Matilda’s Top Women In History

Margaret Beaufort was the mother of the Tudor Dynasty - her dedication, intelligence and most importantly her bloodline helped her son win the throne as Henry 7th. In this episode we look at her early life; her first marriage at the age of only 12 and the traumatic birth of her son when she was only 13 years old. Sources/Further Reading Tallis, Nicola: Uncrowned Queen, The Life of Margaret Beaufor...

In Salem 1692 a young woman became embroiled in America’s most famous witch trial. Tituba was an enslaved woman who was both accused and an accuser, and her role in the events of 1692 has led to her being labelled America’s most famous witch. However in her own time she was neither famous nor a witch, but a woman dragged from her home and family and sent to live a hard life in a foreign land. In t...

In Salem 1692 a young woman became embroiled in America’s most famous witch trial. Tituba was an enslaved woman who was both accused and an accuser, and her role in the events of 1692 has led to her being labelled America’s most famous witch. However in her own time she was neither famous nor a witch, but a woman dragged from her home and family and sent to live a hard life in a foreign land. In t...

Seymour, Lady Worsley, was the subject of one of the bigger scandals in Georgian Britain. Born as a wealthy heiress, she married a baronet and entered London high society. Her dream of a romantic marriage was soon quashed, and with an indifferent husband whose mind was more on politics than love, she looked elsewhere for affection. Soon, she was faced with a stark choice - remain in an unhappy mar...

Seymour, Lady Worsley, was the subject of one of the bigger scandals in Georgian Britain. Born as a wealthy heiress, she married a baronet and entered London high society. Her dream of a romantic marriage was soon quashed, and with an indifferent husband whose mind was more on politics than love, she looked elsewhere for affection. Soon, she was faced with a stark choice - remain in an unhappy mar...

Emma, Lady Hamilton was the wife of the British ambassador to Naples. In this role she met Admiral Horatio Nelson, and oversaw the evacuation of the British out of Naples following a revolution there. Whilst in Naples, she became a central figure on the social scene and a good friend to Queen Maria Carolina. It was on Sicily that she began her affair with the legendary English war hero Admiral Hor...

Emma, Lady Hamilton was the wife of the British ambassador to Naples. In this role she met Admiral Horatio Nelson, and oversaw the evacuation of the British out of Naples following a revolution there. Whilst in Naples, she became a central figure on the social scene and a good friend to Queen Maria Carolina. It was on Sicily that she began her affair with the legendary English war hero Admiral Hor...

Emma, Lady Hamilton was born as Amy Lyons in a Welsh mining village. At the age of only 12 she moved to London, managing to avoid the pickpocket and pimps that lined the route. In London, she worked as a maid, theatre assistant, sex worker and dancing sales girl before becoming a high level courtesan. Somehow, from all of this, she ended up married to the British Ambassador to Naples. Her story is...

Emma, Lady Hamilton was born as Amy Lyons in a Welsh mining village. At the age of only 12 she moved to London, managing to avoid the pickpocket and pimps that lined the route. In London, she worked as a maid, theatre assistant, sex worker and dancing sales girl before becoming a high level courtesan. Somehow, from all of this, she ended up married to the British Ambassador to Naples. Her story is...

Vivian Bullwinkle survived one of the most brutal massacres in Australian history. On 16th February 1942, along with 22 other unarmed women, she was told to wade into the water on Radji Beach in modern Indonesia and was then fired on with a machine gun by Japanese soldiers. Vivian was a nurse with the Australian army stationed in Singapore and Malaya when the Japanese army invaded the Malay penins...

Vivian Bullwinkle survived one of the most brutal massacres in Australian history. On 16th February 1942, along with 21 other unarmed women, she was told to wade into the water on Radji Beach in modern Indonesia and was then fired on with a machine gun by Japanese soldiers. Vivian was a nurse with the Australian army stationed in Singapore and Malaya when the Japanese army invaded the Malay penins...

Parysatis, the Kings Wife and then the Kings Mother of Persia, was a truly formidable woman. You really, really didn’t want to get on her bad side. The Persians had perfected the art of execution by inventive and brutal ways, and Parysatis made use of these. As well as being violent however, she was also intelligent and extremely capable, becoming an indispensable advisor to her son Artaxerxes 2nd...

Parysatis, the Kings Wife and then the Kings Mother of Persia, was a truly formidable woman. You really, really didn’t want to get on her bad side. The Persians had perfected the art of execution by inventive and brutal ways, and Parysatis made use of these. As well as being violent however, she was also intelligent and extremely capable, becoming an indispensable advisor to her son Artaxerxes 2nd...

Following the murder of her husband, Caterina Sforza had to move quickly to cement control of her territories. After successfully seeing off a coup, she fell in love with a handsome young stablehand who would become her secret second husband. However many people were not happy with her relationship with the young man, and events would boil over into violence and treachery. Caterina would face down...

Following the murder of her husband, Caterina Sforza had to move quickly to cement control of her territories. After successfully seeing off a coup, she fell in love with a handsome young stablehand who would become her secret second husband. However many people were not happy with her relationship with the young man, and events would boil over into violence and treachery. Caterina would face down...

Caterina Sforza Riario Feo de Medici had many surnames, but she also had an incredibly interesting life - one that was quite unusual for a 15th century woman. Daughter of a duke, wife of a count and niece to a Pope, Caterina had impeccable connections and for several years was one of Romes key social players. She would prove to be more than a socialite however, physically taking up arms to fight h...

Caterina Sforza Riario Feo de Medici had many surnames, but she also had an incredibly interesting life - one that was quite unusual for a 15th century woman. Daughter of a duke, wife of a count and niece to a Pope, Caterina had impeccable connections and for several years was one of Romes key social players. She would prove to be more than a socialite however, physically taking up arms to fight h...

Sarah Churchill began life as the daughter of a minor landowner, and rose to become the richest woman in England. Her influence over Queen Anne was so great she effectively ran the Queens private life, and in the process gained a lot of power, prestige and wealth. Her husband was also an impressive figure, John Churchill became one of Englands greatest military leaders and through his hard work an...

Sarah Churchill began life as the daughter of a minor landowner, and rose to become the richest woman in the country. Her influence over Queen Anne was so great she effectively ran the Queens private life, and in the process gained a lot of power, prestige and wealth. Her husband was also an impressive figure, John Churchill became one of Englands greatest military leaders and through his hard wor...

How did Amy Robsart, Lady Dudley, die? In this episode we look at several options - natural causes, accidental, suicide and murder. It’s an intriguing mystery, and in the end we can’t know for sure. The Elizabeths however were quick to point the finger at Amys husband Robert, but is there any substance to these accusation? Sources/Further Reading Skidmore, Chris: Death and the Virgin - Elizabeth,...

How did Amy Robsart, Lady Dudley, die? In this episode we look at several options - natural causes, accidental, suicide and murder. It’s an intriguing mystery, and in the end we can’t know for sure. The Elizabeths however were quick to point the finger at Amys husband Robert, but is there any substance to these accusation? Sources/Further Reading Skidmore, Chris: Death and the Virgin - Elizabeth,...

Lady Amy Dudley is famous because of her husband and the manner of her death. She died at the age of 28 in a manner that is to this day the cause of much speculation and debate. However she is more than her death - this episode looks at her life and her marriage to Robert Dudley, the man who wanted to be a king. Sources/Further Reading Skidmore, Chris: Death and the Virgin - Elizabeth, Dudley and...

Lady Amy Dudley is famous because of her husband and the manner of her death. She died at the age of 28 in a manner that is to this day the cause of much speculation and debate. However she is more than her death - this episode looks at her life and her marriage to Robert Dudley, the man who wanted to be a king. Sources/Further Reading Skidmore, Chris: Death and the Virgin - Elizabeth, Dudley and...

Agrippina the Younger was one of the most powerful women in the history of the Roman Empire. She was a Julio-Claudian, descended from Augustus and was the sister, wife and mother of Emperors. A consummate politician, Agrippina essentially ruled Rome for 5 years at the side of her husband (and uncle) Claudius, but when her scheming placed her son Nero on the throne she scored bit of an own goal, as...

Agrippina the Younger was one of the most powerful women in the history of the Roman Empire. She was a Julio-Claudian, descended from Augustus and was the sister, wife and mother of Emperors. A consummate politician, Agrippina essentially ruled Rome for 5 years at the side of her husband (and uncle) Claudius, but when her scheming placed her son Nero on the throne she scored bit of an own goal, as...