The Legitimacy of Bastards (Hardback)
The Place of Illegitimate Children in Later Medieval England
Imprint: Pen & Sword History
Pages: 216
Illustrations: 20
ISBN: 9781526716552
Published: 25th April 2019
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For the nobility and gentry in later medieval England, land was a source of wealth and status. Their marriages were arranged with this in mind, and it is not surprising that so many of them had mistresses and illegitimate children. John de Warenne, earl of Surrey, married at the age of twenty to a ten-year-old granddaughter of Edward I, had at least eight bastards and a complicated love life.
In theory, bastards were at a considerable disadvantage. Regarded as ‘filius nullius’ or the son of no one, they were unable to inherit real property and barred from the priesthood. In practice, illegitimacy could be less of a stigma in late medieval England than it became between the sixteenth and late twentieth centuries. There were ways of making provision for illegitimate offspring and some bastards did extremely well: in the church; through marriage; as soldiers; a few even succeeding to the family estates.
The Legitimacy of Bastards is the first book to consider the individuals who had illegitimate children, the ways in which they provided for them and attitudes towards both the parents and the bastard children. It also highlights important differences between the views of illegitimacy taken by the Church and by the English law.
The book reveals the secrets of the lives of children born out of wedlock as the wealthy were in arranged marriages and as a result took mistresses and what provision was made for them. You will learn that opportunities were open to them in the late 13th to late 16th centuries.
Essex Family Historian - No.175, December 2021
This book is utterly invaluable to anyone studying the Medieval gentry and nobility, landholding or law. It is also, however well-written enough to keep the interest of the casual and curious reader.
GoodReads, Joanna Arman
Read the full review here
Overall, I found this book informative and well researched. I think it will make a great resource for those who want to learn more about the late medieval period and illegitimate children. If learning about illegitimacy and late medieval England, you should check out, “The Legitimacy of Bastards: The Place of Illegitimate Children in Later Medieval England” by Helen Matthews.
Adventures of a Tudor Nerd
Helen Matthews brings to light many of these children, their families, and the different aspects of their lives – many of which we may not know about. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learning about a different part of medieval history, one that is not often discussed, except for royal bastards.
A Tale of Two Pages
This book is definitely worth the read! Grab it now!
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As featured in
Glasgow and West of Scotland Family History Society
It is a text that I think is very useful to know more closely a social and legal aspect that often in "big stories" of medieval conflict and families is treated "en passant". A book that will reveal to many a side of the late medieval English world that deserves to be known.
Old Barbed Wire Blog
Read the full Italian review here
The further I read into The Legitimacy of Bastards; The Place of Illegitimate Children in Later Medieval England the more I realised how useful this book will be to any researcher, student of history or casual reader around the subject. The impeccable research and engaging writing style make this a valuable addition to anyone’s medieval library.
History The Interesting Bits, Sharon Bennett Connolly
I cannot recommend it highly enough!
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Featured in
Clwyd Family History Society
This major work has been handled carefully and with concern for historical accuracy, outlining legal responsibilities and with an overall regard for the machinations of conflict in law.
Cumbria FHS
This is a scholarly work with a very extensive bibliography and a 'Dramtis Personae' enabling the reader to keep track of the individuals who appear in different contexts throughout the book.
Bristol & Avon FHS
Featured in
Glasgow and West Scotland Family History Magazine
This is a well researched tome - the mind boggles at the number of resources consulted, and this reader in particular is glad that the leg-work has already been done. I can see this as a valuable resource in itself for those interested in medieval family and law; but also for those who dabbled in historical fiction, you may also want to add this to your reference shelf, as it will certainly aid in adding a touch of realism and authenticity to some storylines. I still have this book sitting on my desk as I type as I am not quite ready to consign it to the book shelves just yet.
Melisende's Library
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As featured on The Lost Cousins Newsletter
Lost Cousins
It is interesting to note that Helen Matthews studied medieval history at UCL and Royal Holloway when a chance remark in a footnote inspired her to embark on the thesis on medieval bastards, on which "The Legitimacy of Bastards" is based. Enhanced for academia with the inclusion of a one page Glossary, a fifty-nine pag Anex (Dramatis Personae), a five page Bibliography, and a five page Index, "The Legitimacy of Bastards" is certain to be an enduringly appreciated and valued addition to both community and academic library English Medieval History collections and supplemental studies lists.
Midwest Book Review
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This is not a guide for family historians wishing to trace illegitimate ancestors, but rather claims to be the first book ‘to consider the individuals who had illegitimate children, the ways in which they provided for them and attitudes towards both the parents and the bastard children’. Some might be deterred by densely packed, lengthy paragraphs and the complete absence of footnotes/endnotes, precluding the precise identification of cited sources. However, as an academic critique of a subject that has proved fascinating for historians and genealogists alike, this is a worthwhile, if not essential, read.
Alde Valley, Suffolk, Family History Group, June 2019
From the Dark Ages right up to Victorian times, royal bastards and illegitimate children of high ranking Peers of the Realm have shaped many parts of the country’s history. Helen’s book takes a close and fascinating look at these people in a way that will make you think of them in a new light. Superbly entertaining.
Books Monthly
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About Helen Matthews
Helen Matthews studied medieval history at UCL and Royal Holloway. A chance remark in a footnote inspired her to embark on the thesis on medieval bastards, on which this book is based.
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The names of few medieval monarchs and their queens are better known than Eleanor of Aquitaine, uniquely queen of France and queen of England, and her second husband Henry II. Although academically labelled ‘medieval’, their era was the violent transition from the Dark Ages, when countries’ borders were defined with fire and sword. Henry grabbed the English throne thanks largely to Eleanor’s dowry because she owned one third of France. Their daughters also lived extraordinary lives. If princes fought for their succession to crowns, the princesses were traded – usually by their mothers…
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