The History of England Magazine
Every month we present new feature articles relating to the history of this green and pleasant land. From ancient battlefields to famous people, hangings to national celebrations, we’ve got something to interest everyone.
You may also be interested in our History of Britain section covering the period from the Act of Union during Queen Anne‘s reign to the modern day.
Kings of Kent
The Kingdom of the Kentish, known today as the Kingdom of Kent, was one of the great seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England. Based around its capital of Canterbury, it was the first of the kingdoms to convert to Christianity.
Cecily of York
Cecily of York, daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, is far less well-known than her older sister Elizabeth, wife of Henry VII and the first Tudor queen. Yet her own story remains fascinating, intertwined not only with the bloody conflict known as the Wars of the Roses and the subsequent rise of the Tudor dynasty, but also with great personal tribulations…
Plough Monday
Marking the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas and dating back to the fifteenth century, Plough Monday, the first Monday after Epiphany, was observed by farming communities up and down the country, celebrating the beginning of the agricultural year with dance, music and decorated ploughs…
Women on the March: Camp Followers of the 17th and 18th Centuries
Viewers of the Sharpe TV series, based on the books by Bernard Cornwell on the Peninsular War, will be very familiar with the baggage train of camp followers, the women who accompanied their menfolk on campaign. These women were the backbone of the army, their contributions often ignored…
Third Crusade: Battle of Jaffa
The Battle of Jaffa was to be the final and decisive act of the Third Crusade, solidifying an agreement between the English King Richard and the great Muslim general Saladin ending hostilities and securing safe passage for pilgrims…
Kings of Northumbria
Monarchs of Northumbria. Discover the story of the kings of Northumbria from Oswiu ( c. 654 – c. 670 AD ) to Ælla ( c. 862 – c. 867) who, according to the Norse sagas, captured the legendary Swedish-Danish Viking king Ragnar Lodbrok (Lothbrok) and put him to death in a pit of snakes…
What did Catherine Howard Look Like?
Henry VIII is famous for his six wives. But do we know what they looked like? The actual likeness of Catherine Howard, wife number 5, is elusive…
Battle Of Cartagena de Indias: The Victory That Never Was
The attack on Spanish port of Cartagena during the War of Jenkin’s Ear was a total catastrophe for Britain. The death of the commander of the fleet early in the campaign left two inexperienced officers squabbling over tactics…
The Life and Work of Christopher Marlowe
Christopher ‘Kit’ Marlowe. Iconic poet and playwright. Heretic, hedonist, and likely a spy for Queen Elizabeth I. His death – stabbed in a bar brawl, allegedly over a bill, aged just 29 – is still viewed with suspicion today. Was it actually an assassination?
