Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 6h

Claimed to be world’s first ‘test tube baby’ (well, apparently a golden vial used), Juana ‘La Beltraneja’ lost crown of Castile to her aunt. Forced to become a nun, she had time for reading & was pleased to receive Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy #womenwhoruledtheworld

2

Reposted by Dr Elizabeth Norton

Oxford Court Studies @oxfordcourtstudies.bsky.social · 13d

It’s that time of year again! Here is the term card for the upcoming talks. As always, everyone is welcome! Fortnightly, 4:30pm in the Memorial Room, @jesusoxford.bsky.social

Term card for Oxford Court Studies seminars:

13 October Elizabeth Norton (Independent Researcher)
‘Constructing a Queen: The Career of Jane Seymour from Gentlewoman, to Queen, to Central Dynastic Figure’

27 October Elena Taddei (University of Innsbruck)
‘A Princess of House d’Este at the English Court: Mary of Modena Between Religious-Political Alienation and Cultural Transfer’

10 November Susannah Lyon-Whaley (University of York)
‘Her Material World: Queens’ Stuff in the Global Seventeenth-Century’

24 November Liesbeth Geevers (Lund University)
‘Male Marriage Gaps, Dynastic Centralisation and Habsburg Trust Fund Babies: Analysing Early Modern Dynasties from a Long(er)-Term Perspective’

The seminar will take place at 4:30pm at Jesus College. All are welcome, and wine reception to follow.

9 17

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 22h

I’m thrilled to have been featured on the new episode of the Wicked Women podcast, talking about my new book, Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy.

open.spotify.com/show/2U2SOrN...

#womenwhoruledtheworld

2 7

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 1d

Empress Gensho (reigned 715-724) patronised the Nihongi, arguably early Japan’s most important work of history. As the only Japanese woman to succeed another woman to the throne, she was keen to add Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy to her library. #womenwhoruledtheworld

1

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 1d

Amazing to see Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy being read out in the wild… wait, is that @juleshumphrys.bsky.social 😆 #womenwhoruledtheworld

1 10

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 2d

A little reel about Queen Victoria, who is a featured Queen in two chapters of Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy. I look at her both as Queen of the UK and as Empress of India #womenwhoruledtheworle #queenvictoria #victoria #reigningqueen

6

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 2d

Very exciting to see Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy featured in the Alumnae Authors Book Display at Murray Edward College (formerly New Hall), Cambridge University.

The only Cambridge college with a dome (& a kitchen that rises out of the floor…)
#womenwhoruledtheworld

2

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 2d

Queen Victoria’s coronation roll, with the gold embellished copy of her oath that she signed during her coronation service. I viewed this wonderful document this evening after being invited to the unveiling of Charles III’s coronation roll at the National Archives #victoria #queenvictoria #crown

1 2 19

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 2d

Queen Anne (r.1702-1714) ramped her coronation roll up to 11 with a large hand drawn portrait. Most rolls less elaborate. Thrilled to see this tonight after being invited to National Archives’ Commemorating Coronations event in which Charles III’s coronation roll unveiled #coronationroll #queenanne

4

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 2d

I was invited to National Archives’ Commemorating Coronations event tonight, hosted by Master of the Rolls Sir Geoffrey Vos, in which Charles III’s coronation roll unveiled. We also viewed some of the 18 historic coronation rolls, going back to Edward II in 1308 #commemoratingcoronations #charlesiii

8

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 2d

An absolute honour to be invited to the Commemorating Coronations Past and Present event at The National Archives tonight, hosted by the Master of the Rolls Sir Geoffrey Vos, in which the coronation roll for Charles III was unveiled #coronationroll #charlesiii #commemoratingcoronations

5

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 3d

It was great to chat to you too!

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 3d

It was wonderful to chat with @claireridgway.bsky.social about my new book, Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy. Thanks so much Claire! #womenwhoruledtheworld

m.youtube.com/watch?v=tME6...

Queens, “Female Kings,” and Power: Elizabeth Norton Explains

YouTube video by The Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Society

m.youtube.com

1 1 7

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 3d

Rameses the Great removed female pharaohs from king lists. He was horrified to listen to audiobook of Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy &find they had all been put back in. Outrageous! He would be turning in his grave if his tomb hadn’t been robbed #womenwhoruledtheworld

1 5

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 6d

Horn of Ulf, on display in York Minster. Gifted to the Minster by a Norse lord named Ulf in around 1030 as a deed of transfer of lands that he had given to the church. It’s an elaborately carved elephant tusk- incredibly exotic & valuable in 11thC.
#hornofulf #hornofulph #yorkminster #anglosaxon

1 20 96

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 6d

Jeanne was stepped over in the French succession in 1316. She was interested to read in Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy that 6thC Salic Law was eventually dusted off to justify her exclusion. Amongst its many provisions was stuff on the theft of bees #womenwhoruledtheworld

5

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 7d

Byzantine consorts often powerful, but Irene took this further. Took her son’s throne in 797 (& blinded him), ruling alone for 5 yrs until deposed. Exiled, she filled the time by reading Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy. Thanks for endorsement Irene!
#womenwhoruledtheworld

1 8

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 7d

A walk around Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, which I visited a couple of weeks ago #fountainsabbey #dissolution #henryviii #womenwhoruledtheworld

1 7

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 7d

Thanks to @allabouthistory.bsky.social for fabulous review of Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy in their new issue. I am so thrilled!
‘A masterful study of female monarchy spanning 5000 years’
‘Expertly telling the stories of seemingly disparate queens’ #womenwhoruledtheworld

7

Reposted by Dr Elizabeth Norton

Tudor Times @thetudortimes.bsky.social · 7d

The second speaker in the 2nd of our summits on Royal Marriages in 15th & 16th c. Europe will be @enortonhistory.bsky.social who will be talking about the marriage between Emperor Charles V & Isabella of Portugal. Necessary to keep the Castile-Portugal alliance alive bit.ly/4lifqMO

2 5

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 7d

Teenaged Maria, Queen of Jerusalem from 1205, looks like she decided to perfect an air of carefully curated disdain at her coronation. That’s not music she’s listening to, however, it’s Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy. Maria has given it five stars #womenwhoruledtheworld

2 8

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 8d

Thanks Royal History Geeks for featuring me on the September Royal History roundup. We’re talking about - you guessed it! - reigning queens and my new book Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy

m.youtube.com/watch?v=ceUK...

#womenwhoruledtheworld

Royal roundup: Sept 2025 - one Donald, two Dukes, three Duchesses and 5000 years of female monarchy

YouTube video by Royal History Geeks

m.youtube.com

2

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 8d

I love this plaque celebrating Aethelflaed Lady of the Mercians in Warwick. She was succeeded by her daughter in a rare early medieval example of female to female succession. More on reigning queens in Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy #womenwhoruledtheworld

5 35 150

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 8d

It’s that time of year again… Halloween advent calendar 🎃 #halloween #halloweenadventcalendar

1 6

Dr Elizabeth Norton @enortonhistory.bsky.social · 8d

6