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Eustace the Monk- Sorcerer, Monk, Pirate, Admiral and Legend
Born in 1170 near Boulogne, France, Eustace was the younger son of Baudoin Busket, a lord of the county of Boulogne. His upbringing was typical until he traveled to Toledo, Spain as a youth where he is rumored to have studied black magic. According to the contemporary work, Histoire des Ducs de Normandie, “No one would believe the marvels he accomplished, nor those which happened to him many times.” Returning home to France, Eustace gave up his magic and joined a Benedictine monastery at St. Samer Abbey near Calais. However, history was not done with this young man yet. According to a romance biography written about Eustace in 1225 by…
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THE FIRST USE OF BIOLOGICAL WARFARE AND THE SIEGE OF KAFFA
It is recorded that by 1331 The Black Death was ravaging its way through central Asia. It was for a long time a mystery as to how exactly this plague managed to make its way to the shores of Europe but by reading ancient texts historians and biologists think they have traced its advancement to the city of Kaffa in Crimea and the first ever recorded use of biological warfare. As the plague killed half the population of China and made its way through India and Persia somehow trade managed to continue. It’s of no surprise then that plague infested rats climbed aboard trading vessels and found their way into…
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The Saintonge War
In previous posts, we have discussed the throne of England was intertwine with the family of the Lusignans, mainly through the link of Isabella of Angouleme. For more information please see posts: and In 1241, the Dowager Queen of England and the mother of the present king, Isabella of Angouleme, encouraged her new husband, Hugh de Lusignan, to rebel against King Louis of France. The whole rebellion was kicked off by Isabella being angry about several things. The king’s brother, Alphonse, was installed as the Count of Poitou. This was traditionally a Plantagenet domain through Isabella’s mother in law, Eleanor of Aquitaine. However, Isabella’s late husband,…
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Homosexuality and the Throne of England- Part 2
I have always maintained in the absence of celebrities, people had to have someone to gossip about. Hence all the discussion around the royal family and courtiers. Because of this history always resembles more of a soap opera than dry dusty dates. Also, a quick note. In the absence of a better term, I am referring to same sex relationships as homosexuality. I know that this was not a term that was familiar to the medieval mind as they did not identify as straight, gay or bisexual. I was using the term to simplify writing since the term is familiar to the modern reader. Please bear with me. So we…
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Homosexuality and the Throne of England
Rumors fly when a person is in a position of power. The royalty of England is no exception. One of the easiest and deadliest lobs to throw was sexuality- either adultery, homosexuality or a combination thereof. This post will take a look at two of the most pervasive rumors. William Rufus Son of William the Conquerer, William Rufus inherited England in his father’s death. Though not a large man, he had a definite presence and was described as a “wild bull”. Muscular and stocky with fair hair and a taste for the latest fashion, he never married, which was odd for a king of the time period. He needed a…
