Sharon Bennett Connolly

Thanks so much for coming Benedict. Glad you enjoyed it! So sorry we didn't get the chance to chat. Hope to see you again soon. x

Tomorrow!

I'll be speaking about some of the most fascinating women of Tudor Lincolnshire on behalf of the Friends of Gainsborough Old Hall.
Location: Gainsborough House (across the road from the Old Hall)
Entry is £4 on the door, including refreshments.
Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7.30pm

Gytha of Wessex and the Rise of the House of Godwin Countess Gytha I have to admit, I expected Emma of Normandy to be the woman who stole the show with my second book, Silk and the Sword: the Women of the Norman Conquest, but I was pleasantly surpri…

Harold II's mother, Gytha, played an integral part in his rise to power. Not only did she give him royal connections, but she also supported him in his ambitions. She was a true family matriarch...
#KingandConqueror #medievalsky
historytheinterestingbits.com/2018/11/15/g...

Ermengarde de Beaumont, Queen of Scots As the wife of William the Lion, King of Scots, Ermengarde de Beaumont left a considerable legacy as a wife, mother and diplomat, defining the role of Queen of Scots

Ermengarde de Beaumont, Queen of Scots

As the wife of William the Lion, King of Scots, Ermengarde de Beaumont left a considerable legacy as a wife, mother and diplomat, defining the role of Queen of Scots

Just received the edits for Princesses of the Early Middle Ages. Exciting!
Now to go through and see what needs tightening and what silly mistakes I have made - I know there will be some! What's guessing there's a 20** (instead of 11** or 12**) date in there somewhere? It seems to be my 'thing'.

***COVER REVEAL***

I just got the cover art for Princesses of the Later Middle Ages: Royal Daughters of the Plantagenets the other day. And its gorgeous.
Here's the cover and a pic of the two covers together.
Can't wait to hold them both in my hands.
@penandswordbooks.bsky.social #medievalsky

“Richly researched, beautifully told.” Bess – Tudor Gentlewoman captures the hidden lives of the Elizabethan world.

mybook.to/BESS

#Elizabethan #Tudors #HistoricalFiction #Histfic #Audiobooks

Matilda of Flanders, Queen of the Conqueror Matilda of Flanders Matilda of Flanders was the consummate duchess and queen. Born in the early to mid-1030s, possibly around 1032, Matilda was the daughter of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders, and his…

#OTD in 1066
The first day of the Norman Conquest: Throughout the preparations William of Normandy had the support and encouragement of his wife, Matilda of Flanders, as she waited to see if he could make her a queen...
#KingandConqueror #womeninhistory
historytheinterestingbits.com/2019/10/12/m...

Today, I welcome Susan Abernethy to my author spotlight series, Wordly Women, to tell us a little of her writing journey - and about her two books......
@penandswordbooks.bsky.social @susanabernethy2.bsky.social
#wordlywomen #womeninhistory

Wordly Women: Susan Abernethy Today, I welcome Susan Abernethy to my author spotlight series, Wordly Women, to tell us a little of her writing journey - and about her two books...

Wordly Women: Susan Abernethy

Today, I welcome Susan Abernethy to my author spotlight series, Wordly Women, to tell us a little of her writing journey - and about her two books...

On this day in History: 1066
Death of Harald Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
Having two wives at the same time seems to have been fashionable in the 11th century. Here's a look at Thora, Harald Hardrada’s Other Wife

Templar Traitor | A Slice of Medieval #76 Historian, Sharon Bennett Connolly and historical author, Derek Birks are joined by author, Angus Donald, to discuss the story behind his latest historical novel, Templar Traitor. Music by Adriel Fa

In the latest fabulous episode of A Slice of Medieval, Derek Birks and I get to chat with Angus Donald about his new hero, The Templar Traitor
#medievalsky
bit.ly/3IhzPnQ

Thora, Harald Hardrada’s Other Wife Coin of Harald Hardrada The legend of Harald Hardrada, King Harald III of Norway, is one of my favourite stories of the 11th century. It is the tale of a warrior king, probably the best fighter of …

Having two wives at the same time seems to have been fashionable in the 11th century. So, following on from Elisiv of Kyiv, here's a look at Thora, Harald Hardrada’s Other Wife
#medievalsky #kingandconqueror
historytheinterestingbits.com/2020/02/01/t...

The Wives and Family of King Harold II Statue of King Harold II at Waltham Abbey The future king, Harold II Godwinson, was born into an Anglo-Danish family whose extensive influence and power meant they were frequently seen as the power…

One of the few things I thought they got right in King and Conqueror was the portrayal of the relationship between Harold and Edith Swanneck. The history was off in places, but the partnership and mutual affection and trust was spot on!
#KingandConqueror
historytheinterestingbits.com/2018/10/14/t...

Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest Read it now

Telling the real stories!
Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066.
#KingandConqueror
mybook.to/SilkandSword

Harald Hardrada and Elisiv of Kyiv Elisiv of Kyiv One of my favourite characters of the 1066 story is the Norwegian king Harald Hardrada. Harald led a fascinating life, even before his ill-fated attempt on the English throne; exiled…

Harald Hardrada's story is almost just a byline in King & Conqueror. And yet his story, and that of his wives, is fascinating,, even if some of the information, especially on Elisiv of Kyiv, is elusive
#medievalsky #womeninhistory #kingandconqueror
historytheinterestingbits.com/2020/01/26/h...

🎨Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales🎨
'Heav’n and Earth’s Delight’
'Our rising sun'
'so celestiall a creature'
I've put together this 4 minute video about a special portrait of Henry, which held a secret revealed through x-radiography.
📽️https://youtu.be/V9TP9OoitKQ
(Please do subscribe to too!)

Hosted by the Friends of Gainsborough Old Hall, my next talk will be on Lincolnshire's Tudor Heroines. Renaissance women from writers and mistresses to martyrs, duchesses and queens. Including some with close links to Gainsborough Old Hall.
£4 on the door
7 October 2025, 7.30pm

Helena Snakenborg: A Swedish Woman Living in Tudor England Helena Snakenborg, Marchioness of Northampton, in coronation robes, 1603 An Elizabethan whose story I became aware of through a novel is Helena Snakenborg, who features in Tracy Borman’s novel, The…

New!
Helena Snakenborg, Marchioness of Northampton, was the only foreigner to serve as one of Queen Elizabeth I’s ladies. Arriving from Sweden in 1565 in the entourage of a Swedish princess, she fell in love and made her life in England
#womeninhistory
historytheinterestingbits.com/2025/09/20/h...

Helena Snakenborg: A Swedish Woman Living in Tudor England Helena Snakenborg, Marchioness of Northampton, in coronation robes, 1603 An Elizabethan whose story I became aware of through a novel is Helena Snakenborg, who features in Tracy Borman’s novel, The King’s Witch. I had to know more about this Swedish lady living in Tudor England, and include her in my own Heroines of the Tudor World. Even more so after I learned that Helena was the only foreigner amongst Queen Elizabeth’s ladies. Helena was born in 1548, into an ancient Swedish baronial family. Her father, Ulf Henriksson, had been a trusted supporter of King Gustav I Vasa of Sweden.

Helena Snakenborg: A Swedish Woman Living in Tudor England

Helena Snakenborg, Marchioness of Northampton, in coronation robes, 1603 An Elizabethan whose story I became aware of through a novel is Helena Snakenborg, who features in Tracy Borman’s novel, The King’s Witch. I had to know more about…

Ooh, my new treat! 😍😍😍
Thank you @oldstpublishing.bsky.social and @ianmortimer.bsky.social 😘
I'm going to enjoy this!

WeTransfer tried doing this a few months ago and were forced to back down. Hopefully the same will happen here. Academia is useful but not so useful that I'd sign my rights away. A bit too up themselves!

By creating an Account with Academia.edu, you grant us a worldwide, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable license, permission, and consent for Academia.edu to use your Member Content and your personal information (including, but not limited to, your name, voice, signature, photograph, likeness, city, institutional affiliations, citations, mentions, publications, and areas of interest) in any manner, including for the purpose of advertising, selling, or soliciting the use or purchase of Academia.edu's Services.

I'm sorry, worldwide, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable permission to my voice and likeness? For what now? In any manner for any purpose???

This is in academia/.edu's new ToS, which you're prompted to agree to on login. Anyway I'll be jumping ship. You can find my stuff at hcommons.org.

Hildegard of Bingen Illumination from Hildegard’s Scivias (1151) showing her receiving a vision and dictating to teacher Volmar Hildegard of Bingen was rather brilliant. Born in around 1098 in Bremersheim in the…

On this day in History:
17 September 1179
Death at Rupertsberg of Hildegard of Bingen, one of the most remarkable women of the medieval era.
Hildegard was brilliant, a polymath ahead of her time!
#womeninhistory #medievalwomen

historytheinterestingbits.com/2024/03/03/h...

8 years ago today I realised a lifelong dream when my 1st book, Heroines of the Medieval World was published. Finally holding my own book in my hands was one of the best feelings ever.
I owe huge thanks to Amberley Books, my family, friends and readers for the incredible support they've shown me

Judith of Flanders, Countess of Northumberland Judith of Flanders Judith of Flanders was born sometime in the early 1030s. Her father was Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders; he died in 1035, when Judith was, at most, five years old and possibly stil…

I love that Judith of Flanders was included in the #KingAndConqueror version of 1066, but they did gat her story a tad warped. Her lasting legacy is four wonderful Gospels, commissioned by Judith, which have the most stunning jeweled covers

historytheinterestingbits.com/2019/10/05/j...

Wordly Women: Gillian Bagwell Time for another edition of Wordly Women! Today I get to chat with one of my favourite writers, Gillian Bagwell, who has written a wonderful novel about one of my Tudor Heroines, Bess of Hardwick.

Wordly Women: Gillian Bagwell

Time for another edition of Wordly Women! Today I get to chat with one of my favourite writers, Gillian Bagwell, who has written a wonderful novel about one of my Tudor Heroines, Bess of Hardwick.

Visited a couple of years ago. Such an interesting location

Blanche, Duchess of Lancaster The wedding of Blanche of Lancaster and John of Gaunt, painted by Horace Wright, 1914 Blanche of Lancaster is one of those ladies of history more famous because of her children and the antics of he…

#OTD in 1368
Death at Tutbury of Blanche of Lancaster, the first wife of John of Gaunt and mother of Henry IV. She was just 23 years old and had given birth to 7 children: 3 would survive #medievalsky
#womeninhistory #historyheroines
historytheinterestingbits.com/2015/08/08/b... via @Thehistorybits