By Margaret Mallory
We will finish the month as we started it, with John of Gaunt's descendants. While Blythe Gifford wrote about the Beauforts, the side of the family born on the wrong side of the blanket, I'll cover the Lancasters, the legitimate heirs who became kings.
I love this painting of John of Gaunt. Hot and dangerous, wouldn't you say? And he liked poetry too. What a man.
John of Gaunt (1340-1399) played an important role in government during the minority of his nephew, Richard II. He also became perhaps the wealthiest man in England.
Richard II turned out to be a poor king who lacked the military skills of his father, the famous Black Prince. When John of Gaunt died, Richard made the fatal mistake of disinheriting John's son Henry Bolingbroke and taking the Lancaster lands for the crown. Bolingbroke, who was in exile in France, landed in Northumberland allegedly to take back his inheritance. As he rolled across England, disgruntled nobles joined his cause. He took the crown from his cousin to become Henry IV, the first Lancaster king.
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Henry IV (1367–1413)
When Henry Bolingbroke challenged Richard II for the crown, Richard took Bolingbroke's eleven-year-old heir hostage. The boy was not his father's favorite; Bolingbroke did not even pause. Fortunately, Richard had grown fond of the boy and spared his life. His cousin was not so merciful. The deposed king died in imprisonment...some say of starvation.
Henry IV spent much of his reign foiling conspiracies and putting down rebellions. Apparently, usurping the throne weakened the perception that the king held the throne by divine right. The king began to see plots everywhere. He was jealous of his son, Prince Harry, who was popular with the people and lauded for his military victories.
Henry V (1386/87–1422). Apparently this diligent king was too busy leading armies and running the kingdom to sit for a better portrait.
Henry V is the "king" in my series, "All the King's Men," and an important secondary character in the first two books. While many other royals seemed to put their personal welfare above their kingdom's, Henry V appears to have devoted every waking hour to his duties. He was the best of the Lancasters and a king for the ages.
In my first book, KNIGHT OF DESIRE, he is still Prince Harry, he is in command of the English army charged with putting down the Welsh rebellion. In my new release, he is king and at the height of his powers. He has returned two Normandy two years after his great victory at Agincourt to reclaim the lands his predecessors lost to France.
The painting, below, is of the famous Battle of Agincourt, in which a young King Henry V defeated the French against overwhelming odds. So many French nobles were killed in the battle that it is often said the "cream of French chivalry" died at Agincourt.
Henry V eventually laid claim not only to Normandy, but to the French crown. Under the pressure of the English king's military successes, Charles VI of France, agreed to marry his daughter to Henry. Henry allowed the ailing French king to keep his crown, so long as the French king disinherited his own son and named Henry as his heir.
Henry needed better lawyers, however, for no one seems to have anticipated that he might die before his father-in-law. Who knows what the map of Europe would look like today if Henry had not only inherited the French crown but lived to be an old man? Instead, he died at the age of thirty-five, probably of dysentery, a soldier's illness. His father-in-law died a few weeks later. With their deaths, Henry's nine-month-old babe was heir to two kingdoms.
Henry VI (1421–1471) King of England 1422–1461 and 1470-1471.
Not surprisingly, Henry VI's claim to the French throne was challenged early-on by the dauphin, Charles VI's disinherited heir. Eventually, Joan of Arc would be instrumental in turning the tide against the English.
Henry VI's right to the English crown might never have been challenged, however, if he had been a strong and skilled king like his father. A loyal cadre of Lancaster and Beaufort men made sure England was ruled competently during his minority. Once Henry VI ruled in his own right, however, he proved to be poorly suited to the task. Later, he suffered from bouts of severe mental illness, probably inherited from his French grandfather, "mad" King Charles. As was the case with Richard II, his disastrous rule opened the door to a challenge. And so began the War of the Roses....
We have a winner for Carol Ann Didier's NAVAJO NIGHT guest blog. A free copy goes to:
April A. Renn!
Contact Carrie to provide your mailing address. The book must be claimed by next Sunday or another winner will be drawn. Please stop back later to let us know what you thought! Congratulations!
We're happy to welcome back one of our regular contributors, Margaret Mallory, as she celebrates the release of KNIGHT OF PLEASURE, the second of her "All the King's Men" trilogy from Grand Central.
THE GREATEST PASSION...
Lady Isobel Hume is an expert swordswoman who knows how to choose her battles. When the king asks her to wed a French nobleman to form a political alliance, she agrees. But that's before the devilishly charming Sir Stephen Carleton captures her heart-and tempts her to betray her betrothed, her king, and her country.
...IS WORTH THE GREATEST PERIL
Sir Stephen Carleton enjoys his many female admirers--until he dedicates himself to winning the lovely Isobel. When a threat against the king leads Isobel into mortal danger, Stephen must prove that he is more than a knight of pleasure...and that love can conquer all.
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"★ ★ ★ ★ [A] riveting story, intertwining adventure and history...with a constantly increasing level of sensuality....[A] rare treat." ~ RT Book Reviews
"Margaret Mallory's passionate novel, KNIGHT OF PLEASURE, is an absolute delight for fans of historical romance." ~ Fresh Fiction
"You're not just reading a novel, you are stepping into the story...KNIGHT OF PLEASURE is amazing." ~ Gloria Gehres, The Romance Readers Connection
"Book two of Ms. Mallory's All the King's Men series is thrilling, romantic, and just plain good reading." ~ RomRevToday
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Tell us a little about the unusual setting of your new release.
KNIGHT OF PLEASURE is the second book in my medieval series, "All the King's Men." The first book in the series, KNIGHT OF DESIRE took place during the last Great Welsh Rebellion, when Henry V was still Prince Harry. This second story begins a dozen years later, in 1417, during Henry V's "re-conquest" of Normandy. Most of it takes place in Normandy. As with my first book, I incorporate real historical events and characters into the story. I love history, so that part is always great fun for me.
A number of scenes take place in Caen Castle, which served as King Henry's headquarters in Normandy at this time. My hero, Sir Stephen Carleton, is in Caen with the English army when Lady Isobel Hume arrives from England to marry a French nobleman she has yet to meet.
This massive castle once belonged to Henry V's ancestor, William the Conqueror. Another ancestor, Richard the Lionheart, gathered his knights here before leaving on crusade.
Henry V claimed Normandy as the descendant of William the Conqueror, even though his line back to William was a bit…convoluted. Despite the fact that his father had usurped the throne, Henry V was confident in his divine right to rule England and Normandy. Later, he would add France to the list.
William the Conqueror, also known as "William the Bastard," built a men's and a women's abbey on either side of the town of Caen to absolve himself of the sin of marrying his cousin. I was surprised that this was considered a sin, but apparently it was nothing that couldn't be fixed by building a couple of magnificent abbeys. In the middle ages, the church was often pragmatic in dealing with the rich and powerful. Hence, William's sin was the church's gain.
My heroine's brother spends time with the monks at the men's monastery, the gorgeous Abbaye-aux-Hommes, above.
So tell us a little about your hero and heroine.
I have to say, I adore this hero, Sir Stephen Carleton. Stephen, who was the thirteen-year-old brother of the hero in my first book, proved to be such a charmer that I had to write a story for him when he grew up. Stephen is the sort of man I avoided like the plague back in my dating days—the fun, handsome guy who had too many women hanging off him. My sensible heroine will take one look and tell herself not to trust him further than she can throw him. But Stephen is always more than he seems. Beneath the good looks and charm, beats a true hero's heart.
Isobel is a serious young woman who has learned to put childish dreams aside. Her trust was shattered when the father she adored forced her to marry a disgusting elderly man in order to regain the family lands. When her husband dies, the lands she was promised are taken from her. Faced with only bad choices, she agrees to make a political marriage to a French nobleman at her king's behest.
The moment Stephen and Isobel meet, the attraction sizzles between them--and the King's plans for Isobel are in jeopardy. But trust doesn't come easy for Isobel. And putting her fate in the hands of a Knight of Pleasure does not seem a wise course at all.
Do you have a favorite scene?
I can't say which scene is my very favorite, but one of them is Stephen's opening scene. He's a disillusioned young man with tremendous potential who is headed down the wrong road fast. In this first scene, I show him waking up hung-over and not knowing where he is. When he turns to see who he is in bed with, he groans. Not her again. He's hit bottom, and he knows it.
What's next?
The third book in the series, KNIGHT OF PASSION, is scheduled for release in June. Except for the prologue, which takes place at the Louvre in Paris, this last book is set in England. The hero is Jamie Rayburn, who was a toddler in the first book and a teenager in the second. Other characters from the earlier books, including Stephen and Isobel, will make appearances in KNIGHT OF PASSION
I have plans for a new series after that, but I can't talk about it yet! Learn more about my books, events and contests, check out my website.
Thanks for telling us about your new release, KNIGHT OF PLEASURE!
I'd love to respond to comments! I will be in an airplane most of Monday, so please be patient with me that day. I will give an autographed copy of KNIGHT OF PLEASURE to one of the commenters.
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Thanks for stopping by, Margaret. All right, dear readers, leave a comment or question for Margaret and you'll be entered into a random drawing for an autographed copy. I'll draw the winner next Sunday. Void where prohibited. Good luck!
This week on Excerpt Thursday, one of our new contributors, Margaret Mallory, is back with a selection from KNIGHT OF PLEASURE, the second in her "All the King's Men" trilogy from Grand Central. Stop back on Sunday when Margaret will be answering questions and giving away a copy!
THE GREATEST PASSION...
Lady Isobel Hume is an expert swordswoman who knows how to choose her battles. When the king asks her to wed a French nobleman to form a political alliance, she agrees. But that's before the devilishly charming Sir Stephen Carleton captures her heart-and tempts her to betray her betrothed, her king, and her country.
...IS WORTH THE GREATEST PERIL
Sir Stephen Carleton enjoys his many female admirers--until he dedicates himself to winning the lovely Isobel. When a threat against the king leads Isobel into mortal danger, Stephen must prove that he is more than a knight of pleasure...and that love can conquer all.
***
Set-up: Lady Isobel Hume travels to Normandy to make a political marriage with a French nobleman at her king's behest. Shortly after her arrival at Caen Castle, which serves as Henry V's base for his "re-conquest" of Normandy, she meets Sir Stephen Carleton, an English knight.
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Caen Castle, Normandy
1417
Whish! Whish! Whish!
The sound interrupted Sir Stephen Carleton's thoughts as he passed the storeroom. Drawing his sword, he eased the low wooden door open to take a look.
"Lady Hume!"
She looked as surprised as he was to catch her alone in a storeroom attacking a sack of grain with a sword.
"The poor thing is defenseless," he said, cocking his head toward the sack. Grain was seeping onto the dirt floor from several small tears.
"Close the door!" she hissed. "I cannot be seen here."
And what a sight she was, with her cheeks flushed and strands of dark hair sticking to her face and neck. God preserve him. He stepped inside and firmly closed the door behind him.
"I meant for you to remain outside when you closed it."
Though she took a step back as she spoke, she kept a firm hand on her sword. As she should. Aye, the lady had every reason to feel nervous at finding herself alone with a man in this secluded place.
"That sack cannot provide much of a challenge," he said, trying to put her at ease.
"You make fun of me." There was resentment in her tone, but he was pleased to see her shoulders relax.
"Now, do you want to continue playing at sword fighting?" he asked, deliberately baiting her. "Or do you want to learn how to protect yourself from someone who intends you harm?"
Green eyes sparking with fire, she raised her sword and said, "Teach me."
Oh, what he would love to teach her! God help him, she was breathtaking like this.
"You should carry a short blade, as well," he instructed as he fended off her attack.
"Why? You think you can knock my sword from my hand?"
"I can, but I will not have to. You will drop it."
He forced her to step back, and back, and back again. Once more, and her heel caught on a sack. She threw her hands up, sending the sword clattering against the wall as she tumbled backward.
The next moment, she was lying back on her elbows, her hair loose about her shoulders, skirts askew, chest heaving.
Stephen could not move, could not even breathe.
She looked like a goddess. A wanton Venus, sprawled on the dirt floor at his feet. Then she threw her head back and laughed. Not a light trill, but a full-throated, joyful laugh that made his heart soar.
"I'm afraid you have the advantage of me," she said, her eyes dancing. She reached her hand up for him to help her to her feet.
He took it and sank to his knees beside her.
"Not true, Isobel," he said in a harsh whisper. "'Tis I who am at your mercy."
His eyes fixed on her lips, full and parted. Well beyond thought now, he gave in to the inexorable pull toward them. The moment their lips touched, fire seared through him.
He tried to hang on to the thin thread of caution tugging at his conscience. But she was kissing him back, mouth open, her tongue seeking his. His ears roared as she put her arms around his neck and pulled him down.
He cushioned the back of her head with his hand before it touched the dirt floor. Leaning over her, he gave himself wholly to kissing her. He splayed his hands into her hair and rained kisses along her jaw and down her throat, then returned to her mouth again.
The sweet taste of her, the smell of her filled his senses. He was mindless of anything except her mouth, her face, her hair, his burning need to touch her.
He ran his hand down her side to the swell of her hip. When she moaned, he knew he had to feel her beneath him. Beneath him, pressed against him. Skin to skin.
Slowly, he lowered his body until he felt the soft fullness of her breasts against his chest. Sweet heaven! Oh God, the little sounds she was making. He let himself sink down further and groaned aloud as his swollen shaft pressed against her hip.
There was a reason he must not do what he wanted to do, but he could not recall it. And did not want to try.
The breath went out of him in a whoosh as he cupped the rounded softness of her breast in his hand. It felt so wondrously good he had to squeeze his eyes shut.
He froze the instant he felt the prick of cold steel against his neck.
"You are right," she said so close to his ear that he could feel her breath, "'tis wise to carry a short blade."
By Anna C. Bowling
Long before Jonathan Rhys Meyers declined to wear body padding to play Henry VIII, the real Tudors provided enough drama, passion, conflict and spectacle that some Tudor aficionados contend that the HBO series didn't have to change a thing to provide an entertaining tale. From Henry VII to his granddaughter, Elizabeth I, the Tudor dynasty has long been a favorite among writers such as Jean Plaidy, Bertrice Small and Philippa Gregory, not to mention the feast for the eyes in numerous films set in this era. As supporting players or leads, the Tudors left their stamp on everything they touched.
Henry VII came to power at the end of the Wars of the Roses in 1485. Henry, aligned with the house of Lancaster on his mother's side, united both factions by marrying Elizabeth Plantagenet of York, the niece of the defeated Richard III. The Tudor rose symbol pays homage to union of York and Lancaster. Henry and Elizabeth may have thought the united houses' future well secured with four surviving children, Arthur, Henry, Margaret and Mary.
Both girls married well, Mary to Louis VII of France and Margaret to James IV of Scotland. Arthur's marriage to Catherine of Aragon provided an alliance with the Spanish crown, and had Arthur survived, we might have seen history play out in far different fashion.
After only four months of marriage, Arthur died. Henry VII secured a papal dispensation to allow Prince Henry to marry Arthur's widow, Catherine. By the time the marriage took place, Henry VII had died and Henry VIII made Catherine his queen. Another point where history might have taken a vastly different turn; Henry and Catherine endured a string of stillbirths and infant deaths, including a son, Henry, Duke of Cornwall, who died at an age of less than two months. Only one daughter, Mary, survived, and Henry's desire to preserve his dynasty through the birth of sons only grew. Attempts to obtain a divorce within the Catholic church failed time and again.
What's a desperate monarch to do?
In Henry's case, break with Catholicism and form the Church of England, with the king as the head of church as well as head of state. Henry's appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, allowed for the dissolution of Henry's marriage to Catherine. Now single, Henry made his mistress, Anne Boleyn, his wife and new queen. Perhaps if their daughter, Elizabeth, called by many one of England's greatest monarchs, had been a male, Henry would have been satisfied, but fate was once again keeping the desired son out of his reach.
Anne would no longer suffice, and Henry was faced once again with getting rid of a wife he no longer wanted. Accusations of witchcraft, incest and high treason leveled upon Anne and though the validity of several accusations are widely contested among historians, it was enough to send Anne to her death. She was beheaded in 1536, after which Henry remarried, this time to Jane Seymour.
It was Jane at last who provided Henry with a son, Edward, though she died soon after his birth, leaving Henry distraught at her loss. Not distraught enough to put him off marriage, as he took a fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, his reluctance overcome when he saw a portrait of her painted by Hans Holbein the younger. The real Anne, however, did not suit him. Nor, apparently, did he suit her, as she agreed to an annulment, and was known thereafter as My Lady, the King's Sister. Henry had Thomas Cromwell, who had proposed the marriage, executed.
Henry was nothing if not determined. He married Catherine Howard, a cousin of the Duke of Norfolk. The marriage was doomed. Catherine, more than three decades Henry's junior, conducted an affair with one of Henry's favorites, Thomas Culpeper, and as one might guess, this did not go over well. Catherine was executed in 1542.
By 1543, Henry was back at the altar with Catherine Parr, who survived him upon his death in 1547...which is where things really get interesting. His will had restored Mary, his daughter by Catherine of Aragon and Elizabeth, his daughter by Anne Boleyn, to the line of succession. It did not, however legitimize them, as annulled marriage legally never occurred, so both girls were still legally illegitimate. Edward VI ascended the throne at the age of nine.
Had the boy king, a religious reformer even at his young age, survived, again, we might have a far different tale to tell, but Edward became ill in 1553, and the issue of Edward's successor came into play. Edward changed his father's will to allow his cousin, Jane Grey to succeed him upon his death. There's no telling what England might have been under Jane's rule, as she did not want the throne, and indeed did not technically have it, and her reign lasted only nine days before she was dethroned.
Henry's older daughter, Mary, became queen, and Jane, along with her husband, Guilford Dudley, were executed. Mary, who desired to make England a Catholic nation once more, married Prince Philip of Spain, a distant relative. Mary, however, inherited her father's bad luck with marriage, as Philip preferred to spend his time away from Mary. Though there were several reputed pregnancies, Mary produced no offspring. Though she could not produce a Catholic heir, her actions as eliminating Protestants earned her the name of "Bloody Mary." She died without issue in 1558, her half-sister Elizabeth as her heir.
Elizabeth has been known as the Virgin Queen, though there have been speculations about her relationship with Robert Dudley, her Master of the Horse and constant companion. Elizabeth never married, knowing that a woman's power and assets would go to her husband and preferred to remain in control of her own life and country. Politician, fashionista, poet, diplomat and true Renaissance woman, Elizabeth left her mark on the age that bears her name. Her speech at Tilbury on the eve of the Spanish Armada still inspires many to hold fast in the face of danger. Her court is synonymous with splendor and intrigue, and Elizabeth is as famed for her temper as her fashion sense.
If Elizabeth had accepted any of the many applicants for her hand, again, we'd have a very different history, but the Virgin Queen remained married only to England, and upon her death in 1603 unmarried and without issue, the sun set on the Tudor dynasty. Elizabeth was succeeded by her cousin, James VI of Scotland who became the first English king of that name, beginning a new age...but that's another story.
By Jennifer Linforth
Sometimes it is just not a wise idea to marry your cousin.
For centuries the Hapsburg name has been synonymous with dynasties, and like any, they rise and fall. Presiding over the first global empire, they ruled Spain from 1516 to 1700, but the beasts that brought them down...were kissing cousins. Generations of intermarriage has been blamed for the fall of this particular part of the Hapsburg reign. As we know other reigns went on and on. Fanatical about the fashion of preserving heritage yielded a monarch for the Spanish Hapsburgs so inbred he was incapable of providing an heir, thus leaving the door open for power to pass to the French Bourbons.
According to a report published this year, scientists extensively examined a branch of the family tree of the Spanish Hapsburgs, in particular the lineage of King Charles II. The discovery was eye-opening to say the least. A victim of repeated marriages to close relatives, studies claimed him to be almost as inbred as if he were the offspring of an incestuous relationship between brothers and sisters or fathers and daughters.
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The consequences? Infant mortality was high, with only half the Hapsburg kin living to see their first birthday. On top of that were rare recessive genetic illnesses and deformities like the now famous Hapsburg Jaw. Charles II was plagued with it so severely, eating was difficult and his tongue was said to be too big for his mouth, resulting in a drooling and incoherent monarch. Add to this the hallucinations, convulsive episodes, and edemas and you have a melting pot of problems stemming from marriages that, over 200 years, were often between first cousins or uncles and nieces.
The quest for power was all important in this day, but the need to keep blood as pure as possible was ultimately poison.
We have a winner for Kate Bridges' ALASKAN RENEGADE guest blog. A free copy goes to:
WANDA!
Contact Carrie to provide your mailing address. The book must be claimed by next Sunday or another winner will be drawn. Please stop back later to let us know what you thought! Congratulations!
We're happy to have Carol Ann Didier joining us today as she promotes the release of her latest American Indian romance from Kensington, NAVAJO NIGHT, set in 1860 New Mexico Territory. She's written us a lovely description of her journey into publishing. Stay tuned at the bottom of the post to learn what goodies Carol Ann is giving away!
UNSPOKEN PASSION YIELDS TO...
JoAnna Lund and her father are risking everything to settle safely out west and leave their tragic past far behind. And as a lone rider blocks their trail, they are prepared for trouble. But from the moment JoAnna locks eyes with the tall, proud Navajo brave, she feels an irresistible, dangerous desire...
FORBIDDEN PLEASURE...
Notah Begay wonders why the young woman and her father have ventured so deep into his people's territory. But he is fascinated by JoAnna's gentle spirit, and her honesty sparks a passion that his carefully-guarded heart can't deny. And nothing--and no man--will prevent him from claiming the woman who has made him hers forever...
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Hi lovers and readers of historical novels,
I am so pleased and honored to be able to blog with you on this exciting website.
Someone asked me how I became so interested in Native Americans that I would write about them. This was my reply: "At twelve years of age, I fell in love with a dead actor who had played a dead Indian." It was movie star Jeff Chandler who played the part of the Chiricahua Apache leader, Cochise, in the 1950 movie BROKEN ARROW. After that, every term paper or book report I did in school was about our westward expansion and Apache Indians.
I never planned to be a writer, but I loved to read about our westward expansion and the stamina and determination of our early pioneers that carved a life out of what was once a wilderness. But later in my life, after a divorce and a move from Maryland to Florida to raise my two sons, I found myself reading Native American romances to ease the loneliness at night.
Later, through a meeting with some wonderful pastors and missionaries to the Apache and Navajo people, I was able to visit the very places I had read about. For ten years I spent all my summer vacations on the Apache and Navajo Reservations and attended Native American Pastor convocations. I met many wonderful Apache and Navajos, as well as people from other tribes. I was grieved and touched by the poor living conditions on the reservations and was appalled that we would let the real First Americans live like this in this day and age. That started my empathy and love for them as a people.
One day in l982, while my son and I were getting ready for work and school, a famous romance writer was on the TV show "Good Morning America" discussing her latest bestseller. I turned to my son as we passed each other in the living room and said, "I've read her books, and I know I could write one every bit as good as hers." My son answered, "If you think you can, then do it." He put the dare before me and I just had to prove that I could. So I wrote the first book in three months. I had not realized how much of the things I had read and learned about the Apaches and Navajos had stayed with me all these years.
When I started writing, I knew the story would have to include Cochise, the mighty Chiricahua Chief, even though he could not be the love interest of my white heroine, Amanda. It's a romantic historical saga about an Eastern Baltimore belle and an Apache warrior caught up in a taboo love that has the power to heal or harm a broken people. Set in historical southeast Arizona of l860-1880, APACHE WARRIOR proved love knows no color, creed or race. It happens in the heart, when and where you least expect it and if allowed to grow, can conquer differences in culture, hatred, and personal loss.
My second book for Kensington came out this past September, called NAVAJO NIGHT. While I was researching the Dinéh, The People, I discovered a not so well known fact concerning one of the darkest periods in their history--something they called "The Long Walk." It was very similar to the tragic "Trail of Tears" made by the Cherokee when President Jackson forced them to leave the Carolinas and Georgia and marched them to Oklahoma/Indian Territory. When I read about it, I knew I wanted to include that in my story as well as the taboo love between a Navajo holy man and a Virginia preacher's daughter.
In 1860, because of complaints about Navajo raids on white mining camps and ranches in New Mexico that General James Henry Carleton commissioned Colonel Carson to round up the Navajos. It was Carleton's shortsighted belief the if the Navajo were instructed in the benefits of becoming more like the white man, they could be civilized, Christianized, and eventually fit in to the white society.
Kit Carson, having made friends with the Navajos in earlier days, feared it would not be an easy task. Nor was it. He finally resorted to a "scorched earth" policy whereby the army burned their villages, destroyed their farm plots and peach orchards, killed their livestock or took them, and literally drove The People like cattle south from the four corners area. It was grueling march of over 400 miles. Many Navajo died from disease, lack of proper food and clothing, horrible weather conditions, as well as mistreatment by the army itself.
Once on the reserve, the ones who survived felt those who had not actually received the better end of it.
Into this struggle a man and a women from two different worlds try to find a bridge between two life-ways, to again prove that love knows no color, creed, or race. The question then became, could the Navajo holy man with a crippled heart, heal the white woman with a crippled foot?
In all my novels, I have tried to make them as historically accurate as I can, especially in dealing with the beliefs and cultures of the Native Americans. I try to use familiar settings and actual figures from history to make it more authentic while creating my own characters and love story.
For those who wish to write, I would say "Get to it!" Don't let go of your dream. Write that book of your heart. It may not be the one that sells at first, but it feels so good to see in on paper and type THE END when finished. I was not an overnight wonder. It took me ten years to get published, but in the end, when I walked into K-Mart and saw my book staring me in the face, I wanted to shout and jump and down and grab the first passerby and say, "Look! Look...it's my book on that shelf." Of course, I didn't do that, but I did have to restrain myself when a person came down the book isle shortly thereafter.
I encourage you to just read, read, and read some more. Keep up with your favorite genre and see how the books you love are being written. Join a writer's group like Romance Writers of America or one in your area. Find a critique partner(s) and go to conferences that specialize in developing your writing skills. You'll find great encouragement being with like-minded persons.
Thanks for taking the time to read my posting. I hope you will pick up a copy of both books and find your own time under an Apache moon and enjoy a Navajo night.
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Thanks for sharing with us, Carol Ann! Leave a comment or question for our guest author and you'll be entered to win a nice little gift package. Carol Ann is giving away an autographed copy of NAVAJO NIGHT, a bookmark, and an engraved pencil. I'll draw the winner next Sunday. Void where prohibited. Best of luck!
The covers of two of our regular contributors, Blythe Gifford and Margaret Mallory, have been named as finalists in The Seasons' Best Historical Covers of 2009 poll. Blythe's entry is IN THE MASTER'S BED, while Margaret has two entries: KNIGHT OF DESIRE and KNIGHT OF PLEASURE.
Voting will open November 30 to determine the best, but for now we'll just offer our congratulations at having made it this far!
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Jennifer Mueller just received an offer for large print, hardback and paperback rights from the BBC for her Regency novel A RUINED SEASON. Congratulations!
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Lindsay Townsend received a four-star review for A KNIGHT'S CAPTIVE from Lauren Calder at Affaire de Coeur. "Good solid writing and a steady paced tale draw the reader into the story. Ms. Townsend has a talent for entertainment and a flair for telling tales of knights in shining armor."
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Carrie Lofty received a four-star review from Romantic Times for her January release, SCOUNDREL'S KISS. "With its atypical setting and unique characters, Lofty's latest sweeps readers into a historical plot that tackles many contemporary themes in a meaningful and thought-provoking way. Kudos to Lofty for her innovative approach."
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Zoe Archer also received four stars for her Crimean War-set novella "The Undying Heart" in her duology with Bianca D'Arc entitled HALF PAST DEAD. "These zombie stories stand out in a genre dominated by vampires. The two tales of lovers reunited feature strong, courageous women who won't let zombies stand in the way of getting their man. Archer's imaginative and unusual tale will have you cheering for the characters, while D'Arc delivers a creepy and pulse-pounding story of danger."
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Join us Sunday when Unusual Historicals will welcome Kensington author Carol Ann Didier. She'll be discussing her latest American Indian romance, NAVAJO NIGHT, and giving away an autographed copy. Don't miss it!
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We'll also draw the winner of Kate Bridges' ALASKAN RENEGADE. You still have time to leave a comment or question for your chance to win.
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And stay with us through the coming weeks when we'll be featuring the best unusual historical authors! Margaret Mallory, Michelle Styles, Carla Capshaw, and MJ Smith will be our guests. We hope you'll join us!
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Have a good weekend! Remember, you don't have to be an Unusual Historicals contributor to submit good news to the weekend announcements. If it has to do with unusual historicals, we'd love to shout it out to the world! Send announcements to Carrie. See you next week...
This week on Unusual Historicals' weekly feature, Excerpt Thursday, we're featuring a sample from Carol Ann Didier's latest romance from Kensington, NAVAJO NIGHT. American Indian romances used to be much more common, but now we definitely classify them as unusual! Join us Sunday when Carol Ann will be answering questions and giving away some choice goodies, including a signed copy of NAVAJO NIGHT.
UNSPOKEN PASSION YIELDS TO...
JoAnna Lund and her father are risking everything to settle safely out west and leave their tragic past far behind. And as a lone rider blocks their trail, they are prepared for trouble. But from the moment JoAnna locks eyes with the tall, proud Navajo brave, she feels an irresistible, dangerous desire...
FORBIDDEN PLEASURE...
Notah Begay wonders why the young woman and her father have ventured so deep into his people's territory. But he is fascinated by JoAnna's gentle spirit, and her honesty sparks a passion that his carefully-guarded heart can't deny. And nothing--and no man--will prevent him from claiming the woman who has made him hers forever...
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New Mexico Territory
1860
The warrior sat astride his pinto pony overlooking the valley. The wagon traveled slowly and tortuously over the rocky, parched terrain below him. Had the travelers been looking up they might have seen him silhouetted against the clear, blue sky--the hair of both horse and man blowing in the breeze that caressed the higher elevations. In the valley, no breeze moved at all. It was only hot and dry.
Where had these people come from? Spirit Talker wondered. The man had a woman with him, so maybe he was not hostile. Why were they on Dinétah, Navajoland, and where did they plan to go? There were no white settlements out here. The nearest town where the bilagaanas lived was the Spanish settlement of Santa Fe.
He decided to follow them awhile to see what they did and where they camped for the night. Perhaps then he could discern their ultimate destination or plans.
So opens the story called NAVAJO NIGHT about a Navajo Holy Man and a preacher's daughter from Civil War Virginia. Later in the story, JoAnna dares all by confessing her love to Notah.
"Notah, I have a question to ask you. We've known each other for almost three years now and in all that time, you have not mentioned your wife or whether you ever intend to take another. May I ask why not?"
Notah was taken aback. Where had this question come from, and why now?
"JoAnna, I am surprised. Why should you want to know this thing?"
Taking a deep breath and gathering her courage, she answered, "Because I am falling in love with you, and I want to know if you could love me back?"
It was like an arrow shot right into his heart. How did he answer that?
He took so long to answer that JoAnna began to feel like a fool and her eyes filled with tears of humiliation and heartbreak.
The Navajo believe that tears have words, and her tears were speaking loudly to him right now. They spoke of hurt, pain, injustice, compassion, and of her love for him and his people.
"JoAnna you cannot mean this. I am Navajo. You are bilagaana. This is forbidden among your people."
JoAnna asked him, "Does love have a culture or color, Notah? Everyone laughs and cries in the same language, is it any different with love?"
For all her casualness in their friendship, JoAnna doubted she had concealed her true feelings from him. She knew she loved him with all her heart. If he could not love her back, perhaps she could convince him to just let her stay near him and his family and she would be content with that.
Notah felt a surge of joy within his heart. Her declaration of love left him breathless and cracked open his hardened heart a little bit wider. He could barely stand the hurt in JoAnna's eyes. She had no idea how easy it would be for him to love her--indeed, already did love her. But it went against everything he had vowed. Besides that, he had nothing to offer her even if he did declare his love.
"You should stay with your own people, JoAnna. Find a man among them who will love you and give you children."
"Your people have become my people. I cannot go back to the greedy men and narrow-minded, bigoted women of my race who cannot see beyond the color of a person's skin in order to judge their worth.
"All I'm asking is that you just let me stay near you and help with the children and old ones. You have given my life purpose and direction. I've learned so much from the Diné. The will to Walk in Beauty; the grace to accept things that cannot be changed and still go on...to strive to bring Harmony out of this hell-hole here. You have awakened all the feelings a woman should have for the man she loves. I never thought I would experience them because I'm considered an old maid now by my people because I have not married before this."
Then sighing audibly, she added, " No one would have me anyway with my deformed foot."
Notah's heart turned over in his chest. She thought she would be rejected because of a foot turned inward; that no one would see the beauty of her spirit, her face, her skin, her hair, and her tender sweet ways.
"Ah, JoAnna, a scar of the body cannot wholly destroy beauty. Only a scar on the spirit can do that. You are lovely by anyone's standards. And you are still young; you have plenty of time to meet someone."
By Lisa Yarde
The Moors were Islamic people of Arabian and Negro heritage, who invaded the Iberian Peninsula, beginning in the eighth century. They called the conquered land al-jazirat al-Andalus. The last dynasty to rule al-Andalus were the Nasrids.
With the Reconquista, Spanish Christians were determined to drive out the Moors. By the thirteenth century, only one Moorish kingdom remained, the Nasrid Sultanate of Gharnatah, nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The family came to Spain during the very early stages of Moorish rule, claiming descent from a contemporary of the Prophet Muhammad. They settled in the Arjuno region of southern Spain (modern Jaen province), serving in the armies of the Umayyad Caliphate, distinguishing themselves in their military leadership as officers and generals.
The first Nasrid Sultan, Muhammad I, was born in Arjuno in 1191, first of four brothers. Moorish Spain was confined to the lower half of the peninsula where a loose confederation of emirates, known as the Tai'fa states, evolved after the collapse of the Almohade Empire. A rival family, the Hud, controlled the south, but Muhammad was determined to overthrow them. In 1231, he became governor of his home region and soon conquered other principal cities, including Guadix in 1232, Granada in 1237, Almeria the following year, and Malaga by 1239. He had the help of powerful allies, the Ashqilula family.
In 1238 CE, Muhammad I began construction on his palace in the capital of Granada, which has since become one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in the West, the Alhambra. As the Spanish Catholics encroached on Moorish territory, Muhammad submitted to a period of vassalage to the kings of Castile and in 1248, helped them conquer Muslim Seville. Muhammad had four sons, the eldest of whom he chose to rule after him. But that was contrary to the interests of his allies, the Ashqilula. A brutal civil war erupted that divided Spain for several years after Muhammad's death in 1273. Then, the dynasty began a slow decline.
The Nasrid rule was a tumultuous end to the reign of Moors in Europe. At least fourteen of Muhammad I's descendants were dethroned or murdered, often by members of their own family. Muhammad III poisoned his father, Muhammad II. Nasr I dethroned his half-brother Muhammad III, eventually blinding and killing him. Muhammad II's grandson Isma`il was stabbed to death by his cousin in a quarrel over a slave girl, and two of Isma`il’s sons, Muhammad IV and Yusuf I, also met violent deaths. When Yusuf's son Muhammad V came to power, his stepmother, half-sister, and her husband conspired to drive him into exile in Morocco. Muhammad V recovered his throne, but his descendants rarely held it for very long. His grandson Muhammad IX lost and regained the Alhambra at least four times during a span of thirty-five years. Also, the jealous mother of Muhammad XI encouraged her son to rebel against his father, Abu'l-Hasan Ali, because the ruler favored his second wife and her children.
The repeated incidents of patricide and fratricide through the Nasrid history weakened a dynasty that was already on a slippery slope to disintegration, almost from its beginnings. When the Reconquista culminated in the defeat and surrender of the last heir of Muhammad I, on January 1, 1492 CE, the Nasrid dynasty collapsed completely. Its final ruler, Muhammad XI, went into exile in Morocco, and never returned to his birthplace.
By Isabel Roman
When one thinks of the Romanov Dynasty of Imperial Russia, one usually thinks of Nicholas II, the last tsar. A weak ruler, his claim to fame was his revolutionary capture and subsequent death. More importantly to the Romanov name in the 20th century were the rumors about his daughter, Anastasia, and whether she survived. More movies were made about her than about Nicholas II who, at the time of his death, ruled over 1/2 the world and is worth US $881 million (1916) and today: $290.7 billion.
But who were the Romanovs? How did they become so powerful? Where did they come from?
Technically Nicholas II was of the Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov Dynasty, a descendant of German born Catherine II of the House of Anhalt-Zerbst and either Peter III, grandson of Peter the Great (the most likely), or Serge Saltykov, one of Catherine's lovers (probably a rumor started by her to anger Peter).
Peter III, in turn, was the son of Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (nephew of the childless Charles XII of Sweden) and Anna Petrovna, a daughter of Emperor Peter the Great of Russia and his second wife, Catherine I of Russia. He claimed both the Russian throne and the Swedish one, and had his aunt, Elizabeth I, not declared him her heir, would have become Sweden's king.
Traveling father back in time, the original Romanov Dynasty began with Anastasia Romanovna Zakharyina-Yurieva's marriage to Ivan the Terrible. Anastasia's brother took the surname Romanov (from his father, Roman or his patronymic Romanovich) when her son, Fyodor I, died. Though forced into a monastery, his son, 16-year-old son Mikhail Romanov was elected tsar.
By Lorelie Brown
Allan Pinkerton didn't seem to intend to be America's chief spy, not by a long shot. He left Britain in 1842, disappointed with his unfruitful work with the Chartists, a reformist movement focused on obtaining votes for all men whether they own property or not. He arrived in the US with his wife and set up shop as a cooper--a barrel maker.
One day, out looking for wood to make his barrels, he stumbled across signs of habitation on what was supposed to be an abandoned island. He put what he saw together with reports of counterfeiters in the area. Teaming up with the local sheriff, he helped arrest the criminals. (Doesn't that sound like a refreshingly American story, full of half-luck and half-skill? Makes me wonder what else was really going on.)
Pinkerton served first as Deputy Sheriff, and then as Chicago's first Official Detective. By 1850, he'd gone on to found the North-West Detective Agency with Edward Rucker, a Chicago attorney. The North-West eventually became the Pinkerton Detective Agency.
Initially, the Pinks were the bomb. They patrolled the Wild West, stopping bank robberies, counterfeiters, and pretty much any law-breaking you can think of. A Pinkerton agent, Frank Geyer, helped crack the case of H.H. Holmes, the serial killer who haunted the 1899 Chicago World's Fair. Pinkerton himself pioneered many of the detective techniques that CSI and White Collar make use of now--tailing suspects, and undercover work included. As if that weren't enough, Pinkerton took a turn as the Union's spy-master general during the Civil War and put those techniques to work on the Confederates. He even foiled an assassination plot against Abraham Lincoln.
The Pinkertons were everywhere. Their name became synonymous with private detectives. But every good dynasty eventually comes to the point of collapse.
The Pinkertons' demise began when they were repeatedly used to protect strike-breakers by anti-union industrialists in the late 1890s. Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick hired them to break the Homestead Strike, resulting in the death of a Pinkerton agent by sniper fire. Franklin B. Gowen, a district attorney in Pennsylvania, hired them to help break the "Molly Maguires," a secretive Irish-based group of coalminers in Pennsylvania. Pinkerton agent James Ford Rhodes went undercover with the Molly Maguires, and while his detective work eventually led to the end of the Maguires, it happened amidst bloodshed. A vigilante group was formed that killed several, including one man's wife. Rhodes attempted to resign over the situation, but the damage was done. The Pinkerton name was blemished.
Despite that, the Pinks are still going strong. Yeah, I know, it surprised me too. They're now owned by a Swedish company and do business under a couple names, including the Pinkerton Government Services. From a cursory examination, they look like they're pretty much just gate guards now. Kinda sad, considering their impressive history (which, by the way, isn't even mentioned on their website. Seriously?)
By Jean Adams
There were 31 dynasties in ancient Egypt but the 18th Dynasty (1550-1292BC) is probably the most written about when it comes to fiction. It was the dynasty that gave us some of the most colourful pharaohs including Hatshepsut, Akhenaten and Tutankhamun.
I like to call it the Egyptian renaissance.
The founder of this dynasty was Ahmose I who is less well known than some but unquestionably of major importance to Egyptian history. During his reign Egypt was finally and completely liberated from the Hyksos. Various scholars attribute different dates to his reign, but he probably became ruler of Egypt around 1550 BC at 10 years old, and ruled for a period of about 25 years.
During his early reign, little was accomplished and perhaps the Hyksos may have even gained some ground, recapturing Heliopolis. By the end of his first decade in power, we know from a naval officer that he laid siege on Avaris. This was a long battle interrupted by the need to put down insurrections in already liberated territories. He later attacked the southwest Palestinian fortress of Sharuhen in a six year siege that would finally put an end to Hyksos control of Egypt.
Amunhotep I (Amenophis) was the son of Ahmose I and his queen Ahmose-Nefertari, and ruled from 1546 to 1526. He undertook military campaigns in Libya and Nubia using boats on the Nile to transport his army. He extended his empire by establishing a vice-royalty in Nubia.
Once on the throne, Amunhotep I had to defend Egypt's borders because the Libyans had taken the opportunity of Ahmose I's death to launch an invasion in Egypt's delta. He led an army to the Western border and defeated the Libyans and their allies. Next came a rebellion by Nubia. This time, he led an army to the southern border and quickly restored order. Amunhotep I had an interest in art and architecture and initiated elaborate building projects such as the Karnak temple complex at Karnak.
Amunhotep II was the seventh king of the 18th dynasty. He continued the military exploits of his father, particularly in Syria, where he crushed an uprising and demanded oaths of loyalty from local rulers.
A great sportsman, his greatest feat was shooting copper targets with arrows, while driving a chariot with the reins tied round his waist. Amunhotep II inherited a vast empire, which he did not intend to lose easily. Any rebellions were severely dealt with and a series of campaigns were made into Syria. Inscriptions detail how Amunhotep II sought to fight in hand-to-hand combat and led the Egyptian troops into battle with howls of rage. He is regarded as the most bloodthirsty pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty.
Not so Akhetaten, formerly Amunhotep IV, who together with queen Nefertiti and their six daughters fostered new styles in art and literature. The confiscation of the wealth of the Amun temples wreaked havoc on its priesthood. Akhenaten used these riches to strengthen royal control over the army and his officialdom. His concentration on internal affairs brought about the loss of some of the Egyptian possessions in Canaan and Syria and of the Egyptian naval dominance, when Aziru defected to the Hittites with his fleet.
Akhenaten's religious reforms didn't survive his reign and monotheism in its pure form was forgotten in Egypt, even though it found a new expression in the trinity of Re, Ptah and Amun. The Aten temples were demolished, and Akhenaten came to be called "the Enemy."
Tutankhamun (1361-1352 BC),the son-in-law of Akhenaten, succeeded his brother Smenkhkare when he was only nine years old. His vizier Ay restored the traditional polytheistic religion, abandoning the monotheistic cult of Akhenaten. He left el Amarna (Akhetaten) and returned to the capital Thebes. By reviving the state god Amun he strengthened the position of Amun's priesthood. The pharaoh changed his name Tutankhaten, (living image of Aten to Tutankhamun, (living image of Amun).
Jean Adams' latest novel, ETERNAL HEARTS, available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble, is set in the 18th Dynasty, during the reign of Akhenaten. You can watch the book video here.
We have a winner for Amanda McCabe's THE WINTER QUEEN guest blog. A free copy goes to:
ALISON!
Contact Carrie to provide your mailing address. The book must be claimed by next Sunday or another winner will be drawn. Please stop back later to let us know what you thought! Congratulations!
This week we're welcoming Kate Bridges back to Unusual Historicals. She's celebrating the release of ALASKAN RENEGADE, her latest Harlequin Historical romance set in the wilds of the northern frontier.
When the Skagway town nurse, Victoria Windhaven, sets off on a dangerous medical journey through the Alaskan wilderness, she is forced to ride with a man from her past--bodyguard Brant MacQuaid.
Five years ago in St. Louis, Brant left her heartbroken sister standing at the altar. Victoria can’t forgive him. He is one of three men who deserted Victoria when she needed him most. Now it's up to them to battle the wilderness, a vicious criminal who is in desperate need of medical help for his father, and the undeniable attraction that grips them.
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Award-winning author Kate Bridges enjoys writing sexy historical romances set in the Canadian and American West. Her novels have been translated into nine languages, studied in over a dozen colleges in commercial fiction courses, and are sold worldwide.
"...fans will love her latest hero..." ~ Romance Reviews Today
"The wild north heats up whenever Bridges brings her alpha heroes and strong-willed heroines together in a battle-of-wills romance." ~ Romantic Times magazine
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Welcome back, Kate! What was the most difficult thing about writing your new book, ALASKAN RENEGADE?
Figuring out the backstory of each character. That part often doesn't come to me fully until I have the plot points in place. That's when I go back and delve deeper into their mindset. The backstory--life history and motivation--is what makes the storyline ring true or not for the reader. In this particular novel, I have three major characters (plus the villain) who all play an important role.
The last time you were here, you were in postgraduate studies in comedy screenwriting. What was that like?
A ton of fun! I wrote two screenplays during that time, went to a lot of comedy shows in Toronto, did improv classes at Second City, and learned comedy techniques from some of the most talented people in the business. It was a real eye-opener for how serious the comedy business is. Craft and skill are honed and perfected and much attention is placed on building characterization. Great characters we can root for in a story are everything--whether it's comedy or drama.
How has comedy screenwriting affected your novel writing?
Comedy is surprise. A surprise turn of a phrase, an unexpected look, an unexpected action. I haven't tried to make my novels any funnier, because Westerns aren't that type of genre – although many readers tell me my books do have funny moments, and the medical student in ALASKAN RENEGADE provides comic relief--but I have learned to put in more twists and surprises in my writing.
In general, the structure of screenwriting has helped me tremendously with the three-act outline and creating turning points. I started using screenwriting techniques ten years ago when I first started novel writing--this isn't something new for me. The comedy part is, although I think I've always had a flair for comedy and it was waiting to come out in a bigger way--hence enrolling in the comedy studies. The course program states that they can't teach a person to be funny, but they can teach a person to be funnier.
What do you think Hollywood gets right about romantic comedy movies, and what does it get wrong?
Ah, the eternal question we romance readers and writers love to speculate on. Every film has to be weighed on its own merit--much like every book--but in general, I think Hollywood is great at high concept ideas for romantic comedies. (A short logline or sentence that gets a big idea across we can instantly connect with.) For example THE GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST, WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING, SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE. Sometimes, though, the movie flops because the situations stretch credibility or they don't give enough character background to let us 'like' these characters enough to make us root for them. I'd say that's the biggest problem--there's not enough depth to their emotional makeup--the film starts with a big bang of action or a big situation and we never learn why or what motivated that person. They're just a one-note character--continually silly or continually angry, with little range.
What's next for Kate Bridges?
Two more books next spring (release dates TBA)! One of them is an anthology of mail-order bride stories with two of my favorite authors--Jillian Hart and Carolyn Davidson. I'm also pursuing the screenwriting aspect of my career, sending out my work and currently developing other ideas.
Thank you for inviting me to come chat with you! For anyone who leaves a comment or question today, I'll put your name in a draw for a free copy of ALASKAN RENEGADE. Are there any of you out there who've tried screenwriting? What are some of your favorite romantic comedies or screwball comedies? What appeals or does not appeal to you in relationship movies?
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Thanks for stopping by! You heard the lady, dear readers. You can answer her questions about comedy and romance, or just leave a question or comment for your chance to win ALASKAN RENEGADE. I'll draw the winner next Sunday. Void where prohibited. Best of luck!
Publishing under the pseudonym Ellen Connor, Carrie Lofty and her friend Ann Aguirre have sold three books to Penguin. They're not historical but they certainly qualify as unusual. Full details here, if you're curious.
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Lisa Marie Wilkinson's debut FIRE AT MIDNIGHT was recently named winner of the Fiction and Literature/Romance category of USA Book News Best Books of 2009. Congratulations!
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Jennifer Linforth's debut, MADRIGAL, is now available from Highland Press as an ebook.
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Join us Sunday when Unusual Historicals welcomes the return of Harlequin Historicals author Kate Bridges. She'll be discussing comedy, romantic screenplays, and of course, her newest release: ALASKAN RENEGADE, set in frontier Alaska! She'll also be giving away a copy. Don't miss it!
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We'll also draw the winner of Amanda McCabe's THE WINTER QUEEN. You still have time to leave a comment or question for your chance to win.
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And stay with us through the coming weeks when we'll be featuring the best unusual historical authors! Carol Ann Didier, Margaret Mallory, Michelle Styles and Carla Capshaw will be our guests. We hope you'll join us!
***
Have a good weekend! Remember, you don't have to be an Unusual Historicals contributor to submit good news to the weekend announcements. If it has to do with unusual historicals, we'd love to shout it out to the world! Send announcements to Carrie. See you next week...
By Margaret Mallory
I love this painting of John of Gaunt. Hot and dangerous, wouldn't you say? And he liked poetry too. What a man..jpg)
Henry IV (1367–1413)
Henry IV spent much of his reign foiling conspiracies and putting down rebellions. Apparently, usurping the throne weakened the perception that the king held the throne by divine right. The king began to see plots everywhere. He was jealous of his son, Prince Harry, who was popular with the people and lauded for his military victories.
Henry V (1386/87–1422). Apparently this diligent king was too busy leading armies and running the kingdom to sit for a better portrait. 
Henry V eventually laid claim not only to Normandy, but to the French crown. Under the pressure of the English king's military successes, Charles VI of France, agreed to marry his daughter to Henry. Henry allowed the ailing French king to keep his crown, so long as the French king disinherited his own son and named Henry as his heir.
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