She-Wolves: the women who ruled England before Elizabeth

In 2010 historian, Helen Castor, had published the book, She-Wolves: the women who ruled England before Elizabeth. In 2012 a three part television series with the same name was made. A She-wolf was a derogatory term suggesting that a female leader, by nature, would have to have serious character defects. During the medieval period there were many women who held positions of power but were not allowed to be queens in their own right in England.

The women who are the focus in Helen Castor's study are Empress Matilda, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France and Margaret of Anjou. These women lived during a period in history when only men had the official power to govern a country or territory but women were used as a means of increasing that power or gaining more land or riches. In reality these women made an impact on life in England during often difficult times and often were regents when the official ruler was fighting in France or on crusade. This did not necessarily make them popular with some of the barons and church hierarchy who wanted to increase their power.

She-wolves - Historical Association 

Medieval she-wolves (part one) - History - the interesting bits

 Medieval she-wolves (part two) - History - the interesting bits

Queens of the Age of Chivalry

Queens of the Age of Chivalry is the third book in the series, England's Medieval Queens, written by Alison Weir . The stories of the five queens in this book include:

Marguerite of France, the second wife of King Edward I

Isabella of France, the wife of King Edward II

Philippa of Hainault, the wife of King Edward III

Anne of Bohemia, first wife of King Richard II

Isabella of Valois, second wife of King Richard II.

Alison Weir has written detailed accounts of the lives of these women based on the information available. Unfortunately many of the the records from this period have disappeared or have been reconstructed to support or discredit the main characters being portrayed but the reader is provided with a vivid picture of life lived in medieval times.

At the end of the book is an extensive  select bibliography, sources of quotes in the text and an index. There are also some coloured plates.

Queens of the Crusades

 Queens of the Crusades is the second book in the England Medieval Queens series by Alison Weir. The stories of the five queens in this book include:

Eleanor of Aquitaine, the wife of King Henry II

Berebgaria of Navarre, the first wife of King Richard I

Isabella of Angouleme, the wife of King John

Alienor of Provence, the wife of King Henry III

Eleanor of Castile, wife of King Edward I.

Alison Weir has written detailed accounts on the lives of these women based on thre information available. Unfortunately many of the original records from this period have disappeared or have been reconstructed to support or discredit the main characters being portrayed but the reader is provided with a vivid picture of life lived in medieval times.

At the end of the book is an extensive select bibliography, sources of quotes in the text plus an index. There are also some coloured plates.

Queens of the Conquest

Queens of the Conquest is the first book in the England Medieval Queens series by Alison Weir. The stories of the five queens in this book include:

Matilda of Flanders, the wife of William the Conqueror

Matilda of Scotland, the first wife of King Henry I

Adeliza of Louvain, the second wife of King Henry I

Empress Matilda, daughter of King Henry I and wife of Geoffrey Plantangenet of Anjou

Matilda of Boulonge, wife of King Stephen.

Alison Weir has written detailed accounts on the lives of these women based on the information available. Unfortunately many of the original records from this period have disappeared or have been reconstructed to support or discredit the main characters being portrayed but the reader is provided with a vivid picture of life lived in medieval times.

At the end of the book are appendices including a guide to the principal Chronicle sources, an extensive select bibliography, notes and references plus an index. There are also some coloured plates.