Who Was Emma of Normandy?

Queen Emma of Normandy
This entry is part 12 of 12 in the series Intriguing Women
This entry is part 1 of 1 in the series Kings of Denmark

Queen Emma, twice Queen of England and gatekeeper to the Norman dynasty, is one of histories most intriguing Medieval women. What was her role in the melee of Viking, Anglo Saxon and Norman rule?

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Margaret Pole Who Was She?

This entry is part 11 of 12 in the series Intriguing Women

Margaret Pole was an intriguing and complex character. One of the few survivors of the Plantagenet dynasty after the wars of the 15th Century she was executed under the orders of King Henry VIII in 1541, aged sixty seven years old. So what happened to cause this old lady to lose her head? First let’s…

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Caroline of Ansbach Wife of King George II

Caroline of Ansbach
This entry is part 10 of 12 in the series Intriguing Women

Caroline of Ansbach, Queen Consort to George II, described her son as a filthy beast, was friends with Leibnitz the philosopher and Walpole the politican. She was a shrewd and intelligent woman who played the game of royalty with considerable skill.

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Katherine Swynford Mistress of John of Gaunt

Katherine Swynford
This entry is part 9 of 12 in the series Intriguing Women

Katherine Swynford, the love of John of Gaunts life? Katherine Swynford, another one of those intriguing medieval woman to explore, she was a daughter of  Payne Roët of Guienne in France, who was born about 1310. He was a knight and herald from Hainaut who fought in the 100 years war and when King Edward III…

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IT Livery Companies History and Dame Shirley

This entry is part 6 of 12 in the series Intriguing Women

Dame Stephanie Shirley, aka Steve computing pioneer, philanthropist and advocate for strategic projects in Autism and child escaping Nazi Germany via the British Kindertransport initiative. She survived and succeeded against the odds, one 10,000 against one and a half million that perished..She is part of history and very much alive and still making it happen, she is for me an inspiration and continues a long line of great contributions to British life that started with the story of a migration and the struggles of an immigrant trying to make the best of the cards life has dealt the, We can all learn something from Dame Shirley.

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Who was Catherine of Valois?

Catherine of Valois
This entry is part 5 of 12 in the series Intriguing Women

Who was Catherine of Valois whose short life included being the daughter of a King, married to one, the mother of one and the grandmother of another? One of history’s most interesting characters from the 15th century.

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Elizabeth Woodville Queen of Edward IV

Elizabeth Woodville
This entry is part 2 of 12 in the series Intriguing Women

Elizabeth Woodville would marry a King but her sons would end their lives imprisoned by their uncle in the tower who would become the much maligned Richard III. He was this Queen who drove a King to marry in secret and fall out with his own family?

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King Edward IV’s Mistress Jane Shore

Painting of Jane Shore by William Blake
This entry is part 4 of 12 in the series Intriguing Women

King Richard III, King Edward IV and Jane Shore. Just how was the life of this woman bound up in the enthralling politics of the Middle Ages when war was raging across the country. Jane’s name is linked to some of the most important men of the period. What influence did she bring upon their lives?

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