• 1500s,  Mistress,  Renaissance

    Further reading about Henry IV of France and his numerous mistresses

    I’ve had an incredible time researching and writing the French Mistresses series.  Henry IV had so many of them that it was almost hard to narrow down which ones to write about and which ones to relegate to supporting roles.  There’s so much more to learn about them that I could hardly put it all into three novels, so I’ve compiled a list of resources for you to check out for yourself. Free books on Henry IV and his mistresses: Free books on Henry IV and his mistresses: You can’t really escape from Margot’s side of the story.  There’s still debate over whether or if her supporters did, since it…

  • Guise

    The meaning behind “foreign princes” or Prince étranger at the French court

    Everyone loves to be special. When you’re at a royal court, it’s all about precedence and who has the biggest gifts from the Crown. The French loved to do their own thing, including having terms for some families that made them stand apart from other European courts. One of those titles was “Prince étranger,” or “foreign princes.” Becoming an foreign prince was a little complicated. Sometimes the title came from deposed or exiled ruling families. Others were cadet (descended from a second or lower ranking son in a family) branch of a Ducal family that usually was founded or lived in another kingdom. During various periods in French history, the…

  • Huguenot

    The enduring legacy of the Edict of Nantes

    The Edict of Nantes was a landmark decree issued by King Henry IV of France on April 13, 1598. It granted religious freedom and certain civil rights to the Protestant Huguenots in France, ending decades of religious conflict and establishing a degree of religious tolerance in the country. Here are the key significances of the Edict of Nantes: Religious Tolerance: The Edict of Nantes was one of the first decrees in Europe that granted religious toleration to a significant religious minority. It acknowledged the existence of both Catholicism and Protestantism in France and allowed Huguenots to practice their faith freely. This was a significant step towards religious pluralism and coexistence.…

  • Mistress

    A beginner’s guide to a French royal mistress

    A French royal mistress, commonly known as a “maîtresse en titre” or “favorite,” refers to a woman who held a prominent and influential position as the mistress of a French king during the monarchical era. These mistresses played a significant role in the political and social spheres of the French court, exerting considerable influence over the king and sometimes even shaping policy decisions. The significance of a French royal mistress can be understood in several ways: his explanation Political Influence: The mistress often had the ear of the king and could use her position to advocate for political causes or individuals. She could influence the king’s decisions, appointments, and policies,…

  • Behind the scenes

    Visiting Notre Dame

    Getting there I didn’t have a ticket to go in, and since I wanted to scout the landscape around the church without tiring myself out the first day, I stayed outside and people watched. I know you’re screaming at me about a missed opportunity, but had I known at the time that the church would burn days after I left, that would make me an accomplice. I have no desire to rot away in a French jail, so…. I’ve written two accounts of the beyond strange wedding of Henry IV of France and Margot Valois, which took place on a platform outside of Notre Dame in order to appeal to…

  • Renaissance,  Upcoming

    Rethinking Queen Claude of France

    My biggest beef with the way most of us are taught history is that we just hit what I call the “highlight people:” the few who made a lasting impression and just skip over whomever Professor So and So thinks is just not that important to bring up in today’s lecture.  The Simpsons lampooned this tendency in the “Caretaker Presidents skit the kids put on for Springfield Elementary. https://youtu.be/0zX_MQUiCKU We do it all the damned time as history teachers.  I spent about a week listening to the man I was a teaching assistant for wax on about “TR” or Teddy Roosevelt.  We could’ve made it past World War II in…

  • Behind the scenes,  History

    So you want to write historical fiction?

    If you’ve decided to try your hand a writing historical fiction, great!  It’s been the best job that I’ve ever had, even better than the time we got free pizza at Snappy Tomato back in college.  It’s not an overnight success story, no matter what non-writers will tell you.  It will take you a while to master the basics of storytelling, and you’ll have to learn how to properly evaluate both primary and secondary historical sources. That being said, I’ve got some hard-won advice on getting started as a historical fiction author. There are several different ways that you can go about writing about history.  Do you want to write…