Tag: Sack of Rome

Book Review: “Margaret of Austria: Governor of the Netherlands and Early 16th-Century Europe’s Greatest Diplomat” by Rozsa Gaston

On By hmalagisiIn Book Reviews1 Comment

The 16th century was dominated by powerful women who left their indelible mark on European history. Take, for example, the aunt of Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor. No, not Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII. I am talking about a woman who was the daughter of Emperor Maximilian I, was married three times, had no children, and helped raise her nephew Charles V, was an essential part of the Ladies’ Peace, taught Anne Boleyn how to live at court, and was a patroness of the arts and literature. Of course, I am talking about Margaret of Austria, the Governor of the Netherlands. A formidable woman who saw much change and chose to be part of politics, even though she was a woman. Her remarkable story is told in Rozsa Gaston’s novel, “Margaret of Austria: Governor of the Netherlands and Early 16th-Century Europe’s Greatest Diplomat.”

I would like to thank Rozsa Gaston for sending me a copy of this novel. I am someone who is always looking for a new aspect of the 16th century. I have heard about Margaret of Austria from other books about Anne Boleyn and the 16th century, but I did not know much about this woman. When Gaston asked if I would like to read and review her novel, I jumped at the chance to read it and learn more about her.

Gaston begins her novel with a chart of important figures that would be featured in this story, which was helpful for me as a reader. Then, we get some basic background information about Margaret of Austria, the daughter of Maximilian I of Austria and Mary of Burgundy (known as Mary the Rich). Margaret’s brother was Philip the Handsome, who was expected to inherit their father’s throne. Margaret was destined to be a bride for King Charles VIII of France, so she left her native Netherlands for France at a young age. Our story begins with Charles VIII rejecting poor Margaret because he was already married to Anne of Brittany. Rejected, Margaret goes home, where another marriage is arranged. Her brother Philip would marry Juana of Castile, and Margaret would travel to Spain to marry Juan, Prince of Asturias. This marriage would not last long as Juan would die young.

Her final marriage would be to Philibert of Savoy, which turned into a love match, but Philibert would die a few years into their marriage. Heartbroken, Margaret goes to live with Philip and Juana, which is a mistake because they are constantly at odds. When Philip dies unexpectantly, Juana, no matter how her mental state may be, rules Castile while her eldest son Charles lives with Margaret. Margaret becomes the Governor of the Netherlands for Charles until he is old enough to rule. For the remainder of her life, politics would play a major part in Margaret’s life as she saw issues like the Great Matter, the Sack of Rome, the League of Cambrai, the rise of Martin Luther, and the Ladies’ Peace.

Margaret of Austria was such a powerful woman who would do anything for her family and her beloved Netherlands. To stand toe to toe with some of these major political figures as a woman during the 16th century took guts, but Margaret showed how formidable she was. Gaston does an excellent job telling Margaret’s story, so much so that I want to read more books about her life. Suppose you want to learn more about the life of Margaret of Austria. In that case, I highly recommend you read “Margaret of Austria: Governor of the Netherlands and Early 16th-Century Europe’s Greatest Diplomat” by Rozsa Gaston.

Book Review: “Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages” by Dan Jones

On By hmalagisiIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

57347786When we study human history, in general, we tend to pick a country and a period to focus on and research. Books on the subject material tend to focus on one land with interactions between other nations. It is infrequent for authors to take on multiple countries unless concentrated on one event that affected numerous locations. Those books often read like textbooks and can be a bit dry. Finding the perfect balance between these elements and engaging with the reader is a monumental task for any author, but Dan Jones has taken on the challenge. His latest behemoth tome, “Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages,” takes on the gigantic task of telling the story of the Middle Ages from diverse perspectives.

To take on such a massive undertaking is no easy feat, but Jones seems to do it seamlessly. He breaks this book into four segments to not overwhelm his readers, each dealing with a different element that made the Middle Ages unique. Every story has a foundation, and the story of the Middle Ages begins with the fall of the Roman Empire. With the empire’s fall, we see the rise of Barbarian groups, the Byzantines, and the Arab states that would define this era with the Crusades. Jones takes his readers on a journey through climate change and pandemics that forced humanity to move from place to place to survive.

We encounter revolutions of all kinds; religious, political, artistic, architectural, and technological. Humankind was not as stagnant as many people believed during the Middle Ages. This was an age full of life and colorful figures that shaped the world around them, from philosophers and artists to kings and conquerors. Men and women like St. Aquitaine, Attila the Hun, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Leonardo da Vinci, Martin Luther, and Christopher Columbus defined this era. Although Jones does focus on more European figures, he takes the time to show people groups like the Mongols, the Franks, the Arabs, and the Byzantines to show how diversity ruled this period in history. Those who study the Middle Ages know the stories of the Black Death, the Crusades, and the Sack of Rome, but there are so many more stories that give life to this period in human history.

I felt nostalgic for my high school and college classes when I read this book. These were the classes that made me fall in love with studying history. Other stories in this book were brand new to me, which thrilled me to read. If there were an element that I wished he would have included, I think I would have liked to have seen more stories of medieval Asia and Africa. I think it would have added a new element to the story of the Middle Ages.

Out of all of the books that I have read by Dan Jones, I think this one is my favorite. I could tell how much passion and the amount of research Jones poured into this book, and it shows. Combining over a thousand years of history into one book is an impressive feat that Jones has mastered. “Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages” by Dan Jones is a triumphant tome that any fan of medieval history will appreciate.