Dr Elena (Ellie) Woodacre
@ewoodacre.bsky.social
Royal Studies scholar, interested in monarchy (particularly queens!) in all periods and places. Always spinning a few too many plates for my own good, and admit to having a soft spot for a good G&T
So looking forward to the book launch for this fantastic edition of Margaret Tudor’s letters tomorrow— @hnewsome-chandler.bsky.social and I will be ‘in conversation about the book, the fascinating features of Margaret’s correspondence and what it reveals about the practice of queenship 👸
September 9, 2025 at 2:30 PM
So looking forward to the book launch for this fantastic edition of Margaret Tudor’s letters tomorrow— @hnewsome-chandler.bsky.social and I will be ‘in conversation about the book, the fascinating features of Margaret’s correspondence and what it reveals about the practice of queenship 👸
A rather hot but otherwise excellent afternoon visiting the #Faces4Eternity exhibition @britishmuseum.bsky.social with @emmacahillmarron.bsky.social yesterday! Definitely recommend a visit if you are in London between now and mid October and are interested in #queenship 👸
July 12, 2025 at 6:12 PM
A rather hot but otherwise excellent afternoon visiting the #Faces4Eternity exhibition @britishmuseum.bsky.social with @emmacahillmarron.bsky.social yesterday! Definitely recommend a visit if you are in London between now and mid October and are interested in #queenship 👸
An intense 24 hours at #imc2025 — only time I’ve gone the 1 day route. Lovely to see the folks @archumanities.bsky.social & Laura @routledgehistory.bsky.social + enjoyed the craft fair, sessions from Noblewomen Network & Educating Elite Women, chatting @teachmedwomen.bsky.social at the roundtable
July 9, 2025 at 9:15 PM
An intense 24 hours at #imc2025 — only time I’ve gone the 1 day route. Lovely to see the folks @archumanities.bsky.social & Laura @routledgehistory.bsky.social + enjoyed the craft fair, sessions from Noblewomen Network & Educating Elite Women, chatting @teachmedwomen.bsky.social at the roundtable
This last week has been a busy queenly one! Started in Nottingham with @teachmedwomen.bsky.social Then a conference in Paris celebrating Kathleen Wilson-Chevalier + Worth exhibition at the Petit Palais. Ended by examining at a virtual viva in Lisbon, congratulations to Dr @inesolaia.bsky.social!
June 21, 2025 at 6:15 PM
This last week has been a busy queenly one! Started in Nottingham with @teachmedwomen.bsky.social Then a conference in Paris celebrating Kathleen Wilson-Chevalier + Worth exhibition at the Petit Palais. Ended by examining at a virtual viva in Lisbon, congratulations to Dr @inesolaia.bsky.social!
Highly enjoyed the Age of Elegance exhibition at the King’s Gallery from @royalcollectiontrust —beautifully curated with a wonderful selection of artworks and artifacts with a particular focus on Queen Alexandra #royalstudies #queenship👑
June 14, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Highly enjoyed the Age of Elegance exhibition at the King’s Gallery from @royalcollectiontrust —beautifully curated with a wonderful selection of artworks and artifacts with a particular focus on Queen Alexandra #royalstudies #queenship👑
Last in #KQ14 Session 3.7 Catherine of Braganza: Image, Agency, Faith-excellent paper from Maria da Conceiçao Emiliano Castel-Branco ‘A Queen coming from Far: Catherine of Braganza in English Restoration Poetry at the crossroads of Anglo-Portuguese & Queenship Studies’ w/poems of praise & critique
June 5, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Last in #KQ14 Session 3.7 Catherine of Braganza: Image, Agency, Faith-excellent paper from Maria da Conceiçao Emiliano Castel-Branco ‘A Queen coming from Far: Catherine of Braganza in English Restoration Poetry at the crossroads of Anglo-Portuguese & Queenship Studies’ w/poems of praise & critique
Next speaker at #KQ14 in Session 3.7 Catherine of Braganza: Image, Agency, Faith is Eilish Gregory ‘Political Pawn or Political Player? Queen Catherine of Braganza & her Agency in Restoration Britain, 1662-1692’ countering traditional views of Catherine, demonstrating her political agency & capital
June 5, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Next speaker at #KQ14 in Session 3.7 Catherine of Braganza: Image, Agency, Faith is Eilish Gregory ‘Political Pawn or Political Player? Queen Catherine of Braganza & her Agency in Restoration Britain, 1662-1692’ countering traditional views of Catherine, demonstrating her political agency & capital
Back from lunch at #KQ14 in Session 3.7 Catherine of Braganza: Image, Agency, Faith w/our 1st speaker Chelsea Reutcke ‘The Catholic Patroness of Protestant Britain: Catherine of Braganza’s Support for Popish Printing’ excellent examples of Catherine’s subversive role as patroness of Catholic print
June 5, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Back from lunch at #KQ14 in Session 3.7 Catherine of Braganza: Image, Agency, Faith w/our 1st speaker Chelsea Reutcke ‘The Catholic Patroness of Protestant Britain: Catherine of Braganza’s Support for Popish Printing’ excellent examples of Catherine’s subversive role as patroness of Catholic print
Our last paper at #KQ14 w/Session 3.5 Courtiers as Employees? Working Conditions in Early Modern Courts II: Fabian Persson “Rewarding staying power: Usefulness, uselessness & service at the Swedish court”, noting the increasing number of long serving, aged servants w/impressive job security & perks
June 5, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Our last paper at #KQ14 w/Session 3.5 Courtiers as Employees? Working Conditions in Early Modern Courts II: Fabian Persson “Rewarding staying power: Usefulness, uselessness & service at the Swedish court”, noting the increasing number of long serving, aged servants w/impressive job security & perks
Next paper at #KQ14 w/Session 3.5 Courtiers as Employees? Working Conditions in Early Modern Courts II: Cordula Bauer “How to run a court with empty pockets? Outstanding salaries of court servants & evolution of a debt market in 18th c Bavaria” turning promissory notes for unpaid salary into credit
June 5, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Next paper at #KQ14 w/Session 3.5 Courtiers as Employees? Working Conditions in Early Modern Courts II: Cordula Bauer “How to run a court with empty pockets? Outstanding salaries of court servants & evolution of a debt market in 18th c Bavaria” turning promissory notes for unpaid salary into credit
Back from coffee at #KQ14 w/Session 3.5 Courtiers as Employees? Working Conditions in Early Modern Courts II: First up was Marc Jaffré “Strikes, Protests & Petitions: Working Conditions & Redress at Louis XIII’s court” complaints could be perilous for courtiers but king had duty of care to employees
June 5, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Back from coffee at #KQ14 w/Session 3.5 Courtiers as Employees? Working Conditions in Early Modern Courts II: First up was Marc Jaffré “Strikes, Protests & Petitions: Working Conditions & Redress at Louis XIII’s court” complaints could be perilous for courtiers but king had duty of care to employees
Our last speaker at #KQ14 in Session 3.2 Courtiers as Employees? Working condition in early modern courts I was Nikki Clark, “Continuity & Change: Ladies-in-waiting at the Tudor Court, c. 1509-1547”, discussing employment conditions, pay, perks & perils for female courtiers w/high queenly turnover
June 5, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Our last speaker at #KQ14 in Session 3.2 Courtiers as Employees? Working condition in early modern courts I was Nikki Clark, “Continuity & Change: Ladies-in-waiting at the Tudor Court, c. 1509-1547”, discussing employment conditions, pay, perks & perils for female courtiers w/high queenly turnover
Next at #KQ14 in Session 3.2 Courtiers as Employees? Working condition in early modern courts Robert Bucholz “Life in the Service of the British Royal Household: A mildly quantitative approach”, rich insight into the wonderful data & personal insights from this database courtofficers.ctsdh.luc.edu
June 5, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Next at #KQ14 in Session 3.2 Courtiers as Employees? Working condition in early modern courts Robert Bucholz “Life in the Service of the British Royal Household: A mildly quantitative approach”, rich insight into the wonderful data & personal insights from this database courtofficers.ctsdh.luc.edu
Starting Day 3 at #KQ14 in Session 3.2 Courtiers as Employees? Working condition in early modern courts I—a great start from Dries Raeymaekers “Working conditions at court, a short introduction to the topic”, using the analogy of HR in a modern corporation to rethink the situation of courtiers
June 5, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Starting Day 3 at #KQ14 in Session 3.2 Courtiers as Employees? Working condition in early modern courts I—a great start from Dries Raeymaekers “Working conditions at court, a short introduction to the topic”, using the analogy of HR in a modern corporation to rethink the situation of courtiers
Our last paper in #KQ14 Session 2.12: Matrimonial Politics: Dynasties, Counsel & Alliance was from Cristina B. Martínez García “Marriage advice from Francis I, King of the Two Sicilies, to his daughter Maria Cristina de Bourbon (1829)” contrasting this advice w/counsel she gave to her own daughter
June 4, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Our last paper in #KQ14 Session 2.12: Matrimonial Politics: Dynasties, Counsel & Alliance was from Cristina B. Martínez García “Marriage advice from Francis I, King of the Two Sicilies, to his daughter Maria Cristina de Bourbon (1829)” contrasting this advice w/counsel she gave to her own daughter
Next in #KQ14 Session 2.12: Matrimonial Politics: Dynasties, Counsel, and Alliance was Johanna (Hanna) Sinclair “Forestieri, Stranieri & Étrangers: Foreignness at the marriage of Maria de Medici & Henri IV in 1600” unpicking the perception the ‘other’ in marriage negotiations & her bridal journey
June 4, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Next in #KQ14 Session 2.12: Matrimonial Politics: Dynasties, Counsel, and Alliance was Johanna (Hanna) Sinclair “Forestieri, Stranieri & Étrangers: Foreignness at the marriage of Maria de Medici & Henri IV in 1600” unpicking the perception the ‘other’ in marriage negotiations & her bridal journey
Our third paper in #KQ14 Session 2.2 was Matylda Urjasz-Razcko “Bona Sforza of Aragon (1518-1557), between former Spain, Italy and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth”, discussing significance & influence of three Italian brides in Central Europe, Beatrice d’Aragona, Bianca Maria & Bona Sforza
June 4, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Our third paper in #KQ14 Session 2.2 was Matylda Urjasz-Razcko “Bona Sforza of Aragon (1518-1557), between former Spain, Italy and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth”, discussing significance & influence of three Italian brides in Central Europe, Beatrice d’Aragona, Bianca Maria & Bona Sforza
Sticking with Maria Kazimiera in #KQ14 Session 2.2 we have Anna Czarniecka “Private Diplomacy of Dowager Queen Maria Kazimiera d’Arquien Sobieska in Rome (1699-1704)”, demonstrating the queen’s effective backchannel diplomatic activity “perseverance and political acumen” at the papal court
June 4, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Sticking with Maria Kazimiera in #KQ14 Session 2.2 we have Anna Czarniecka “Private Diplomacy of Dowager Queen Maria Kazimiera d’Arquien Sobieska in Rome (1699-1704)”, demonstrating the queen’s effective backchannel diplomatic activity “perseverance and political acumen” at the papal court
We are off on Day 2 of #KQ14 w/Session 2.2: Foreign Queens on the Polish Throne: Power & Diplomacy and Jaroslaw Pietrzak “The Queen in Diplomacy: Maria Kazimiera d’Arquien Sobieska and her involvement in diplomatic activities between 1674-96”, on the queen’s overt & discreet diplomatic manoeuvres
June 4, 2025 at 9:03 AM
We are off on Day 2 of #KQ14 w/Session 2.2: Foreign Queens on the Polish Throne: Power & Diplomacy and Jaroslaw Pietrzak “The Queen in Diplomacy: Maria Kazimiera d’Arquien Sobieska and her involvement in diplomatic activities between 1674-96”, on the queen’s overt & discreet diplomatic manoeuvres
Day 1 & Session 1.12 at #KQ14 finishes with Margarida Póvoa: “Clemency, Authority and Patronage or How Infanta Francisca Challenged King João V”—a tale of a tragic figure who appealed to the king’s sister to flee from an abusive husband, causing a royal battle of wills & scandal
June 3, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Day 1 & Session 1.12 at #KQ14 finishes with Margarida Póvoa: “Clemency, Authority and Patronage or How Infanta Francisca Challenged King João V”—a tale of a tragic figure who appealed to the king’s sister to flee from an abusive husband, causing a royal battle of wills & scandal
The 2nd paper in #KQ14 Session 1.12, beautifully charted Georgian family breakdown: Amy-Jane Humphries “Intergenerational conflict within the Hanoverian Royal Family, 1714-1760” demonstrating veracity of quote from Walpole “It ran a little in the blood of the family to hate the eldest son”.
June 3, 2025 at 4:28 PM
The 2nd paper in #KQ14 Session 1.12, beautifully charted Georgian family breakdown: Amy-Jane Humphries “Intergenerational conflict within the Hanoverian Royal Family, 1714-1760” demonstrating veracity of quote from Walpole “It ran a little in the blood of the family to hate the eldest son”.
Last session of day one at #KQ14 Session 1.12 Challenging Authority from Within, @VallisCharlotte: “Family dynamics & merit based succession: The transferral of power under Elizabeth Petrovna and Catherine II” looking at 2 empresses difficult relationship with their male heirs
June 3, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Last session of day one at #KQ14 Session 1.12 Challenging Authority from Within, @VallisCharlotte: “Family dynamics & merit based succession: The transferral of power under Elizabeth Petrovna and Catherine II” looking at 2 empresses difficult relationship with their male heirs
Our final paper in #KQ14 Session 1.10 Medieval Queenship was @executedqueens.bsky.social Conor Byrne “Isabella of France & the political dynamics of 14th century queenship”—we’ve had 3 fascinating queens in this panel, charting their agency from Galicia, León, Castile via Navarre/France to England
June 3, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Our final paper in #KQ14 Session 1.10 Medieval Queenship was @executedqueens.bsky.social Conor Byrne “Isabella of France & the political dynamics of 14th century queenship”—we’ve had 3 fascinating queens in this panel, charting their agency from Galicia, León, Castile via Navarre/France to England
Our 2nd paper in #KQ14 Session 1.10 Medieval Queenship was Marta Redondo de Fuenmayor “Building identity, Forging Networks: The case of Juana Manuel de Villena (1339-1381)”—demonstrating how bringing together social network theory and works of art can illuminate the agency of a queen
June 3, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Our 2nd paper in #KQ14 Session 1.10 Medieval Queenship was Marta Redondo de Fuenmayor “Building identity, Forging Networks: The case of Juana Manuel de Villena (1339-1381)”—demonstrating how bringing together social network theory and works of art can illuminate the agency of a queen