What do you think of the witchcraft allegations made against Jacquetta? Let me know below and check out the following for more from me: BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): amzn.to/3Z2ChnG Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): www.historycallingofficial.com/ Patreon: www.patreon.com/historycalling Amazon storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/historycalling Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling/
the timings of the allegations are remarkably suspicious- there were decades when those allegations could have been made but weren't, but when it became politically expedient to discredit her *boom* witchcraft accusations. I don't think anyone seriously thought she was a witch but wanted to shuffle her out the way :(
Jacquette is one of my favorite person’s in history. Though my romantic self would love to envision her manipulating the events around her through supernatural means, my practical side believes she probably espoused the superstitions of the day, those things we now think of as folk magic. The witch charges against her was simply a political smear campaign.
My 17th great grandmother. I don't believe she was an actual witch. I think she was simply smart, cunning and very much unafraid of consequences to herself, so long as her children prospered. The same could be said of several women of this era.
What a fantastic family tree :-) Not to worry, I don't believe for one second she was a witch either, no matter what you see/read in 'The White Queen'. The accusations made her video a good fit for a Halloween video though.
She may have been a bit pagan (the family held a perhaps colloquial belief that they were descended from a water goddess) but a witch? That’s just a made up word by religions who are afraid of other religions and want to make sure the other religions are labeled ‘OF THE DEVIL!!’ My best friend is Wiccan, it’s just a pre Christian European, indigenous religious structure that attempts to return back To the roots of the people who lived before Christianity took over and imposed its views on the Europe then the world. (And of course the other Abrahamic religions of Judaism and Islam use the word ‘witchcraft’ in the same way and for The same reason and out of the same fear….women get killed every year in the public square in Saudi Arabia even now in this modern day for the mere accusation of it.) It’s a tool to put down other religions and especially keep women in their place, although men can and have been persecuted for it as well.
I must be honest, I don't even see any evidence of some sort of paganism. That would have been so dangerous in the time period in which she lived and as a member of European royalty I can't imagine where she would ever have been exposed to that. She'll have been raised a strict Catholic, though the few books we have of hers which survive aren't religious texts so it's possible she wasn't as devout as say, Lady Margaret Beaufort, or Catherine of Aragon. We'll likely never know her true convictions one way or the other though.
I think witch accusations were the only thing men, who were intimidated by any woman that lived by her own rules or didn’t conform, could use to “keep her under thumb”. I often wonder how the world would be if women weren’t persecuted by the patriarchy and had been allowed to learn, speak and be heard, rule and be religious leaders. As always, very well done video! I really enjoy these.
I agree plus let’s look at where the accusations came from Thomas Wake a follower of Warwick. The same Warwick who ordered the execution of her husband, her son, who hated and blamed her daughter for turning Edward against him. Do you really think he would think twice before accusing her of witchcraft.
Back then being an older, widowed woman, especially one who had cats were seen as witches because they would rarely get the plague. Now we know that the cats were their saving grace, considering they saved them from the rats who carried fleas who spread the plague. But back then, they didn't have any other explanation aside from witchcraft. What blows my mind is that the people believed these women were witches even after killing them, which is insane because a real witch would have escaped that fate with their witchcraft. Obviously, no real witch, at least what the masses would consider a witch has ever really existed. Today we have people who practice whicka and claim to be witches, but their powers are no more powerful than a person who claims to be a magician or illusionist.
@@PNWCagey-Dub . What?..... Living in the Amazon jungle? You wouldn't want to do that, the place is full of diseases and perils. Jaguars and snakes the size of tree trunks, and then there are the monkeys!
18th GGM and I don’t believe she was a witch for a second. The Earl of Warwick seemed woefully desperate to obtain ultimate power. I wish there had been a painting of Jacquetta : she must’ve been beautiful as her daughter was so known to be. Thank you for this wonderful video.
I have such mad respect for the Woodvilles. They were a family with the world against them, but still managed to (mostly) survive such a brutal time in history....even inserting themselves into royalty. I can see why the "pure" nobles sneered at them, but in the end these nobles were dead and tbe Woodvilles carried on.
Yes, they had a rough time of it during the WotR. So many of them were killed, it's just heart-breaking. I can appreciate their hard work and sacrifice too though.
@@anakreyszig303 Not all of them. I am descended from Edward the III and from Elizabeth Woodville and I do not live in a castle, nor do I have a title or throne lol. And it was not always a good thing to be nobility as many of them were always looking over their shoulders for the next usurper or plot to replace them. As I tell people about my ancestry, I was just lucky that they all were able to create children before being either executed or die from disease.
Lol. Her Daughters Mary And Katherine- my name! They are both Grandmother s.I know mom had no idea we are related to them but I find it a crazy coincidence.
I know what you mean. All I have heard was that she was blonde and very beautiful. I know her daughter and granddaughter were known beauties but heard she was even more beautiful than them
I saw in one of my arthistorybooks a painting of a marriage between an older man and a very young bride. Beautiful and with blond hair. She is crying but the man isn't. Behind the couple there is a man standing and he looks also unhappy. There is almost nothing (art)historicans can tell about this painting. So (like with the Mona Lisa from Da Vinci for example) they say it is probably a rich man marrying a beautiful young girl with the man she really loved standing behind her. So, considering the time they think it was painted, this story: I think it is time for more research. I also have to dive into it because I don't remember if the painter was unknown. Very interesting story! Greetings from The Netherlands (about six kilometers from De Heksenwaag at Oudewater. Where the women were judged by their weight if they were a witch.)
Jacquetta Woodville is one of my favorite people in British history and one not often mentioned. Thank you so much for this episode! I thoroughly enjoyed it!!!
Thanks Juliet and I agree that she deserves more recognition than she gets. It's a shame we don;'t even have a picture of her. I've never had to use a picture of an actress in character before for a thumbnail because I had absolutely no images whatsoever of the real person.
Agreed, we know so little of her, and yet she was the one who started the Tudor dynasty via her Grandaughter. As far as I know no one even knows where she was buried... I think her body was returned to her birthplace, but her heart was buried with her husband. Yet another one of histories enigmas.
I LOVE hearing about Jacquette... as a no nonsense woman, of course she was considered a WITCH. Today we might call this witchcraft "Emotional Intelligence". I would love to see a movie or miniseries about her story
I always laugh and think that I'd have been burned as a witch had I been born in the 1500-1800s. I'm tall and thin with long fingers and big feet, reddish-blond hair, slanted green eyes, and a disrespectful personality.
I’m IN LOVE with Jacquetta. She’s the reason I went down the War of the Roses rabbit hole. Thank you for doing this one. Team Woodville!!!!! #teamwoodville
Have you ever considered doing a video on Owen Tudor and Catherine of Valois? They’re one of history’s most unlikely couples and as a Welsh person myself it’s such an interesting story of the Wars of the Roses. Also, the date for their marriage is unknown, so you could do a mystery video on whether or not their children (from whom Henry VII descends) were even legitimate
OMG YES!!!! I'm reading a bio of Owen right now, he's fascinating & so is his marriage! I will note that this book says there was no question at the time that their children were illegitimate- even _Richard III_ didn't make that accusation in a proclamation he put out against Henry Tudor, emphasising Henry's "low birth" & very sketchy claim to the throne.
It would be nice to think so, but I'm afraid it's quite possible that having 14 children with someone does not mean true love.or love of any kind. Perhaps in this case it was love.
What an interesting character Jaquetta was. Not a person normally heard or discussed about. Another one of players in those turbulent times. Thank you for this.
Yes, even I didn't realise until I dug into her life how interesting she was. I'm glad I included her in my 'Women of The Wars of the Roses' series, as I hadn't intended to originally, but got lots of requests for her.
@@namixxluxi nami, I first became aware of Jaquetta through the novel ; We speak no treason, by rosemary Hawley jarman. A work of fiction but based on the lives of people around the future King richard the third.
The practice of witchcraft was common for the time. Keep in mind that as with all other religions it is based in faith and conviction: if you can see the end result and believe it will come to pass that is what will transpire. There is nothing strange or "wicked" about it. I am descended from a very long line and my entire family has always lived this way. It is absolutely natural.
Agreed, the fact people still put a negative connotation on witchcraft and witches makes my ancestors roll in their graves. To me it appears that people still have not learned from the harsh and violent past. How history often tends to repeat itself. I can only hope that my generation will not make the same mistake as the past generations, Gen Z must heed the warnings and take action. Otherwise, I truly fear for the future indeed.
the potrayal in the tv series is really cool though! in my country "witchcraft" is normal lol. the thing is it isn't even that powerful, if it was we wouldn't be colonised, so it was accurate in the tv series but they forgot the price they pay for using magic but then again its not powerful magic
Thanks! I'm happy to get some more factual information about Jaquetta of Luxembourg--the novel Lady of the Rivers is wonderful, though it's obviously fictionalized and slightly biased. Since I was a mermaid in another lifetime, I would have liked to hear more about her descent from Melusine, though that's only something that was used against her as proof of witchcraft.
THANK YOU WENDY for so generously donating the channel. I'm glad you enjoyed hearing about Jacquetta. She's someone who's not talked about in detail as much as she deserves I think.
This was not the first time that Warwick had used accusations of witchcraft to try to discredit a royal lady. Jacquetta was lucky to avoid either being executed or being permanently imprisoned, given the unfortunate fates of the Duke of Bedford's sister-in-law and the commoner, the so-called "Witch of Eye". Clarence learned from Warwick's example.
From the circumstances, it had to have been. She risked her title, fortune and future to marry him. At the time with the king unmarried, she was the leading lady in the land. then 14 children back to back and only interrupted by separations, I'd bet my heirlooms that this was a firm k he match.
Once again, a detailed and fascinating journey into the past to explore the dramatic ups and downs of the Plantaganets and their allies during the Wars of the Roses. Accusations of witchcraft against powerful women in medieval times were similar to the techniques for smearing political figures today: trying to label them in a way that will be difficult to shake off or disprove. I'm glad it didn't work in Jaquetta's case, and I'm sorry it worked in others, such as Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester. So many women were tormented and killed over these accusations in the centuries to come.
Yes, it reminds me of modern smear campaigns too and even of how women might be labelled as 'difficult' or 'divas' if they aren't acting in a way that the men around them want. It's horrible.
Thanks Heather. Yes, Jacquetta has an amazing story of her own which even I didn't know that much about until researching this video. She wasn't on my initial list my series on the women of the Wars of the Roses, but she's certainly a worthy addition.
@@Sophxa_Official I’ll have to get my hands on that book. I’ve always been so curious about this lady but I have never had much luck with finding information on her. I find her fascinating!
Every time I listen to your videos, they are so well constructed and it makes the mangled families a little easier to figure out who belongs to who. It is such and intriguing time with with family fighting family and as always, power being the number one culprit. These families can send you down rabbit holes forever. I love history. I’ll go down a rabbit hole with you anytime. Thanks again! You’re the best!
I Have to thank Olenna Tyrell and the great portrayal of her by Diana Rigg for my interest in this fascinating figure; I’ve heard her character was inspired by her.
Witch smitch. Jacquetta was a clever, savvy strategist for her family something that helped immensely (think Cecile Neville). Jacquetta is one of my favourite women in history. My sadness is not so much a lack of a portrait but the loss of a graveside to pay homage. Brilliant work HC.
I’ve lived abroad for years, it’s lovely to hear such good content being presented in my home accent by someone who has researched things so thoroughly. ❤
Why thank you. I used to live elsewhere too and would sometimes listen to YT videos by people from home to try to offset homesickness (though possibly it made it worse, I'm not sure!)
The Yorks that actually took the throne were descended from John of Gaunt in addition to Lionel of Antwerp and Edmund of Langley. Cecily Neville, their mother, was the daughter of Joan Beaufort; John of Gaunt’s daughter with Katherine Swynford. While the Beauforts were considered to be Lancasters, they were actually more closely related to the Yorks at the time of the War of the Roses.
@@HistoryCalling do you think you may make a video on Joan Beaufort at some point. She seems pretty fascinating to me, but I’ve found very little information on her life.
Exactly. John of Gaunt is key. All descended. Another thing is the Neville-Neville feud. Two families from the Earl of Westmoreland. The senior branch and the Joan Beaufort branch. Allegedly played a part in both Wakefield and Ferrybridge battles.
It's kind of weird to think about how Jacquetta married Richard Woodville, who made Elizabeth Woodville and how Catherine of Valios married Owen Tudor, which lead to the birth of Henry Tudor.
Fascinating video. I have seen The White Queen and how Jacquetta was portrayed. No-one can know for sure whether or not she was a witch, but if she had been I don't believe that this would be any sort of slur on her character. I believe those who persecuted and burned witches have more to be ashamed of. The church in Scotland recently apologized for the way in which women were persecuted for witchcraft. Her daughter Elizabeth was beautiful so I presume would have looked similar to Jacquetta. These people were really attractive yet their descendants seemed to have lost their good looks further down the line. Henry VIII for example looked grotesque as an older man and his daughter Elizabeth had sharp features and was no beauty. A marked contrast to the softer, feminine face of her great grandmother Elizabeth Woodville.
Yes, those who murdered so-called witches really ought to have been ashamed, though sadly I don't think they had the wit to be. Henry VIII is interesting. He was renowned as being very good looking in his youth, but as you say it faded out after the mid-1530s and you could perhaps see a little of the monster inside on his outer features.
@@HistoryCalling One of the things that gets me,is none of these smug,ignorant & cruel persecutors seemed to have the intelligence to realize a witch with powers at her fingertips,would calmly allow herself to be tortured & murdered.Whereas an innocent ordinary woman had no help.Shows how smart so many in power really are.
@@susanmccormick6022 I think they thought about magic in a different way - not that you have power within yourself that you can use at will at any moment, like sorcerers in modern fantasy; for them magic would have been something you needed accessories for: potions, sacrifices etc. So if you arrest the accused and give them no access to the accessories, they can't harm you. Also they thought that the power came from selling your soul to satan so 1) they could prevail by using things like prayer, the Bible etc., 2) they'd probably assume that satan, being "the father of lies", simply betrayed the accused as is his nature, the faster to lay his hands on their soul. As an aside, witchcraft persecutions, although often clearly affected by misogyny as well as simple ignorance, prejudice and even personal vendettas, were a complex thing (all of those factors not necessarily solely on the part of the judges, but often the whole communities where a trial took place, otherwise where would the accusations even come from?). For example, possibly the most famous book on witch-hunting, the Malleus Maleficarum, full of a lot of really hateful stuff, was condemned by the actual Inquisition as theologically unsound and recommending unethical means of extracting confessions. Then there's the fact that not everywhere women were the sole victims (the percentage differed depending on the place, I heard somewhere that in Iceland men were the majority of victims, but need to read up on that). Then finally there's the fact that the witch trials were conducted in communities where practically everyone believed in the existence of witches, not just "them bad prosecutors". So we have records showing that in some cases the people accused of witchcraft really did consider themselves to be witches (even if we can assume today that their magic was probably not very successful). So it's really much more complex than a black and white "cruel male prosecutors vs poor innocent women", it's more a case of whole systems where everyone is exposed to certain beliefs, and then those beliefs get mixed with the local cultures, religions, traditions, and then on top of that comes the usual human stuff: ignorance, mass hysteria, prejudice, fear of the other etc. It's a potent mix that goes way beyond pointing fingers at individuals. Of course, you still had people who jumped at the chance of gaining power and being cruel vs people who tried to be level-headed and empathetic, but they were all products of their societies, just like we are today.
OH MY GOODNESS! Thank you so much for such an incredibly generous donation to the channel. That's so kind of you. I'm really glad you enjoy the channel and find the videos helpful and entertaining. Wherever you are in the world, I hope you have a lovely day (a lovely year in fact!) :-)
AND THANK YOU for such a kind donation. She was a fascinating figure to research. Of course if she was a witch, maybe you have some magical powers ... :-)
What a great Halloween video! I am doubtful that Jacqetta was a witch. If she was, I would have expected more of her family to survive their battles. I imagine she would be horrified that that’s the main thing she is remembered for today. I love this series and always get excited when a new video comes out! As always, I’m looking forward to the next video, whatever the topic maybe!
I know some of the topics you cover on this channel are about death and hardship but i find your voice really reassuring to listen to while im doing odd jobs around the house so 1. Thankyou for providing really interesting historical content and 2. thankyou for being a reassuring presence in my life xx
Aww, that's such a lovely comment. Thank you. And I'm also flattered that my voice is so reassuring and helpful to you. It's probably for the best that you never hear any of my outtakes though, when I fluff my script and turn the air blue! It would shatter the illusion😆
I wish Starz would do a series on her! Lady of the Rivers was my favorite of Phillipa Gregory’s books! To the creator of the video: Do you hear Melusina??? I hope so!!!
This morning (June 8, 2024), I just discovered I'm a direct descendant of Jacquetta through her marriage to Richard Woodville! I see where I get my integrity from - resilience runs in the family. It's ancestral.
Thank you. I wasn't even planning to look at Jacquetta originally, but then people were asking for her, she has a great story and I thought the witchy angle was good for Halloween too.
I love Jacquetta always have I read Phillipa Gregory's Lady of the Rivers it was not always the truth but I forgive that always take her books with a pinch of salt but they are very enjoyable, Jacquetta's story is so interesting she also had about 14 children and was the mother of Elizabeth Woodville🤗
i really liked her being depicted as a witch.. i loved her character in the white queen.. the actress is so strong and beautiful too. i like both versions of her
I was in Luxembourg briefly in 1998 - it's a beautiful little country!! I know very little about its history, though - this was very interesting, right up to the connection of today's royal family. I love how so many things that were considered unseemly were blamed on sorcery or black magic. Very convenient - a case of "whatever it takes," I'm sure.
BRILLIANT!!! So many details about Jacquetta I didn't know! She had a very interesting & dramatic life, like her daughter & granddaughter. I always find it funny that people looked down on her daughter as a "commoner", when Jacquetta herself was of such "high birth"... Good timing with the video too, cos Jacquetta's first husband appears in the bio of Owen Tudor I'm reading.
Yes, people did look down on Elizabeth Woodville. I guess it all goes back to sexism. Had her impressive connections come from her father's side instead of her mother's, she'd have been fine.
Thanks for giving Jacquetta some spotlight, something she's not given much of unfortunately. Seems to have been a lively and worldly lady who lived an interesting and full life. Say what you want about Philippa Gregory's fiction but she introduced Jacquetta to many and certainly inspired me to go a research the real history which is just as if not more fascinating than the fiction
Heya, you found History Calling! I'm very pleased! I'm loving the heck out of this series on the women of the WotR, like it's literally my dream topic! And I didn't know a lot about Jacquetta, so this was awesome.
@@beth7935 I'm familiar with the channel and have dipped in and out. I just haven't gotten used to listening to English Royal history being narrated by an American accent. Nothing wrong with it off course but I'm so used to listening to the English accents such as Claire Ridgeway and Dr Kat etc. I do appreciate this channel though for drawing attention to historical figures who deserve more attention such as Jacquetta.
@@Shane-Flanagan HC is from Northern Ireland I believe; it's an Irish accent! But yeah, I'm not used to British history narrated with an American accent either, on yt or in tv docos. Accents are funny tho- I found an Aussie youtuber, & I'm absolutely baffled by how many people think he's English! I'm glad you found the channel, anyway- I don't watch every vid either, like I'm not interested in Marilyn Monroe's dress, but the vast majority are on great topics.
Really like this video -- Philippa Gregory has put out so much (entertaining) fiction on Jacquetta I appreciated getting a real bio based on sources. Maybe you should do a video on "Jacquetta's Curse". -- that she passed the gene of Kells Syndrome onto male descendants that led to premature deaths of male heirs/Henry VIII problems.
Thank you very much :-) I think I mentioned the Kells thing in my video on Tudor fertility problems? I definitely remembered doing background reading on it.
That would be a very interesting project! I love history and I also love medical science, so this question/theory would be remarkably fascinating! Thank you for a great video!
Man, if you were able to escape allegations of witchcraft, you were exxxtremly lucky. Being found guilty of sorcery or witchcraft were dealt with in the most Heinous ways conceivable.
I'm glad you have a sponsor, but corporate documentaries can't compare to youtubers. No fill, no fluff. I've never had to sit through 5 minutes of watching you riding on a scooter, or in a train or airplane.
Haha, thank you. Now funnily enough, I do have some stock footage that I shot on my GoPro whilst on a plane and some other stuff from a train, but I don't think I've ever used it yet in a video (and I don't appear in it anyway). I've never been on a scooter though, you'll be glad to hear :-)
THANK YOU SO MUCH EXAMPLELIFE for your very generous donation to the channel. I hope you enjoyed hearing about Jacquetta. She's one of those historical figures who I think deserves more attention than she usually gets.
I LOVE Jacquetta! Full disclosure.... it is because of "The Lady of the Rivers" by Philippa G. Based on historical fact, it is of course fiction & no one knows what she thought or what she was really like. But you factual video does show where PG got her idea. I prefer to think of her as strong & kind and just like her character in the book. Thank you so much for the facts behind the fiction. Really, really enjoyed this. (P.S. I even named my bird Jacquetta & yes, she says her own name!)
I read a book many years ago which told of the origins of Jaquetta of Luxembourg. It told of how an ancestor of Jaquetta's was a water nymph called Melusine Because of this, the family name was Rivers, in honour of Jaquettas ancestor, the water or river nymph Melusine. The teachings of esoterica from Melusine came down to Jaquetta then to her daughter Elizabeth Together the pair made magic to attract the king to marry Elizabeth as the nymph Melusine prophesied her descendant would be Queen of England! There was also talk that Jaquetta & her daughter Elizabeth made a spell concerning the Tudor dynasty & they would be blighted to be a very short ruling dynasty as the spell cursed the Tudors in the fecundity of their line, dying out with Elizabeth 1. I dont know how much of this is true but it did go into the background of Jaquettas family & the link to the water nymph Melusine & her hereditary skill in magic & sorcery. I think the book i read also stated that Earl Rivers was Jaquettas brother?? I also found Jaquetta to be a rather mysterious & charming lady, whether or not her magical ancestor was true or not, it was what was believed at the time. Thank you 🇬🇧👧
@@EmoBearRights The Plantagenets family symbolic devise was the Planta Genista a plant or herb with reputed magical properties How far this is true is up for debate but its quite a common herb with a bright yellow flower & ovate leaves. Members of the Plantagenet family wore little bouquets of the plant on their hats or lapels Of their outerwear. Theres another theory that they were from a family called Plantard & in the 1970s there was still a man called Pierre Plantard who claimed to be A descendant of the Plantagenets, he lived in Paris France. Many said he was a fake but he Nevertheless gained notoriety Due to many books written about a secret society called The order of Zion which was purported to safeguard the secrets of a sacred bloodline going through the Plantagenets Back to Jesus Christ himself!! There are many books about this 1) The Bloodline of the Holy Grail 2) The Sign & The Seal The 1st is by Lawrence Gardiner & 2nd by Graham Hancock There are many others but those 2 are ones ive read, many yrs ago now, but 2 of the best ones. Explains about the Plantagenets Regards 🇬🇧👧
Another interesting and fulfilling episode, could life back then have been any stranger. With all those families and everything they did to each other. I think it just shows how power corrupts so easily.
OH WOW! THANK YOU DON for such a generous donation to the channel. I'm always really blown away when people are as kind as this. I certainly hope you enjoyed hearing about Jacquetta.
Positively brilliant! Thank you for your, obvious, deep dive into the books for this phenomenal video. She’s as much a witch as me, for goodness sake. They liked to use that rubbish claim far too much. Jacquetta is overlooked and underrated in history, thank you for bringing her back.
The woman who wrote white queen and white princess wrote a book about Jacquetta. It is fantastic. Wish they make a movie of her. She is most interesting. Also wrote Spanish princess.
And they’ve both been demonised by those who are more interested in personal agendas and drama than actual history *coughcoughPhilipaGregorycoughcough*
@@paigemprice I’ve debated reading them as historical fiction, but I don’t think I could stomach it. I tend to be quite the historical literalist which is why I don’t watch shows like Bridgerton. Still, I’m sure they’re entertaining for those who enjoy HF
My 19th great grandmother. I decend from Elizabeth of York and Henry VII through their daughter Princess Mary Tudor Brandon and her daughter Lady Francis Brandon Grey. Thank you. Great video. A new sub now.
Thanks Azariah and welcome :-) Have a little hunt in the comments of this video for your long lost cousins as there are lots of Plantagenet descendants here. You could totally form a club :-)
@@HistoryCalling 😀 There are millions of us. At the 17th generation Henry VII is statistically estimated to have 1,000,000 decendants. Almost everyone is a decendant of Edward III.
@@azariahisrael5632even the UK actor Danny Dyer is a descendant of Edward III. He was featured in the UK version of "Who Do You Think You Are". The vids on him were fun - I enjoyed watching them. Courtney Cox (actress) is also a descendant of Edward III, also Boris Johnson (I think). Again, info from Who Do You Think You Are.
Thank you very much for the great Halloween episode. I've never heard about Jacquetta before so it was great to learn something new. Also a question - do you think you'll ever do an episode about Empress Matilda and Stephen of Blois?
Jaquetta is my 12th Great grandmother and Elizabeth Woodville is my 11th great grandmother, Elizabeth of York is my 10th Great Aunt making Henry’s VIII my first coils in x 9.
You should look at some of the other comments here as some others are also descended from her. You could strike up a conversation with a long-lost cousin :-)
Might wanna go back over that line.. most find her about 16 generations back... it's possible, but you also could be about 100 years, or 4-5 generations off. Just trying to help.. as I found alot of stuff like this doing my own tree.
@@HistoryCalling it certainly seems to be a common accusation made against women that men married for love. That certainly got in the way of powerful ambitious men.
Thank you for this video 📹. Like another commenter before me, the romantic in me would love Jacquetta to be a real witch 🧙♀️ like in "The White Queen" and "The Lady of the Rivers", but the practical side of me knows that that's simply not the case. She was a victim of politics. Even today, politicians accuse the opposition of anything and everything not bothering to have proof to back up their claim. I hate politics. She was a strong, smart, rich woman 👩. Apparently that's enough to spark jealousy and wild accusations. Thank you for another great episode of The Wars of the Roses. It never gets old
I remember when P Gregory's book came out It is weird that the baby of Edward's brother died in bad water weather, the battle with Earl Warwick life was taken also fighting in bad weather, as well as the buckingham plot with Margret, also Elizabeth 1st won a big battle with the Spanish Armada.but then I remembered England is in fact an Island.
Thank you. I thought the witchcraft allegations gave it a good Halloween edge, whilst also allowing it to be something that people might watch at other times of the year as well.
I'm descended from Henry VIII. These people are my ancestors. My paternal grandparents came from Ireland. I'm 60% Irish though. I've read so many books on these people. They led very interesting lives.
Man, that dude Clarence was a real peach. He switched sides more times than a coin flip. It is hard for me to grasp what was so attractive about being the King or in proximity to him, that one was willing to risk life, limb, family and/or property just to be on or near the throne. Personally I would have said "just make me a Baron or Duke and I'll just go live in my castle up north, collect tribute from my properties and make babies". Of course history only records what the rich and famous were doing. I bet the average tanner or baker just wanted to stay out of the bullseye and be left alone. (Except for the extra day off for the coronation LOL)
Oh George was just awful in my opinion. He really comes off as a spoilt, greedy brat who thought he was much smarter than he actually was. He met with a very unpleasant end though, which I also have a video on.
@@HistoryCalling Had to look up "spoilt" which I have heard used but very rarely. It somehow to my eye looks like a typo in written form. But then, I'm just a "spoiled" silly Yank. LOL. Happy Friday.
Gosh, I never even thought of that but when I read your comment I went and Googled it too and the top answer explained that Brits will used spoilt, but Americans used spoiled and to them 'spoilt' looks like a spelling error. I've learnt (or should that be learned???) something new today. I didn't realise that was one of our little cultural differences. Basically though it's like the 'u' in colour - we're both correct, whether we include the 'u' or not :-)
@@HistoryCalling Over the years I've "learnt" many things during my travels to Europe for pleasure and business (now retired). I have learned that I was not "learned" as I thought. I took my braces off my teeth and used them to hold up my pants. The business presentation was not "spoiled" by my unpreparedness but rather "spoilt". In the service I saluted the colours not the colors. I came to know that a jumper is not someone wishing to commit suicide off a bridge but rather something to put on when it is cold. And finally a pound is money, not a place to take stray dogs.
Hi Bea :-) You know you're one of my most consistent commenters every week, but I don't think I know anything about you. What part of the world are you from (no pressure to answer of course, if you prefer to just stay private)?
My grandmother’s husband (He’s not my grandfather) is descended from her though Katherine Woodville and Henry Stafford, which would also make him a descendant of Edward III.
"Married from inclination"!!???! SERIOUSLY??!! The arrogance of these patriarchal fools! Had the accusations of witchcraft been made today, who knows how the internet would have burned Jacquetta (so to speak). An absolutely fascinating portrait, HC, and yes, definitely a Halloween treat. BTW, your video of the Irish witch burning is a favorite of mine. Happy All Hallow's Eve, HC. Be well. 🙏🏼
Thanks Stephen. Yup, women weren't meant to have inclinations back then I guess. You just had to marry who your Dad told you to :-( Good on Jacquetta for not allowing herself to be used like that a second time. If only other people wanted to watch that Irish witch burning video as well. It didn't go down very well last year I'm afraid.
If Jacquetta was a witch, she was quite beautiful and bewitching. The term witch was used on strong and bright woman and strong willed,too After her Duke husband died she was left a rather wealthy widow. But before a more suitable husband could be found for her she found one for herself with an unimportant and obscure and impoverished knight of the bed-chamber by the name of Woodville. They quietly married and were heavily fined. They had many ❤️ beautiful and bright and healthy children. The first one, Elizabeth eventually married Edward IV and the rest is history as they say. And their heritage lives on even in the current royal family rather distantly.
Yes, she did a great job and of course I'm very grateful for her, because her portrayal gave me an image I could use in the thumbnail (not having a picture of the real Jacquetta made life quite tricky!)
Part 2. If you like paintings, I never really got The Ambassadors "skull" thing until through technology you can see it clearly. I think it was a Northern European thing which Pieter Brueghel the Elder took a lot of pains over. One I can recommend to you is Van Eyck's "Madonna and 'Chancellor Rolin". This was the Duke's own Chancellor not the French one in your vid. While you're looking at it please look at Rogier van der Weyden's other court picture of Philip the Good, his son, the young Charles the Bold is in it (in yellow), the future husband of Margaret of York and brother-in-law to Edward IV. Also in the painting, if you can spot him is Rolin, he certainly got about (In blue behind the Duke with his arms folded). Charles is depicted in black. I know you are big into "bling". As Edward III had founded the Order of the Garter the Burgundians not to be outdone had founded the Order of St. Michael ("Golden Fleece") Philip habitually is shown wearing the Order, it's the gold necklace with a sheep suspended from it. These are the people Jacquetta would have rubbed shoulders with on a daily basis. Look at some of the backgrounds through windows, these are real towns. What Jacquetta would have identified. Sartorially-speaking and I know you put a lot of store by fashion, the Burgundian Court was where it was at. More flamboyant headdresses that made the French Court "frumps" by comparison. Good to see as Duchess of Bedford she was awarded the Order of the Garter which is a restricted order numerically. Her husband John is a very under-rated figure. How do you follow his brother Henry? He more or less did. He was sent North by their father Henry IV to extinguish the Percy Rebellion (1403-1408). (3 really, "Hotspur", Scrope's and the Earl's). He was Henry's Lieutenant in England when Henry left for France. Fought and won a later naval battle against the French and after Henry's sad demise was an effective Regent in France being an outstanding soldier namely at Verneuille (with his blue Order of the Garter mantle) and a first rate administrator. A loyal uncle to Henry VI, maybe unlike Humphrey. It was John that often was the peace-maker. Humphrey's wife was a near neighbour of Jacquetta in Flanders. Humphrey argued her property should be returned to her. Major flashpoint. "Petrol, meet Mr. Match!". While John was around he usually found a way to knock heads together. The land was taken by Philip the Good, an English ally. So John gave Humphrey some of his estates as compensation. It WAS John that crowned Henry VI in France as per the Treaty of Troyes, the ONLY king ever to be crowned king of England and France. John was stipulated in Henry V's Will to be Regent in France and Humphrey Regent in England. Humphrey Regent of anything? John returned to England to sort out the quarrel between Cardinal Beaufort (Margaret's relative) and Humphrey at Leicester in the "Parliament of Bats". John's and Humphrey's mother Mary de Bohun (pronounced "de Bo-hoon") the queen of Henry IV is buried in the Church of St. Mary de Castro in Leicester. It had got so bad armed conflict had been used and both sides were disarmed and only sticks "bats" could be worn Think Martin McGuiness and the Reverend Ian Paisley. Whilst at Leicester John made sure young Henry VI was knighted. Henry VI is, unfairly in my view, disparaged as a "hopeless" king. This from a time when kings were expected to lead in battle, usually against the French. How does anyone follow Henry V? Come on! Throw in the Hundred Years War which the Exchequer couldn't support and an uncle like Humphrey that was volatile, what chance has young Henry got!!!!!! It was left to John & Jacquetta in Rouen trying to win a losing battle bringing Henry VI up back in England. They stayed at the castle of Joyeux Repose. Little is left of it only the "Donjon" (Tower) where St. Joan of Arc was imprisoned for a day during her trial. News was brought to Jacquetta that her husband had died. You infer that infertility might have been an issue for John? She went to see him. The bells were mournfully tolling over Rouen, it was apparently around 7 a.m. As Jaquetta arrived she saw him as she had last seen him and kissed hiim the evening before. Ladies-in-waiting were preparing him. He was still pretty young. Had he a malady? Was that the reason he was on his own? Campaigning and being Regent must have been hard. His brother Clarence had been sent home from France with many others during Henry V's campaign with dystentry, there had been a contagion of the local shellfish in 1415. Conjecture how Henry V died, he died young, generally understood to be dysentery contracted at Meaux but recent developments might say it was cancer. His father had a disease of some mystery, maybe leprosy? John? Being royal one had a better diet but royalty did die of disease, Blanche of Lancaster John of Gaunt's wife, at Tutbury and Anne of Bohemia Richard II's queen both died of the plague. John broken-hearted instructed that Blanche be buried at St. Paul's and joined her later. Richard II's queen died at Sheen Palace. Broken-hearted Richard had Sheen dismantled. John Duke of Bedford was buried in Rouen Cathedral. If anyone is able to go Rouen Cathedral I recommend it. It is also the resting-place of the heart of Richard I. During the reign of Louis XI they discovered the grave of John Duke of Bedford and asked Louis should it remain! Louis said that he was such a thorn in the side of his father (Charles VII) fighting for England that he deserved to remain on French soil. During the French Revolution his grave was damaged but remains! One can only think if he had lived and brought up Henry VI instead of Gloucester would Henry have had a better chance? I like to think so. Would there have been a WotR? John died during the Treaty of Arras. Philip of Burgundy was deserting the English for Charles VII. If the new widow knew, it was a turning-point. Beginning of the end. Richard Duke of York would also be a Lieutenant in Rouen with Cecily and where Edward and Edmund were Christened. It was already difficult, Richard Duke of York having to pay his forces out of his own money because the Exchequer was struggling. One of Bedford's commanders was Richard Beauchamp (pronounced "Beecham") Earl of Warwick. He was related to Margaret Beaufort's mother. He was also to be the father-in-law of Richard Neville the "king-maker". {Bernard Shaw the playwright in his "St. Joan" gets it wrong by mixing up the two Richards}. Gloucester became a belligerent of the "War Party". Cardinal Beaufort organised the "Peace Party". It was the Peace Party with the Earl of Suffolk that was instrumental in arranging the marriage of Henry VI & Margaret of Anjou in whose retinue Jacquetta formed part. Shown in your picture when Sir John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury, sadly later killed with his son of the same name at Castillon, is seen presenting Queen Margaret with his Book of Hours. (It was the loss at Castillon that could have caused Henry's anxiety and gave the seed for the WotR. Brought up in the Burgundian Court with French links Jacquetta had an eventful life. From her early career she was well-entrenched on the Lancastrian side. She wouldn't know it but changing sides to the Yorkists was nearly always a bad move as Warwick found out and her husband and son found out. The symbol of the British Parliament is the "Portcullis" the Beaufort Portcullis. Need one say any more than that!!!!! The first mention of Henry VIII anywhere, is in Lady Margaret's Book of Hours. She has written about his birth in the margin. The date, she actually wrote twice. "Remember, we always remember" Beaufort - Family Motto. 🏵 Thanks once again for your interest in this seminal era of history. Regards, Titus. 😏
@@beth7935 Sorry, Beth, only just noticed I had replies. 🙂👍 Thank you. A fascinating period and glad you have an interest in it. John Duke of Bedford held England together as long as he lived, often at his own expense. Verneuille is overlooked but was equivalent to Agincourt and he was loyal to his brother Henry, placated Humphrey and and an able administrator. Kept French territory and if he had lived would have been a great teacher for his nephew Henry VI and maybe the Wars of the Roses could have been averted.
@@ruthanneseven Sorry, Ruthanne , just noticed your reply. 🙂👌 Thanks, glad you like this period. Generally the 1400's are a fascinating period. Sadly the 1300's is sporadically called the "World's worst century". The "Black Death" and a mini ice age. Failed crops and rivers freezing up. Not to mention the Peasants Revolt.
@@English_Dawn No, thank YOU! 😊 I just re-read your initial amazing comment, & it was brilliant timing cos I've just watched a doco on Henry VI. And yes, in that, & the Owen Tudor bio I've been reading, it's pretty obvious that Bedford had a far better idea of how to rule than Gloucester did. Since we know in hindsight that England lost France, I keep thinking "why didn't they make Bedford Regent of England, & Gloucester could've just messed up in France", but DUH, it's very clear that France was MASSIVELY important to a lot of people- & the English king had just been made King of France; I can't think of many things that'd be a bigger deal at that point in time! I wondered why you said you were glad I was interested in this era, but DUH again- it seems interest in ANYTHING other than the Tudors is pretty rare. I _am_ fascinated with Henry VII, Arthur & Margaret, but I'm not really desperate to know any more about the later Tudors. I'm also familiar with Henry II, Eleanor & their kids, & I'm trying to fill in the middle- mostly from Henry IV onwards atm, & especially the Wars of the Roses. HC's series on the women of the WotR is the best thing EVER- _exactly_ what I want to know, presented by my fave history youtuber, who'll teach me stuff from primary sources 😊 And bonus excellent info in the comments 😊
The castle, Joyous Repose, where John Duke of Bedford and Jacquetta lived has almost vanished except for the "Donjon" a large tower in which for a day St. Joan of Arc was questioned. There is quite a bit in Rouen linked with her. She made a hazardous trip through Burgundian territory to meet Charles the Dauphin at Chibon. She later crowned him at Rheims Cathedral as Charles VII. Yet when she was captured by the one of the Burgundians allies, Luxembourg, at Compiegne and put up for ransom, despite risking her life for him many times and confirming his coronation he declined to pay her ransom! 😢
SORRY THIS IS A LONG COMMENT SO DONT READ IF YOU ONLY WANT TO COMPLAIN ITS TOO LONG 😉 Lovely! I could listen to your wonderful calming voice all day! Interestingly, i used to read a book from my grandparents library when i was young ( about 11yrs old), that had much of it devoted to Jacquetta of Luxembourg! My grandmother told me she received it when she was an artist in London &flitted amongst the Bloomsbury set of Artists & Crafts people. The book was by a Lady of the nobility but i cant for the life of me remember this noblewomans name but she was a amateur historian & greatly favoured The Duchess of Bedford, Jacquetta of Luxembourg! In this book, i read about how Jacquettas family were descendants of the RIVER goddess Melusine, through the matriarchal line, & it was to Melusine that Jacquetta served as a devotee There were stories about the River Nymph Melusine in the book & she was magical & lived on land part of the time, but also lived within the river waters too where she was most powerful. It was supposed to be because of this family link that the name Rivers attached itself to the family. I think Melusine often took Dragon form too & took unbaptised children ( to eat or whatever she did with them) These stories were very colourful! & the colour plates in this book were beautifully painted ( im assuming by the Lady who wrote it) I think it was this tenacious link with Melusine that gave rise to Jacquetta being a witch! There was also a curious tale of Jacquetta & her daughter Elizabeth Woodville, descending down some secret stairs to a chamber below the ground & running through the chamber was a sacred river that flowed under the earth & which was presided over by Melusine. Mother & daughter were said to have performed a sacred rite in which the line of succession to the English throne would throw up a usurper Royal line which was Foretold but this line would die out very quickly & this is where the legend of the Moldwarp would Arise.. being Henry V111 who's claim to the throne was weak but needed to succeed to carry on In the blood of Elizabeth Woodvilles daughter Princess Elizabeth who'd marry Henry V11 Tudor thus uniting the Red Rose & the White Rose ( symbolic of sacred bloodlines?) But more so artistically under Henry V111 - the Tudor Rose Anyway, i do so wish i still had that book! It was quite old when i read it & my Granny was given it in 1916. Just as an aside, im a direct descendant of the ( supposedly) last witch in Scotland to be burned at the stake! Janet Horn of Dornoch just north of Inverness ! She was apparently a well educated lady of substance but any female capable of knocking spots off ambitious men,esp church men, who felt threatened by intelligent women, they accused them of witchcraft true or not to get them out of the way Sorry to have droned on but not many people know about Jacquetta & her ancestor Melusine, Queen of the River Nymphs Regards 🇬🇧👧
I was about to say perhaps the author was Lady Antonia Fraser or Lady Anne Somerset, but then I read that your grandmother was given the book in 1916 and those Ladies certainly aren't that old! :-) I'm so happy you enjoyed the video. I nearly didn't do one on Jacquetta, but I'm very glad I did as she's proven rather popular. I'm sorry about your ancestor though. Those were terrible times for women in Scotland.
@@HistoryCalling Thank you for your kind reply ⚘ Yes, you certainly gained a huge audience to this video of Jacquetta! Shes always been one of my favourite historical persons & as i see shes extremely popular! Its over 58yrs since i read my Grannys book, but it had been hand bound, with a blue linen cover & fine tissue paper over the delightful prints to safeguard their colour & condition. I discovered something quite chilling when id been researching my ancestor, the Scottish witch Janet Horn I found out that after her rediculous trial for witchcraft Obviously pre- determined! Her sentence was announced by a British Army Captain who oversaw legal & important matters in the area. His name was David Ross And in one line of words in this reference book it stated; Janet Horn was condemned by Capt David Ross. My surname is Horn-Ross!! I almost dropped my jaw on the desk when i read this. To have aquired my surname then on one line of script i read the surnames of Horn & Ross Victim & Accuser, yet brought together over centuries in my surname. I had such mixed feelings, but chose to accept that its been too long to hold a grudge, so let the spirits of Janet Horn & David Ross combine & repose in peace. I actually travelled up to Dornoch to see where my poor ancestor hailed. As i live in north Northumberland it wasnt so far to travel. Just above Inverness, a few miles north is an inlet of water & on the north side of this inlet is the town of Dornoch. A pretty little place, much of it unchanged by the years & decades, its main centre has modern buildings etc but it has a certain charm. I found out where my ancestor lived which was a substantial home which i gathered had been knocked down & rebuilt several times. I felt very odd walking the streets of Dornoch, an odd chill overcoming me now & again, trying to see if the spirit of Janet would reach out but i didnt have any jolts of awareness but did notice many folks staring at me. Pure fancy? Maybe, but i did feel a resilient strength & a pinch of Anger, how could i not, my ancestor suffering a dreadful death on trumped up bogus charges by misogynists & bias. I couldnt find Janet in the cemetery or graveyard she was likely put in a hole on unconsecrated ground, just a few blackened bones. I still laid a bunch of wildflowers near her once home & talked with her in my mind. I really wanted to shout out in the town square, who i was descended from, what they had done to her & here i am as defiant as she was! But... whats the point of creating negativity, a wasted energy & i do carry both Janet & Davids names & ive had a good, happy & fortunate life so far, im the product of their combined unity I doubt i shall return to Dornoch, it still holds a slightly sour odour But Inverness is wonderful, i love that place, amazing people, Beautiful countryside, coastal views, marvellous food & fabulous boat trips on Loch Ness. Hope you enjoyed my incredible revelation about my surname bringing Janet & David to a close. Regards 🇬🇧👧
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the timings of the allegations are remarkably suspicious- there were decades when those allegations could have been made but weren't, but when it became politically expedient to discredit her *boom* witchcraft accusations. I don't think anyone seriously thought she was a witch but wanted to shuffle her out the way :(
Exactly. It was very clearly political.
Jacquette is one of my favorite person’s in history. Though my romantic self would love to envision her manipulating the events around her through supernatural means, my practical side believes she probably espoused the superstitions of the day, those things we now think of as folk magic. The witch charges against her was simply a political smear campaign.
I believe it was a political power play to get her out of the picture.
I think it is the age old refrain against any competent and capable woman. She was a political threat.
My 17th great grandmother. I don't believe she was an actual witch. I think she was simply smart, cunning and very much unafraid of consequences to herself, so long as her children prospered. The same could be said of several women of this era.
What a fantastic family tree :-) Not to worry, I don't believe for one second she was a witch either, no matter what you see/read in 'The White Queen'. The accusations made her video a good fit for a Halloween video though.
She may have been a bit pagan (the family held a perhaps colloquial belief that they were descended from a water goddess) but a witch? That’s just a made up word by religions who are afraid of other religions and want to make sure the other religions are labeled ‘OF THE DEVIL!!’
My best friend is Wiccan, it’s just a pre Christian European, indigenous religious structure that attempts to return back
To the roots of the people who lived
before Christianity took over and imposed its views on the Europe then the world.
(And of course the other Abrahamic religions of Judaism and Islam use the word ‘witchcraft’ in the same way and for
The same reason and out of the same fear….women get killed every year in the public square in Saudi Arabia even now in this modern day for the mere accusation of it.)
It’s a tool to put down other religions and especially keep women in their place, although men can and have been persecuted for it as well.
@@HistoryCalling agreed wholeheartedly. Wonderful Halloween episode. 🎃
I must be honest, I don't even see any evidence of some sort of paganism. That would have been so dangerous in the time period in which she lived and as a member of European royalty I can't imagine where she would ever have been exposed to that. She'll have been raised a strict Catholic, though the few books we have of hers which survive aren't religious texts so it's possible she wasn't as devout as say, Lady Margaret Beaufort, or Catherine of Aragon. We'll likely never know her true convictions one way or the other though.
@@HistoryCalling I agree! She might have held some local beliefs that were rooted in paganism but had taken on a cloak of Christianity by then 🤷🏼♀️
I think witch accusations were the only thing men, who were intimidated by any woman that lived by her own rules or didn’t conform, could use to “keep her under thumb”. I often wonder how the world would be if women weren’t persecuted by the patriarchy and had been allowed to learn, speak and be heard, rule and be religious leaders.
As always, very well done video! I really enjoy these.
Thank you. I guess us girls would be living the Amazonian lifestyle (as in the female warriors, not the rainforest) :-)
@@HistoryCalling I could get used to that :)
I agree plus let’s look at where the accusations came from Thomas Wake a follower of Warwick. The same Warwick who ordered the execution of her husband, her son, who hated and blamed her daughter for turning Edward against him. Do you really think he would think twice before accusing her of witchcraft.
Back then being an older, widowed woman, especially one who had cats were seen as witches because they would rarely get the plague. Now we know that the cats were their saving grace, considering they saved them from the rats who carried fleas who spread the plague. But back then, they didn't have any other explanation aside from witchcraft. What blows my mind is that the people believed these women were witches even after killing them, which is insane because a real witch would have escaped that fate with their witchcraft. Obviously, no real witch, at least what the masses would consider a witch has ever really existed. Today we have people who practice whicka and claim to be witches, but their powers are no more powerful than a person who claims to be a magician or illusionist.
@@PNWCagey-Dub . What?..... Living in the Amazon jungle?
You wouldn't want to do that, the place is full of diseases and perils.
Jaguars and snakes the size of tree trunks, and then there are the monkeys!
18th GGM and I don’t believe she was a witch for a second. The Earl of Warwick seemed woefully desperate to obtain ultimate power. I wish there had been a painting of Jacquetta : she must’ve been beautiful as her daughter was so known to be. Thank you for this wonderful video.
I have such mad respect for the Woodvilles. They were a family with the world against them, but still managed to (mostly) survive such a brutal time in history....even inserting themselves into royalty. I can see why the "pure" nobles sneered at them, but in the end these nobles were dead and tbe Woodvilles carried on.
Yes, they had a rough time of it during the WotR. So many of them were killed, it's just heart-breaking. I can appreciate their hard work and sacrifice too though.
And their descendants are royalty to this day.
@@anakreyszig303 Not all of them. I am descended from Edward the III and from Elizabeth Woodville and I do not live in a castle, nor do I have a title or throne lol. And it was not always a good thing to be nobility as many of them were always looking over their shoulders for the next usurper or plot to replace them. As I tell people about my ancestry, I was just lucky that they all were able to create children before being either executed or die from disease.
With so many Ann's, Catherine's, and Mary's it is nice to see a different female name.
It really is. It simplifies things so much. Presumably you like it too as it's quite close to your own name :-)
Lol. Her Daughters Mary And Katherine- my name! They are both Grandmother s.I know mom had no idea we are related to them but I find it a crazy coincidence.
Ha ha. My daughter’s name is Katherine Anne.
It's a shame we don't have a picture of Jacquetta. It would be interesting to see how much Elizabeth looked like her.
I know. I think so too :-( Also, it's seriously tricky to do a video on a person with no image of them!
There must be one somewhere, unidentified. She was too large in life not to have had her likeness captured.
I know what you mean. All I have heard was that she was blonde and very beautiful. I know her daughter and granddaughter were known beauties but heard she was even more beautiful than them
I saw in one of my arthistorybooks a painting of a marriage between an older man and a very young bride. Beautiful and with blond hair. She is crying but the man isn't. Behind the couple there is a man standing and he looks also unhappy. There is almost nothing (art)historicans can tell about this painting. So (like with the Mona Lisa from Da Vinci for example) they say it is probably a rich man marrying a beautiful young girl with the man she really loved standing behind her.
So, considering the time they think it was painted, this story: I think it is time for more research. I also have to dive into it because I don't remember if the painter was unknown.
Very interesting story! Greetings from The Netherlands (about six kilometers from De Heksenwaag at Oudewater. Where the women were judged by their weight if they were a witch.)
@@larairina3922fascinating! what is the name of the painting?
Jacquetta Woodville is one of my favorite people in British history and one not often mentioned. Thank you so much for this episode! I thoroughly enjoyed it!!!
Thanks Juliet and I agree that she deserves more recognition than she gets. It's a shame we don;'t even have a picture of her. I've never had to use a picture of an actress in character before for a thumbnail because I had absolutely no images whatsoever of the real person.
The only thing
OMG, I just love the history of the Woodville family, not many people are aware of their witchy history. 🇦🇺🐨💖😘
Likewise 😊
Agreed, we know so little of her, and yet she was the one who started the Tudor dynasty via her Grandaughter. As far as I know no one even knows where she was buried... I think her body was returned to her birthplace, but her heart was buried with her husband. Yet another one of histories enigmas.
I LOVE hearing about Jacquette... as a no nonsense woman, of course she was considered a WITCH. Today we might call this witchcraft "Emotional Intelligence". I would love to see a movie or miniseries about her story
Yes! That would be fantastic. I think she always gets overshadowed by her daughter unfortunately.
Agreed 💯
I would love to see them make "The Lady of the Rivers" into a series. It's a Philippa Gregory Novel. Like the White Queen
My 10th gr grand parents were both convicted of witchcraft and hung in Massachusetts before the Salem Witch Trials.
I always laugh and think that I'd have been burned as a witch had I been born in the 1500-1800s. I'm tall and thin with long fingers and big feet, reddish-blond hair, slanted green eyes, and a disrespectful personality.
I’m IN LOVE with Jacquetta. She’s the reason I went down the War of the Roses rabbit hole. Thank you for doing this one. Team Woodville!!!!! #teamwoodville
Thanks Heather. Yes, she's a really interesting figure. I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
Absolutely been waiting patiently for this one!
Me too
❤
Have you ever considered doing a video on Owen Tudor and Catherine of Valois? They’re one of history’s most unlikely couples and as a Welsh person myself it’s such an interesting story of the Wars of the Roses. Also, the date for their marriage is unknown, so you could do a mystery video on whether or not their children (from whom Henry VII descends) were even legitimate
You'll have to wait and see :-)
Also how Owain Glyndwr's daughter married Mortimer. Who saw that coming? The Hotspur Rebellion and Henry IV. Also Owain's connection to the Tudors.
And yet another Beaufort allegedly being the real father of Edmund Tudor!
I’m Welsh too so would love this 🏴
OMG YES!!!! I'm reading a bio of Owen right now, he's fascinating & so is his marriage! I will note that this book says there was no question at the time that their children were illegitimate- even _Richard III_ didn't make that accusation in a proclamation he put out against Henry Tudor, emphasising Henry's "low birth" & very sketchy claim to the throne.
Yep, 14 children means very much a love match. How sweet and how fortunate.❤
Well it doesn't take much to make a kid, but it sure requires a very level of fertility.... on both partners!
Hence the marriage being long and fruitful.
It would be nice to think so, but I'm afraid it's quite possible that having 14 children with someone does not mean true love.or love of any kind. Perhaps in this case it was love.
What an interesting character Jaquetta was. Not a person normally heard or discussed about. Another one of players in those turbulent times. Thank you for this.
Yes, even I didn't realise until I dug into her life how interesting she was. I'm glad I included her in my 'Women of The Wars of the Roses' series, as I hadn't intended to originally, but got lots of requests for her.
How do you even dive into peoples history like this
I really want to know
Like where are you guys going for your information
@@namixxluxi nami, I first became aware of Jaquetta through the novel ; We speak no treason, by rosemary Hawley jarman. A work of fiction but based on the lives of people around the future King richard the third.
The practice of witchcraft was common for the time. Keep in mind that as with all other religions it is based in faith and conviction: if you can see the end result and believe it will come to pass that is what will transpire. There is nothing strange or "wicked" about it. I am descended from a very long line and my entire family has always lived this way. It is absolutely natural.
Agreed, the fact people still put a negative connotation on witchcraft and witches makes my ancestors roll in their graves.
To me it appears that people still have not learned from the harsh and violent past.
How history often tends to repeat itself.
I can only hope that my generation will not make the same mistake as the past generations, Gen Z must heed the warnings and take action.
Otherwise, I truly fear for the future indeed.
the potrayal in the tv series is really cool though! in my country "witchcraft" is normal lol. the thing is it isn't even that powerful, if it was we wouldn't be colonised, so it was accurate in the tv series but they forgot the price they pay for using magic but then again its not powerful magic
Thanks! I'm happy to get some more factual information about Jaquetta of Luxembourg--the novel Lady of the Rivers is wonderful, though it's obviously fictionalized and slightly biased. Since I was a mermaid in another lifetime, I would have liked to hear more about her descent from Melusine, though that's only something that was used against her as proof of witchcraft.
THANK YOU WENDY for so generously donating the channel. I'm glad you enjoyed hearing about Jacquetta. She's someone who's not talked about in detail as much as she deserves I think.
This was not the first time that Warwick had used accusations of witchcraft to try to discredit a royal lady. Jacquetta was lucky to avoid either being executed or being permanently imprisoned, given the unfortunate fates of the Duke of Bedford's sister-in-law and the commoner, the so-called "Witch of Eye". Clarence learned from Warwick's example.
U⁴⁴
The romance reader in me loves the idea of her second marriage being a loving one. Hopefully that's the case!
Me too and I think it definitely was. :-)
From the circumstances, it had to have been. She risked her title, fortune and future to marry him. At the time with the king unmarried, she was the leading lady in the land. then 14 children back to back and only interrupted by separations, I'd bet my heirlooms that this was a firm k he match.
To @sarahwatts7152: Yep, 14 children with her second husband (no birth control) means for sure a love match. Do read between the lines❤.
Once again, a detailed and fascinating journey into the past to explore the dramatic ups and downs of the Plantaganets and their allies during the Wars of the Roses. Accusations of witchcraft against powerful women in medieval times were similar to the techniques for smearing political figures today: trying to label them in a way that will be difficult to shake off or disprove. I'm glad it didn't work in Jaquetta's case, and I'm sorry it worked in others, such as Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester. So many women were tormented and killed over these accusations in the centuries to come.
Yes, it reminds me of modern smear campaigns too and even of how women might be labelled as 'difficult' or 'divas' if they aren't acting in a way that the men around them want. It's horrible.
Jacquetta is always a fascinating topic. what a life she lived! so sad we have no surviving portraits of her 😢
I know. I was quite put out about it too, not least because it's tricky to do a video on someone with no images of them. :-(
So excited about this! Everyone talks about her famous daughter but I’ve been so curious about this woman. What a great Halloween episode, excellent!
Thanks Heather. Yes, Jacquetta has an amazing story of her own which even I didn't know that much about until researching this video. She wasn't on my initial list my series on the women of the Wars of the Roses, but she's certainly a worthy addition.
i've read the book 'the lady of the rivers'. it's quite interesting and focuses on Jacquetta's story.
@@Sophxa_Official I’ll have to get my hands on that book. I’ve always been so curious about this lady but I have never had much luck with finding information on her. I find her fascinating!
Every time I listen to your videos, they are so well constructed and it makes the mangled families a little easier to figure out who belongs to who. It is such and intriguing time with with family fighting family and as always, power being the number one culprit. These families can send you down rabbit holes forever. I love history. I’ll go down a rabbit hole with you anytime. Thanks again! You’re the best!
Thank you very much :-) I find the families hard to keep track of too.
Here's to many future rabbit hole videos as well :-)
I Have to thank Olenna Tyrell and the great portrayal of her by Diana Rigg for my interest in this fascinating figure; I’ve heard her character was inspired by her.
Witch smitch. Jacquetta was a clever, savvy strategist for her family something that helped immensely (think Cecile Neville). Jacquetta is one of my favourite women in history. My sadness is not so much a lack of a portrait but the loss of a graveside to pay homage. Brilliant work HC.
Yes, it is a crying shame about the portrait and grave. I'm glad you enjoyed the video though and thank you for your kind comment :-)
I’ve lived abroad for years, it’s lovely to hear such good content being presented in my home accent by someone who has researched things so thoroughly. ❤
Why thank you. I used to live elsewhere too and would sometimes listen to YT videos by people from home to try to offset homesickness (though possibly it made it worse, I'm not sure!)
@@HistoryCalling
The Yorks that actually took the throne were descended from John of Gaunt in addition to Lionel of Antwerp and Edmund of Langley. Cecily Neville, their mother, was the daughter of Joan Beaufort; John of Gaunt’s daughter with Katherine Swynford.
While the Beauforts were considered to be Lancasters, they were actually more closely related to the Yorks at the time of the War of the Roses.
Absolutely. See my videos on Cecily for more on this very complicated family tree.
@@HistoryCalling do you think you may make a video on Joan Beaufort at some point. She seems pretty fascinating to me, but I’ve found very little information on her life.
Maybe :-)
Exactly. John of Gaunt is key. All descended.
Another thing is the Neville-Neville feud. Two families from the Earl of Westmoreland. The senior branch and the Joan Beaufort branch.
Allegedly played a part in both Wakefield and Ferrybridge battles.
In my family tree..... John of Gaunt was a grandfather of mine
It's kind of weird to think about how Jacquetta married Richard Woodville, who made Elizabeth Woodville and how Catherine of Valios married Owen Tudor, which lead to the birth of Henry Tudor.
Fascinating video. I have seen The White Queen and how Jacquetta was portrayed. No-one can know for sure whether or not she was a witch, but if she had been I don't believe that this would be any sort of slur on her character. I believe those who persecuted and burned witches have more to be ashamed of. The church in Scotland recently apologized for the way in which women were persecuted for witchcraft. Her daughter Elizabeth was beautiful so I presume would have looked similar to Jacquetta. These people were really attractive yet their descendants seemed to have lost their good looks further down the line. Henry VIII for example looked grotesque as an older man and his daughter Elizabeth had sharp features and was no beauty. A marked contrast to the softer, feminine face of her great grandmother Elizabeth Woodville.
Yes, those who murdered so-called witches really ought to have been ashamed, though sadly I don't think they had the wit to be. Henry VIII is interesting. He was renowned as being very good looking in his youth, but as you say it faded out after the mid-1530s and you could perhaps see a little of the monster inside on his outer features.
@@HistoryCalling One of the things that gets me,is none of these smug,ignorant & cruel persecutors seemed to have the intelligence to realize a witch with powers at her fingertips,would calmly allow herself to be tortured & murdered.Whereas an innocent ordinary woman had no help.Shows how smart so many in power really are.
@@susanmccormick6022 I think they thought about magic in a different way - not that you have power within yourself that you can use at will at any moment, like sorcerers in modern fantasy; for them magic would have been something you needed accessories for: potions, sacrifices etc. So if you arrest the accused and give them no access to the accessories, they can't harm you. Also they thought that the power came from selling your soul to satan so 1) they could prevail by using things like prayer, the Bible etc., 2) they'd probably assume that satan, being "the father of lies", simply betrayed the accused as is his nature, the faster to lay his hands on their soul.
As an aside, witchcraft persecutions, although often clearly affected by misogyny as well as simple ignorance, prejudice and even personal vendettas, were a complex thing (all of those factors not necessarily solely on the part of the judges, but often the whole communities where a trial took place, otherwise where would the accusations even come from?). For example, possibly the most famous book on witch-hunting, the Malleus Maleficarum, full of a lot of really hateful stuff, was condemned by the actual Inquisition as theologically unsound and recommending unethical means of extracting confessions. Then there's the fact that not everywhere women were the sole victims (the percentage differed depending on the place, I heard somewhere that in Iceland men were the majority of victims, but need to read up on that). Then finally there's the fact that the witch trials were conducted in communities where practically everyone believed in the existence of witches, not just "them bad prosecutors". So we have records showing that in some cases the people accused of witchcraft really did consider themselves to be witches (even if we can assume today that their magic was probably not very successful).
So it's really much more complex than a black and white "cruel male prosecutors vs poor innocent women", it's more a case of whole systems where everyone is exposed to certain beliefs, and then those beliefs get mixed with the local cultures, religions, traditions, and then on top of that comes the usual human stuff: ignorance, mass hysteria, prejudice, fear of the other etc. It's a potent mix that goes way beyond pointing fingers at individuals. Of course, you still had people who jumped at the chance of gaining power and being cruel vs people who tried to be level-headed and empathetic, but they were all products of their societies, just like we are today.
The way I live, 500 years ago I would have been burned or drowned as a witch.
@@AAMARTCLUB Me too.
Thanks! Your videos are amazing and I always learn something new. I appreciate all your hard work
OH MY GOODNESS! Thank you so much for such an incredibly generous donation to the channel. That's so kind of you. I'm really glad you enjoy the channel and find the videos helpful and entertaining. Wherever you are in the world, I hope you have a lovely day (a lovely year in fact!) :-)
@@HistoryCalling you are so welcome! I just love what you’re doing.
Woohoo my Great Grandmother!! Thank you 😘❤️
AND THANK YOU for such a kind donation. She was a fascinating figure to research. Of course if she was a witch, maybe you have some magical powers ... :-)
Mine too.
What a great Halloween video! I am doubtful that Jacqetta was a witch. If she was, I would have expected more of her family to survive their battles. I imagine she would be horrified that that’s the main thing she is remembered for today.
I love this series and always get excited when a new video comes out! As always, I’m looking forward to the next video, whatever the topic maybe!
I know some of the topics you cover on this channel are about death and hardship but i find your voice really reassuring to listen to while im doing odd jobs around the house so 1. Thankyou for providing really interesting historical content and 2. thankyou for being a reassuring presence in my life xx
Aww, that's such a lovely comment. Thank you. And I'm also flattered that my voice is so reassuring and helpful to you. It's probably for the best that you never hear any of my outtakes though, when I fluff my script and turn the air blue! It would shatter the illusion😆
Spectacular, HC! 👏👏👏
THANK YOU as always for being so generous Stephen and Happy Halloween :-)
She was a wealthy powerful woman, and certainly not a witch, Thank you HC superb as always. 👀😊
Absolutely agree. :-)
I wish Starz would do a series on her! Lady of the Rivers was my favorite of Phillipa Gregory’s books! To the creator of the video:
Do you hear Melusina???
I hope so!!!
Same. I was wondering why they haven't the other day.
This morning (June 8, 2024), I just discovered I'm a direct descendant of Jacquetta through her marriage to Richard Woodville! I see where I get my integrity from - resilience runs in the family. It's ancestral.
Woo Hoo! Glad you returned to this series. I have enjoyed it very much. What an insane time these women experienced.
Thank you. I wasn't even planning to look at Jacquetta originally, but then people were asking for her, she has a great story and I thought the witchy angle was good for Halloween too.
I love Jacquetta always have I read Phillipa Gregory's Lady of the Rivers it was not always the truth but I forgive that always take her books with a pinch of salt but they are very enjoyable, Jacquetta's story is so interesting she also had about 14 children and was the mother of Elizabeth Woodville🤗
Yes, as long as they aren't taken as history, Ms Gregory's books can definitely be fun and Jacquetta is a great subject to study.
@@HistoryCalling Lady of the Rivers has a literal unicorn appear in it. I had to take way more salt with that one.
Take her
Sorry as I was saying I love her books Lady of the Rivers is great her story is great her books must be taken with a pin h of salt but I adore them❤❤
i really liked her being depicted as a witch.. i loved her character in the white queen.. the actress is so strong and beautiful too. i like both versions of her
Thank you FINALLY she’s here ❤ I haven’t found any other channel who has covered jacquetta
Weirdly neither did I. Usually someone else at some point has looked at an historical figure.
I was in Luxembourg briefly in 1998 - it's a beautiful little country!! I know very little about its history, though - this was very interesting, right up to the connection of today's royal family. I love how so many things that were considered unseemly were blamed on sorcery or black magic. Very convenient - a case of "whatever it takes," I'm sure.
BRILLIANT!!! So many details about Jacquetta I didn't know! She had a very interesting & dramatic life, like her daughter & granddaughter. I always find it funny that people looked down on her daughter as a "commoner", when Jacquetta herself was of such "high birth"... Good timing with the video too, cos Jacquetta's first husband appears in the bio of Owen Tudor I'm reading.
Yes, people did look down on Elizabeth Woodville. I guess it all goes back to sexism. Had her impressive connections come from her father's side instead of her mother's, she'd have been fine.
Because of her husband
I grew up near Luxembourg....
Beautiful landscape.
I love witches..
Thanks for giving Jacquetta some spotlight, something she's not given much of unfortunately.
Seems to have been a lively and worldly lady who lived an interesting and full life.
Say what you want about Philippa Gregory's fiction but she introduced Jacquetta to many and certainly inspired me to go a research the real history which is just as if not more fascinating than the fiction
Heya, you found History Calling! I'm very pleased! I'm loving the heck out of this series on the women of the WotR, like it's literally my dream topic! And I didn't know a lot about Jacquetta, so this was awesome.
@@beth7935 I'm familiar with the channel and have dipped in and out. I just haven't gotten used to listening to English Royal history being narrated by an American accent. Nothing wrong with it off course but I'm so used to listening to the English accents such as Claire Ridgeway and Dr Kat etc.
I do appreciate this channel though for drawing attention to historical figures who deserve more attention such as Jacquetta.
@@Shane-Flanagan HC is from Northern Ireland I believe; it's an Irish accent! But yeah, I'm not used to British history narrated with an American accent either, on yt or in tv docos. Accents are funny tho- I found an Aussie youtuber, & I'm absolutely baffled by how many people think he's English!
I'm glad you found the channel, anyway- I don't watch every vid either, like I'm not interested in Marilyn Monroe's dress, but the vast majority are on great topics.
Haha, yup Shane, Beth is correct. I'm from Northern Ireland, born and raised. In my whole life I've only spent about 4 weeks combined in the US.
@@HistoryCalling I am mortified, maybe I was confusing you with another. I should know your accent as I'm Irish myself
Really like this video -- Philippa Gregory has put out so much (entertaining) fiction on Jacquetta I appreciated getting a real bio based on sources. Maybe you should do a video on "Jacquetta's Curse". -- that she passed the gene of Kells Syndrome onto male descendants that led to premature deaths of male heirs/Henry VIII problems.
Thank you very much :-) I think I mentioned the Kells thing in my video on Tudor fertility problems? I definitely remembered doing background reading on it.
@@HistoryCalling You did. The listing of Henry’s children works as an ASMR thing for me so I’ve seen that one several times.
I loved reading Phillipa Gregory’s novels about that period. Jacquetta is such a beautiful name too.
That would be a very interesting project! I love history and I also love medical science, so this question/theory would be remarkably fascinating!
Thank you for a great video!
The Lady of the Rivers, which is the book where I first met Jacquetta.
Tak!
THANK YOU SO MUCH for your very kind donation to the channel MieDK. I hope you enjoyed learning about Jacquetta.
@@HistoryCalling i enjoy all of your videoes, they are so well made.
Man, if you were able to escape allegations of witchcraft, you were exxxtremly lucky. Being found guilty of sorcery or witchcraft were dealt with in the most Heinous ways conceivable.
Yes, absolutely. Hopefully she would have 'just' faced imprisonment in a nunnery, but it's not a risk you would ever want to find yourself taking.
@@HistoryCalling I agree whole heartedly.
Thank you again HC for another excellent and thoroughly researched presentation!
Thanks Joe. Jacquetta hasn't received the attention I think she deserves, so it was fun to research this one.
I'm glad you have a sponsor, but corporate documentaries can't compare to youtubers. No fill, no fluff. I've never had to sit through 5 minutes of watching you riding on a scooter, or in a train or airplane.
Haha, thank you. Now funnily enough, I do have some stock footage that I shot on my GoPro whilst on a plane and some other stuff from a train, but I don't think I've ever used it yet in a video (and I don't appear in it anyway). I've never been on a scooter though, you'll be glad to hear :-)
Thanks
THANK YOU SO MUCH EXAMPLELIFE for your very generous donation to the channel. I hope you enjoyed hearing about Jacquetta. She's one of those historical figures who I think deserves more attention than she usually gets.
I LOVE Jacquetta! Full disclosure.... it is because of "The Lady of the Rivers" by Philippa G. Based on historical fact, it is of course fiction & no one knows what she thought or what she was really like. But you factual video does show where PG got her idea. I prefer to think of her as strong & kind and just like her character in the book. Thank you so much for the facts behind the fiction. Really, really enjoyed this. (P.S. I even named my bird Jacquetta & yes, she says her own name!)
I read a book many years ago which told of the origins of Jaquetta of Luxembourg.
It told of how an ancestor of Jaquetta's was a water nymph called Melusine
Because of this, the family name was Rivers, in honour of Jaquettas ancestor, the water or river nymph Melusine.
The teachings of esoterica from Melusine came down to Jaquetta then to her daughter Elizabeth
Together the pair made magic to attract the king to marry Elizabeth as the nymph Melusine prophesied her descendant would be Queen of England!
There was also talk that Jaquetta & her daughter Elizabeth made a spell concerning the Tudor dynasty & they would be blighted to be a very short ruling dynasty as the spell cursed the Tudors in the fecundity of their line, dying out with Elizabeth 1.
I dont know how much of this is true but it did go into the background of Jaquettas family & the link to the water nymph Melusine & her hereditary skill in magic & sorcery.
I think the book i read also stated that Earl Rivers was Jaquettas brother??
I also found Jaquetta to be a rather mysterious & charming lady, whether or not her magical ancestor was true or not, it was what was believed at the time.
Thank you
🇬🇧👧
Isn't Melusine also the mythical ancestor of the Plantagenets too.
@@EmoBearRights
The Plantagenets family symbolic devise was the Planta Genista a plant or herb with reputed magical properties
How far this is true is up for debate but its quite a common herb with a bright yellow flower & ovate leaves.
Members of the Plantagenet family wore little bouquets of the plant on their hats or lapels
Of their outerwear.
Theres another theory that they were from a family called
Plantard & in the 1970s there was still a man called
Pierre Plantard who claimed to be
A descendant of the Plantagenets, he lived in Paris France.
Many said he was a fake but he
Nevertheless gained notoriety
Due to many books written about a secret society called
The order of Zion which was purported to safeguard the secrets of a sacred bloodline going through the Plantagenets
Back to Jesus Christ himself!!
There are many books about this
1) The Bloodline of the Holy Grail
2) The Sign & The Seal
The 1st is by Lawrence Gardiner
& 2nd by Graham Hancock
There are many others but those 2 are ones ive read, many yrs ago now, but 2 of the best ones.
Explains about the Plantagenets
Regards
🇬🇧👧
@@EmoBearRights Yup.
That would explain the title Rivers, if it had belonged to Jaquetta and not to her second husband.
Another interesting and fulfilling episode, could life back then have been any stranger. With all those families and everything they did to each other. I think it just shows how power corrupts so easily.
Yes, you were probably better off as a peasant, or maybe minor gentry. The 'big' people of history were always killing each other, or trying to.
It hasn't stopped either. Look at recent history with Harry,his wacky wife, and their shenanigans surrounding the birth of their alleged children!
@@ruthanneseven Their story is a romance novel compared with what HC calls the murderous behavior of the "big" people. No comparison.
Thanks!
OH WOW! THANK YOU DON for such a generous donation to the channel. I'm always really blown away when people are as kind as this. I certainly hope you enjoyed hearing about Jacquetta.
Positively brilliant! Thank you for your, obvious, deep dive into the books for this phenomenal video. She’s as much a witch as me, for goodness sake. They liked to use that rubbish claim far too much. Jacquetta is overlooked and underrated in history, thank you for bringing her back.
The woman who wrote white queen and white princess wrote a book about Jacquetta. It is fantastic. Wish they make a movie of her. She is most interesting. Also wrote Spanish princess.
Well, done. Family tree charts to explain connections is SOOO HELPFUL!!❤
Thank you. They're as much for me as all of you. It's tough to keep track of everyone :-)
@@HistoryCalling exactly!! As a historian and genealogist, i found it the best way to visually explain when a crown is passed or taken by family.
The best history teacher ever❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thank you so much. If only I could have got some of my former students (who sometimes didn't come to class) to think the same :-)
I love her and Margaret Beaufort. They both lived for their children's royal future
And they’ve both been demonised by those who are more interested in personal agendas and drama than actual history *coughcoughPhilipaGregorycoughcough*
@emilybarclay8831 Though I do enjoy her books because I love historical fiction, I don't take them as factual
@@paigemprice I’ve debated reading them as historical fiction, but I don’t think I could stomach it. I tend to be quite the historical literalist which is why I don’t watch shows like Bridgerton. Still, I’m sure they’re entertaining for those who enjoy HF
My 19th great grandmother. I decend from Elizabeth of York and Henry VII through their daughter Princess Mary Tudor Brandon and her daughter Lady Francis Brandon Grey. Thank you. Great video. A new sub now.
Thanks Azariah and welcome :-) Have a little hunt in the comments of this video for your long lost cousins as there are lots of Plantagenet descendants here. You could totally form a club :-)
@@HistoryCalling 😀 There are millions of us. At the 17th generation Henry VII is statistically estimated to have 1,000,000 decendants. Almost everyone is a decendant of Edward III.
Francis Brandon & her husband were power hungry,evil child abusers.I wonder what Mary would've thought about it all.
@@azariahisrael5632even the UK actor Danny Dyer is a descendant of Edward III. He was featured in the UK version of "Who Do You Think You Are". The vids on him were fun - I enjoyed watching them. Courtney Cox (actress) is also a descendant of Edward III, also Boris Johnson (I think). Again, info from Who Do You Think You Are.
Is it plausible that Edward III never had descendants as he was away at battle, that his Queen enjoyed a certain stable man?
Thank you very much for the great Halloween episode. I've never heard about Jacquetta before so it was great to learn something new.
Also a question - do you think you'll ever do an episode about Empress Matilda and Stephen of Blois?
Maybe :-)
Jaquetta is my 12th Great grandmother and Elizabeth Woodville is my 11th great grandmother, Elizabeth of York is my 10th Great Aunt making Henry’s VIII my first coils in x 9.
You should look at some of the other comments here as some others are also descended from her. You could strike up a conversation with a long-lost cousin :-)
Mine too.....but not elizabeth of York......but thur her sister .
Whoo
Might wanna go back over that line.. most find her about 16 generations back... it's possible, but you also could be about 100 years, or 4-5 generations off. Just trying to help.. as I found alot of stuff like this doing my own tree.
Nope. Never heard of her at all!! My gast is truly flabbered. But I am always willing to learn new stuff, so thanks in anticipation 🤗
Ah, you won't regret it. She's a very interesting figure (and the witch accusations are very Halloween appropriate of course).
Jaquetta is my Great Grandmother. I am proud of her and her contribution in history . What an incredible story.
Mine as well.
How many times removed
I am glad she got to remarry someone she wanted too
My grandfather was from England moved to Canada 1880 when he was 16 so I've always loved british history
One of my great grandmothers...several times over...and yes our women do have certain abilities.....
There are some of your very distant cousins floating around the comments section as well :-)
Yes I know...... I have it.......one of my great grandmothers as well......
@@maryromero5709 Hey Cuz !!
Really awesome, thoroughly researched, and relatively unbiased take on this fascinating woman.
Looking forward to watching some of your other content.
Accusations of witchcraft seemed to be a way of disposing political rivals at that time.
Definitely. At least if they were women that is.
@@HistoryCalling it certainly seems to be a common accusation made against women that men married for love. That certainly got in the way of powerful ambitious men.
Great video I enjoyed it can't wait to see more soon. Your videos are always enjoyable and relaxing have a great day greetings from Canada 😀
Thanks Michelle and greetings from (a very wet and miserable) Northern Ireland :-)
She is me 19th great grandmother. I find documentaries about her and Elizabeth enthralling.
Jacquetta was my 19th great Grandmother - Kind regards from New Zealand 🇳🇿
Mine as well.
The women through the Hundred Years Wars into the Tudors were badass!
Thank you for this video 📹. Like another commenter before me, the romantic in me would love Jacquetta to be a real witch 🧙♀️ like in "The White Queen" and "The Lady of the Rivers", but the practical side of me knows that that's simply not the case. She was a victim of politics. Even today, politicians accuse the opposition of anything and everything not bothering to have proof to back up their claim. I hate politics. She was a strong, smart, rich woman 👩. Apparently that's enough to spark jealousy and wild accusations. Thank you for another great episode of The Wars of the Roses. It never gets old
I remember when P Gregory's book came out It is weird that the baby of Edward's brother died in bad water weather, the battle with Earl Warwick life was taken also fighting in bad weather, as well as the buckingham plot with Margret, also Elizabeth 1st won a big battle with the Spanish Armada.but then I remembered England is in fact an Island.
I so enjoy listening to your videos. Your accent makes it even better. But the best is the research you put into it
Aww, thank you. It's always lovely to have someone appreciate the work the videos take :-)
One of my many times great grandmothers.🧙🏻♀️
This episode is very timely, what with Halloween coming up on Monday.
Thank you. I thought the witchcraft allegations gave it a good Halloween edge, whilst also allowing it to be something that people might watch at other times of the year as well.
I'm descended from Henry VIII. These people are my ancestors. My paternal grandparents came from Ireland. I'm 60% Irish though. I've read so many books on these people. They led very interesting lives.
Not Henry VIII, he had no grandchildren. Henry VII, quite possibly, most people with British ancestors are
Man, that dude Clarence was a real peach. He switched sides more times than a coin flip. It is hard for me to grasp what was so attractive about being the King or in proximity to him, that one was willing to risk life, limb, family and/or property just to be on or near the throne. Personally I would have said "just make me a Baron or Duke and I'll just go live in my castle up north, collect tribute from my properties and make babies". Of course history only records what the rich and famous were doing. I bet the average tanner or baker just wanted to stay out of the bullseye and be left alone. (Except for the extra day off for the coronation LOL)
Oh George was just awful in my opinion. He really comes off as a spoilt, greedy brat who thought he was much smarter than he actually was. He met with a very unpleasant end though, which I also have a video on.
@@HistoryCalling Had to look up "spoilt" which I have heard used but very rarely. It somehow to my eye looks like a typo in written form. But then, I'm just a "spoiled" silly Yank. LOL. Happy Friday.
@@HistoryCalling Reminds me of Prince Harry. Where is that butt of Malmsey wine when you need it!
Gosh, I never even thought of that but when I read your comment I went and Googled it too and the top answer explained that Brits will used spoilt, but Americans used spoiled and to them 'spoilt' looks like a spelling error. I've learnt (or should that be learned???) something new today. I didn't realise that was one of our little cultural differences. Basically though it's like the 'u' in colour - we're both correct, whether we include the 'u' or not :-)
@@HistoryCalling Over the years I've "learnt" many things during my travels to Europe for pleasure and business (now retired). I have learned that I was not "learned" as I thought. I took my braces off my teeth and used them to hold up my pants. The business presentation was not "spoiled" by my unpreparedness but rather "spoilt". In the service I saluted the colours not the colors. I came to know that a jumper is not someone wishing to commit suicide off a bridge but rather something to put on when it is cold. And finally a pound is money, not a place to take stray dogs.
Finally, someone who can succinctly explain where the start of the family divisions in the war of the roses came from.
Good evening to history calling from Bea
Hi Bea :-) You know you're one of my most consistent commenters every week, but I don't think I know anything about you. What part of the world are you from (no pressure to answer of course, if you prefer to just stay private)?
I really enjoyed that Holbein doc. Fascinating.
My grandmother’s husband (He’s not my grandfather) is descended from her though Katherine Woodville and Henry Stafford, which would also make him a descendant of Edward III.
That's such a fascinating pedigree. I wish my family tree was that interesting.
@@HistoryCalling Me too.
Me too!
The 6 noisy ads ruined the well thought out content. I have never listened to a RUclips presentation with this amount of ads. Such a shame.
Ooops, I almost forgot, as usual, your research efforts and presentations skills are admirable and greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much :-)
You have finally explained the Lancaster and York claims clearly for me! The only time I've understood! Thank you!
Happy to help :-)
Past rulers give me chills. So much killing.
"Married from inclination"!!???! SERIOUSLY??!! The arrogance of these patriarchal fools! Had the accusations of witchcraft been made today, who knows how the internet would have burned Jacquetta (so to speak). An absolutely fascinating portrait, HC, and yes, definitely a Halloween treat. BTW, your video of the Irish witch burning is a favorite of mine. Happy All Hallow's Eve, HC. Be well. 🙏🏼
Thanks Stephen. Yup, women weren't meant to have inclinations back then I guess. You just had to marry who your Dad told you to :-( Good on Jacquetta for not allowing herself to be used like that a second time.
If only other people wanted to watch that Irish witch burning video as well. It didn't go down very well last year I'm afraid.
I wish to teleport you to those times and see if you have the balls to say that to their patriarchal faces.
If Jacquetta was a witch, she was quite beautiful and bewitching. The term witch was used on strong and bright woman and strong willed,too
After her Duke husband died she was left a rather wealthy widow.
But before a more suitable husband could be found for her she found one for herself with an unimportant and obscure
and impoverished knight of the bed-chamber by the name of Woodville.
They quietly married and were heavily fined.
They had many ❤️ beautiful and bright and healthy children.
The first one, Elizabeth eventually married Edward IV and the rest is history as they say.
And their heritage lives on even in the current royal family rather distantly.
I like the actress that played her in The White Queen....Janet McTeer & this documentary is the topping!...VERY interesting.
So do I . It’s one of my favourite shows and really well cast.
@@christianadechaeney5372 Have you seen The Real White Queen & her rivals? It's on Amazon prime, presented by Philippa Gregory...2pt documentary.
No, I don’t have Amazon Prime but I’d love to see that. Such an interesting period of history.
Yes, she did a great job and of course I'm very grateful for her, because her portrayal gave me an image I could use in the thumbnail (not having a picture of the real Jacquetta made life quite tricky!)
Happy to see you back! I'm standing with you, good sir! I'll be joining rumble. Keep up the fight!
Great job thank you!
My pleasure :-)
I love the thought of her putting a curse on the Tudors.
Why would she do that? They were her family.
Part 2.
If you like paintings, I never really got The Ambassadors "skull" thing until through technology you can see it clearly. I think it was a Northern European thing which Pieter Brueghel the Elder took a lot of pains over.
One I can recommend to you is Van Eyck's "Madonna and 'Chancellor Rolin". This was the Duke's own Chancellor not the French one in your vid. While you're looking at it please look at Rogier van der Weyden's other court picture of Philip the Good, his son, the young Charles the Bold is in it (in yellow), the future husband of Margaret of York and brother-in-law to Edward IV. Also in the painting, if you can spot him is Rolin, he certainly got about (In blue behind the Duke with his arms folded).
Charles is depicted in black. I know you are big into "bling". As Edward III had founded the Order of the Garter the Burgundians not to be outdone had founded the Order of St. Michael ("Golden Fleece") Philip habitually is shown wearing the Order, it's the gold necklace with a sheep suspended from it.
These are the people Jacquetta would have rubbed shoulders with on a daily basis. Look at some of the backgrounds through windows, these are real towns. What Jacquetta would have identified.
Sartorially-speaking and I know you put a lot of store by fashion, the Burgundian Court was where it was at. More flamboyant headdresses that made the French Court "frumps" by comparison.
Good to see as Duchess of Bedford she was awarded the Order of the Garter which is a restricted order numerically. Her husband John is a very under-rated figure. How do you follow his brother Henry? He more or less did.
He was sent North by their father Henry IV to extinguish the Percy Rebellion (1403-1408). (3 really, "Hotspur", Scrope's and the Earl's).
He was Henry's Lieutenant in England when Henry left for France.
Fought and won a later naval battle against the French and after Henry's sad demise was an effective Regent in France being an outstanding soldier namely at Verneuille (with his blue Order of the Garter mantle) and a first rate administrator. A loyal uncle to Henry VI, maybe unlike Humphrey. It was John that often was the peace-maker. Humphrey's wife was a near neighbour of Jacquetta in Flanders. Humphrey argued her property should be returned to her. Major flashpoint. "Petrol, meet Mr. Match!".
While John was around he usually found a way to knock heads together. The land was taken by Philip the Good, an English ally. So John gave Humphrey some of his estates as compensation.
It WAS John that crowned Henry VI in France as per the Treaty of Troyes, the ONLY king ever to be crowned king of England and France.
John was stipulated in Henry V's Will to be Regent in France and Humphrey Regent in England.
Humphrey Regent of anything?
John returned to England to sort out the quarrel between Cardinal Beaufort (Margaret's relative) and Humphrey at Leicester in the "Parliament of Bats". John's and Humphrey's mother Mary de Bohun (pronounced "de Bo-hoon") the queen of Henry IV is buried in the Church of St. Mary de Castro in Leicester.
It had got so bad armed conflict had been used and both sides were disarmed and only sticks "bats" could be worn
Think Martin McGuiness and the Reverend Ian Paisley.
Whilst at Leicester John made sure young Henry VI was knighted.
Henry VI is, unfairly in my view, disparaged as a "hopeless" king. This from a time when kings were expected to lead in battle, usually against the French.
How does anyone follow Henry V? Come on!
Throw in the Hundred Years War which the Exchequer couldn't support and an uncle like Humphrey that was volatile, what chance has young Henry got!!!!!!
It was left to John & Jacquetta in Rouen trying to win a losing battle bringing Henry VI up back in England.
They stayed at the castle of Joyeux Repose. Little is left of it only the "Donjon" (Tower) where St. Joan of Arc was imprisoned for a day during her trial.
News was brought to Jacquetta that her husband had died. You infer that infertility might have been an issue for John? She went to see him. The bells were mournfully tolling over Rouen, it was apparently around 7 a.m.
As Jaquetta arrived she saw him as she had last seen him and kissed hiim the evening before. Ladies-in-waiting were preparing him.
He was still pretty young. Had he a malady? Was that the reason he was on his own? Campaigning and being Regent must have been hard. His brother Clarence had been sent home from France with many others during Henry V's campaign with dystentry, there had been a contagion of the local shellfish in 1415.
Conjecture how Henry V died, he died young, generally understood to be dysentery contracted at Meaux but recent developments might say it was cancer.
His father had a disease of some mystery, maybe leprosy?
John?
Being royal one had a better diet but royalty did die of disease, Blanche of Lancaster John of Gaunt's wife, at Tutbury and Anne of Bohemia Richard II's queen both died of the plague. John broken-hearted instructed that Blanche be buried at St. Paul's and joined her later.
Richard II's queen died at Sheen Palace. Broken-hearted Richard had Sheen dismantled.
John Duke of Bedford was buried in Rouen Cathedral. If anyone is able to go Rouen Cathedral I recommend it. It is also the resting-place of the heart of Richard I.
During the reign of Louis XI they discovered the grave of John Duke of Bedford and asked Louis should it remain!
Louis said that he was such a thorn in the side of his father (Charles VII) fighting for England that he deserved to remain on French soil.
During the French Revolution his grave was damaged but remains!
One can only think if he had lived and brought up Henry VI instead of Gloucester would Henry have had a better chance? I like to think so. Would there have been a WotR?
John died during the Treaty of Arras.
Philip of Burgundy was deserting the English for Charles VII.
If the new widow knew, it was a turning-point. Beginning of the end.
Richard Duke of York would also be a Lieutenant in Rouen with Cecily and where Edward and Edmund were Christened. It was already difficult, Richard Duke of York having to pay his forces out of his own money because the Exchequer was struggling.
One of Bedford's commanders was Richard Beauchamp (pronounced "Beecham") Earl of Warwick.
He was related to Margaret Beaufort's mother.
He was also to be the father-in-law of Richard Neville the "king-maker".
{Bernard Shaw the playwright in his "St. Joan" gets it wrong by mixing up the two Richards}.
Gloucester became a belligerent of the "War Party". Cardinal Beaufort organised the "Peace Party". It was the Peace Party with the Earl of Suffolk that was instrumental in arranging the marriage of Henry VI & Margaret of Anjou in whose retinue Jacquetta formed part. Shown in your picture when Sir John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury, sadly later killed with his son of the same name at Castillon, is seen presenting Queen Margaret with his Book of Hours. (It was the loss at Castillon that could have caused Henry's anxiety and gave the seed for the WotR.
Brought up in the Burgundian Court with French links Jacquetta had an eventful life.
From her early career she was well-entrenched on the Lancastrian side.
She wouldn't know it but changing sides to the Yorkists was nearly always a bad move as Warwick found out and her husband and son found out.
The symbol of the British Parliament is the "Portcullis" the Beaufort Portcullis. Need one say any more than that!!!!!
The first mention of Henry VIII anywhere, is in Lady Margaret's Book of Hours. She has written about his birth in the margin. The date, she actually wrote twice.
"Remember, we always remember" Beaufort - Family Motto. 🏵
Thanks once again for your interest in this seminal era of history.
Regards,
Titus. 😏
This is BRILLIANT & fascinating, thankyou so much! I love getting extra history lessons in the comments.
@@beth7935 Indeed! This is why I read them on certain channels!
@@beth7935 Sorry, Beth, only just noticed I had replies. 🙂👍
Thank you. A fascinating period and glad you have an interest in it.
John Duke of Bedford held England together as long as he lived, often at his own expense. Verneuille is overlooked but was equivalent to Agincourt and he was loyal to his brother Henry, placated Humphrey and and an able administrator. Kept French territory and if he had lived would have been a great teacher for his nephew Henry VI and maybe the Wars of the Roses could have been averted.
@@ruthanneseven Sorry, Ruthanne , just noticed your reply. 🙂👌
Thanks, glad you like this period. Generally the 1400's are a fascinating period. Sadly the 1300's is sporadically called the "World's worst century". The "Black Death" and a mini ice age. Failed crops and rivers freezing up. Not to mention the Peasants Revolt.
@@English_Dawn No, thank YOU! 😊 I just re-read your initial amazing comment, & it was brilliant timing cos I've just watched a doco on Henry VI. And yes, in that, & the Owen Tudor bio I've been reading, it's pretty obvious that Bedford had a far better idea of how to rule than Gloucester did. Since we know in hindsight that England lost France, I keep thinking "why didn't they make Bedford Regent of England, & Gloucester could've just messed up in France", but DUH, it's very clear that France was MASSIVELY important to a lot of people- & the English king had just been made King of France; I can't think of many things that'd be a bigger deal at that point in time!
I wondered why you said you were glad I was interested in this era, but DUH again- it seems interest in ANYTHING other than the Tudors is pretty rare. I _am_ fascinated with Henry VII, Arthur & Margaret, but I'm not really desperate to know any more about the later Tudors. I'm also familiar with Henry II, Eleanor & their kids, & I'm trying to fill in the middle- mostly from Henry IV onwards atm, & especially the Wars of the Roses. HC's series on the women of the WotR is the best thing EVER- _exactly_ what I want to know, presented by my fave history youtuber, who'll teach me stuff from primary sources 😊 And bonus excellent info in the comments 😊
My 20th GGM & I agree with you, like many women of her time, they saw much hardship, war & death. You had to be cunning in those days.
Great job with the video.
Thank you! :-)
You need to fix the mic. It's too low and I've missed many parts before I just left a quatre in. 🧐😕
I Always enjoy your content. Have you ever talked about Joan of Arc?
Not yet, but I'm certainly open to looking at her story.
@@HistoryCalling I just watched a movie about her called The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. I found it interesting
The castle, Joyous Repose, where John Duke of Bedford and Jacquetta lived has almost vanished except for the "Donjon" a large tower in which for a day St. Joan of Arc was questioned. There is quite a bit in Rouen linked with her.
She made a hazardous trip through Burgundian territory to meet Charles the Dauphin at Chibon. She later crowned him at Rheims Cathedral as Charles VII.
Yet when she was captured by the one of the Burgundians allies, Luxembourg, at Compiegne and put up for ransom, despite risking her life for him many times and confirming his coronation he declined to pay her ransom! 😢
@@English_Dawn Thanks
My 18th great grandmother she was amazing strong woman
She sure was :-)
SORRY THIS IS A LONG COMMENT SO DONT READ IF YOU ONLY WANT TO COMPLAIN ITS TOO LONG 😉
Lovely! I could listen to your wonderful calming voice all day!
Interestingly, i used to read a book from my grandparents library when i was young ( about 11yrs old), that had much of it devoted to Jacquetta of Luxembourg!
My grandmother told me she received it when she was an artist in London &flitted amongst the Bloomsbury set of Artists & Crafts people.
The book was by a Lady of the nobility but i cant for the life of me remember this noblewomans name but she was a amateur historian & greatly favoured The Duchess of Bedford,
Jacquetta of Luxembourg!
In this book, i read about how Jacquettas family were descendants of the RIVER goddess Melusine, through the matriarchal line,
& it was to Melusine that Jacquetta served as a devotee
There were stories about the River Nymph Melusine in the book & she was magical & lived on land part of the time, but also lived within the river waters too where she was most powerful.
It was supposed to be because of this family link that the name
Rivers attached itself to the family.
I think Melusine often took Dragon form too & took unbaptised children ( to eat or whatever she did with them)
These stories were very colourful! & the colour plates in this book were beautifully painted ( im assuming by the Lady who wrote it)
I think it was this tenacious link with Melusine that gave rise to Jacquetta being a witch!
There was also a curious tale of
Jacquetta & her daughter Elizabeth Woodville, descending down some secret stairs to a chamber below the ground & running through the chamber was a sacred river that flowed under the earth & which was presided over by Melusine.
Mother & daughter were said to have performed a sacred rite in which the line of succession to the English throne would throw up a usurper Royal line which was
Foretold but this line would die out very quickly & this is where the legend of the Moldwarp would
Arise.. being Henry V111 who's claim to the throne was weak but needed to succeed to carry on
In the blood of Elizabeth Woodvilles daughter Princess Elizabeth who'd marry Henry V11 Tudor thus uniting the Red Rose & the White Rose
( symbolic of sacred bloodlines?)
But more so artistically under Henry V111 - the Tudor Rose
Anyway, i do so wish i still had that book! It was quite old when i read it & my Granny was given it in 1916.
Just as an aside, im a direct descendant of the ( supposedly) last witch in Scotland to be burned at the stake!
Janet Horn of Dornoch just north of Inverness !
She was apparently a well educated lady of substance but any female capable of knocking spots off ambitious men,esp church men, who felt threatened by intelligent women, they accused them of witchcraft true or not to get them out of the way
Sorry to have droned on but not many people know about
Jacquetta & her ancestor Melusine, Queen of the River Nymphs
Regards
🇬🇧👧
I was about to say perhaps the author was Lady Antonia Fraser or Lady Anne Somerset, but then I read that your grandmother was given the book in 1916 and those Ladies certainly aren't that old! :-) I'm so happy you enjoyed the video. I nearly didn't do one on Jacquetta, but I'm very glad I did as she's proven rather popular. I'm sorry about your ancestor though. Those were terrible times for women in Scotland.
@@HistoryCalling
Thank you for your kind reply ⚘
Yes, you certainly gained a huge audience to this video of Jacquetta!
Shes always been one of my favourite historical persons & as i see shes extremely popular!
Its over 58yrs since i read my Grannys book, but it had been hand bound, with a blue linen cover & fine tissue paper over the delightful prints to safeguard their colour & condition.
I discovered something quite chilling when id been researching my ancestor, the Scottish witch
Janet Horn
I found out that after her rediculous trial for witchcraft
Obviously pre- determined!
Her sentence was announced by a British Army Captain who oversaw legal & important matters in the area.
His name was David Ross
And in one line of words in this reference book it stated;
Janet Horn was condemned by
Capt David Ross.
My surname is Horn-Ross!!
I almost dropped my jaw on the desk when i read this.
To have aquired my surname then on one line of script i read the surnames of Horn & Ross
Victim & Accuser, yet brought together over centuries in my surname.
I had such mixed feelings, but chose to accept that its been too long to hold a grudge, so let the spirits of Janet Horn & David Ross combine & repose in peace.
I actually travelled up to Dornoch to see where my poor ancestor hailed.
As i live in north Northumberland it wasnt so far to travel.
Just above Inverness, a few miles north is an inlet of water & on the north side of this inlet is the town of Dornoch.
A pretty little place, much of it unchanged by the years & decades, its main centre has modern buildings etc but it has a certain charm.
I found out where my ancestor lived which was a substantial home which i gathered had been knocked down & rebuilt several times.
I felt very odd walking the streets of Dornoch, an odd chill overcoming me now & again, trying to see if the spirit of Janet would reach out but i didnt have any jolts of awareness but did notice many folks staring at me.
Pure fancy? Maybe, but i did feel a resilient strength & a pinch of
Anger, how could i not, my ancestor suffering a dreadful death on trumped up bogus charges by misogynists & bias.
I couldnt find Janet in the cemetery or graveyard she was likely put in a hole on unconsecrated ground, just a few blackened bones.
I still laid a bunch of wildflowers near her once home & talked with her in my mind.
I really wanted to shout out in the town square, who i was descended from, what they had done to her & here i am as defiant as she was!
But... whats the point of creating negativity, a wasted energy & i do carry both Janet &
Davids names & ive had a good, happy & fortunate life so far, im the product of their combined unity
I doubt i shall return to Dornoch, it still holds a slightly sour odour
But Inverness is wonderful, i love that place, amazing people,
Beautiful countryside, coastal views, marvellous food & fabulous boat trips on Loch Ness.
Hope you enjoyed my incredible revelation about my surname bringing Janet & David to a close.
Regards
🇬🇧👧
Thank you for this comprehensive look at Jacquetta.
My pleasure :-)