The inspiration behind His Castilian Hawk by Anna Belfrage

Author Inspiration

His Castilian Hawk

Anna Belfrage

What inspired my latest medieval release?

Many years ago, I read a book by Sharon Penman called Falls the Shadow. I still read that book regularly—and cry my eyes out every time in the same place: the Welsh prince, Dafydd ap Gruffydd is forced to watch as his wife and children are carried out of his life without even being allowed to bid them farewell.

Dafydd went to his maker in October of 1283, his death an orchestrated and excruciating agony. He was being punished by Edward I for having rebelled against the English—but in truth, he was also being punished because this was personal for Edward. Dafydd had more or less grown up at the English court, and for him to turn round and bite the hand that fed him…

For those entirely unfamiliar with the events that went down in the early 1280s in Wales, a very brief recap is that Edward I decided he was done with handling Welsh princes and their rebellious ways and so mounted a full-scale invasion, this in response to the rebellion that flared up in 1282, instigated by Dafydd. At the time, it was Dafydd’s older brother, Llywelyn, who was the prince, and that poor man had other things to concern himself with, principally the recent death of his wife in childbirth. But when Dafydd rebelled, Llywelyn could not sit to the side—to do so would shame him before their countrymen.

What is somewhat ironic in all this is that for most of their lives, Dafydd and Llywelyn had been on opposing sides, Dafydd standing with the English as first Edward’s father, Henry III, then Edward himself chipped off one piece after the other from Wales. Dafydd wanted lands in Wales. Due to his constant betrayals, Llywelyn was reluctant to give his brother anything—until the Treaty of
Aberconwy in 1277 forced the defeated and humiliated Llywelyn to do so.

Back to 1282: Llywelyn was killed in December, Dafydd became prince and spent the coming six months or so constantly evading Edward I’s men, dragging most of his family with him. And here, peeps, is where we get back to the lady who inspired my latest book, His Castilian Hawk, namely Dafydd’s wife Elisabeth de Ferrers.

Elisabeth had no say in who was to be her second husband. As a young widow, she was ordered by Edward I to marry his favourite Welshman. We have no idea if it was a happy marriage, but by the early 1280s, Elisabeth and Dafydd had been married for fifteen or so years and had several children together, of which we know of two surviving sons and one baby daughter. When Dafydd eventually was captured by the English, his wife, and their two youngest children were also captured. Some weeks later, their eldest son was also taken captive by English troops.

Over the coming months, Elisabeth was to suffer a sequence of losses. When Dafydd was executed, his sons were forcibly separated from their mother and locked up for life in Bristol Castle. The youngest boy, Owain, was around seven, and I can only imagine the pain Elisabeth must have felt as her boys were taken from her. She probably hoped it was only temporary, but soon enough she’d realise she would never see her sons again. Her youngest child, baby Gwladus, was also taken from Elisabeth and sent off to a convent. The baby was to be raised by nuns to become a nun and would have no memories of her parents of her family.

In a matter of months, Elisabeth had lost not only her husband but also all of her children, making her an utterly unimportant person—at least from the perspective of the medieval chroniclers. In 1283, Elisabeth disappears from recorded history, and we do not know what happened to her. Some sources make it possible she returned to Wales and died there in 1287, but whether or not that is true, we do not know. With the death of her husband and the loss of her children, Elisabeth becomes a ghost.

In His Castilian Hawk, Elisabeth gets some more airtime. Even if she is not the protagonist, she plays a fundamental role in shaping Robert FitzStephan’s life (and an indirect one in turning both Robert’s and his wife’s existence upside down). Plus, I have allowed myself to speculate on what may have happened to her in the aftermath of her husband’s death. I’m not entirely sure Elisabeth would be grateful for the life I offer her, but it is my belief she would have loved the opportunity to curse Edward and his wife Eleanor to hell and back for what they did to her and her children!

Elisabeth is mostly a footnote in history. And yet she lived and breathed, wept and laughed—at least until that day when a vengeful king ripped her heart in two by permanently separating her from her babies. In His Castilian Hawk, she does not change history (not entirely), but at least she gets to share her grief and anger at the cruel blows fate dealt her. She deserves that, I think!

For bastard-born Robert FitzStephan, being given Eleanor d’Outremer in marriage is an honour. For Eleanor, this forced wedding is anything but a fairy tale.

Robert FitzStephan has served Edward Longshanks loyally since the age of twelve. Now he is riding with his king to once and for all bring Wales under English control.

Eleanor d’Outremer—Noor to family—lost her Castilian mother as a child and is left entirely alone when her father and brother are killed. When ordered to wed the unknown Robert FitzStephan, she has no choice but to comply.

Two strangers in a marriage bed is not easy. Things are further complicated by Noor’s blood-ties to the Welsh princes and by covetous Edith who has warmed Robert’s bed for years.

Robert’s new wife may be young and innocent, but he is soon to discover that not only is she spirited and proud, she is also brave. Because when Wales lies gasping and Edward I exacts terrible justice on the last prince and his children, Noor is determined to save at least one member of the House of Aberffraw from the English king.

Will years of ingrained service have Robert standing with his king or will he follow his heart and protect his wife, his beautiful and fierce Castilian hawk?

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 Anna Belfrage

Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with two absorbing interests: history and writing. Anna has authored the acclaimed time-travelling series The Graham Saga, set in 17^th century Scotland and Maryland, as well as the equally acclaimed medieval series The King’s Greatest Enemy which is set in 14^th century England. 

More recently, Anna has published The Wanderer, a fast-paced contemporary romantic suspense trilogy with paranormal and time-slip ingredients. While she loved stepping out of her comfort zone (and will likely do so again ) she is delighted to be back in medieval times in her September 2020 release, His Castilian Hawk. Set against the complications of Edward I’s invasion of Wales, His Castilian Hawk is a story of loyalty, integrity—and love.  

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