Dr Josephine Wilkinson
@miladyjosephine.bsky.social
✍️Free range historian and author. PhD in New Testament studies, now lives in the 17th century. 👜Loves notebooks and handbags.📒 Unpaid Carer.🌺 Agent: Andrew Lownie.
Today in 1703, the Man in the Iron Mask was buried in the cemerery of Saint-Paul, the parish cemetery of the Bastille. The event was recorded by Étienne Du Junca, who added it to his note on the prisoner's death. An old photograph shows the entrance to the now lost cemetery.
November 20, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Today in 1703, the Man in the Iron Mask was buried in the cemerery of Saint-Paul, the parish cemetery of the Bastille. The event was recorded by Étienne Du Junca, who added it to his note on the prisoner's death. An old photograph shows the entrance to the now lost cemetery.
19 November 1703. The prisoner known to history as the Man in the Iron Mask died at the Bastille. You can read his fascinating story in my book😉
November 19, 2025 at 9:29 PM
19 November 1703. The prisoner known to history as the Man in the Iron Mask died at the Bastille. You can read his fascinating story in my book😉
👨⚖️14 November 1664. The trial of Nicolas Foucquet enters its final stage - formal trial before a panel of judges. He was not expected to survive, with Louis and Colbert pressing for the death penalty. However, Foucquet skillfully defended himself.
November 14, 2025 at 1:45 PM
👨⚖️14 November 1664. The trial of Nicolas Foucquet enters its final stage - formal trial before a panel of judges. He was not expected to survive, with Louis and Colbert pressing for the death penalty. However, Foucquet skillfully defended himself.
I have posted my piece on Richard III's burial, if you would like a quick read (it's a 38 minute read, apparently !)
www.academia.edu/144956019/Ri...
www.academia.edu/144956019/Ri...
November 14, 2025 at 11:34 AM
I have posted my piece on Richard III's burial, if you would like a quick read (it's a 38 minute read, apparently !)
www.academia.edu/144956019/Ri...
www.academia.edu/144956019/Ri...
Lucy Percy's dad 😊
November 1, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Lucy Percy's dad 😊
🎃Happy Halloween👻
October 30, 2025 at 10:21 PM
🎃Happy Halloween👻
🌫️A damp and misty visit to Ludlow a few years ago. Lovely autumn🍂
October 20, 2025 at 12:31 PM
🌫️A damp and misty visit to Ludlow a few years ago. Lovely autumn🍂
Autumn at Fontainebleau
October 9, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Autumn at Fontainebleau
👣5 October 1640. Birth of Françoise Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, marquise de Montespan. She was arguably the most successful - and controversial - of Louis XIV's mistresses.
October 5, 2025 at 9:44 PM
👣5 October 1640. Birth of Françoise Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, marquise de Montespan. She was arguably the most successful - and controversial - of Louis XIV's mistresses.
🌼Michaelmas 1599. Birth of Lucy Percy. Lucy, an intriguer and spy, was the second and youngest daughter of Henry Percy, ninth earl of Northumberland.
It is believed by some that she provided the inspiration for Milady de Winter:
www.historyextra.com/period/stuar...
It is believed by some that she provided the inspiration for Milady de Winter:
www.historyextra.com/period/stuar...
September 29, 2025 at 10:43 AM
🌼Michaelmas 1599. Birth of Lucy Percy. Lucy, an intriguer and spy, was the second and youngest daughter of Henry Percy, ninth earl of Northumberland.
It is believed by some that she provided the inspiration for Milady de Winter:
www.historyextra.com/period/stuar...
It is believed by some that she provided the inspiration for Milady de Winter:
www.historyextra.com/period/stuar...
👑Another chapter completed !😊
September 24, 2025 at 8:54 PM
👑Another chapter completed !😊
🧾5 September 1661. Louis XIV summons d'Artagnan and gives him orders to arrest the superintendent of finances, Nicolas Foucquet. For the next four years, d'Artagnan will serve as Foucquet's gaoler.
Image: Wax tableau by Daniel Druet
dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2024/02/dart...
Image: Wax tableau by Daniel Druet
dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2024/02/dart...
September 5, 2025 at 9:15 AM
🧾5 September 1661. Louis XIV summons d'Artagnan and gives him orders to arrest the superintendent of finances, Nicolas Foucquet. For the next four years, d'Artagnan will serve as Foucquet's gaoler.
Image: Wax tableau by Daniel Druet
dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2024/02/dart...
Image: Wax tableau by Daniel Druet
dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2024/02/dart...
🎂5 September 1638. The birth of Louis XIV. Styled the gift from God, much would be expected from this new baby.
September 5, 2025 at 9:06 AM
🎂5 September 1638. The birth of Louis XIV. Styled the gift from God, much would be expected from this new baby.
💦29 August marks the traditional anniversary of the execution of John the Baptist - but how do the Gospels compare with the history ?
Images:
1, John the Baptist rebuking Herod by Giovanni Fattori
2, My book 😁
@amberleybooks
Images:
1, John the Baptist rebuking Herod by Giovanni Fattori
2, My book 😁
@amberleybooks
August 29, 2025 at 8:38 AM
💦29 August marks the traditional anniversary of the execution of John the Baptist - but how do the Gospels compare with the history ?
Images:
1, John the Baptist rebuking Herod by Giovanni Fattori
2, My book 😁
@amberleybooks
Images:
1, John the Baptist rebuking Herod by Giovanni Fattori
2, My book 😁
@amberleybooks
🪓The Musketeers, with Lord de Winter, pass judgement on Milady. The headsman takes her across the river to her execution.
In The Three Musketeers, Dumas situates this event to five or so days after the asseasination of Buckingham.
Images: Denis Gordeev and Leonid Nepomnyashchiy
In The Three Musketeers, Dumas situates this event to five or so days after the asseasination of Buckingham.
Images: Denis Gordeev and Leonid Nepomnyashchiy
August 28, 2025 at 8:41 AM
🪓The Musketeers, with Lord de Winter, pass judgement on Milady. The headsman takes her across the river to her execution.
In The Three Musketeers, Dumas situates this event to five or so days after the asseasination of Buckingham.
Images: Denis Gordeev and Leonid Nepomnyashchiy
In The Three Musketeers, Dumas situates this event to five or so days after the asseasination of Buckingham.
Images: Denis Gordeev and Leonid Nepomnyashchiy
🍷Having returned from England, where she succeeded in persuading Felton to assassinate Buckingham, Constance tracks down Constance to a convent. Startled by the approach of the Musketeers...
August 26, 2025 at 1:03 PM
🍷Having returned from England, where she succeeded in persuading Felton to assassinate Buckingham, Constance tracks down Constance to a convent. Startled by the approach of the Musketeers...
👻10 August 1901. Spooky goings-on at Versailles...
dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2018/08/ghos...
Portrait of Marie Antoinette by François Hubert Drouais.
dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2018/08/ghos...
Portrait of Marie Antoinette by François Hubert Drouais.
August 9, 2025 at 8:45 PM
👻10 August 1901. Spooky goings-on at Versailles...
dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2018/08/ghos...
Portrait of Marie Antoinette by François Hubert Drouais.
dr-josephine-wilkinson.blogspot.com/2018/08/ghos...
Portrait of Marie Antoinette by François Hubert Drouais.
🎠6 August 1644. Birth of Louise de La Vallière, the first official mistress of Louis XIV.
Portrait of Louise by Jean Nocret.
Portrait of Louise by Jean Nocret.
August 6, 2025 at 8:56 PM
🎠6 August 1644. Birth of Louise de La Vallière, the first official mistress of Louis XIV.
Portrait of Louise by Jean Nocret.
Portrait of Louise by Jean Nocret.
💍Sheriff Hutton, North Yorkshire. Henry VIII stayed here while on progress in 1541. During this visit, Thomas Culpepper sent a ring to Jane, Lady Rochford, while Katherine Howard sent him 'two bracelets with this message that they were sent him to keep his arms warm.'
July 18, 2025 at 10:06 AM
💍Sheriff Hutton, North Yorkshire. Henry VIII stayed here while on progress in 1541. During this visit, Thomas Culpepper sent a ring to Jane, Lady Rochford, while Katherine Howard sent him 'two bracelets with this message that they were sent him to keep his arms warm.'
🏰 The fall of the Bastille led to the discovery of many State documents to do with the mysterious prisoner known to history as the Man in the Iron Mask
July 14, 2025 at 5:41 PM
🏰 The fall of the Bastille led to the discovery of many State documents to do with the mysterious prisoner known to history as the Man in the Iron Mask
👑I am thrilled to announce my new book - 1483: A Game of Kings - which will be published in 2027
Stay tuned for updates !
Stay tuned for updates !
July 10, 2025 at 10:13 AM
👑I am thrilled to announce my new book - 1483: A Game of Kings - which will be published in 2027
Stay tuned for updates !
Stay tuned for updates !
📒 Sometimes events are so closely intertwined that it makes sense to write two chapters at the same time. The key lies, as always, in chronology.
July 8, 2025 at 8:51 PM
📒 Sometimes events are so closely intertwined that it makes sense to write two chapters at the same time. The key lies, as always, in chronology.
🚪2 July 1652. During the Fronde, at Battle of the Faubourg St Antoine, La Grande Mademoiselle allows Condé and his troops into the city. She also turns the Bastille's cannons on the royal forces. The young Louis XIV can only watch from a distance as his army is fired upon.
July 2, 2025 at 9:38 AM
🚪2 July 1652. During the Fronde, at Battle of the Faubourg St Antoine, La Grande Mademoiselle allows Condé and his troops into the city. She also turns the Bastille's cannons on the royal forces. The young Louis XIV can only watch from a distance as his army is fired upon.
25 June 1673. Louis XIV at the camp outside Maastrict by Van der Meulen. One of the causalties of the siege will be d'Artagnan.
'Vue de la ville de Maastricht' by Daniel Marot shows the siege. The red x marks the demi-lune at the porte de Tongres where d'Artagnan was killed.
'Vue de la ville de Maastricht' by Daniel Marot shows the siege. The red x marks the demi-lune at the porte de Tongres where d'Artagnan was killed.
June 25, 2025 at 8:43 AM
25 June 1673. Louis XIV at the camp outside Maastrict by Van der Meulen. One of the causalties of the siege will be d'Artagnan.
'Vue de la ville de Maastricht' by Daniel Marot shows the siege. The red x marks the demi-lune at the porte de Tongres where d'Artagnan was killed.
'Vue de la ville de Maastricht' by Daniel Marot shows the siege. The red x marks the demi-lune at the porte de Tongres where d'Artagnan was killed.
🍯24 June marks the traditional birthday of John the Baptist. Find out about this fascinating man in my book 🐜
June 23, 2025 at 9:23 PM
🍯24 June marks the traditional birthday of John the Baptist. Find out about this fascinating man in my book 🐜