Dr Gabby Storey

No worries at all - it's difficult to have nuanced convos over social media sometimes without feeling like you're writing an essay 😊 you have my best wishes and solidarity for the situation in the US at the moment, and I hope you have chance to research soon!

not the only marks of what we might consider as a feminist. She did not conform to the boundaries expected of her, but personally I find it difficult to label her a feminist when, as far as I know, we don't have substantial evidence for her advocating for women's rights and she's not an outlier.

we think of her as 'exceptional' or not - if we're talking about her as an advanced woman of her time and that makes her feminist, there are also other woman exercising similar power and roles, if not more, in the 12th C. Her longevity and to an extent her education makes her stand out, but they're/

and consideration of her as a 'feminist' really needs a lot of context as to what else was happening at the time with regards to patronage of and by women, whether she improved matters materially for all women, their access to justice, etc - it goes far beyond patronage. It also ties in to whether /

Pappano which is probably the best piece discussing their connection. The question of whether Eleanor was a feminist or not is a bit of a difficult one - not just because of the anachronism of the term, but there are certainly instances where she is focused on herself at the expense of other women

Sorry for the delayed reply! June Hall McCash 'The Role of Women in the Rise of the Vernacular' Comparative Literature (2008) is available on JSTOR and refs Eleanor and the lais. Sharon Kinoshita 'Cherchez la femme' is also on JSTOR. Ed collection EOA: Lord and lady has a chapter by Margaret Aziza/

Henry VIII's will [TNA E 23/4]

Henry VIII's will [TNA E 23/4]

Henry VIII's original will (fighting the urge to post this in all caps, because it's so very cool) [TNA E 23/4]

I haven't looked directly at the Arthurian links, but I do know some people that have so will post those tomorrow.

With regards to feminist activity, do you mean anything which enhanced women's rights or supported women?

Eleanor of Aquitaine Photo of Eleanor’s effigy at Fontevraud Abbey, Chinon. By Gabby Storey Eleanor of Aquitaine, born c.1122-24, is perhaps one of the most famous queens of medieval western Europe. Crowned queen…

Hi Cheryl, I've done a brief bio here (Eleanor of Aquitaine – Team Queens share.google/wFcapadj71n3...) though we can now more confidently state her birth date was 1124. I've published bits and pieces on her - is there anything specific you're after and I can send the best suggestion?

Photograph of the tombs of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II.

Great to chat with the North London @histassoc.bsky.social branch this evening about Eleanor of Aquitaine and her contemporary queens - any excuse to talk about Eleanor is a good evening! Very interesting q&a afterwards - one of the main reasons I love doing history 😊

Text reads Monday Monarch: Henry IV of England. 5 Things You Should Know About Henry IV, King of England. Gabby Storey.Substack.com atop image of Henry IV'S coronation

#OTD 1399 Henry IV was crowned king of England. If you're interested in more beyond the Substack post, highly recommend Helen Castor's The Eagle and the Hart for the story of Richard II and Henry IV, and Elena Woodacre's biography of Joan of Navarre

open.substack.com/pub/gabbysto...

Promotional graphic for the Tabletop Arts Fund 2026 Actual Play Grants. At the top center is the Tabletop Arts Fund logo, featuring a stylized book with a red d6 and yellow d10 on its pages, crossed by a pen and paintbrush inside a circle. The Text reads: 2026 Actual Play Grants “Open to any podcast or video actual play with at least three episodes released in 2025. Grants provide entry fees to all festivals in the 2026 Audio Fiction World Cup. Preference for all awards given to first-time festival participants and creators from marginalized backgrounds.” At the bottom, bold text states: Submissions close October 31, 2025 Link: https://apply.tabletoparts.fund/actualplay2026

Hey there! Couldn't help but notice that you haven't applied for the 2026 TTAF AP Grants yet. It's cool. I get it -- you've been busy. But why not take some time today to give your show a shot at being screened 'round the world?

apply.tabletoparts.fund/actualplay2026

‘How do I really want to be as a man?’ Masculinities, critical consciousness, and contraceptive decision-making – findings from an interview study in Germany This paper examines how men in Germany reflect on (their) masculinities in the context of contraception and family planning. Through twelve qualitative interviews, three of which were couple interv...

Do men rely only on women to prevent pregnancies? How do masculinities, critical consciousness, and contraception intersect? Our project's final paper is part of this month's issue of Culture, Health, and Sexuality. Check it out here:

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

@tandfresearch.bsky.social

It has been a very up and down week for writing - you know, when the chapters really get stuck - but I seem to have broken a wall last night and punched out many words on early modern sodomy. Afternoon's aim is to get a rusty draft finished and then some Gallagher Premiership this evening!

The Political Agency of Royal Women: A Comparative Analysis of Eight Premodern States According to Societal Rules and Roles - Journal of Archaeological Research Comparative analysis of women rulers and main wives of kings in eight premodern states around the globe reveals similar patterns of political agency, or the opportunity and ability to take political action. Queen rulers, regents, and main wives substituting for their husbands in their absence made policy, but they had somewhat less political agency than male rulers. Main wives’ political agency took the forms of influencing policy and people’s behavior (sometimes through their role as patron to others), interceding between their kin and their husbands, advocating for one party or the other, spying, and conspiring. Therefore, women’s political agency ought to be part of any political study. This study builds on the anthropological/archaeological study of agency by drawing attention to royal women’s political agency and showing how the analysis of structural rules and the roles of kings, queen rulers, and main wives illuminates the societal structure in which agency is embedded. By analyzing premodern societies this way, we learn that there is remarkable similarity of agency behaviors among royal women in the eight sample societies, even though the societies emerged independently of one another.

Interesting comparative paper for those working on medieval queenship: Paula Sabloff: "The Political Agency of Royal Women: A Comparative Analysis of Eight Premodern States According to Societal Rules and Roles"
link.springer.com/article/10.1.... Suggests a lot of structural similarities.

Yes, very grateful after the last year for those who are still with us to celebrate!

I've managed so many projects and like to think I'm pretty organised, and yet somehow, every year, trying to organise a Christmas meal with 4 shift workers proves to be the most challenging task of all 😂

I love this.

A post from the Vagina Museum, labelled as "adult content": The last day to view Trans Ephemera is 5th October. This community-created exhibition explores diversity, medicalisation and experiences of oppression through the medium of things that are normally thrown away. The exhibition is free to visit - plan yours now!

*sigh* Bluesky is Blueskying again. Here's that link again, this time visible to everyone. Trans people's experiences are not adult content, mods. www.vaginamuseum.co.uk/communitygal...

Monday Monarch: Wu Zetian 5 Things You Should Know About Wu Zetian

Happy Monday folks! I am absolutely buzzing after the Red Roses win at the weekend but back to what we're here for: other kickass women in history. And who better to look at today than Wu Zetian? Never heard of her? Then find out more on today's Substack- gabbystorey.substack.com/p/monday-mon...

It’s #FridayReads time and Hispanic/Latine Heritage month! Let’s boost all signals. This month is great, but I write with an accent every month. Here’s a (45% off!) novel full of sazón and magic, waves and monsters, storms and revenge, crime and friendship.

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0316...

Lots of history joy this week - two fantastic exhibitions at the V&A yesterday, some wonderful new works to review, and today working through chapter edits for a piece on Eleanor of Aquitaine and rituals. Trying to get all the ducks in a row before the Women's Rugby World Cup final tomorrow!

Such an interesting find - via Ebay of all places!

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

At last. But not for the two female PhD students informed last week that their families, including children, while eligible for visas, are not eligible for evacuation. Gutting.

Love a #bookmail day! Finally got my hands on #BerengariaofNavarre by the amazing @gabbystorey.bsky.social

#history #skystorians #medieval #queenship #booksky

Thank you Gemma - hope you enjoy!

A map of the Society for Creative Anachronism's Loch Soillier barony in Texas, done in a pseudo-medieval style. There are sea monsters!

Map of part of New York City. Surrounding the city are black and white drawings of various city landmarks. The drawings are in half circles that look like snow globes, and each has a number that cousins corresponds to a number on the map.

A map of a piece of property in Florida, with two ponds, a shed, a trailer, a trehouse, and a lot of trees. The map is labeled, "The Hideout" and there is an oppossum.

A map of the area around Seattle, from Tacoma in the South to Whidby Island in the north. It is done in a fantasy style, with different places represented by different icons. The border took me a long time, and is made of abstract shapes on a red background. There are mountains and forests, and the map includes Mt. Rainier in the bottom right and Mt. Backer in the top right. Neither mountain is actually there, but it's close enough.

I hate to talk about Christmas at a time like this (it being only Sept.), but if you're thinking about commissioning a gift map for Christmas...'tis the season!

I've done a number of gift maps over the last few years, and they take a while. So now's the time to get in line!

The government has been disappearing whistleblowers and community organizers.

Dawn Wooten was disappeared by ICE and hasnt been seen since she started raising alarms about ICE sterilizing women in custody

I keep having these discussions with family and friends and people in our community and sometimes it feels like a brick wall. Where is the outrage and desire for change?!

Man arrested over 'racially aggravated' rape in Oldbury West Midlands Police says a man in his 30s was detained on Sunday evening and remained in custody.

This is in the news but isn't being talked about enough. I'm glad the Sikh woman who was attacked has spoken of support from her community. More people need to speak about violence against women + girls

Man arrested over 'racially aggravated' rape in Oldbury - BBC News share.google/N6fZaTUk2wq5...