Today in History: The Field of Cloth of Gold 1520

A favorite setting for historical fiction novelist. Set to take place nearby of Calais in the area of Balinghem. The field of cloth of gold was opened on June 7Th and followed through to June 24Th in the year 1520. Intended for Henry VIII of England and Francis I of France to strengthen the bond of friendship following the signing of the Anglo-French treaty of 1518. It more so became a challenge of each kings egocentric personalities. Both kings going above and beyond the norm to upstage one another. The days were taken up with tournaments, in which both kings took part. There were banquets in which the kings entertained each other's queens. The many other entertainments included archery displays and wrestling between Breton and English wrestlers. The French account of events stated that apparently things turned sour for Henry when he lost a wrestling match with Francis.

New Release, The Secret Wife of Louis XIV: FranCoise d'Aubigne, Madame de Maintenon by Veronica Buckley

Releasing on September 1st 2009

How Exciting, this has really sparked my interest. I recently read & reviewed The mistress of the Sun King by Sandra Gulland, and it left a lasting impression on me. This novel falls into the follow up time period. The woman who usurped the wicked witch of France Athénaïs.

The Marquise de Maintenon, mistress of Louis XIV, was born in a bleak French prison in 1635. Her father was a condemned traitor and murderer who seduced the warden’s daughter. Yet in her lifetime, Françoise d’Aubigné—armed with beauty, intellect, and shrewd judgment—managed to make her way from grimmest poverty to the center of power at Versailles, the most opulent and cutthroat court in all Europe.

This is the extraordinary story of Françoise’s progress from brilliant salonnière to governess for the king’s illegitimate children and, finally, to the delicate position of Louis’s secret wife and uncrowned queen. Louis, who as supreme sovereign believed he had entrée to any bed he chose, would remain in love with her for forty years. Bursting with the gossip of such witty contemporary chroniclers as Madame de Sévigné, this exactingly researched biography is a pinnacle of the form. In vibrant, shocking colors, it paints a portrait of France in the process of becoming itself, and Europe in an age of violent change.

New Release, The Memoirs of Mary Queen of Scots by Carolly Erickson

Released on September 1st, 2009

I just love Erickson's books, they never are a let down, and I tend to devourer her books. I have already read her other books, The Secret Life of Josephine, The Last Wife of Henry VIII, and The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette. All of which were excellent books.

Born Queen of Scotland, married as a girl to the invalid young King of France, Mary took the reins of the unruly kingdom of Scotland as a young widow and fought to keep her throne. A second marriage to her handsome but dissolute cousin Lord Darnley ended in murder and scandal, while a third to the dashing Lord Bothwell, the love of her life, gave her joy but widened the scandal and surrounded her with enduring ill repute.
Unable to rise above the violence and disorder that swirled around her, Mary escaped to England—only to find herself a prisoner of her ruthless, merciless cousin Queen Elizabeth.

Here, in her own riveting account, is the enchanting woman whose name still evokes excitement and compassion—and whose death under the headsman’s axe still draws forth our sorrow.

New Blog Award, Kreative Blogger from Alabama Book Worm

This award was bestowed upon me by sweet Alabama Book Worm, you rock Girl! She enacted some guidelines for the award which has made it very interesting. Here are the award guidelines: Post 7 things you love & Give the award to 7 other blogger's who are creative.

My seven, I love are very much the same: My family, animals, gardening, my obsession for all kinds of history, books, art of any form, and my never ending thirst for knowledge.

I know there is a possibility that some of these blogs have already received this award. I still think they deserve it. My Seven blogs I am bestowing the award on to are:

• The Maiden's Court
• Enchanted by Josephine
• All Things Royal
• Passages to the Past
• Historical Tapestry
• Marie Antoinette's Gossip Guide to the 18th Century
• Queen Victoria Revealed

Today in History, Anne Boleyn Crowned Queen

Today in history, Anne Boleyn was crowned Queen of England at Westminster Abbey, followed by an elaborate dinner feast. For further reading about Anne check out a previous post here,

P.S. Happy Birthday 3rd B day J.J.

Today in History, King Henry VIII Marries Jane Seymour

May 30Th 1536, Henry VIII marries Jane Seymour, a previously lady-in-waiting for Queen Anne. Henry VIII was betrothed to Jane Seymour on May 20th 1536, the day after Boleyn's execution, and married her ten days later. In 1537 she gave birth to a son the future Edward VI. She participated in the young princes christening and became deathly ill with puerperal fever. She died on October 24Th, 1537 at Hampton Court. After her death, Henry wore black for the next three months. Henry was later buried beside her in 1547.

This was written above her grave for awhile:

Here lieth a Phoenix, by whose death
Another Phoenix life gave breath:
It is to be lamented much
The world at once ne'er knew two such.

Booking Through Thursday: Wish you could "unread"

"Is there a book that you wish you could “unread”? One that you disliked so thoroughly you wish you could just forget that you ever read it"?

I hate to say it but I absolutely wish I could "unread", thou that shall remained unnamed. A big part of what I did not like was the pages. Thin paper, teeny tiny letter print, hundreds of never ending pages. Hey what you going to do, at least I know now that I do not like books made in that style, or by that particular author. I also take it as a learning experience and move on because I still used my imagination to visualize the story.

New Blog Award, Sharing the Lemonade

Dolleygurl over at The Maiden's Court was so sweet to give me this refreshing award! I would love to post a comment on her page but I still have not been able to figure out the glitch on blogspot of why I can not post a comment in any blog that has an embedded comment box. It makes me so angry! It will not recognize my Id. Thank you Dolley, I love it! Thank you for thinking of me. I am so excited that other people out there really love history as much as me! I would also like to pass this award onto:
Dave Hambo at Hambo Central
Susan Higginbotham at Medieval Woman

Sundays Art: Have You Ever Wondered, What They Look Like?

I know many of you out there have to be like me, and wonder what it would be like to see historical persons in real life? I too imagine what they would look like every time I read a novel. I came across this site called Historical Figures Foundation where historian and artist G. S. Stuart shows his talented work. He does recreations of historical figures. Some of them look so real it is creepy, kinda like a wax museum, but way better. Here are some of my favorites:

• Countess Jeanne Du Barry Here
• Nell Gwynne, King James II mistress Here,
  
• Countess Jeanne De La Motta, impersonator of Marie Antoinette, Affair of the necklace Here
• Archduchess Maria Antonia, young Marie Antoinette, Here
• Duchess Yolande De Polignac, Marie Antoinette's best friend, Here
• Czar Nicholas II, Last Czar of Russia, Here
• Queen Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's disposed wife Here
• King Edward VI, King Henry VIII & Jane Seymour's son Here

New Release, Mary Boleyn: The True Story of Henry VIII's Mistress by Josephine Wilkinson

New Book Release July 2009, I have been waiting for more books about Mary, Finally!

" The scandalous true story of Mary Boleyn, infamous sister of Anne, and mistress of Henry VIII.The fictionalized story of Mary Boleyn is told in the current Hollywood blockbuster The Other Boleyn Girl (based on Philippa Gregory's bestseller) starring Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman which has generated huge interest in Mary as a historical figure. Mary Boleyn, 'the infamous other Boleyn girl', began her court career as the mistress of the king of France. Franois I of France would later call her 'The Great Prostitute' and the slur stuck.The bete-noir of her family, Mary was married her off to a minor courtier but it was not long before she caught the eye of Henry VIII and a new affair began. Although a bright star at Henry's court, she was soon eclipsed by her highly spirited and more accomplished sister, Anne, who rapidly took her place in the king's heart. However, the ups and downs of the Boleyn sisters were far from over. Mary would emerge the sole survivor of a family torn apart by lust and ambition, and it is in Mary and her progeny that the Boleyn legacy rests. "

Honorable Mention, Dave Hambidge on BBC Stokes Radio

I am honored you would choose to highlight me for best Newer fiction Blog. I "was" kicking myself for missing it but, I found it and have just finished listening to the interview. It is an amazing interview. Dave Highlighting his new book in the works about his father in law who served during World War II. It is very inspiring to any one out there who has a rich family history and is thinking about writing a book. Keep up the good work Dave and it was nice to put a voice to a profile.

Dave Hambidge as you said "I have highlighted this blog in an e-booklet I have produced to accompany an interview I will be doing on BBC Radio Stoke (North Midlands of UK) on Sunday 24 May 2009 at 1400hrs BST. The subject will be Internet publishing and blogging.

To see the Blogging for Newbies e-booklet on Dave's Blog, please go to; Here
If you have the inclination to listen to BBC Stokes on line please go to; Here

Coming up In The World Wide Web

Holy cow, my husband bought me my domain's Historically Obsessed, it is now officially mine. Registered to me, I own historicallyobsessed.com, .net, .org, & .info Crazy Hu? I did go to college for graphic design and web development back during the peak of the Internet boom. I actually met my husband in a multimedia development class at college. Life kinda took a turn away from the web but now the possibilities are endless! Thank you honey for opening a door for me and closing an old window.

New Release, Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross

Brand New Re-Release June 9Th 2009 Paperback
"One of the most controversial women of history is brought to brilliant life in Donna Woolfolk Cross's tale of Pope Joan, a girl whose origins should have kept her in squalid domesticity. Instead, through her intelligence, indomitability and courage, she ascended to the throne of Rome as Pope John Anglicus"

Sister lover of Historical fiction and author Donna Woolfolk Cross, thank you for paying a visit to Historically Obsessed and letting us in on some of the details of Pope Joan. This looks right up my alley, a strong heroine character, set in a male dominated world, and destined to out shine them all. During her visit, Donna said "This is NOT a simple re-release; it's a revised edition with corrections and additions, an updated Author's Note with a lot of new material (including support for Joan's actual historical existence), and a list of "Best of the Best" reading group questions, based on my many years of chatting by speakerphone with reading groups" I will be buying this one for sure. I can not wait for the movie. Want more info go here!

Help out there? Posting Comments on blogspot

Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong? I try to post comments but it will not work on many of the sites I am following. I go to the post box, select comment as google profile, type what I want, hit the post and the page reloads with no new comment, nothing shows up. No comment, nothing. Is it possible that these sites have the option of comment moderation on? I have been able to post on other blogs. When I am able to post it is not a box with profile selection. It is a link to another page with a word verification. What the heck is going on, I want to enter Medieval Woman's contest for Mistress of The Sun but I cant comment on her page. HELP OUT there? Anyone?

Update: I tried every type of profile type to post a comment and I can not even post anonymously. Thanks Daphne I tried and went overboard on each profile type what the Heck?

Booking Through Thursday: A Second First Time?

What book would you love to be able to read again for the first time?
I would have to pick, Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. It has been a long time since I read this book. I still remember the story very vividly, even though I read it back in 2005. I defiantly would recommend it to anyone interested in Japanese History.

Amazon.com Review "According to Arthur Golden's absorbing first novel, the word "geisha" does not mean "prostitute," as Westerners ignorantly assume--it means "artisan" or "artist." To capture the geisha experience in the art of fiction, Golden trained as long and hard as any geisha who must master the arts of music, dance, clever conversation, crafty battle with rival beauties, and cunning seduction of wealthy patrons. After earning degrees in Japanese art and history from Harvard and Columbia--and an M.A. in English--he met a man in Tokyo who was the illegitimate offspring of a renowned businessman and a geisha. This meeting inspired Golden to spend 10 years researching every detail of geisha culture, chiefly relying on the geisha Mineko Iwasaki, who spent years charming the very rich and famous."

New Release, The Virgin's Daughters: In the Court of Elizabeth I by Jeane Westin

Released in Paper back on August 4, 2009

"In a court filled with repressed sexual longing, scandal, and intrigue, Lady Katherine Grey is Elizabeth’s most faithful servant. When the young queen is smitten by the dashing Robert Dudley, Katherine must choose between duty and desire—as her secret passion for a handsome earl threatens to turn Elizabeth against her. Once the queen becomes a bitter and capricious monarch, another lady-in-waiting, Mistress Mary Rogers, offers the queen comfort. But even Mary cannot remain impervious to the court’s sexual tension—and as Elizabeth gives her doomed heart to the mercurial Earl of Essex, Mary is drawn to the queen’s rakish godson… "

Today in History: The Execution of Anne Boleyn

Anne was executed on a scaffolding erected on the north side of the White Tower, in front of what is now the Waterloo Barracks on May 19Th, 1536. Before she was executed She spoke and was quoted saying:

"Good Christian people, I am come hither to die, for according to the law, and by the law I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it. I am come hither to accuse no man, nor to speak anything of that, whereof I am accused and condemned to die, but I pray God save the king and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never: and to me he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord. And if any person will meddle of my cause, I require them to judge the best. And thus I take my leave of the world and of you all, and I heartily desire you all to pray for me. O Lord have mercy on me, to God I commend my soul"

Anne Boleyn is one of Histories most prolific women. Born ahead of her time and destined to become a doomed Queen. It has been concluded by historians that Anne did not have a sixth finger and it was quite possible she was Rh negative. For those of you who do not know what Rh negative you can read more about it here. Her body was found during renovations done by Queen Victoria and they found her hands were slim and normal.

She was highly educated and was an opinionated woman. Growing up she had spent time abroad as Margaret of Austria's maid of honour. Later she was sent to France to attend King Henry VIII's sister, Mary Tudor, for Mary's marriage to Louis XII of France. Her father recalled her back home in January 1522 for a marriage to her cousin that would never take place.

In 1526 King Henry began his pursuit, but as it happened her sister Mary was recently dismissed from being his mistress after having his children. It was even rumored that Henry had had relations with the girls mother also. King Henry VIII empowered Anne with his undying lust for her & thus she became a powerful force to be reckoned with. Henry had dismissed his pious catholic first wife Catherine of Aragon. Catherine was formally stripped of her title as Queen and banished from court. Their only child Mary was proclaimed to be a bastard. Anne was consequently crowned on June 1, 1533. She was a lavish Queen who had a taste for enjoying the finer things in life. . There were over two hundred and fifty servants to tend to her personal needs, everyone from priests to stable-boys. There were over 60 maids-of-honour who served her and accompanied her to social events.

Anne was key in the driving force behind the separation of England from Rome. It is said because of her experiences in France that she was a devote Christan in the new tradition of Renaissance humanism. While she would later hold the reformist position that the papacy was a corrupting influence on Christianity. The Catholic church at the time had laid an unbroken "cloth of Christendom" all over the known modern world. At that time men of the church only had to awnser to one man the pope, who spoke for god. Anne brought the reformist position to the table. Why should the priest not awnser to the king first, they live in his country, on his land, serve him, & yet they did not awnser to him. A bonus for Henry was the church had a lot of money & goods that could be confiscated by the crown. Then he would be supreme authority over the church of England not Rome. Parliament declared Henry "the only supreme head on earth of the Church of England". Leaving him with no one to awnser to but god himself.

Elizabeth, Anne and King Henry's only child was born on September 7Th 1533 at Greenwich palace. She was named after Henry's mother Elizabeth of York who was the only woman to be mother, wife, & daughter of the crown. Anne's downfall began around when Catherine of Aragon died and her heart was said to have been blackened by poison, Anne being blamed for her death. Modern doctors concluded she died from heart disease, which was not understood then. The King and new queen wore yellow head to toe to celebrate Catherine's passing. Anne found she was pregnant again after having up to three previous miscarriages, she was desperate to have a son. Her life depended on providing an heir to the throne. Later that month, the King was unhorsed in a joust tournament and knocked unconscious for two hours, a worrying incident that Anne believed led to her miscarriage five days later. Given Henry's desperate desire for a son, the sequence of Anne's pregnancies has attracted much interest. While Anne recovered from the miscarriage Henry declared that he had been seduced into the marriage by means of "sortilege" which is a French term for either "deception" or "spells". He quickly moved his new mistress Jane Seymour in and refused her brother George The Order of the Garter.

It all went downhill so quickly from there. Mark Smeaton was a Flemish musician in Anne's employment, he was arrested and tortured for having carnal knowledge of the queen. Followed by Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston, & William Brereton were all arrested. All Innocent men used as a scape goat for king Henry to be rid of Anne. The most despicable is George, her brother. Accused of two counts of incest, treason, adultery, and he was arrested. Anne was taken to the tower of London on May 2ND 1536. Once in the tower she collapsed and went into hysterics. She and the other men were all tried and found guilty of plotting the king's death, to ostensibly marry one of them afterwards. Henry himself issued the crucial instructions: his officials, including Cromwell, carried them out. They broke Anne's moral character and although the evidence against them was unconvincing, the accused were found guilty and condemned to death. George Boleyn and the other accused men were executed on May 17Th 1536. The King commuted Anne's sentence from burning to beheading and sent for a swordsman for the execution, quick and painless, one strike only. When They came for her on the morning of May 19Th she wore a red petticoat under a loose, dark grey gown of damask trimmed in fur and a mantle of ermine to her own execution.

For further reading on Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth, and Elizabeth of York, my favorite Author Robin Maxwell has written some amazing books called Mademoiselle Boleyn, Secret Diary, Virgin Prelude to the Throne, Queens Bastard, and Tower Born.

Within the Tower of London there is a monument to commemorate the two English Queens consort and five other British nobles who were executed by beheading. It is a beautiful made glass pillow on a circular platform, Anne and the others names are etched in the rim of glass. Anne in my eyes was a heroine and I am sympathetic to her case. She did what she thought was right, even thought it might not have been right. With out her who knows what the world would have been like today if king Henry had not moved heaven and earth to be with her.

Booking Through Thursday: Book Gluttony! Are your eyes bigger than your book belly?

Book Gluttony! Are your eyes bigger than your book belly? Do you have a habit of buying up books far quicker than you could possibly read them? Have you had to curb your book buying habits until you can catch up with yourself? Or are you a controlled buyer, only purchasing books when you have run out of things to read?

Sorry I am late answering this one but I could not ignore it. I am defiantly a book gluttonous! When it comes to books I get obsessive compulsive over board. I tend to get most of my books from the library to keep my habit under control. I tend to stay away from bookstores, it is like my own cryptionite. It seems every time I leave Target lately, I couldn't escape with out buying a new book. I have this weird habit of reading the library's books and if I really like it then I buy it and put it on the book shelf. The weird part is I tend to never reread a book even if I bought it and absolutely loved. I also almost never buy hardback unless I will die with out it. Books to me, are like rare treasures that deserve to be honored & cherished. How about you?

New Release, The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

To be Released world wide August 18th 2009,

I already have this one saved on my libary account I am number one so far in a line of seven holds ha but I will get it first!

"The first in a stunning new series, The Cousins War, is set amid the tumult and intrigue of The War of the Roses. Internationally bestselling author Philippa Gregory brings this family drama to colourful life through its women, beginning with the story of Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen.

The White Queen tells the story of a common woman who ascends to royalty by virtue of her beauty, a woman who rises to the demands of her position and fights tenaciously for the success of her family, a woman whose two sons become the central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the Princes in the Tower whose fate remains unknown to this day. From her uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores the most famous unsolved mystery, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills."

Today in History, The Execution of George Boleyn

Today George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford was executed on Tower hill on May 17th 1536. He was brought to trail with four other men for having cardinal knowledge of the Queen of England. It just happened that the queen was his sister Anne Boleyn. During the hearing his own wife testified against him that conniving Jane Parker. George was found guilty of incest by the court judges, his own father insanely being one of them. Everyone had turned their back on him and Anne. No one dared speak out for fear of the kings wrath.

Poor George entangled in a web of deceit, known as the modern day rat race but, in the court of Henry VIII it was a deadly game to play with very high stakes, your head. The higher they are raised, the harder they fall, this applies to George. He was a scape goat for king Henry, someone to blame for Queen Anne's terrible miscarriages & wild antics. George was a avid politician and henchman for Henry during his campaign urged by Anne, to the dissolution of the catholic monasteries. It was also rumored that he was gay, and one of the other men executed, a musician named Mark Smeaton was his lover. Mark is also accused of being the later Queen Elizabeth's father. A vicious slander on Anne set in place by the supporters of the catholic faith. He met a terrible end, & when I watched him executed on Tudors on showtime, I cried for him and mark.

My favorite book that has more of my view of George is The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. Also with her follow up book The Boleyn Inheritance you can follow the demise of Georges wife Jane Parker other wise known as Jane Viscount Rochford. Jane played a key role in George's down fall and later in Queen Catherine Howard's death, one of their cousins who went on to marry King Henry. But that is a whole different story for another time. I wish it were different but there is no existing or surviving portrait of George Boleyn.