I’m thrilled to announce that The Virgins of Venice has made it past the longlist, shortlist, and semi-finalist list to be named a FINALIST for the Chaucer 2023 Award for Early Historical Fiction!
***
WOMAN IN HISTORY: I first heard of Melisende on the BBC: In Our Time podcast. There had been a Queen of Jerusalem? How had I never heard of this powerful woman??
Born around 1109, Melisende was the oldest child of a French Crusader. Her father Baldwin II was elected King of Jerusalem when she was 13. She was capably raised as the heir apparent according to French custom and during her father’s reign was styled as “daughter of the king and heir of the kingdom of Jerusalem.”
At the decision of her father, Melisende married Fulk V, Count of Anjou and Main (France), who hoped he would be the actual heir of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. A year later, in 1130, Melisende bore a son, the future Baldwin III, at which point his grandfather designated Melisende his sole guardian, pointedly omitting her husband.
When Baldwin II died the following year, Melisende ascended to the throne with Fulk, who limited her powers, causing their estrangement. After accusing her of an affair (most likely falsely), Fulk essentially endured a coup from Melisende’s supporters. Eventually, the couple reconciled and had another son before Fulk died in a hunting accident in 1143.
To help defend their territory from growing threats, Melisende and her older son called for help in the form of the Second Crusade, soon after which he reached enough majority to be crowned her co-ruler. The pair fell out, again due to power differences, and the royal council decided that Baldwin III would rule the north while Melisende ruled the south. Eventually Baldwin III invaded his mother’s territory, and she was given a tiny plot to rule with the guarantee her son would leave her in peace, although later they seemed to kiss and make up and she became his trusted his advisor.
Melisende died in 1161 and was buried in the Church of the Assumption in Jerusalem. To learn more about Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem, read here and here.
***
RECOMMENDED BOOK: The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling):
This is the best of the Cormoran Strike series (which is overall a bit too gory and violent for my tastes). Absolutely fascinating, a nuanced portrayal of how easy it is to be brainwashed, influenced, manipulated, and forced to fall into line by those around you. It’s not just a novel, but a commentary of our times and a forceful argument for the importance of critical thinking.
***
Yours in reading,
Gina
Gina Buonaguro 