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The conquest of Wales and subsequent oppression of its people represents one of the earliest instances of English colonialism. As such, it is a difficult topic to write about in an optimistic way – but not impossible. Though Aderinyth and its prince are entirely fictional, they are not entirely implausible.
As for the real Welsh princes, the fate of Llewellyn’s daughter and Dafydd’s sons as told in this novel is factual. Because Llewellyn – and upon his death, Dafydd – was recognized as Prince of all Wales, the consequences to them and their offspring were especially harsh. Llewellyn’s daughter Gwenllian was a prisoner for life (she died at age 54) at a priory in Sempringham. Prince Dafydd himself was hanged, drawn, and quartered as a traitor. His eldest son Prince Llywelyn died 4 years into his imprisonment at Bristol Castle. The younger Prince Owain lived at least 42 years as a prisoner there, and Edward commanded “a wooden cage bound with iron in that house in which Owain might be enclosed at night.”
Other Welsh princes were less powerful than Llewellyn, and how Edward dealt with each varied according to their relationship with him – and their value to him. Many sided with the king and bartered political autonomy for lands and other royal favors, even long before the final conquest. (In fact, the conquest was made easier by the lack of unity among the Welsh, and the nature of Welsh inheritance laws.) I often find that readers unfamiliar with medieval history assume that a king invariably said “off with their heads” if anyone displeased him, but it just didn’t work like that. If it did, the two Barons’ Wars of the 13th century would have wiped out the entire political structure of England. Politics made strange bedfellows even back then, and though Edward saw the value in being harsh with some Welsh nobility, he equally saw the value in making concessions and compromises so long as he could retain control. It is worth noting as well that many nobles – including Prince Llewellyn himself – famously married without the king’s consent, and managed to retain power.
One other area of historical interest in the novel is prostitution, and though I have done my best to represent it with fidelity – women engaged in sex work then (as now) largely because of harsh economic realities, and they were as moral or amoral as anyone else – I can only recommend that those interested seek out the writings of Professor Ruth Mazo Karras and Dr. Eleanor Janega. Their writing is as entertaining as it is illuminating, and made me wish this story called for more on the subject.
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Works by Elizabeth Kingston:
Welsh Blades Series
#1: The King’s Man (Ranulf and Gwenllian)
#2: Fair, Bright, and Terrible (Robert and Eluned)
#3: Desire Lines
Ladies of Scandal Series
#1: A Fallen Lady
#2: House of Cads
In collaboration with Susanna Malcolm:
The Misadventures of a Titian-Haired Goddess and an Outrageous Hellion
