Much Medieval Mayhem - Links to Series

Some weeks ago, the tireless and extremely generous Anna Belfrage embarked on not one, but two blog series. One was all to do with the Seventeenth Century and the other was called Much Medieval Mayhem.

She invited a whole bunch of authors, including myself, to talk about our writing, our love of the medieval era, and to offer up some surprises. We had witches, bloody cucumbers, and people dying on the battlefield more than once - a neat trick if you can pull it off.

So I thought I'd do a little round-up of all those posts but not without finding out a little about the series creator.

In her series, Anna asked us all why we were so interested in the medieval period, and I wondered where her own fascination began:

"I think it all started when I got hold of a book called “The long/haired Merovingians”. I have no recollection of what the book was about (except, obviously, we’re in France somewhere between the 6th and 8th century) and I was too young to really read it, but somehow it stuck with me. Some years later, I was really, really depressed over the fact that I’d been born in the wrong time, because I would have been such a perfect and loyal companion for Richard Lionheart as he rode off on his Crusade. I have since re-evaluated my opinion both of Richard and the Crusades…) [Annie adds 'sensible' to her list of Anna's attributes!]

'Somewhat more seriously, I am fascinated by how defined the European medieval period is by belief in God—combined with an equally firm belief in the rule of the strongest, which in itself can be quite the contradiction at times. Most people did not know how to read or write, and yet they built marvels like Lincoln Cathedral, like Notre Dame, they invested hours and hours in creating some of the most beautiful manuscripts known to man. Most medieval people lived in dark and damp abodes, with earth floors and rough wooden floors. But some lived in palaces of tiled floors, with burbling fountains in their gardens and furnishings that were as beautiful as they were practical. Just like now, most medieval peeps were likely very hard-nosed and pragmatic, and yet this is the time of chivalry and romances. Lovely, lovely contradictions, don’t you think?"

I certainly do! And, just as we all had a particular person or event which we said inspired us, what or who, I wondered, drew Anna's attention?

"I am rather fascinated by the Plantagenet kings, more specifically with the three first Edwards. But it is not the kings as such that I find inspiring, more the people that interacted with them. One such person is Roger Mortimer. My 7th grade history teacher had a big thing about Roger Mortimer and Edward II (he was no fan of the king) and his interest was obviously contagious as I ended up writing The King’s Greatest Enemy, a four-book series about Roger Mortimer’s rise and subsequent fall, albeit I tell the story from the POV of Adam de Guirande, a loyal and honourable knight who is very much my own creation."

Readers, those of you who haven't yet met Adam, be warned that you will lose your heart to him...

As I said in my introduction, Anna is not solely content to stay in the medieval period, for she often can be found in the seventeenth century too. So are there any plans to return to the middle ages?

"Oh, yes. At present, I am in Aragon in 1285 where my protagonist Robert has just taken part in the battle that drove the French back over the border after their failed attempt at conquering Aragon, all of this labelled as a “crusade” because the pope was pissed off with Pedro, king of Aragon. (I do so love a meddling pope or two...)

I was also recently visited by a certain Nicholas de Guirande who introduced himself as Adam de Guirande’s youngest grandson. Hooked me with that one, he did. Hooked me even further when he explained he is in the service of one Henry Bolingbroke, plus that he is at odds with his older half-sister who has already tried to murder him twice—well, Nicholas maintains serving him pottage with crushed glass must constitute a murder attempt, as does lacing his ale with hemlock. His sister, Agnes, insists they were both unfortunate accidents. Nicholas is rather insistent, which is why I have pulled out my various biographies about Henry IV (I have quite a few as this guilt-ridden usurper has always fascinated me)."

Readers, I must tell you that if you haven't already met Robert, you are in for a treat. I recently met him and his wife in Anna's book, His Castilian Hawk.

You'd think, wouldn't you, that producing so many books would occupy Anna's time to the extent that she doesn't have any spare hours for blogging. But, not only does she host such series as Much Medieval Mayhem, she also writes great articles about many historical events and people. Not easy to pick just three, but here are some of Anna's favourites.

"I am rather fond of medieval Castile and this post is one of my favourites, the story of Alfonso VII and his beloved Jewess, Raquel. Alfonso VII was married to Eleanor of England and nothing indicates he ever had a mistress named Raquel or that any of the events in this story are true, but I love it anyway, no matter how sad. As a little extra, this post also includes such delicacies as labiodental fricative fs. What more can one wish for, hey? 

'One of the happier medieval marriages we know of is that of Edward III and his Philippa. As they both play central roles in my series The King’s Greatest Enemy, I felt they deserved their own post—even if my third-grade history teacher, Mrs Miller is a recurring presence. 

'Finally, I give you a kick-ass lady who definitely carved her own way through life, usually at the expense of other people’s lives. Mabel is not exactly likeable, but she serves to show that medieval women were not retiring violets, even if hopefully women like Mabel were few and far between…"

Anna captioned this with 'seems like something
Mabel would do'!

If you missed any of the posts in the Much Medieval Mayhem series, or would simply like to revisit them - and why wouldn't you? - here are all the links to the posts, in the order in which they appeared on Anna's blog (click on the names to take you there):

Alison Morton talks about the Roman connection to the medeival period

Paula Lofting talks about Re-enactment and her Anglo-Saxon novels

Nicky Moxey explains how she literally dug up her protagonist

Mercedes Rochelle reveals how she came to the medieval world via Shakespeare

Helen Hollick talks with a passion about Harold Godwinson 

Annie Whitehead - yes, that's me! - talks about Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, and erm, being a witch...

EM Powell  talks about piling up the bodies and writing medieval crime

Charlene Newcomb talks Crusades and a bit of Star Wars. Yes, really!

Sharon Bennett Connolly talks nonfiction and introduces a rather gutsy lady from Lincoln

Mary Anne Yarde delves deep into the 'Dark Ages' and explores the legend surrounding King Arthur

Jessica Knauss takes us to medieval Spain and tosses a cucumber. A bloody one at that.

Enjoy! These posts are informative, amusing and it was great fun to take part.

Finally, thanks to Anna for not only coming up with such a brilliant idea but for taking time out of her busy schedule to talk to me today.

More about Anna Belfrage:

Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with two absorbing interests: history and writing. Anna has authored the acclaimed time travelling series The Graham Saga, set in 17th century Scotland and Maryland, as well as the equally acclaimed medieval series The King’s Greatest Enemy which is set in 14th century England.  

More recently, Anna has published The Wanderer, a fast-paced contemporary romantic suspense trilogy with paranormal and time-slip ingredients. While she loved stepping out of her comfort zone (and will likely do so again ) she is delighted to be back in medieval times in her September 2020 release, His Castilian Hawk. Set against the complications of Edward I’s invasion of Wales, His Castilian Hawk is a story of loyalty, integrity—and love.   

Find out more about Anna on her website or on her Amazon page. You can also follow her on FB or Twitter.