Once upon a time, in a land far away, there was a kingdom ruled by a wise and just king. However, hidden within the kingdom lived a woman who possessed a very unusual and powerful gift. She was known as the royal witch. The royal witch, although feared by many, was a kind and gentle soul. She had the ability to communicate with spirits and foresee future events. Her magic was legendary, and her words were believed to be a prophecy from the gods themselves.
Their story also tells us about the ways in which people viewed witchcraft as a whole – especially the state. It’s an epic tale, so if you want the deep context and historical background, I highly recommend Gemma Hollman’s Royal Witches: From Joan of Navarre to Elizabeth Woodville. We’re more focused on the ‘witchcraft’ part in this post.
Opinion was divided as to the accuracy of astrology as a science, however, and some religious men argued that it was heretical against the control of God in people s lives. Although the Malleus was not immediately taken up as a so-called manual to find witches, within the next 50 years or so the ideas proposed by Institoris became part of the most widely agreed upon definitions of witches.
Her magic was legendary, and her words were believed to be a prophecy from the gods themselves. The witch lived in a small cottage on the outskirts of the kingdom. People would often seek her out for advice and guidance.
ROYAL WITCHES: From Joan of Navarre to Elizabeth Woodville
England in the 15th century was dominated by the Wars of the Roses in which descendants of King Edward III struggled for power. Edward's son John of Gaunt had numerous children by two wives, and they all divided into the factions of Yorkists and Lancastrians in the next two generations. Out of this melee emerged a series of strong women who wielded great power, including the "she-wolf" Margaret of Anjou. The author of this book focuses on four women who were all accused of witchcraft as a way of reducing their power, or that of their husbands. Joan of Navarre was the second wife on the Lancastrian Henry IV, a widow who wrote encouragingly to the new king shortly after he had seized the crown from the Yorkist Richard II and lost no time in marrying him. When Henry died and his son Henry V defeated the French at Agincourt, Joan was in a difficult position as her daughter's husband had fought with the French and was killed. Henry V now plundered his stepmother Joan's vast wealth and finally brought a charge of witchcraft against her and Friar Randolph, leading to her arrest and detainment. When Henry died his son Henry VI was only an infant, and Humphrey Duke of Gloucester became Protector. Humphrey's wife, Elanor Cobham, had been his mistress until his first marriage was annulled, and her precarious position at court was strengthened by Joan of Navarre's favour, but when Humphrey lost influence over Henry VI to his great rival Cardinal Beaufort, Eleanor was tried for witchcraft and imprisoned, with Humphrey also being disgraced and possibly murdered. Jacquetta of Luxembourg, the sister-in-law of Lancastrian Henry V, became a Yorkist following her marriage to Richard Woodville and gave birth to Elizabeth Woodville, later the Queen of Yorkist Edward IV. Both woman were accused of witchcraft and exonerated. 320pp, softback, genealogical tables.
Published price: £16.99
Bibliophile price: £7.00
Either way, Richard relied on the idea Elizabeth had used sorcery to force Edward to marry her. He repeated the accusation used against Eleanor Cobham, but he wanted to invalidate Edward V’s claims to the throne. With Edward’s children now illegitimate, he was the only York family member left with a claim to the throne.
They would bring her offerings of food and flowers, hoping to gain favor with her. Despite her powers, the royal witch lived a lonely life. She was shunned by society and had to hide her true self from the world. The king, although aware of her abilities, seldom sought her counsel. He believed in his own wisdom and relied on his advisors instead. However, times were changing in the kingdom. A dark force was slowly spreading, bringing chaos and despair. The crops wilted, and the people grew fearful. The advisors were at a loss, and the king was desperate for a solution. In his desperation, the king called upon the royal witch for help. Reluctantly, she agreed to meet with him. When they sat down together, the energetic aura of the witch mixed with the skeptical energy of the king. The witch looked deeply into the king's eyes and spoke words that chilled him to the bone. She revealed a prophecy of a great war that would consume the kingdom if not stopped in time. The king was shaken by her words and dumbfounded by her power. Realizing the grave danger they faced, the king made a difficult decision. He entrusted the fate of the kingdom to the royal witch and asked her to lead the fight against the dark forces. The witch, although hesitant at first, saw the opportunity to use her powers for good and accepted the king's request. With the king's support, the royal witch gathered a group of brave warriors and strategists. Together, they trained relentlessly, honing their skills and preparing for the upcoming battle. The witch used her powers to guide them, foreseeing the movements of the enemy and devising clever tactics. As the war raged on, the royal witch became a symbol of hope for the kingdom. Her magic was unmatched, and her unwavering determination inspired her comrades. They fought valiantly, protected by the witch's guidance. In the end, their efforts paid off, and the dark forces were defeated. The kingdom was saved, and the people celebrated their victory. The royal witch, now hailed as a hero, was recognized for her bravery and sacrifice. Loved and respected, the royal witch continued to use her powers for good. She became an advisor to the king and helped guide the kingdom towards prosperity. The people no longer feared her but looked up to her with admiration. And so, the tale of the royal witch became a legend, passed down through generations. Her legacy lived on, reminding the people of the power of magic, the importance of compassion, and the strength that can be found within even the most feared among us..
Reviews for "The Witchcraft of Queens: How Royal Women Utilized Magic"
1. Alice - 2/5 stars - I was really looking forward to reading "The Royal Witch" based on the intriguing synopsis, but I have to say, it really let me down. The plot felt disjointed and the pacing was off. It took forever for the story to get going, and even then, it lacked depth and complexity. The characters felt underdeveloped, and I couldn't connect with any of them. Overall, I found "The Royal Witch" to be a disappointing read.
2. Mark - 2/5 stars - "The Royal Witch" had so much potential, but it failed to deliver. The writing style was choppy and lacked cohesion, making it difficult to follow the storyline. The world-building was weak, leaving many unanswered questions and inconsistencies. Although the concept of a royal witch was intriguing, the execution fell flat. The romance aspect felt forced and unnecessary, distracting from the main plot. I had high hopes for this book, but it ultimately fell short of my expectations.
3. Sarah - 3/5 stars - I had mixed feelings about "The Royal Witch." While the concept was interesting, I felt that the execution could have been better. The main character was supposed to be a powerful witch, but her skills and abilities were underdeveloped and unimpressive. The villain lacked depth and was quite one-dimensional. Despite these flaws, I did appreciate the overall message of female empowerment and self-discovery that the book tried to convey. However, I couldn't fully overlook the shortcomings in pacing and character development.