The
Silken Rose
By
Carol McGrath
The first novel in my new Trilogy,
The Rose Trilogy, will be published on 19th September 2019. It
introduces the first of three High-Medieval she-wolf
queens, Ailenor of Provence, who married Henry III in 1236 at only thirteen
years of age. He was already old at thirty-two. She is followed by her daughter
in law, Leonora of Castile and in turn her
infamous daughter in law Isabella of France. They are fascinating to write as
are the intrigues that envelop them.
Why is Ailenor of Provence, the
protagonist of The Silken Rose, considered a she-wolf? Why was she scorned during her life-time?
After all, in many ways beautiful Ailenor was the perfect good queen who
generously gave alms to the poor, was devoted to her husband and endowed
abbeys. She was a good mother, protective to her children. Exemplary you might
think.
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| La Belle Dame Sans Merci. |
However, she was foreign at a time
when the great Angevin Empire had been reduced to Gascony (Aquitaine). She
never brought Henry a dowry and was not from the top-drawer of European
nobility. Worse, because after her marriage, she brought a collection of penniless
relatives to England. The English barons
who had become inward looking, after the loss of estates in Normandy during the
previous reign, disliked top positions going to the Queen’s relatives,
particularly to her uncles from Savoy.
It probably seemed natural to
Ailenor to advance her relatives. Her Uncle William of Savoy who had
accompanied Ailenor to England became one of King Henry’s chief counsellors. Henry
even attempted to make Uncle William Bishop of Winchester. Then there was Uncle
Peter, reportedly charming and clever. He became an advisor too and Henry gave
him The Honour of Richmond, in Yorkshire. Uncle Peter built The Savoy Palace in
London. He was here to stay.
Uncle Thomas of Savoy was another
relative who acted as an envoy when Ailenor attempted to buy the Sicilian crown
for her second son, Edmund. She was behind this scheme though Henry must have
agreed it. It was costly and fell apart when Uncle Thomas was captured and
imprisoned in Turin. Ailenor had to raise a ransom. Another uncle, the
handsome, reforming Boniface became Archbishop of Canterbury. In addition, many
talented clerks came to England from Provence and Savoy and they took over
running the treasury as well as other areas of government. This did not please
the English barons who felt such jobs were theirs to distribute and control,
especially regarding the King’s spending. Henry loved pageants and parties and magnificent,
expensive building works such as his new Westminster Abbey. In time, this extravagant
spending and nepotism would lead to conflict between King and Barons. Ailenor’s
Savoyards were not popular. Over one hundred and seventy of them came to
England and seventy of them settled.
English marriages were arranged for
the Provencal relations, including that of Ailenor’s younger sister, Sanchia,
to Henry’s brother, Richard of Cornwall. This caused further discontent amongst
the already displeased barons as it limited heirs and heiresses available for
their sons and daughters, unless they married foreigners, of course.
At first, Ailenor came under
pressure to provide an heir. This may have caused her to look to her relations
for support. In 1239, at the age of sixteen her first child, Edward was born.
She gave birth to Margaret the following year. Two healthy children followed,
Beatrice and Edmund. Henry and Ailenor were hands on, loving parents. She had
known a happy family life in Provence. She was one of four beautiful girls, all
of whom married kings and princes. They were all highly educated and she was
especially talented, known for her ability to write poetry and her enjoyment of
Arthurian romances. She even composed a poem, aged twelve, about a Cornish hero
and gave it to Richard of Cornwall who had passed through Provence on his way
from the Crusades. Impressed by the poem, Richard suggested Henry marry her. He
did and all was happy until Henry’s Lusignan half-brothers came to England
seeking patronage. Ailenor was involved in their defamation and this caused her
reputation further damage. She collided with Henry. Yet, her opposition to the
Lusignans did give Ailenor a political position at court. For a time it was all
about King’s Men opposing Queen’s Men. She and Henry made up and
when he went to Gascony to sort out troubles she was co-regent with Richard of
Cornwall. She levied new taxes, always an unpopular move but equally she helped
broker an excellent marriage for her son with eleven year old Eleanor (Leanora)
of Castile.
My story ends as Ailenor achieves
an important objective and need to preserve Gascony for Edward. It will be
picked up ten years later by Leonora of Castile, the second ‘she-wolf’ of this
Trilogy. The barons have had enough of nepotism and extravagant royalty. A vicious
Baron’s War follows. Henry’s brother-in –law, Earl Simon de Montfort takes
control of the kingdom.
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| opus work book cover from 13th Century. |
Ailenor has been a wonderful
protagonist but she is not the only heroine in The Silken Rose. The book is called The Silken Rose because an embroideress with her own thrilling story
enters its pages. Her narrative intersects with Ailenor’s tale. After all, this
was The Magnificent Thirteenth Century,
a period when valuable English embroidery with gold, silver and jewels was
prized throughout Europe. I simply could not resist introducing Rosalind into
my novel’s pages to create, in the best Shakespearian manner, a subplot to
hopefully keep you turning pages.
Carol McGrath
I love Carol McGrath's books. Impeccable research and great characters!
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