Showing results for "Duke" in World

Explore the fascinating life of John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722). Rising from modest beginnings as the son of Sir Winston Churchill, an impoverished country gentleman, Johns fortunes changed when his sister Arabella became the mistress of James, Duke of York. This connection launched Churchills illustrious military career. His strategic acumen during the War of the Spanish Succession shattered the belief in French military invincibility, earning him the admiration of the British public. His marriage to Sarah Jennings, a close confidante of Queen Anne, his tactical switch...

When England’s King Edward IV fell ill at Easter 1483 after coming back from a fishing trip and died shortly after on April 9, it threw a country that had already suffered a series of wars into a state of chaos. What exactly killed him is unclear, and though some people would later speculate that he had been poisoned, there is every reason to believe that he died of natural causes. Disease was common in medieval England, and doctors lacked much of the medical knowledge now taken for granted.

The story of Valois Burgundy is one of the most exciting of the Late Middle Ages. The four Valois Dukes of Burgundy used political intrigue, calculated splendor, economic power, and good old-fashioned violence to forge a state out of the many Duchies and Counties between France and the Holy Roman Empire. During Burgundy's height its Dukes were seen by many as the equals of Kings and Emperors and their court was at the center of Western Europe's cultural and political development. And then it all fell apart. Please join me as I explore the history and legacy of this forgotten kingdom.

Dive into The Little Duke, a captivating historical fiction novel by Charlotte M. Yonge that chronicles the remarkable life of Richard, Duke of Normandy. At just eight years old, Richard must navigate the treacherous world of power and politics after the shocking murder of his father. Originally serialized in her magazine, The Monthly Packet, this engaging tale brings to life the challenges and triumphs of a young ruler. (summary by Laura Caldwell)

Delve into the remarkable life of Charles the Bold, the final Duke of Burgundy from the House of Valois. Born in 1433, Charles harbored a grand ambition transforming Burgundy into an independent kingdom and crowning himself as its king. Undertaking a relentless expansion of his territory through both acquisition and conquest, he sparked widespread unrest across western Europe. His bitter rivalry with Rene II of Lorraine, however, led to his untimely demise in 1477.