on Roman law. The trial was not […]
Tags: charles i, oliver cromwell
17
Jan
Today I welcome David Pilling for a guest post. “A Bolton, a Bolton! The White Hawk! God for Lancaster and Saint George!” England, 1459: the kingdom stands divided and on the brink of civil war. The factions of Lancaster and York vie for control of the King, while their armies stand poised, ready to tear […]
Tags: David Pilling, Guest Post
16
Jan
On this day in the year 1809 the British army under the command of Sir John Moore fought a critical battle outside the port of La Corunna in northwest Spain. Their victory at the battle allowed the escape of the ragged remains an expeditionary force that had been pursued across Spain by Napoleon’s armies. Background In the late summer of […]
Tags: battle of corunna
8
Jan
Anglo Saxon Chronicle for 871 This year came the army to Reading in Wessex; and in the course of three nights after rode two earls up, who were met by Alderman Ethelwulf at Englefield; where he fought with them, and obtained the victory. There one of them was slain, whose name was Sidrac. About four nights after […]
Tags: alfred the great, ashdown
5
Jan
As I write this blog a very loud party is going on downstairs as my daughter has a 16th Birthday party. As the aged parents we are in exile upstairs. That said it is a traditional party night as it is 12th night: the 12th and last night of Christmas. 12th Night was traditionally celebrated on […]
Tags: 12th night