Daughters of kings were often used to seal treaty alliances and forge peace with England’s enemies.
This book explores the lives of these young women, how they followed the stereotype, and how they sometimes managed to escape it.
It looks at the world they lived in, and how their lives and marriages were affected by political necessity and the events of the time.
Almost as interesting as the marriages these girls made are the ones that were never realised. Many English princesses were betrothed, or proposed as brides, three or more times before they were married.
Their failed marriage proposals demonstrated their influence and worth on the international royal marriage market, as well as the changing allegiances between countries and the making and breaking of international friendships.
We also learn how these girls, who were often political pawns, were able to control their own lives and fates. Whilst they were expected to obey their parents in their marriage choices, several princesses were able to exert their own influence on these choices, with some outright refusing the husbands offered to them.
Their stories are touching, inspiring and, at times, heart-breaking.
Princesses of the Early Middle Ages: Royal Daughters from the Conquest by Sharon Bennett Connolly is published on 30 March, 2026.
See more historical books published in 2026 in our round-up of over 130 books out this year.
