Matilda’s Top Women In History

Livia Drusilla was born in a republic and died at the head of an empire. She worked alongside her husband Octavian to establish the Roman Empire, and remained at the very centre of Roman politics for 50 years. Her children and grandchildren inherited the imperial throne, and her grandson deified her. Livia was an integral part of her husbands image - she gave him a connection to the most important Roman dynasties and helped create the image of the perfect Roman family.Sources/Further ReadingGillespie, Caitlin C: Livia - Mother of RomeDe La Bedoyere, Guy: Domina - The Women Who Made Imperial RomeGaughan, Judy: Livia Drusilla https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/livia-drusillaNaples, Mary: Livia Drusilla - Mother of the Country or Evil Stepmother? https://femminaclassica.com/livia-drusilla-mother-of-the-country-or-evil-stepmother/Adler, Eric: Cassius Dio’s Livia and the Conspiracy of Cinna Magnus https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267193327_Cassius_Dio's_Livia_and_the_Conspiracy_of_Cinna_MagnusHistory and Archaeology Online: The Empress Livia https://historyandarchaeologyonline.com/the-empress-livia-/#google_vignette

Livia Drusilla was born in a republic and died at the head of an empire. She worked alongside her husband Octavian to establish the Roman Empire, and remained at the very centre of Roman politics for 50 years. Her children and grandchildren inherited the imperial throne, and her grandson deified her. Livia was an integral part of her husbands image - she gave him a connection to the most important Roman dynasties and helped create the image of the perfect Roman family. Sources/Further ReadingGillespie, Caitlin C: Livia - Mother of RomeDe La Bedoyere, Guy: Domina - The Women Who Made Imperial RomeGaughan, Judy: Livia Drusilla https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/livia-drusillaNaples, Mary: Livia Drusilla - Mother of the Country or Evil Stepmother? https://femminaclassica.com/livia-drusilla-mother-of-the-country-or-evil-stepmother/Adler, Eric: Cassius Dio’s Livia and the Conspiracy of Cinna Magnus https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267193327_Cassius_Dio's_Livia_and_the_Conspiracy_of_Cinna_MagnusHistory and Archaeology Online: The Empress Livia https://historyandarchaeologyonline.com/the-empress-livia-/#google_vignette

In 1536 Jane Boleyn lost everything - her husband, her family, her position at court. However bit by bit she rebuilt her career, and went on to serve 3 more of Henry VIIIs Queens, eventually becoming the closest confidant of his fifth Queen Katherine Howard. Once again however she would become embroiled in the marital affairs of the king, and this time there would be no second chances.Sources/Further Reading:Fox, Julia: Jane Boleyn, the True Story of the Infamous Lady RochfordWeir, Alison: The Lady In The Tower - The Fall of Anne BoleynWilkinson, Josephine: Katherine Howard - The Tragic Story of Henry VIIIs 5th QueenRussell, Gareth: Young and Damned and Fair - The Life and Tragedy of Katherine Howard at the Court of Henry VIIISmith, Lacey Baldwin: Anne Boleyn, the Queen of Controversy - a Biographical EssayBorman, Tracy: Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford: The Most Hated Woman in Tudor England? https://www.hrp.org.uk/blog/jane-boleyn-lady-rochford-the-most-hated-woman-in-tudor-england/Easton, Henrietta: Does Jane Boleyn Deserve Her Reputation As The Most Hated Woman at the Tudor Court? https://www.discoverbritain.com/history/icons/jane-boleyn/Ridgeway, Claire: Jane Boleyn - Did She Help Bring Down Anne Boleyn? The Anne Boleyn Files https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/?s=Jane+BoleynTomlins, Thomas Edlyne and Raithby, John: The statutes at large, of England and of Great Britain : from Magna Carta to the union of the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland https://archive.org/details/statutesatlarge00raitgoog/page/366/mode/2up

In 1536 Jane Boleyn lost everything - her husband, her family, her position at court. However bit by bit she rebuilt her career, and went on to serve 3 more of Henry VIIIs Queens, eventually becoming the closest confidant of his fifth Queen Katherine Howard. Once again however she would become embroiled in the marital affairs of the king, and this time there would be no second chances. Sources/Further Reading:Fox, Julia: Jane Boleyn, the True Story of the Infamous Lady RochfordWeir, Alison: The Lady In The Tower - The Fall of Anne BoleynWilkinson, Josephine: Katherine Howard - The Tragic Story of Henry VIIIs 5th QueenRussell, Gareth: Young and Damned and Fair - The Life and Tragedy of Katherine Howard at the Court of Henry VIIISmith, Lacey Baldwin: Anne Boleyn, the Queen of Controversy - a Biographical EssayBorman, Tracy: Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford: The Most Hated Woman in Tudor England? https://www.hrp.org.uk/blog/jane-boleyn-lady-rochford-the-most-hated-woman-in-tudor-england/Easton, Henrietta: Does Jane Boleyn Deserve Her Reputation As The Most Hated Woman at the Tudor Court? https://www.discoverbritain.com/history/icons/jane-boleyn/Ridgeway, Claire: Jane Boleyn - Did She Help Bring Down Anne Boleyn? The Anne Boleyn Files https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/?s=Jane+BoleynTomlins, Thomas Edlyne and Raithby, John: The statutes at large, of England and of Great Britain : from Magna Carta to the union of the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland https://archive.org/details/statutesatlarge00raitgoog/page/366/mode/2up

Jane Boleyn was sister in law, and confidante, to one of England’s best known Queen Consorts - Anne Boleyn. She saw firsthand the rise and fall of the Boleyn family, and was later accused of participating in their downfall. However the claims that she accused her husband of incest with his sister are unproven, and there is little evidence that she had anything to do with their executions. Sources/Further Reading:Fox, Julia: Jane Boleyn, the True Story of the Infamous Lady RochfordWeir, Alison: The Lady In The Tower - The Fall of Anne BoleynWilkinson, Josephine: Katherine Howard - The Tragic Story of Henry VIIIs 5th QueenRussell, Gareth: Young and Damned and Fair - The Life and Tragedy of Katherine Howard at the Court of Henry VIIISmith, Lacey Baldwin: Anne Boleyn, the Queen of Controversy - a Biographical EssayBorman, Tracy: Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford: The Most Hated Woman in Tudor England? https://www.hrp.org.uk/blog/jane-boleyn-lady-rochford-the-most-hated-woman-in-tudor-england/Easton, Henrietta: Does Jane Boleyn Deserve Her Reputation As The Most Hated Woman at the Tudor Court? https://www.discoverbritain.com/history/icons/jane-boleyn/Ridgeway, Claire: Jane Boleyn - Did She Help Bring Down Anne Boleyn? The Anne Boleyn Files https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/?s=Jane+BoleynTomlins, Thomas Edlyne and Raithby, John: The statutes at large, of England and of Great Britain : from Magna Carta to the union of the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland https://archive.org/details/statutesatlarge00raitgoog/page/366/mode/2up

Jane Boleyn was sister in law, and confidante, to one of England’s best known Queen Consorts - Anne Boleyn. She saw firsthand the rise and fall of the Boleyn family, and was later accused of participating in their downfall. However the claims that she accused her husband of incest with his sister are unproven, and there is little evidence that she had anything to do with their executions. Sources/Further Reading:Fox, Julia: Jane Boleyn, the True Story of the Infamous Lady RochfordWeir, Alison: The Lady In The Tower - The Fall of Anne BoleynWilkinson, Josephine: Katherine Howard - The Tragic Story of Henry VIIIs 5th QueenRussell, Gareth: Young and Damned and Fair - The Life and Tragedy of Katherine Howard at the Court of Henry VIIISmith, Lacey Baldwin: Anne Boleyn, the Queen of Controversy - a Biographical EssayBorman, Tracy: Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford: The Most Hated Woman in Tudor England? https://www.hrp.org.uk/blog/jane-boleyn-lady-rochford-the-most-hated-woman-in-tudor-england/Easton, Henrietta: Does Jane Boleyn Deserve Her Reputation As The Most Hated Woman at the Tudor Court? https://www.discoverbritain.com/history/icons/jane-boleyn/Ridgeway, Claire: Jane Boleyn - Did She Help Bring Down Anne Boleyn? The Anne Boleyn Files https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/?s=Jane+BoleynTomlins, Thomas Edlyne and Raithby, John: The statutes at large, of England and of Great Britain : from Magna Carta to the union of the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland https://archive.org/details/statutesatlarge00raitgoog/page/366/mode/2up

Enid Lindeman lived through 2 world wars, survived 4 husbands and became one of the wealthiest women in England. She began life as the daughter of a Sydney wine grower and ended up an English Viscountess, an Irish Countess and with a fortune of half a billion dollars in today’s money. She was known for her magnificent villa on the French Riviera, where she entertained both European and Hollywood Royalty. Her life was a fascinating one.Sources/Further ReadingWainwright, Robert: Enid - The Scandalous Life of a Glamorous Australian Who Dazzled the WorldPetkanas, Christopher (9 June 2010): Fabulous Dead People NY Timeshttps://archive.nytimes.com/tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/fabulous-dead-people-rory-cameron/McGinness, Mark: Remembering Lady Kenmore https://www.theoldie.co.uk/blog/remembering-lady-kenmare-who-died-50-years-ago-by-mark-mcginnessMason, Dancy: Salacious Facts About Enid Lindeman The Deadly Beauty https://www.factinate.com/people/facts-enid-lindemanEuropeans in East Africa - Patricia Enid ‘Pat’ Cavendish https://www.europeansineastafrica.co.uk/_site/custom/database/default.asp?a=viewIndividual&pid=2&person=7044

Enid Lindeman lived through 2 world wars, survived 4 husbands and became one of the wealthiest women in England. She began life as the daughter of a Sydney wine grower and ended up an English Viscountess, an Irish Countess and with a fortune of half a billion dollars in today’s money. She was known for her magnificent villa on the French Riviera, where she entertained both European and Hollywood Royalty. Her life was a fascinating one.Sources/Further ReadingWainwright, Robert: Enid - The Scandalous Life of a Glamorous Australian Who Dazzled the WorldPetkanas, Christopher (9 June 2010): Fabulous Dead People NY Timeshttps://archive.nytimes.com/tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/fabulous-dead-people-rory-cameron/McGinness, Mark: Remembering Lady Kenmore https://www.theoldie.co.uk/blog/remembering-lady-kenmare-who-died-50-years-ago-by-mark-mcginnessMason, Dancy: Salacious Facts About Enid Lindeman The Deadly Beauty https://www.factinate.com/people/facts-enid-lindemanEuropeans in East Africa - Patricia Enid ‘Pat’ Cavendish https://www.europeansineastafrica.co.uk/_site/custom/database/default.asp?a=viewIndividual&pid=2&person=7044

Catherine’s reign had begun with such promise - she hoped for tolerance, peace and the continuation of the Valois dynasty. When she died, all of these aims had failed, and she instead became associated with one of the bloodiest episodes in French history.Sources/Further ReadingFrieda, Leonie: Catherine De Medici, The Renaissance Queen of FranceGoldstone, Nancy: The Rival QueensHollingsworth, Mary: Catherine de Medici - The Life and Times of the Serpent QueenHistory Extra: Catherine De Medici The ‘Serpent Queen” Who Became One of France’s Most Powerful 16th Century Rulershttps://www.historyextra.com/period/tudor/catherine-de-medici-serpent-queen-life-death-legacy-children-regency-france/Tulchin, Allan Massacres During the French Wars of Religion https://www.academia.edu/219979Massacres_During_the_French_Wars_of_ReligionWikipedia: Catherine de Medici https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_de%27_Medici