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Few monarchs have caused so much controversy among historians as Charles VI of France (r. 1380-1422). Charles VI is perhaps most well-known for his losses during the Hundred Years War and for turning the tide in favor of the English. However, should we be looking at his reign in a more sympathetic light? Charles was known to suffer from bouts of madness, so this has to be taken into account when looking at the man behind the king. This article will explore Charless reign and how it transformed French history.Early Life and RegencyCoin of Charles VI of France, 1380-1422. Source: Wikimedia CommonsCharles was born on December 3, 1368, in Paris. He was the eldest son of Charles V, King of France (r. 1364-80), and his wife, Joanna of Bourbon. He was born into the House of Valois.Charless father died when he was aged eleven, and his coronation took place at Reims Cathedral on November 4, 1380. Because he was not yet old enough to rule in his own stead, he was instead classed as a minor, so he had others ruling for him until he was deemed old enough to rule by himself.Charless uncles ruled France during his minority, and while the age of majority was 14 in France, Charles did not terminate the regency until he was 21 years old, eventually ruling in his own right by late 1388, eight years after he inherited the crown.The uncles who ruled for Charles were three of his fathers brothers (John, Duke of Berry, Louis I, Duke of Anjou, and Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy), and his maternal uncle, Louis II, Duke of Bourbon.Interestingly, Louis II, Duke of Bourbon, his maternal uncle, was relatively unimportant during the regency phase because he was not a part of the royal bloodline like the others were, and he had also shown signs of mental illnesssuggesting that this was a hereditary trait that Charles would also suffer with in his later life.Charles VIs Mental Illness EpisodesCharles VI seized by madness in the forest, from Froissarts Chronicles, c. 1450. Source: BnFCharles first experienced mental illness episodes in his mid-20s, sometime in the early 1390s, shortly after he had begun to rule France in his own stead.In 1392, Olivier de Clisson, one of Charless friends and advisors, was the victim of an attempted murder by a man called Pierre de Craon, who took refuge in Brittany. John, Duke of Brittany, was unwilling to hand Craon over to face the kings justice, so Charles organized a military expedition to do so.Contemporaries reported that Charles seemed disconnected in his speech and was in a fever at the start of the campaign, eventually setting off with an army on July 1, 1392. A sudden shock from the noise of a lance being dropped against a helmet almost flicked a switch in Charless mind, and he immediately rushed to attack his own knights.Unfortunately, Charles killed a knight known as the Bastard of Polignac and several other men in the fight. He eventually fell to the ground and went into a coma. He was taken to nearby Creil Castle, where it was hoped that the good air would cure him from this episode.A year later, Charles was struck with another episode when he forgot his name, did not know that he was king, and did not recognize his wife when she came to visit him.Saint George and the Dragon, by Bernat Martorell, 1434-5. Source: RKD ImagesIn 1395-96, Charles claimed that he was, in fact, Saint George, once again recognizing all the men of his household, but not his wife nor his children. Charles was also reported to run wildly through the corridors of his home, sometimes smearing himself in his own faeces. To protect anyone else from seeing, the entrances were walled up.Perhaps the most famous of Charless mental illness episodes was around 1405, when he refused to bathe or change his clothes for five months. In addition, he also had iron rods sewn into his clothes because he thought that he was made out of glass and would shatter if anyone else touched him. This condition came to be known as the glass delusion. It is easy to see why Charles was known as both Charles the Beloved and Charles the Mad.The Regency of IsabeauThe Coronation of Charles VI, from Grande Chroniques de France, c. 1450. Source: Gallica Digital LibraryFrom 1393, when it became apparent that Charles was unfit to rule, his wife Isabeau acted as Queen Regent of France. Philip the Bold, who had acted in Charless minority as regent, had a great influence on the queen, but the kings younger brother, Louis I, Duke of Orleans, also began to have more of an influence on her. It was even rumored that he and the queen were secret lovers.This rivalry between Philip the Bold and Louis I, Duke of Orleans, would escalate, eventually leading to outright civil war in the years to come.The Bal des Ardents and Expulsion of the JewsThe Bal de Ardents, from Froissarts Chronicles, c. 1470. Source: British LibraryDuring Isabeaus regency, on January 29, 1393, she decided to hold a masked ball, which became known as the Bal des Ardents (Ball of the Burning Men).Dancers were invited to perform in the court, in front of Charles VI and Queen Regent Isabeau, dressed as wild men, in shaggy costumes made from linen and animal furs.Louis I, Duke of Orleans, arrived late to this ball and used one of the torchbearers torches to get a look at the dancers in the dark. His torch ended up catching the costume of one of the dancers, who was immediately set on fire. Panic spread, and so did the fire.Four of the dancers died, and many of the knights who helped to put out the flames were badly burned.Some historians have claimed that this episode also led to debilitations in Charles VIs mental health; in seeing something so horrifying unfold in front of his eyes, it is easy to see why this could have further damaged his mental stability.Charles VI of France, 1450. Source: PicrylThe following year, in 1394, largely unprompted, Charles issued an edict to expel the Jews from France. He claimed that they were involved in corruption and that Christians deserved to be cleared of their debts.The aim was to send the Jews to the frontier of the kingdom so that they could find refuge in foreign countries. This was just another sad episode in medieval Europes antisemitic history that proved that the Jews could be blamed as a scapegoat for any wrongdoing.This was one of the rare popular moves by Charles VI, which was perceived well by the publicpartly because many of them were indebted to the French Jews and partly because the Black Death was in living memory for many French citizens, and the Jews across Europe were blamed for it, accused of poisoning wells. For many people, this felt like justice was served against this already historically oppressed community.The Burgundian-Armagnac Civil WarThe Armagnac-Burgundian Civil War, c. 1484. Source: Gallica Digital LibraryDuring the reign of Charles VI, the Burgundian-Armagnac War began. Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, died in April 1404. John the Fearless took over, and a feud with the Duke of Orleans (whose supporters would become the Armagnacs) escalated even further, leading to civil war.The Duke of Orleans was murdered in Paris in 1407, and war broke out. When questioned about the murder, John the Fearless did not deny his responsibility in the murder of Orleans. Orleanss son, Charles of Orleans, turned to his father-in-law, Bernard VII, Count of Armagnac, for support against the Burgundians (John the Fearlesss faction).This would result in one of the most bitter civil wars in French history, the Burgundian-Armagnac Civil War, which would last from 1407 until Charless death in 1435.The Hundred Years WarThe Battle of Agincourt, by Enguerrand de Monstrelet, c. 1450. Source: BnFObviously, the biggest war that Charles VI and his ruling faction had to contend with was the ongoing Hundred Years War with England, which had been raging on since the 1330s.By 1415, feuds between the ruling Valois family and the Burgundians led to anarchy and chaos in France, something which the English king, Henry V, capitalized on at the incredible English victory at the Battle of Agincourt on October 25, 1415.This defeat for the French was humiliating and solidified Englands position for the coming years as the most powerful force during the Hundred Years War.It would go from bad to worse for Charles, however, when he was forced to sign the humiliating Treaty of Troyes in 1420, which acknowledged that Henry Vs heirs would succeed to the French throne as well as the English throne, while Charless heirs would step aside. In the treaty, Charless daughter Catherine was also betrothed to Henry, and she bore him a son a year later; the boy would become the future King Henry VI of England.However, Henry V died just a few short weeks before Charles did, leaving behind the infant Henry VI, which, according to the Treaty of Troyes, meant that he would become King of France on Charless death.As such, Henrys coronation was held in Paris, but Charless son, who would become King Charles VII of France, never gave up his fight for the throne, and the Hundred Years War would once again turn in favor of the French during his reign.Charles VIs Death and LegacyCharles VII, by Jean Fouquet, c. 1445-50. Source: Wikimedia CommonsCharles VI died aged 53 on October 21, 1422, in Paris. His life had been one of struggles with mental illnesspossibly schizophreniawhich he may or may not have inherited from his mothers side of the family.His reign was a tragic onecorrupted uncles took advantage of him, and feuds between the Armagnacs and the Burgundians incapacitated the kings reign.In modern times, Charles would have been well looked after, possibly even cured, but unfortunately, he is only remembered for his mental illness episodes and for leading France into spiralling into civil war amidst the Hundred Years War.Rulers like Charles VI need to be looked upon with empathy for their conditions for a fair assessment of their reigns: would France have fared better if he had not suffered from his mental illnesses? Undoubtedly, yes.However, history is not a case of ifs and buts; rather, it is a case of what happened, and heres why.Charles VI should perhaps be more well remembered by the epithet the Beloved rather than the demeaning the Madbut this is up to the reader to truly decide.

Monasteries helped shape medieval Europe in ways that often go unnoticed today. Beyond their religious role, they influenced learning, politics, and art across the continent. Of the thousands built between the 5th and 15th centuries, more than 500 still stand; some in truly jaw-dropping locations, either tucked in remote valleys, perched on vertiginous cliffs, or sprawled beside rivers. This guide takes you through six of the most remarkable and includes practical tips to help you get the most out of each visit.First, though, a quick question.Just How Influential Were Monasteries in Medieval Europe?Visit an old European monastery today, and you might find it hard to believe that these were among the most powerful institutions of their time. Monks didnt just pray and keep to themselves; they owned land, ran farms, brewed beer, offered medical care, and educated entire generations. In many areas, they held more sway and respect than local lords and were involved in everything from settling disputes to hosting royal guests.Monasteries were also responsible for preserving knowledge before universities existed in Europe. Monks were the ones copying ancient texts, running libraries, and writing down local history. Although all monasteries had plenty of power, some were more prominent than others, actively driving some of Europes most pivotal historical events. Westminster Abbey, for example, hosted William the Conquerors coronation in 1066, helping him secure his claim to the English throne. Over in France, Cluny Abbey led sweeping church reforms that spread across much of Europe.Now, lets dive into the most marvelous of the lot.1. Mont-Saint-Michel FranceLocals say the sea rushes in as quickly as a galloping horse. With a tidal difference of up to 14 meters (46 feet), the causeway connecting Mont-Saint-Michel island to the mainland can disappear completely in a matter of hours. Photo of Mont-Saint-Michel at sunrise by Lynx1211 via Wikimedia Commons.Few places feel as surreal to walk through as Mont-Saint-Michel. Rising from tidal flats off the coast of Normandy, the island has drawn pilgrims since the 8th century. At its peak, it was one of Europes most important monastic sites, both for its spiritual reputation and near-impossible location. Built layer by layer over centuries, the abbey sits high above a maze of narrow streets, stone staircases, and centuries-old buildings that cling to the rock below as if through sheer will alone.The mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture tells a story of ambition and devotion, with abundant military strategy thrown in for good measure. During the Hundred Years War, the abbey was never taken by English forces, partly because of its fortified position and wild tides. After the French Revolution, it served as a prison; metal bars are still visible on some of the windows today.Insider tipFor a quieter, more atmospheric experience, book a night in one of the small B&Bs on the island so you can explore after the crowds have left. Pure magic.2. Meteora Monasteries GreeceIn Medieval Europe, the Meteora monks used rope baskets and winches to haul up supplies, and sometimes themselves, before staircases were carved centuries later. Photo of Meteora Monastery by Stathis floros via Wikimedia Commons.In central Greece, massive stone towers rise from the earth like fingers pointing to the sky. Perched on top are the monasteries of Meteora, built by monks who wanted to live closer to heaven and farther from danger. They began settling here in the 11th century. By the 1500s, two dozen monasteries were doing a precarious balancing act on these cliffs.Today, six remain standing and are operational, each with its own chapel, courtyard, and centuries-old frescoes. Getting to them involves a bit of a climb (especially the Holy Trinity monastery), but the experience and views are worth every step. Even with more visitors these days, Meteora still feels like a world apart, especially if you take the quieter hiking trails between the sites.Insider tipThe trail from Kastraki to the Holy Trinity Monastery offers a peaceful approach with spectacular views and fewer visitors than the main routes. Get Holy Trinity out of the way first, and youll be much more likely to visit the other five by days end.3. Westminster Abbey EnglandIsaac Newton and Charles Darwin are both buried in Westminster Abbey, making it one of the only churches in the world where science and faith quite literally share the floor. Photo of Westminster Abbey by Thomas Dahlstrom Nielsen via Wikimedia Commons.Right in the heart of London, Westminster Abbey is packed with more royal and political history than almost any other church in Europe. It started as a Benedictine medieval monastery in the 10th century and grew in influence over time, eventually hosting the coronations of English monarchs. The current Gothic structure mostly dates from the 13th century and holds centuries of royal burials, major ceremonies, and national milestones.Inside, youll find graves and memorials for kings, queens, poets, scientists, and soldiers. Some areas feel more like a museum than a church, especially Poets Corner, where names like Chaucer, Dickens, and Austen are all honored. Even with the crowds, theres something a bit special about standing in a place that has witnessed so many turning points in British history.Insider tipIf you join the weekday Highlights Tour, youll get access to areas like the Chapter House and Jerusalem Chamber, which are not accessible with the general admission tickets.4. Maulbronn Monastery GermanyThis UNESCO-listed medieval monastery in Germany might not be a classic medieval stunner but it still has a working wine press built by monks, so if thats not enticing enough, then what is?! Photo of Maulbronn Monastery by Paula Soler-Moya via Flickr.Tucked in the German countryside, this 12th-century monastery is one of the best-kept examples of Cistercian architecture in Europe. A reform branch of the Benedictines, Cistercians built simple, functional monasteries without flashy decorations and drenched in natural light. Maulbronn is exceptionally preserved, and you can still walk through the cloisters, church, dining hall, and garden areas, getting a real feel for how the monks lived day to day.Over the centuries, this medieval gem evolved from an understated monastery into a boarding school and cultural hub. Unlike many medieval sites that have crumbled or been over-restored, Maulbronns lived-in feeling (its still used for concerts) makes visiting incredibly rewarding.Insider tipMake time for lunch in the old monastic bakery at the entrance, where you can try traditional Maultaschen, a local dish first cooked by monks here.5. Santa Mara de Ripoll SpainThis Catalonian monastery was once called the cradle of Catalan culture and played a key role in shaping written language in Medieval Europe. Photo of Santa Mara de Ripolls extraordinary main entrance by Angel M Felicismo via Wikimedia CommonsSet in a small town at the feet of the Pyrenees, Ripoll Abbey played a significant role in early medieval Spain. It was founded in the 9th century and became known for its scriptorium, where monks copied and illustrated thousands of important texts in Latin, Greek, and even Arabic. At a time when books were rare, Ripolls library was one of the most impressive in Europe.The church you see at Ripoll today was mostly built in the 11th century and shows off the solid, rounded style of early Romanesque architecture. Its main entrance is covered in detailed stone carvings of biblical scenes, animals, and patterns. Theyre so full of symbols that art historians have been kept busy for generations. The atmosphere is quiet here, and the town around it moves at a much gentler pace, giving you time to take it all in without the rush often felt in larger cities.Insider tipIf you visit in the late afternoon, the light hits the stone carvings just right, bringing out details you might miss earlier in the day.6. San Fruttuoso Abbey ItalyThis medieval monastery on the Ligurian coast was once hidden so well by cliffs and sea that it was used as a pirate hideout in the 16th century. Photo of San Fruttuoso Abbey by GiuF80 via Wikimedia CommonsHidden in a cove between Camogli and Portofino, San Fruttuoso feels like a secret that somehow slipped through the Italian Riviera cracks. For foreigners, at the very least. Built by Benedictine monks in the 10th century, the abbey once housed the remains of Saint Fructuosus and later became the burial site for the Doria family, a powerful Genoese dynasty. Over the years, it also served as a fishing village, a hideout for pirates, and even a small industrial workshop.Today, its only reachable by boat or by hiking through the Portofino Regional Park. The abbey itself is small and peaceful, but the setting is what makes it unforgettable. Waves roll beneath the arches, and verdant green hills rise into the sky just behind the buildings. Add in the underwater Christ of the Abyss statue just offshore, and its easy to see why so many travelers fall in love with the place.Insider tipArrive on the first ferry of the day and bring your swimsuit. The beach clears out in the late afternoon, and the cove becomes incredibly peaceful. Just check the time for the last ferry back.

The tale of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIIIs fiercest queen, is as captivating as it is shocking. Despite Henrys efforts to erase her from history as if she were Nefertiti instead of a woman in the modern era, Annes legacy persists she was, after all, mother to the monarch who ruled over Englands golden age.Anne left behind both Elizabeth and a range of portraits in which shes donning her recognizable B necklace. This iconic piece of jewelry not only symbolizes Annes bold identity but also holds an intractable place in fashion history.Caught in Love: The Jewels From Henry to AnneAnne Boleyn in her B necklace, Hever Castle Portrait, 1550. Source: The Tudor Travel GuideAnne Boleyn, the eldest daughter of the ambassador to the highest court of Austria, was no ordinary woman, and she certainly didnt let Henry VIII have his way in the manner of many other starstruck women he wooed. Their relationship, tumultuous and electrifying, was as much a power struggle as it was a romance.Anne knew how high the stakes were in the game of love and power, and she played it well. After all, Anne not only told Henry no several times, she fled to the country hoping that his affections would fall on someone else. This however was a case of absence making the heart grow fonder, and Henry simply switched his courtship from one of intense face-to-face interactions to one of notes and gifts.Henrys love letters werent just sweet nothings; they were wrapped in gold and studded with gems, physical manifestations of a kings obsession. Anne, ever the fashionista, understood the value of these gifts. They were more than symbols of love they were tokens of influence.Anne Boleyn, 16th century. Source: National Portrait Gallery, LondonAmong her arsenal of jewels was the famous B necklace, an audacious declaration of her identity and status as well as an item long assumed to have belonged to her before King Henry made his bid for her heart. This wasnt just a piece of jewelry; it was a bold statement, a way of saying, I am Anne Boleyn, and I will not be forgotten.In a world where womens identities were often swallowed by those of their husbands, Annes choice to flaunt her maiden initial was nothing short of revolutionary. It wasnt just about vanity; it was about legacy. It also said something of her developmental years in the French court, where Anne served as a Lady in Waiting in tandem with Franoise de Foix, Countess of Chteaubriant, herself a fashion-forward icon and symbol of scandal.Henrys gifts, too, were strategic, like so much of his maneuvering they had a double meaning. By bestowing Anne with jewels that once graced Catherine of Aragon, he wasnt merely giving, he was taking away dismantling his former marriage and setting the stage for his new queen.The woman hed been married to for over two decades had been found wanting and in her place would stand Anne, younger, more cosmopolitan, and raised to move in political circles. Anne, who was never accepted by Catherine of Aragons daughter Mary, certainly wore the latters mothers jewels in her suddenly diminished presence.Its Not Yours, Its the CrownsHenry VIII, Hans Holbein the Younger, 1537. Source: Google Arts & CultureAnne Boleyn may have captured Henrys heart, but her hold on the crowns jewels was always tenuous, much like Catherines was. In the ever-shifting world of Tudor politics, jewelry was never just personal it was political, made for seeing and being seen. When Annes star fell, it wasnt just her head that rolled; her jewels were swiftly reclaimed by the crown, stripped from her as easily as the clothes she had once worn. Both of which, gems and pricey gowns, would go on to adorn the next of Henrys consorts, the plainer and less quick-witted Jane Seymour.It was said that Anne had needed no ornaments to shine, her intellect spoke through her dark eyes, but, according to one foreign ambassador, Jane had needed all the sparkling accouterments she could get. The crowns message was clear: these werent Annes treasures; they were the monarchys, and they would adorn the next queen, and the one after that, all the way down through the line of Henrys shorter and shorter marriages.The B necklace, that bold emblem of Annes identity, vanished into the shadows. Where it ended up next has been cause for speculation and rumor nearly since the day Anne herself was sloppily buried in a shallow grave without a prepared casket or memorial to be had. Whether it still exists or was lost to history, the fate of Annes jewels reflects the harsh reality of her life at court one minute a queen, the next, a cautionary tale.Anne Boleyn in the Tower, by Edouard Cibot, 1835. Source: French Ministry of CultureHenrys swift reclamation of Annes jewels was more than just an act of repossession, it was an attempt to erase her, to control how she would be remembered or forgotten. But Anne was no ordinary queen, and her memory, much like the pearls she once wore, proved impossible to completely bury. The jewels might have been absorbed back into the royal coffers, but the legend of Anne Boleyn remained, forever entwined with the symbols of her former glory.Henry would grow to find out that, much like her falcon badge that had been etched into the very walls of the Kings favorite palaces, there was no erasing Anne Boleyn. Did he come to accept this? Is this perhaps why there are whispers that he made efforts in later years to buy back pieces of Annes estate that had wandered afar?After Death, Jewelry Lives OnGlass pillow, site of Anne Boleyns execution, photo by Jess Nyveen. Source: FlickrAnne Boleyn may have been executed, but the jewels that once graced her neck lived on, haunted by the memory of the woman who wore them. These werent just trinkets, they were relics, each piece whispering of the ambition, charm, and ruthlessness that defined Annes brief yet impactful 1,000-day reign. After her state-ordered demise, her jewelry didnt simply disappear pieces were redistributed, recycled, and, perhaps, revered in secret by those who dared to remember the woman who had once brought a king to his knees.There are whispers that the pearls from Annes B necklace found their way into the Imperial State Crown. If true, this would mean that a part of Anne still resides at the heart of British royalty, hidden in plain sight. It is a tantalizing thought that despite Henrys best efforts to erase her, Annes legacy endures, even in the jewels that continue to adorn Englands queens. Another tale is that Anne gave the treasured B necklace to her sister, Mary, who would save it for an older, more socially aware Elizabeth.Jewelry, in the Tudor court, was never just for show. It was currency, power, a means of communication in a world where actions often spoke louder than words, a world in which ones station was a God-granted right. Annes jewels, even after her death, continued to carry the weight of her story, of her family legacy. Whether they were melted down, remade, or passed down through secretive hands, each piece carried with it the ghost of Anne Boleyn, a reminder that some women, no matter how hard you try, can never be forgotten.From Mother to DaughterQueen Elizabeth in Coronation robes, copy of 1559 original. Source: The National Portrait Gallery, LondonAnne Boleyns legacy didnt die with her, it was passed down, quite literally, to her daughter, Elizabeth I. The connection between mother and daughter, though severed by Annes execution, was immortalized in the jewelry that Elizabeth wore. It is believed that some of Annes pieces, including her iconic B pendant, may have been inherited by Elizabeth. For a queen as calculating and image-conscious as Elizabeth, wearing her mothers jewelry was more than an act of sentiment it was a statement.The AB pendant, featured in some portraits of Queen Elizabeth, is a clear nod to her Boleyn heritage. In a court where every detail was scrutinized, this was no casual choice. By wearing her mothers initials, Elizabeth wasnt just honoring Annes memory, she was asserting her lineage, reminding everyone that she was the daughter of a queen who had once redefined the power dynamics of the Tudor court. If looked at closely, Elizabeths famed teenage portrait depicts her in a necklace with a golden badge from which drips three very familiar pearls, pearls quite similar to the ones that once graced Annes famed B necklace. Did Elizabeth change the setting but keep the valued pearls together in memory of her mother?Elizabeth was nothing if not strategic, and her choice to embrace her mothers legacy, rather than distance herself from it, was a masterstroke. In a world where women were often defined by their male relatives, Elizabeths decision to wear a pendant bearing Annes initials was an act of defiance, a declaration of independence, and a subtle yet powerful assertion of her right to rule. Through the jewelry she wore, Elizabeth ensured that Anne Boleyns story would live on, not just as a tragic figure but as the mother of one of Englands greatest monarchs.Keeping Their NamesKatherine Parr, 16th century. Source: The National Portrait Gallery, LondonAnne Boleyn and Katherine Parr were women who understood the power of identity in a world that sought to strip it away. For Anne, her B necklace wasnt just a piece of jewelry it was a banner proclaiming who she was before Henry, a bold declaration of her own name in a court where womens identities were often subsumed by those of their husbands and his ancestors. Wearing that initial wasnt just an act of vanity; it was a statement of defiance, a way of saying, I am Anne Boleyn, and my time will come.Katherine Parr, Henrys sixth and final wife, also understood the importance of name and identity. A learned woman, she used her signature as a means of asserting her independence and intellect. Katherines jewelry, much like Annes, carried symbols of her identityher initials and her family crestreminders that she was more than Henrys sixth wife. In fact, it was she who included her maiden initials after her royal signature, a silent but unignorable way to be more than Henrys Queen.Still Searching: Wheres the B Necklace?Mary Tudor, by Master John, 1544. Source: The National Portrait Gallery, LondonThe fate of Anne Boleyns B necklace is a mystery that continues to captivate historians and treasure hunters alike. Despite countless theories and endless speculation, no one knows for sure what happened to this iconic piece. Was it dismantled, its pearls scattered across the royal collection? Or did it survive, hidden away in some forgotten corner, waiting to be rediscovered?Some of Annes treasures were given, not to her own daughter, but to Henrys other child, Princess Mary. Inventories, however, do not suggest that the B necklace was one of them. Mary must have felt a shocking supremacy. As Anne had once paraded in front of her wearing her own ill-used mothers gems, now Mary could don her reviled stepmothers finery posthumously in front of the very daughter that was bastardized after Annes execution.However, many believe it was another wife, Henrys last wife, who convinced him to release several pieces of Annes estate jewels from his coffers so that Elizabeth could have these mementos of her mother. Katherine Parr was famously attached to Elizabeth, a veritable second mother, and it is easy to imagine that she would have advocated for Elizabeths cause to have something of her mothers to hold on to.The search for the B necklace is more than just a hunt for a lost piece of jewelry it is a quest for a connection to one of historys most compelling figures and her short time as Englands most prominent woman. Whether its hidden in a royal vault, lost to history, or still adorning the head of British royalty, the mystery of the B necklace ensures that Anne Boleyns story is far from over. Even in death, Anne remains a figure who defies easy categorization, her legacy as elusive and yet meaningful as the jewels she once wore.All Over the World: How We Still Honor Anne in JewelryB Necklace Replica. Source: Historic Royal PalacesAnne Boleyn may have lived over 500 years ago, but her influence is still felt today especially in the seemingly unrelated worlds of fashion and faith. The B necklace, once a symbol of Annes defiance and independence, of her wealth in her own right, has transcended its original context to become a modern-day emblem of feminine strength and resilience.From high fashion runways to popular television series, Annes style continues to inspire, proving that she is more than her terrible and untimely death at the hands of someone meant to love her. In recent years, the B necklace has made a comeback, worn by women who see in Anne a kindred spirit someone who was unapologetically herself, even in the face of overwhelming odds.Actresses like Natalie Portman and Jodie Turner-Smith have brought Annes story to life on screen, each donning their own version of the famous pendant, reminding us all that Annes legacy is as relevant today as it was in the 16th century. Her story is one of a Protestant reformer, a woman willing to break with convention (she showed her hair in that French hood, something women hadnt done in the courts of England for years), who did it all while turning heads each time she passed by.The enduring appeal of Anne Boleyns jewelry lies in its symbolism. These pieces are more than just accessories; they are statements of identity, staying power, and feminist rebellion. By wearing a B necklace, women today connect with a legacy of unapologetic ambition, of motherhood through trials unfathomable. In this way, the jewelry associated with Anne Boleyn serves as a bridge between the past and the present, a reminder that history is never truly forgotten as long as we continue to honor and reframe it.

Team Cherrys Matthew Griffin says Hollow Knight Silksong will not have anything like in-game purchases, after a supposed ESRB rating on the games Xbox webpage suddenly claimed it would. Griffin also says the developer is looking into having this information changed, so it shouldn't cause confusion much longer. So no, despite what you might have seen, Silksong isnt going to have microtransactions. Continue reading Hollow Knight Silksong will not have in-game purchases, Team Cherry confirmsMORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Indie Games, Hollow Knight Silksong release date, Upcoming PC Games

Path of Exile is back, as the long-awaited PoE 3.26 update Secrets of the Atlas finally lands almost a year on from the free Steam games last season. The original Grinding Gear Games ARPG, built as a spiritual successor to Diablo 2 and now well over a decade old, continues to prove why its so beloved among the loot-grinding faithful even set against its own sequel. With a major endgame overhaul and the introduction of mercenary companions, Secrets of the Atlas and the new Mercenaries of Trarthus league make now the ideal time to give Path of Exile a try. Continue reading Path of Exile flies past PoE 2 as the free Steam ARPG's new update landsMORE FROM PCGAMESN: PoE 3.25 details, Best free PC games, Best ARPG games

Kitchen appliances should be mechanical allies that make cooking and related tasks easier. Unfortunately, this brand's products have been known to fall short.