THE BOY WHO WOULD BE POPE

The story of Adrian IV is a wild ride, as well as an important footnote in English medieval history

Last week I went to Salt Lake City to give a speech. A million thanks to Brad and Kathleen at Author Fan Travel for hosting me.

Since the speech was part of a fundraiser for a school district, the subject on which I made my remarks was education. Specifically, I spoke about medieval education.

Even more specifically, I told the story of a boy called Nicholas Brakespear, who went looking for an education, and got more than he bargained for.

Below is a selected extract from the text of my speech, published here exclusively for you lovely subscribers.

The speech was filmed, along with the Q&A session afterwards. Contact Author Fan Travel if you want to watch the whole thing.

We are also close to announcing the history tour I’ll be leading in 2026. It’s a doozie. Stay tuned here, subscribers get an early heads-up.

Okay. Still a bit jet lagged so I’m going to bed. I’ll probably post again this week with details of the paperback launch of Wolves of Winter, and the podcast launch of our new This Is History miniseries, The Iron King.

But more of that anon.

Nighty night!

dan x

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THE STORY OF NICHOLAS BRAKESPEAR

Once upon a time in England, in the early twelfth century, there was town called St Alban’s. Not far from St Albans, there was a village called Abbot’s Langley. And in that village of Abbot’s Langley there lived a boy, whose name was Nicholas Breakspear. 

We do not know very much about Nicholas’s childhood. 

We do know that his father, Richard, was probably a priest. We know Nicholas had a brother called Ranulf or Randulf. 

We can infer without too much speculation that Nicholas had a mother, and we can speculate without too much licence that, in a time where clerical marriage was tolerated, that she was married to Richard the priest.

But beyond that we really don’t know much else. 

We don’t know what colour his bedroom was painted, we don’t know which soccer team he followed.

All we do know is that when he was a young man, probably in his teens, Nicholas began to consider what to do with his life. 

And perhaps unsurprisingly, he decided that he would seek out a place in the Church.

Now, why do I say unsurprisingly?