The lives of England’s medieval queens were packed with incident—love, intrigue, betrayal, adultery, and warfare—but their stories have been largely obscured by centuries of myth and omission. Now esteemed biographer Alison Weir provides a fresh perspective and restores these women to their rightful place in history.
Spanning the years from the Norman conquest in 1066 to the dawn of a new era in 1154, when Henry II succeeded to the throne and Eleanor of Aquitaine, the first Plantagenet queen, was crowned, this epic book brings to vivid life five women, including: Matilda of Flanders, wife of William the Conqueror, the first Norman king; Matilda of Scotland, revered as “the common mother of all England”; and Empress Maud, England’s first female ruler, whose son King Henry II would go on to found the Plantagenet dynasty. More than those who came before or after them, these Norman consorts were recognized as equal sharers in sovereignty. Without the support of their wives, the Norman kings could not have ruled their disparate dominions as effectively.
Drawing from the most reliable contemporary sources, Weir skillfully strips away centuries of romantic lore to share a balanced and authentic take on the importance of these female monarchs. What emerges is a seamless royal saga, an all-encompassing portrait of English medieval queenship, and a sweeping panorama of British history.
Alison Weir is by far one of my favourite authors, and Queens of the Conquest definitely does not disappoint. This first book follows the stories of Matilda of Flanders, Matilda of Scotland, Adeliza of Louvain, Matilda of Boulogne and ends with Empress Maud. The research has clearly been done thoroughly, and we get a glimpse of these women who stood at the founding of Norman England. It is an excellent book, and as it’s only the first book in a series, I am sure we have much more to look forward to.
Queens of the Conquest: England’s Medieval Queens by Alison Weir is available now in both the UK and the US.
Be the first to comment