Books: My Historical Fiction Addiction to Medieval Ladies Part 1

My love for historical fiction novels has brought me straight into the arms of Alison Weir and Philippa Gregory; two British authors who write extensively about the subject. Like any girl, when I was little I wanted to be a princess, which later translated to obsession over kings, queens, kingdoms and royal families. Reading about royalty made me realize that their lives are fraught with a lot of controversy. In high school and college I read about Queen Victoria but then I decided to dig deeper and I slowly realized that the lives of princesses or ladies like the Middle Ages or Tudor Period are whole lot more interesting if not challenging.

Oh! To be a lady.. but what are the pros and cons. Meet Jane, Jacquetta and Elizabeth.

And that's how I met Jane, Elizabeth and Jacquetta. Three women born and bred during those years: 1300's and 1500's. A world so unlike ours in opinion, perspective and priorities. Here are the books, 2 of which are written by Weir and the other one is by Gregory. I must admit that they are just historical fiction and are loosely based on actual events, there's no denying that they reflect the ways which women were treated during those years.

ELIZABETH

We know her in history as Queen Elizabeth. However, before she was crowned, there was indeed a time when she was just known as the Lady Elizabeth: first as a King’s Daughter, next as a King’s sister, then later as a Queen’s sister. She is King Henry VIII’s second daughter from his second wife, the ill-fated Anne Boleyn. Her father’s obsession to sire a male heir led to no less than six marriages: two of which ended in beheading. She had an elder sister, Mary, and a younger brother Edward who preceded them in the line of succession. After her mother was beheaded and her father remarried, her status became a bastard. Even as a child, her intelligence has been widely recognized but she never really took the spotlight because everyone hoped to have more male heirs and successors to follow. But when Edward VI died young and Mary's disastrous and bloody turn as a ruler ended, everyone looked towards the young Elizabeth as the country's hope. This book covers the time from the day she learned that her mother has been beheaded to the day that learned that she is the new Queen of England, of course, not without struggles in between. So many times she has been put under house arrest and tried for plotting to topple her elder sister's rule but none of the charges were proven.

In an age where women are looked down and are considered unfit to rule, she proved that her father's fears and obsessions were unfounded after all. Her ruling years will be known as the England's Elizabethan Era, also considered as the Golden Age.

"This is the Lord's doing. It is marvelous in our eyes!"

-Lady Elizabeth upon learning that she is the new Queen of England, The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir

One can only wonder why she never married or considered having her own children to follow her legacy. This book gives us a fictionalized answer and I tell you, the author went all the way, if not too far. :)

** SPOILER ALERT**

She suggests that at 14, the Lady Elizabeth had a flirtation with and was impregnated by the Lord Admiral Thomas Seymour, the husband of her stepmother Katherine Parr. She miscarried however and as a result she has been traumatized and never had the desire to have a relationship. Weir, in her Author's Note, confirms that historical records talk about a certain unidentified 'fair' lady who delivered a stillborn in a 'great house' and that the midwife had been blindfolded so that she may never be able to identify the place. It also coincided with a time when the Lady Elizabeth fell ill and had to be away from public life. We will never really know if these things occurred but even if it did it wouldn't affect my admiration for this formidable woman. Moreover, in modern times we have a name for that crime.It's called statutory rape and she is the victim. Whatever her true reasons were for not marrying she has always been firm that she is married to her country and that she is the mother of her subjects.

Of course she is now just a historical figure and whatever idea I have about her, I don't know if close it is to reality. But she isn't called England's greatest queen for nothing so she must have been a force to reckon with.

JANE GREY

If you are a girl born in the 1500's to a noble family, it is typical for your parents to be disappointed. They always want male heirs for the continuance of their noble houses. However, they can make light of that disappointment by thinking of glittering marriages to other nobility or even to royalty. Moreover, for nobles in the 1500's, it is rare to marry for love; it is always for the advancement of the house.

At a young age, Lady Jane Grey's parents, The Marquess and Marchioness of Dorset who are both kin to King Henry VIII had their eyes set on marrying her off to Prince Edward. They took all the efforts to make sure that she would be worthy of marrying a future king. Their plans were forfeited when Prince Edward died in his teens. Jane was surrounded by very ambitious people who wouldn't settle for less. They made Prince Edward sign an order on his deathbed that stated that the Lady Jane would be his heir instead of his sisters, the princesses Mary and Elizabeth who were considered bastards. Lady Jane also had a strong claim to the throne through her mother Frances, Lady Dorset who is the daughter of King Henry's youngest sister.

" ..But I wish you to know that, were I just Edward and you just Jane, I would prefer to marry you. We accord well together, and have similar views... Kings cannot make their own choices. I wished you to know that.."

Edward VI, Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir

She ascended the throne and became known in history as England's 'Nine Days Queen'. It didn't take long for Princess Mary to get the support of the people and rallied them to take London and topple Jane's rule. Poor Jane, at fifteen she was obviously just being used by the people around her, including her father who wanted to control the throne. She was imprisoned and her cousin, now Queen Mary was willing to forgive her. However, more rebellions were being held in her name that Queen Mary considered her too strong a threat and for that she ordered for her execution. She was beheaded.

Ordinary girls like us would be happily enjoying our youth at fifteen, flirting and marvelling at all of life's possibilities. I honestly cried while reading this book. As a girl, I could imagine the sad and tragic ending of an Innocent Traitor, how she was burdened even at a young age about her future but would always fall short of her parent's expectations. How it was drummed to her if how important it is to make a good marriage and when she made one, it was only for her family's convenience and not for love.

I cried for the lost opportunities for this promising girl. Had she been more mature she would have known how to defend herself. But I bet she has good place in heaven for she held on to her faith 'till the end.

-My Historical Fiction Addiction-

I know you're probably thinking that I am such a nerd for reading about these dead women. But hey, they inspire me in so many ways. In many parts of the world today, women are still not treated well and their rights are still neglected. I'm glad that in my country's democracy women are well loved and they are given equal opportunities to flourish and you know, to kick some ass. ;) Most of us prioritize our careers over marrying and giving birth to a dozen kids.

Now, know I said that there was another lady that I was going to talk about. Her name is Jacquetta. She's actually the ancestress of both Elizabeth and Jane. She's their great grandma. Let's meet her on the second part of this write up. Click here to read about Jacquetta.

JACQUETTA WOODVILLE