#OTD 1685 Monmouth was 'Brought to the Scaffold on Tower hill that Wednesday about 10 a Clock. Ketch struck 5 blows, after 1st blow Monmouth turned his head a little & looked up, & after the 2nd or 3rd blow spoke a word or two...' Eyewitness.

warwalks.com/monmouth-reb...

Image in my collection

#OTD 340 years ago, the Duke of Monmouth's army was defeated in the fields between Chedzoy and Westonzoyland, called Sedgemoor.

Read the full story:
warwalks.com/mon.../battl...

#oneking1685 #FightingforLiberty1685

#otd 5 July 1652, the French Royal Army under the Vicomte de Turenne attacks Paris. After initial success they are defeated outside the Bastille by the rebels under the command of Mademoiselle de Montpensier. Inside the city is Lucy Walter the #SecretQueen #ScienceofArms

News Flash!

I'm delighted to announce I'll be doing a talk on the Battle at Norton St Philip on 27 June 1685... opps 2025.

I'll be explaining the importance of the Battle at its part in shaping World History!

#MonmouthRebellion

#OTD 340 years ago, Monmouth advances to Axminster narrowly avoiding encirclement by the Militia. After a skirmish his forces secure the town.

On hearing this news Lord Churchill complains to the King of the poor performance of the Militia.

#FightingforLiberty1685 #OneKing1685

#otd 340 years ago was the skirmish at Bridport. The outcome was indecisive; Monmouth's new recruits achieved their objective.

This dispels the myth that Monmouth had an army armed with pitchforks but soldiers with the latest weapons.

#FightingforLiberty1685 #OneKing1685

🗓️ #OnThisDay 11 June 1685, the Duke of Monmouth landed in England with 82 supporters, sparking his rebellion. Was it really a 'pitchfork' peasant uprising? ⚒️ @warwalks.bsky.social debunks this in Series 4 .

🎧 Listen now at: #OTDfo/e/14f056" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky">pod.fo/e/14f056
#OTD <a href="/hashtag/OnThisDate" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#OnThisDate #History #podcast

340 years ago, Whitehall receives news that Monmouth has landed. The Army is mobilised & an advance force is ordered to Salisbury, under Lord Churchill.

This image made me realise everything I knew about Lord Churchill was fiction! Why?

#FightingforLiberty1685 #OneKing1685

340 years ago today, the invasion it begins. All dressed in Purple.

Follow the story true story of Monmouth's invasion.

#FightingforLiberty1685

Today's Battlefield is New Orleans, 8 January 1815. The British soldier fresh from defeating the French face off against the Americans.

#BattleofChalmette

Yesterday, I was working my biography of Lucy Walter in the famous Red Room of the Berns' Hotel in Stockholm. This was where the Swedish writer August Strindberg set is award writing book. Amazing!

#SecretQueen

King Charles XII of Sweden looking a bit weathered like me, but still one of the greatest 17th Century generals. Definitely a master of the #ScienceofArms

On this day in 1685, James Duke of Monmouth was born. His mother was Lucy Walter, his father King Charles II. History will tell you that Lucy was never the wife of the King. Today, I'm sat here writing the final words of my Lucy biography, her true & untold story.

#SecretQueen

I'm delighted to be the first guest on this new podcast called 'Behind the Glassdoor'. I talk about writing history, travelling the world and working.

youtu.be/Vf3lTUKqmXo?...

Me, Lucy and Masala Tea...and a view!

The Jama Masjid Mosque in Old Delhi.

It's been a busy week, but I got in some writing. Lucy is coming along nicely.

#secretqueen

There’s mention of cavalry and training in Vol2 of ‘Science of Arms’ by @warwalks.bsky.social as well as in these other two by Stephen Ede-Borrett and Laurence Spring.

I’d say there are different aspects of dragoon development over the Thirty Years War and then the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

On this day 6 February 1685 King Charles II dies in Whitehall. After this the rumour is quickly spread that he was murdered.

Was he really murdered?

warwalks.com/monmouth-reb...

I've found my perfect #ScienceofArms clock

Red Sea sunset, a coffee, and Lucy. Travelling is a privilege, writing is a passion, sunsets are magical... When they all come together the words flow.

#secretqueen

Lucy has been my 2nd love for 10+ years, she is with me when I travel, I find her in coffee shops, airports, pubs & bars. I've discovered her in museums, archives & castles. In 2024, I've been transcribing & drafting Lucy's story. Next year I'll be all alone!

#SecretQueen #17thCentury #KeepitStuart

Wishing all my followers & friends a wonderful Christmas & New Year 2025.

It's time for an update on my progress. Unfortunately, Secret Queen it's taking longer than planned but it will be worth the wait - I promise. Finding Lucy is becoming the story of my life, as well as hers!

#SecretQueen

Wishing all my friends & followers a wonderful holidays & fantastic New Year. Make magical memories!

The 'English' print by Allain Manesson Mallet in my De Werken van Mars of de Konst des Oorlogs 1686.

#17thCentury #KeepitStuart #FightingforLiberty1685 #SecretQueen #OneKing1685 #Christmas2024

I wish all my friends and followers in the New World Colonies a wonderful turkey-filled Thanksgiving.

(Obviously, you all know that Jamestown in Virginia was actually the first British settlement dating from June 1607 😊 - but that's another story!)

Sometimes when you're researching you touch a manuscript and history shivers through your bones. Well I have one of those earlier at the Bodleian Library in Oxford. The future Queen Anne's wrote a letter the was in my hands. Amazing!

#SecretQueen #17thC