MEET THE MEDIEVAL MUMBOSSES
Your momma's so awesome, she was defending her dynasty's birthright in Plantagenet England
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Once upon a time a friend of mine introduced a Prince to a Hollywood actress at a party. It was a meet-and-greet, and the form was polite small-talk. But no one told the actress. In any case, she was not known for her reserved nature.
The conversation began innocuously. ‘Where are you from?’ asked the Prince.
‘From Texas,’ replied the actress.
The Prince paused. He saw that the actress was mixed race, and tried to come up with a polite follow-up question that would acknowledge that. Unfortunately he went with: ‘Yah, but where are you originally from?’
The actress, without missing a beat, came back with: ‘Well originally dude, I’m from my mom’s vagina, just like you.’
I’m very fond of this story, and not only because it’s even funnier if you know which Prince I mean. (You do.) And which actress. (No, not that one.)
No, I like it even more because it drives at a universal human truth. Which is: whether you’re a prince or a peasant, a pervert and/or the Pope, at some point you had a mother.
Without mothers, no history. Without mothers, no us.
I’m telling you all this because yesterday I had request for a post on History, Etc. Subscriber Liam said:
Just taught a lesson on Margaret Beaufort and Elizabeth Woodville’s involvement in the rebellions against Richard III and it got me thinking, who in history had the best mum energy?
I thought that was a terrific question. (I’m going to reward Liam with a signed copy of one of my books - that’s one of the subscriber perks, if you’re wavering on signing up.)
I’ve decided to keep my selection focused on the Plantagenet family, since that’s what I know best. Were we to blow the list out then we might go with Penelope and Cleopatra, Hoelun and Cixi. They all oozed mum(/mom) energy. But that’s another post. Let me know who’d be on your list, and why, in the comments...
5. Empress Matilda (1102-1167)
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