Norman Conquest Day 2012

I didn't have time to buy a cake for Norman Conquest Day this year, but I wanted to share something with you, so I found this fun website about the Norman Conquest! The Essential Norman Conquest is an interactive website where you can view a 360 degree panorama of the battlefield of Hastings as it stands today, explore 3-D battle maps, compare the clothing of Norman and Saxon knights, and more! You have to install Quicktime to make most of the features work, but this is a fun website if you have it.

Enjoy. And Happy Norman Conquest Day!

Essential Norman Conquest website

(Extract from the Bayeux Tapestry)

More Medieval Names: Common vs Uncommon

Here they are, as promised. A sampling of common vs uncommon female names from my retyped medieval name list. (Again, all these are taken from The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, by E.G. Withycombe.)

Common/Popular:

Amabel, Amble, Mabel (12-13 C)

Amice, Amicia (12-15 C)

Ascelina

Basilia, Basilie, Basilla (12-13 C)

Dowsabel, Dowse, Duce, Douse

Edith, Eadgyth, Editha, Eda, Edan

Ella, Ela, Ala, Elia, Hele (common 'til mid-14 C)

Emma, Emme, Emmote, Emmete (11 C)

Gillian, Gill, Jill, Gillot, Gillet

Uncommon/Rare:

Ann, Anne, Nan, Nanny

Arabella, Orabell

Beata

Christine, Christina

Elfleda, Aelfled, Alfled(a), Alflet, Elflet

Elfreda, Elfrid

Violette (S French, rare in England)

Medieval Names: Common vs Uncommon

I recently made an unhappy discovery on my old desktop computer: the file that contains my carefully compiled list of medieval names has become "corrupted!" Fortunately for me, I have a physical printout of the names. Unfortunately, this means laboriously typing the lists into my MacBook so I have a backup copy. (Yes, I could simply scan them in, but I want the flexibility of being able to add new names as I find them.)

My bad luck is your good fortune, since I'm feeling in a sharing kind of mood. Here is a list of "common" vs "uncommon" names in medieval England. These particular names were extracted from The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, by E.G. Withycombe. (Oh, these are all male names. I haven't retyped my list of female names yet.)

Common names:

Acelin, Acelet (common 13 C)

Ancel, Ancelin, Ancelot


Aylmer

Berengar, Bereniger, Benger (12-13 C)


Bernard, Barnard, Barnet (12 C)

Bevis, Beves, Bovo, Bobo (12-13 C)


Brice, Bryce, Bricot (13-14 C)
David (12 C)

Edmund, Edmond

Edward

Fulk, Fauke, Fowke, Fawke, Fulcher


Geoffrey, Geffrey, Geoffroi, Geffrei, Geffrai, Jaufre (12-15 C)


Gerard, Gairhard, Gyrerd, Garrett, Garrat, Garit, Girard


Gilbert, Gylbart, Gylbard, Gilbred

Gregory, Gregour

Robert (Rob, Hob, Dob, Nob), Robin, Robard, Robyn

Walter, Wauter, Gualter, Gwalter

William, Guillielm, Guillaume, Willelm, Wylymot, Gillet, Gillot, Gilliame, Guillot, Gilmyn

Uncommon or rare names:

Adrian (12 C on, rare)

Amyas, Amiot (12-13 C, rare)

Charles, Carle, Charlet (Norman, rare)


Dominic, Dominick (13 C, uncommon in England)


Edgar, Etgar (Old English, rare after Norman Conquest)

Edwin, Eaduin (Old English, rare after 13 C)


Egbert (Old English, rare after Norman Conquest)


Emery, Emeric, Emerick (intro by Normans, never common)


Gabriel, Gabrell, Gabryell (uncommon)

Joseph (infrequent)

Samuel (rare)


Tancred (uncommon in England)

Victor (1200s, but rare)


Vivian, Phythian, Fithian (12 C, uncommon)


Warren, Warin, Guarin (rare after 14 C)

Wilfred, Wilfrid (rare after Norman Conquest)

Enjoy! When I retype the women's names, I'll share some with you, too.

Cover Reveal: A Candlelight Courting

I just received the cover art for my short medieval Christmas story, A Candlelight Courting, from the always amazing Jaimey Grant at An Author's Art! I think it's beautiful. I hope you do, too!

When Burthred comes courting on Christmas Eve, Meg rejects his advances. She has her heart set on becoming a nun and insists that he call her Christina, the spiritual name she has chosen for herself. She tries to make him swear on her box of holy relics that he will not pursue her, but he carefully words his oath to allow him to stay in her candlelit chamber and try to change her mind.

What Meg does not confess is that her reliquary box holds a secret.

Burthred needs a wife, and no one will satisfy him except Meg. He swore on his father’s deathbed that he would marry her. But Burthred has a secret, too. When they come together before the Yule fire, their shared revelations will either join their hearts together or tear them apart.

A Candlelight Courting: A Short Christmas Romance

Coming October 2012

Illuminated manuscripts and medieval bookmarks!

As many of you know, my sweet medieval romance, Illuminations of the Heart, explores the world of medieval illumination. So imagine my excitement when I stumbled across this little interview on C-Span's Book TV! Eric Duncan, associate curator for rare books at the Ohio State University Library, shares with viewers a beautiful illuminated Bible (you'll see why these books were called "illuminated" when you see all that gold leaf!) and an original medieval bookmark that helped the reader keep track of more than just what page they were on. Watch and enjoy! It's only about 13 minutes long.

Calling All Katies: Winner!

Congratulations to Katie Leigh, winner of my Calling All Katies giveaway. Katie has won a pre-autographed copy of my medieval romance, Illuminations of the Heart.


Thank you to all you wonderful Katies or Katie-lovers who entered. We didn't quite hit 110, but 21 Katies isn't too bad!

Calling All Katies

The eldest surviving son of King Henry II of England shared his father’s name. In his lifetime, he was known as Henry the Younger, and after being crowned as co-ruler with his father in 1170 (in imitation of a custom practiced by the Capetien kings of France), was known as Henry the Young King, or simply, the Young King. Henry II allowed his son little actual power, influenced both by his own authoritarian nature and his son’s vain, irresponsible, spendthrift ways. Henry the Younger was nevertheless highly admired among his peers. The troubadour Bertran de Born called him “King of the courtly and emperor of the valiant[1]” for embodying the popular virtues of courtesy and liberality. He loved the tournament circuit and he loved extravagant gestures.

One of these extravagant gestures is related by Robert de Torigny, a contemporary of the Young King. Robert, a Norman monk and chronicler, tells of an occasion when Henry the Younger held a lavish feast and invited only knights named William to attend. A hundred and ten knights named William showed up for the party. (This story is related in Henry II, by W.L. Warren, and Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Four Kings, by Amy Kelly.)

What has this got to do with my call for Katies? Well, as you should know by now, I am the author of three medieval romances, all set during the lifetime of Henry the Young King. In the course of a giveaway for some of my books on my JDP NEWS blog, I made a silly little mistake. A lovely lady named Katie won a copy of my newest romance, Dangerous Favor, but since I was also autographing a copy of Illuminations of the Heart for another winner, I inadvertently signed a copy of Illuminations of the Heart, instead of Dangerous Favor to “Katie”. Never fear. I caught my mistake and Katie got the correct autographed prize in the mail! But now I’m stuck with a copy of Illuminations of the Heart signed to “Katie” and no Katie to give it to.

So, like Henry the Young King, I too am sending out a call…but my call is for Katies, instead of Williams. If your name is Katie and you would like a chance to win a copy of my medieval romance, Illuminations of the Heart, just leave a comment on this post WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS so I’ll know how to contact you if you win.

If you’re not too picky about the spelling of your name, you may also enter if your name bears any resemblance to Katie, such as Katy, Kati, Kaity, Caty, Cati, or even Kaitlyn or Kathryn or anything similar. And hey, if you know a Katie (daughter, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend) who might enjoy this book, spread the word or you may enter on her behalf.

Wouldn’t it be cool if we wound up with a 110 Katie entries? However, since Katie isn’t as common a name as William was in the Middle Ages, my feelings won’t be hurt if we only get a handful of Katies.

You may click here to read a summary of Illuminations of the Heart, along with a few Amazon reviews.

Deadline for entries is May 7, midnight PST. Don’t forget to leave your email address! C’mon, Katies, let’s party!

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[1] Lyrics of the Troubadours and Trouveres: an Anthology and a History, Translations and Introductions by Fredrick Goldin

Medieval Word of the Day

Jongleur: An itinerate minstrel, poet, or entertainer in medieval France

Medieval Word of the Day

The Great War: A civil war that took place between Henry II and his sons in 1173-1174; also called the Great Rebellion and the Great Revolt

Henry II (father)

Henry the Younger (eldest son)                                                        Richard I (2nd son)

Count Geoffrey of Brittany (3rd son)                                                King John (4th son)


(John was actually too young to participate in this rebellion, but I thought you might enjoy seeing him anyway)

Medieval Word of the Day

Sou: A French coin of little value

Medieval Word of the Day

Pommel: A counterweight, usually in the shape of a circle or ball, at the top of the handle (hilt) of a sword or dagger, often intricately decorated; derived from Latin word for “little apple”

The circular top of this sword is the "pommel"

(Thank you to Arms & Armor for this image)

Medieval Word of the Day

lèse majesté: Literally “injured majesty”; a crime such as treason committed against the king

Go to Google Translate, type lèse majesté under French and click on the little "listen" iconto hear how to pronounce this phrase.

Medieval Word of the Day

Wardrobe: A medieval wardrobe could be a free standing closet like this:

(courtesy of Early Oak Reproductions)

But in Dangerous Favor, "wardrobe" refers to a room or (for a king or great noble) a series of rooms in a castle that housed his robes, jewelry, and other personal valuables (including spices!), as well as cash and important documents; the King’s Wardrobe included his personal treasury

Medieval Word of the Day

Seneschal: Official in a medieval household responsible for the supervision and management of a nobleman’s estates

Medieval Word of the Day

mesnie privée: A lord’s inner circle of most trusted knights, specifically those who travel together with their lord to fight in tournaments and wars

I don't know if this king and his companions are riding off to a tournament, but they might be!

If you'd like to know how to pronounce this phrase, go to Google Translate, type mesnie privée under French and click on the little "listen" icon