The Ogre and the False Guinevere: Brutal Father, Bastard Daughter
Shannon Watson Shannon Watson

The Ogre and the False Guinevere: Brutal Father, Bastard Daughter

Did you know that Queen Guinevere had a twin sister? Well, not really a twin sister, per se. More of a half-sister/cousin. Her father, King Leodagan, cheated on her mother... with her mother's sister, who was also the wife of his own seneschal, or history-keeper. When he tired of the woman – and had claimed her inheritance, along with her body – he locked her up in a tower… where she eventually died.

But that didn’t save the creeper king. Oh, no. Not at all.

The dishonored seneschal – and his extended family – would one day come for Leodagan. That family included the young, illegitimate half-sister of Queen Guinevere. Their vengeance would be twisted, disconcerting, and merciless…

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Of Camilla and Vortigern: The Shieldmaid and the Overlord
Shannon Watson Shannon Watson

Of Camilla and Vortigern: The Shieldmaid and the Overlord

… This week, we're digging into the least likely of the ladies: King Arthur’s concubine, or mistress, or seductress: “the Saxon battle maiden, Camilla.”

So, we’re starting with a fun one!

At first glance, the name Camilla doesn't appear Saxon or Germanic or Jutish, which is probably what she was. Because it isn’t…

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Guinevere: Four Fathers for a Phantom Queen
Shannon Watson Shannon Watson

Guinevere: Four Fathers for a Phantom Queen

… Today's episode is about Queen Guinevere herself: the one woman formally and certainly designated as Arthur's queen. I’m calling it Guinevere: Four Fathers for a Phantom Queen.

The original version of Guinevere’s name was Gwynhwyfar, which renders as “White or Blessed Spirit, Specter, or Demon” in Proto-Brythonic. It has also been suggested thatGwyn or Gwen may have been a title linked to the throne…

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