She-Wolves : The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth

When Edward VI died in 1553, the extraordinary fact was that there was no one left to claim the title of king of England. For the first time, England would have a reigning queen, but the question was which one: Katherine of Aragon's daughter, Mary; Anne Boleyn's daughter, Elizabeth; or one of their cousins, Lady Jane Grey or Mary, Queen of Scots. But female rule in England also had a past. Four hundred years before Edward's death, Matilda, daughter of Henry I and granddaughter of William the Conqueror, came tantalizingly close to securing the crown for herself. And between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries three more exceptional women -- Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France, and Margaret of Anjou -- discovered how much was possible if presumptions of male rule were not confronted so explicitly, and just how quickly they might be vilified as "she-wolves" for their pains. The stories of these women, told here in all their vivid detail, expose the paradox that female heirs to the Tudor throne had no choice but to negotiate. Man was the head of woman, and the king was the head of all. How, then, could royal power lie in female hands?-- From publisher description;Beginnings -- July 6, 1553: the king is dead -- Long live the queen?. Matilda : Lady of England -- This land grew dark -- Mathilda imperatrix -- Lady of England -- Greatest in her offspring -- Eleanor : an incomparable woman -- An incomparable woman -- The war without love -- By the wrath of God, queen of England -- Surpassing almost all the queens of this world -- Isabella : iron lady -- One man so loved another -- Dearest and most powerful -- "Someone has come between my husband and myself". Iron lady -- Margaret : a great and strong laboured woman -- Our lady sovereign -- A great and strong laboured woman -- Might and power -- The queen sustains us -- New beginnings -- July 6, 1553: Long live the queen -- Not of ladies' capacity -- A queen and by the same title a king also. When Edward Vi Died In 1553, The Extraordinary Fact Was That There Was No One Left To Claim The Title Of King Of England. For The First Time, England Would Have A Reigning Queen, But The Question Was Which One: Katherine Of Aragon's Daughter, Mary; Anne Boleyn's Daughter, Elizabeth; Or One Of Their Cousins, Lady Jane Grey Or Mary, Queen Of Scots. But Female Rule In England Also Had A Past. Four Hundred Years Before Edward's Death, Matilda, Daughter Of Henry I And Granddaughter Of William The Conqueror, Came Tantalizingly Close To Securing The Crown For Herself. And Between The Twelfth And Fifteenth Centuries Three More Exceptional Women -- Eleanor Of Aquitaine, Isabella Of France, And Margaret Of Anjou -- Discovered How Much Was Possible If Pre-sumptions Of Male Rule Were Not Confronted So Explicitly, And Just How Quickly They Might Be Vilified As She-wolves For Their Pains. The Stories Of These Women, Told Here In All Their Vivid Detail, Expose The Paradox That Female Heirs To The Tudor Throne Had No Choice But To Negotiate. Man Was The Head Of Woman, And The King Was The Head Of All. How, Then, Could Royal Power Lie In Female Hands? - Publisher. Pt. 1. Beginnings -- Pt. 2. Matilda : Lady Of England -- Pt. 3. Eleanor : An Incomparable Woman -- Pt. 4. Isabella : Iron Lady -- Pt. 5. Margaret : A Great And Strong Laboured Woman -- Pt. 6. New Beginnings. Helen Castor. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Helen Castor has an exhilarating narrative gift. . . . Readers will love this book, finding it wholly absorbing and rewarding." —Hilary Mantel, Booker Prize-winning author of Wolf Hall In the tradition of Antonia Fraser, David Starkey, and Alison Weir, prize-winning historian Helen Castor delivers a compelling, eye-opening examination of women and power in England, witnessed through the lives of six women who exercised power against all odds—and one who never got the chance. With the death of Edward VI in 1553, England, for the first time, would have a reigning queen. The question was: Who? Four women stood upon the crest of history: Katherine of Aragon's daughter, Mary; Anne Boleyn's daughter, Elizabeth; Mary, Queen of Scots; and Lady Jane Grey. But over the centuries, other exceptional women had struggled to push the boundaries of their authority and influence—and been vilified as "she-wolves" for their ambitions. Revealed in vivid detail, the stories of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France, Margaret of Anjou, and the Empress Matilda expose the paradox that England's next female leaders would confront as the Tudor throne lay before them—man ruled woman, but these women sought to rule a nation. “Helen Castor has an exhilarating narrative gift. . . . Readers will love this book, finding it wholly absorbing and rewarding.” —Hilary Mantel, Booker Prize-winning author of Wolf Hall In the tradition of Antonia Fraser, David Starkey, and Alison Weir, prize-winning historian Helen Castor delivers a compelling, eye-opening examination of women and power in England, witnessed through the lives of six women who exercised power against all odds—and one who never got the chance. Exploring the narratives of the Empress Matilda, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France, Margaret of Anjou, and other “she-wolves,” as well as that of the Nine Days' Queen, Lady Jane Grey, Castor invokes a magisterial discussion of how much—and how little—has changed through the centuries. Beginnings 6 July 1553: the king is dead Long live the queen? Matilda: Lady of England This land grew dark Mathilda imperatrix Lady of England Greatest in her offspring Eleanor: an incomparable woman An incomparable woman The war without love By the wrath of god, Queen of England Surpassing almost all the queens of this world Isabella: Iron Lady One man so loved another Dearest and most powerful "Someone has come between my husband and myself" Iron lady Margaret: a great and strong laboured woman Our lady sovereign A great and strong laboured woman Might and power The queen sustains us New beginnings 6 July 1553: long live the queen Not of ladies' capacity A queen and by the same title a king also. This volume presents the story of the so-called "she-wolves" that paved the way for the Golden Age of Elizabethan rule that followed after them. These early queens of England and France (Matilda, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France, Margaret of Anjou, and Mary Tudor) demonstrated through intelligence, strength and sheer will power how to rule without male support