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andrasta14 · 2 years

Text

~2021 Reading Challenge~

~Books Read~

Nonfiction

Methodism: Empire of the Spirit - David Hempton

Redcoat: The British Soldier in the Age of Horse and Musket - Richard Holmes

Queer City: Gay London from the Romans to the present day - Peter Ackroyd

Down and Out: In Eighteenth Century London - Tim Hitchcock

London’s Sinful Secret: The Bawdy History and Very Public Passions of London’s Georgian Age - Dan Cruickshank

Warfare in the Eighteenth Century - Jeremy Black

Empires of the Imagination: Politics, War, and the Arts in the British World 1750-1850 - Holger Hooch

The Medici: Power, Money and Ambition in the Italian Renaissance - Paul Strathern

The Romanovs: 1613-1918 - Simon Sebag Montefiore

The Habsburgs: To Rule the World - Martyn Rady

The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women - Rosalie Gilbert

Unmentionable: The Victorian Lady’s Guide to Sex, Marriage and Manners - Therese Oneill

The Splendid and the Vile - Erik Larson

Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage - Alfred Lansing

Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind - Yuval Noah Harari

Nature’s Mutiny: How the Little Ice Age of the Long Seventeenth Century Transformed the West and Shaped the Present - Philipp Blom

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies - Jared Diamond

A Natural History of the Future - Rob Dunn

American Pandemic: The Lost Worlds of the 1918 Influenza Epidemic - Nancy K. Bristow

To Marry an English Lord - Gail MacColl and Carol McD. Wallace

Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty - Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe

Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth - Reza Aslan

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things - Jenny Lawson

Broken (in the Best Possible Way) - Jenny Lawson

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened - Jenny Lawson

I’m Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come: One Introvert’s Year of Saying Yes - Jessica Pan

The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to follow the Bible as Literally as Possible - A.J. Jacobs

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking - Susan Cain

The Highly Sensitive Person - Elaine N. Aron

ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction from Childhood Through Adulthood - Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. & John J. Ratey, M.D.

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear - Elizabeth Gilbert

The Hilarious World of Depression - John Moe

Hunger - Roxane Gay

The Comfort Book - Matt Haig

How Democracies Die - Steven Levitsky

The Day the World Stops Shopping - J.B. MacKinnon

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up - Marie Kondo

The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu and their race to save the World’s Most Precious Manuscripts - Joshua Hammer

My Top Ten Faves (in no particular order):

Redcoat: The British Soldier in the Age of Horse and Musket - Richard Holmes

Queer City: Gay London from the Romans to the present day - Peter Ackroyd

London’s Sinful Secret: The Bawdy History and Very Public Passions of London’s Georgian Age - Dan Cruickshank

The Romanovs: 1613-1918 - Simon Sebag Montefiore

The Habsburgs - Martyn Rady

Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind - Yuval Noah Harari

Nature’s Mutiny: How the Little Ice Age of the Long Seventeenth Century Transformed the West and Shaped the Present - Philipp Blom

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking - Susan Cain

The Highly Sensitive Person - Elaine N. Aron

Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth - Reza Aslan

Classic Literature

Great Expectations - Charles Dickens (1861)

North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell (1854)

The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Graham (1908)

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott (1868 & 1869)

The Red Badge of Courage - Stephen Crane (1895)

Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck (1937)

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (1847)

The Scarlett Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne (1850)

The House of the Seven Gables - Nathaniel Hawthorne (1851)

Around the World in Eighty Days - Jules Verne (1872)

Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson (1883)

Persuasion - Jane Austen (1817)

(Wow, I really slacked on my Classics this year...! 😳 Shame on me!)

My Top Five Faves (in no particular order):

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

Persuasion - Jane Austen

The Scarlett Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne

North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell

Fiction/Literature

(I confess I’m too lazy to separate the books further into different genres.😊)

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous - Ocean Vuong

Giovanni’s Room - James Baldwin

Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade - Diana Gabaldon

The Henna Artist: Bk 1 - Alka Joshi

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur: Bk 2 - Alka Joshi

Boyfriend Material - Alexis Hall

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid

Malibu Rising - Taylor Jenkins Reid

Written in the Stars - Alexandria Bellefleur

Red, White & Blue - Casey McQuiston

My Policeman - Bethan Roberts

The Pull of the Stars - Emma Donohue

Act Your Age, Eve Brown - Talia Hibbert

Year of Wonders - Geraldine Brooks

Once Upon a River - Diane Setterfield

The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion - Fannie Flagg

The Soulmate Equation - Christina Lauren

The Dating Plan - Sara Desai

The Flatshare - Beth O’Leary

Second First Impressions - Sally Thorne

Anne of Manhattan - Brina Starler

The Cafe by the Sea - Jenny Colgan

The Lost Apothecary - Sarah Penner

The Dutch House - Ann Patchett

The Trouble With Hating You - Sajni Patel

The Paris Apartment - Kelly Bowen

All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr

Cloud Cuckoo Land - Anthony Doerr

No Offence - Meg Cabot

Beach Read - Emily Henry

The Duke & I: Bridgerton Bk 1 - Julia Quinn

Romancing Mister Bridgerton: Bk 4 - Julia Quinn

The Forest of Vanishing Stars - Kristin Harmel

Just Last Night - Mhairi McFarlane

The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah

Very Sincerely Yours - Kerry Winfrey

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman

To Have and to Hoax - Martha Waters

A Curious Beginning: Veronica Speedwell Mystery #1 - Deanna Raybourn

A Perilous Undertaking: VS Mystery #2 - Deanna Raybourn

A Treacherous Curse: VS Mystery #3 - Deanna Raybourn

A Dangerous Collaboration: VS Mystery #4 - Deanna Raybourn

The Last Chance Library - Freya Sampson

Objects of My Affection - Jill Smolinski

Always in December - Emily Stone

A Holly Jolly Diwali - Sonya Lalli

The Party Crasher - Sophie Kinsella

Shopaholic to the Stars - Sophie Kinsella

Christmas Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella

Wedding Night - Sophie Kinsella

I’ve Got Your Number - Sophie Kinsella

I Owe You One - Sophie Kinsella

Love Your Life - Sophie Kinsella

The Paper Palace - Miranda Cowley Heller

The Matzah Ball - Jean Meltzer

Just Haven’t Met You Yet - Sophie Cousens

The Lonely Hearts Hotel - Heather O’Neill

The Library of Legends - Janie Chang

Twice Shy - Sarah Hogle

The Christmas Bookshop - Jenny Colgan

The Dreamers - Karen Thompson Walker

The Holiday Swap - Maggie Knox

My Top Ten Faves (in no particular order):

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous - Ocean Vuong

Giovanni’s Room - James Baldwin

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid

All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr

The Forest of Vanishing Stars - Kristin Harmel

The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah

Red, White & Blue - Casey McQuiston

Boyfriend Material - Alexis Hall

Second First Impressions - Sally Thorne

Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade - Diana Gabaldon

Science Fiction/Fantasy

The House of the Cerulean Sea - T.J. Klune

The Starless Sea - Erin Morgenstern

His Majesty’s Dragon: Temeraire Series Bk 1 - Naomi Novik

Throne of Jade: Temeraire Series Bk 2 - Naomi Novik

Black Powder War: Temeraire Series Bk 3 - Naomi Novik

Empire Of Ivory: Temeraire Series Bk 4 - Naomi Novik

Victory of Eagles: Temeraire Series Bk 5 - Naomi Novik

Tongue of Serpents: Temeraire Series Bk 6 - Naomi Novik

Crucible of Gold: Temeraire Series Bk 7 - Naomi Novik

Blood of Tyrants: Temeraire Series Bk 8 - Naomi Novik

League of Dragons: Temeraire Series Bk 9 - Naomi Novik

The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller

Circe - Madeline Miller

Firebird - Mercedes Lackey

Gwenhwyfar - Mercedes Lackey

Dune: Bk 1 - Frank Herbert

One Last Stop - Casey McQuiston

The Rules of Magic - Alice Hoffman

The Book of Magic - Alice Hoffman

Foundryside: Bk 1 - Robert Jackson Bennett

Shorefall: Bk 2 - Robert Jackson Bennett

Catherine House - Elizabeth Thomas

Arabella of Mars: Bk 1 - David D. Levine

The Midnight Bargain - C.L. Polk

The Midnight Library - Matt Haig

Star Wars: Master and Apprentice - Claudia Grey

Star Wars: Darth Plagueis - James Luceno

Star Wars: Ahsoka - E.K. Johnston

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms: Bk 1 - N.K. Jemisin

The Broken Kingdoms: Bk 2 - N.K. Jemisin

The Kingdom of Gods: Bk 3 - N.K. Jemisin

The Angel of the Crows - Katherine Addison

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires - Grady Hendrix

The Clockwork Dynasty - Daniel H. Wilson

Black Water Sister - Zen Cho

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue - V.E. Schwab

Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch - Rivka Galchen

Switch - A.S. King

The Jasmine Thorne - Tasha Suri

The Two Towers: Lord of the Rings Bk 2 - J.R.R. Tolkien

La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust Bk 1 - Philip Pullman

The Secret Commonwealth: The Book of Dust Bk 2 - Philip Pullman

The Scribbly Man: Children of D’Hara Bk 1 - Terry Goodkind

Hateful Things: Children of D’Hara Bk 2 - Terry Goodkind

Wasteland: Children of D’Hara Bk 3 - Terry Goodkind

Witch’s Oath: Children of D’Hara Bk 4 - Terry Goodkind

Into Darkness: Children of D’Hara Bk 5 - Terry Goodkind

Good Omens - Terry Pratchet & Neil Gaiman

Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman

The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Neil Gaiman

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars - Christopher Paolini

Rose Daughter - Robin McKinley

Mistborn: Bk 1 - Brandon Sanderson

The Well of Ascension: Bk 2 - Brandon Sanderson

The Hero of Ages: Bk 3 - Brandon Sanderson

The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge - M.T. Anderson

Three Parts Dead: Bk 1 - Max Gladstone

A Darker Shade of Magic: Bk 1 - V.E. Schwab

A Gathering of Shadows: Bk 2 - V.E. Schwab

Gideon the Ninth: Bk 1 - Tamsyn Muir

Assassin’s Apprentice: Farseer Trilogy Bk 1 - Robin Hobb

Royal Assassin: Farseer Trilogy Bk 2 - Robin Hobb

Iron Widow - Xiran Jay Zhao

The Lighthouse Witches - C.J. Cooke

My Top Ten Faves (in no particular order):

Circe - Madeline Miller

The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller

The House of the Cerulean Sea - T.J. Klune

The Starless Sea - Erin Morgenstern

Temeraire Series - Naomi Novik

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms Trilogy - N.K. Jemisin

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue - V.E. Schwab

Children of D’Hara Series - Terry Goodkind

Mistborn Trilogy - Brandon Sanderson

The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge - M.T. Anderson

YA Books

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

We Hunt the Flame: Bk 1 - Hafsah Faizal

We Free the Stars: Bk 2 - Hafsah Faizal

Cinder: Lunar Chronicles Bk 1 - Marissa Meyer

Winter: Lunar Chronicles Bk 4 - Marissa Meyer

Stars Above; Lunar Chronicles Collections - Marissa Meyer

Uprooted: Bk 1 - Naomi Novik

Chain of Gold: The Last Hours Bk 1 - Cassandra Clare

Chain of Iron: The Last Hours Bk 2 - Cassandra Clare

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue: Bk 1 - Mackenzi Lee

The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy: Bk 2 - Mackenzi Lee

The Nobleman’s Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks: Bk 3 - Mackenzi Lee

Timekeeper: Bk 1 - Tara Sim

Chainbreaker: Bk 2 - Tara Sim

Firestarter: Bk 3 - Tara Sim

Scavenge the Stars: Bk 1 - Tara Sim

Honey Girl - Morgan Rogers

Autoboyography - Christina Lauren

A Great and Terrible Beauty: Bk 1 - Libba Bray

Rebel Angels: Bk 2 - Libba Bray

The Sweet Far Thing: Bk 3 - Libba Bray

Come Tumbling Down: Bk 5 - Seanan McGuire

The Gilded Ones - Namina Forna

By the Book - Amanda Sellet

Rogue Princess - B.R. Myers

The Evil Queen - Gena Showalter

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes - Suzanne Collins

Instructions for Dancing - Nicola Yoon

Dark and Deepest Red - Anna-Marie McLemore

Excuse Me While I Cry Ugly - Joya Goffney

Book of a Thousand Days - Shannon Hale

Eve of Man - Giovanna & Tom Fletcher

The Cruel Prince: Bk 1 - Holly Black

The Wicked King: Bk 2 - Holly Black

The Queen of Nothing: Bk 3 -Holly Black

Gods & Monsters - Shelby Mahurin

Six Crimson Cranes - Elizabeth Lim

Spin the Dawn: Bk 1 - Elizabeth Lim

For the Wolf - Hannah Whitten

The Library of the Dead - T.L. Huchu

Three Dark Crowns: Bk 1 -Kendare Blake

Wicked Fox - Kat Cho

Entwined - Heather Dixon

Chaotic Good - Whitney Gardner

If the Shoe Fits - Julie Murphy

Every Day - David Levithan

Blood Like Magic - Liselle Sambury

Prudence: The Custard Protocol Bk 1 - Gail Carriger

The Raven Boys: Bk 1 - Maggie Stiefvater

The Bone Witch: Bk 1 - Rin Chupeco

Strange the Dreamer: Bk 1 - Laini Taylor

Muse of Nightmares: Bk 2 - Laini Taylor

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe - Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Iron Widow - Xiran Jay Zhao

My Top Ten Faves (in no particular order):

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

We Hunt the Flame Duology - Hafsah Faizal

The Last Hours Trilogy - Cassandra Clare

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue Trilogy - Mackenzi Lee

Timekeeper Trilogy - Tara Sim

A Great and Terrible Beauty Trilogy - Libba Bray

The Cruel Prince Trilogy - Holly Black

Six Crimson Cranes - Elizabeth Lim

The Lunar Chronicles - Marissa Meyer

Strange the Dreamer Duology - Laini Taylor

Middle Grade/Children

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey: Bk 2 - Trenton Lee Stewart

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma: Bk 3 - Trenton Lee Stewart

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of Ages: Bk 4 - Trenton Lee Stewart

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict - Trenton Lee Stewart

A Tale of Magic - Chris Colfer

The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane - Julia Nobel

Stuart Little - E.B. White

The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Graham

The Peculiar - Stefan Bachmann

The Whatnot - Stefan Bachmann

Cinders and Sparrows - Stefan Bachmann

Liesel & Po - Lauren Oliver

The Wishlist - Eoin Colfer

The Barren Grounds - David A. Robertson

Stay Alive: Breakdown - Joseph Monninger

Strangeworlds Travel Agency - L.D. Lapinski

The Scarecrow and His Servant - Philip Pullman

A Wrinkle in Time - Madeline L’Engle

A Wind in the Door - Madeline L’Engle

A Swiftly Tilting Planet - Madeline L’Engle

The Amulet of Samarkand: Bartimaeus Series Bk 1 - Jonathan Stroud

The Golem’s Eye: Bartimaeus Series Bk 2 - Jonathan Stroud

Ptolemy’s Gate: Bartimaeus Series Bk 3 - Jonathan Stroud

The Ring of Solomon: A Bartimaeus Novel - Jonathan Stroud

The Last Siege - Jonathan Stroud

The Screaming Staircase: Lockwood and Co Bk 1 - Jonathan Stroud

The Whispering Skull : Lockwood and Co Bk 2 - Jonathan Stroud

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling

Bliss - Kathryn Littlewood

Reverie - Ryan La Sala

The Case of the Missing Marquess - Nancy Springer

The House of Secrets - Chris Columbus & Ned Vizzini

The Unwanteds - Lisa McMann

The Doldrums - Nicholas Gannon

The Doldrums and the Helmsley Curse - Nicholas Gannon

Magyk: Septimus Heap Bk 1 - Angie Sage

Flyte: Septimus Heap Bk 2 - Angie Sage

Physik: Septimus Heap Bk 3 - Angie Sage

Queste: Septimus Heap Bk 4 - Angie Sage

Siren: Septimus Heap Bk 5 - Angie Sage

Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom - Sangu Mandanna

Lintang and the Pirate Queen - Tamara Moss

The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail - Richard Peck

The Oddmire: Changeling Bk 1 - William Ritter

The Hidden Oracle: The Trials of Apollo Bk 1 - Rick Riordan

The Dark Prophesy: The Trials of Apollo Bk 2 - Rick Riordan

The Burning Maze: The Trials of Apollo Bk 3 - Rick Riordan

The Tyrant’s Tomb: The Trials of Apollo Bk 4 - Rick Riordan

The Tower of Nero: The Trials of Apollo Bk 5 - Rick Riordan

The Sword of Summer: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard Bk 1 - Rick Riordan

The Hammer of Thor: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard Bk 2 - Rick Riordan

The Ship of the Dead: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard Bk 3 - Rick Riordan

The Lost Hero: The Heroes of Olympus Bk 1 - Rick Riordan

The Son of Neptune: The Heroes of Olympus Bk 2 - Rick Riordan

The Mark of Athena: The Heroes of Olympus Bk 3 - Rick Riordan

The House of Hades: The Heroes of Olympus Bk 4 - Rick Riordan

The Blood of Olympus: The Heroes of Olympus Bk 5 - Rick Riordan

The Blackthorn Key: Bk 1 - Kevin Sands

Mark of the Plague: Bk 2 - Kevin Sands

The Assassin’s Curse: Bk 3 - Kevin Sands

The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone: Bk 1 - Jaclyn Moriarty

The Whispering Wars: Bk 2 - Jaclyn Moriarty

Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating - Adiba Jaigirdar

Alone - Megan E. Freeman

My Top Ten Faves (in no particular order):

The Mysterious Benedict Society Series - Trenton Lee Stewart

A Tale of Magic - Chris Colfer

The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane - Julia Nobel

The Peculiar - Stefan Bachmann

The Scarecrow and His Servant - Philip Pullman

A Wrinkle in Time - Madeline L’Engle

Bartimaeus Series - Jonathan Stroud

Lockwood and Co Series - Jonathan Stroud

The Trials of Apollo Series - Rick Riordan

The Heroes of Olympus Series - Rick Riordan

Graphic Novels/Manga/Comics

Avatar the Last Airbender: The Promise - Gene Luen Yang

Avatar the Last Airbender: The Search - Gene Luen Yang

Avatar the Last Airbender: The Rift - Gene Luen Yang

Avatar the Last Airbender: The Lost Adventures - Gene Luen Yang

Avatar the Last Airbender: Toph Beifong’s Metalbending Academy - Faith Erin Hicks

Amulet: Bk 1 The Stone Keeper - Kazu Kibushi

Amulet: Bk 2 The Stonekeeper’s Curse - Kazu Kibushi

Amulet: Bk 3 The Cloud Searchers - Kazu Kibushi

Amulet: Bk 4 The Last Council - Kazu Kibushi

Amulet: Bk 5 Prince of the Elves - Kazu Kibushi

Amulet: Bk 6 Escape from Lucien - Kazu Kibushi

Amulet: Bk 7 Firelight - Kazu Kibushi

Amulet: Bk 8 Supernova - Kazu Kibushi

Snow, Glass, Apples - Neil Gaiman & Colleen Doran

Monstress: Volume 1: Awakening - Marjorie Liu & Sana Takeda

Daredevil: Ultimate Collection Bk 2 - Brian Michael Bendis & Alex Maleev

Pashmina - Nidhi Chanani

Smile: #1 - Raina Telgemeier

Sisters: #2 - Raina Telgemeier

Guts: #3 - Raina Telgemeier

Earthian: Volume 4 - Yun Kouga

Shuriken and Pleats: Volume 1 - Matsuri Hino

Shuriken and Pleats: Volume 2 - Matsuri Hino

The Story of Saiunkoku: Volume 9 - Sai Yukino & Kairi Yura

Sailor Moon: Short Stories Volume 1 - Naoko Takeuchi

Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Kaiden: Volume 1 - Yuu Watase

Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Kaiden: Volume 2 - Yuu Watase

Everyone’s Getting Married: Volume 1 - Izumi Miyazono

Everyone’s Getting Married: Volume 2 - Izumi Miyazono

Everyone’s Getting Married: Volume 3 - Izumi Miyazono

My Top Ten Faves (in no particular order):

Avatar the Last Airbender: The Promise - Gene Luen Yang

Avatar the Last Airbender: The Search - Gene Luen Yang

Avatar the Last Airbender: The Rift - Gene Luen Yang

Avatar the Last Airbender: Toph Beifong’s Metalbending Academy - Faith Erin Hicks

Amulet Series - Kazu Kibushi

Snow, Glass, Apples - Neil Gaiman & Colleen Doran

Monstress: Volume 1: Awakening - Marjorie Liu & Sana Takeda

Daredevil: Ultimate Collection Bk 2 - Brian Michael Bendis & Alex Maleev

Earthian - Yun Kouga

The Story of Saiunkoku - Sai Yukino & Kairi Yura

Poetry

Crush - Richard Siken

Depression & Other Magic Tricks - Sabrina Benaim

(I read much more poetry than this over the course of the year, of course, but these two were the only collections I read in their entirety.)

LGBTQ

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous - Ocean Vuong

The House in the Cerulean Sea - T.J. Klune

The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller

The Starless Sea - Erin Morgenstern

Chain of Gold: The Last Hours Bk 1 - Cassandra Clare

Chain of Iron: The Last Hours Bk 2 - Cassandra Clare

Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade - Diana Gabaldon

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue: Bk 1 - Mackenzi Lee

The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy: Bk 2 - Mackenzi Lee

The Nobleman’s Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks: Bk 3 - Mackenzi Lee

Giovanni’s Room - James Baldwin

Timekeeper: Bk 1 - Tara Sim

Chainbreaker: Bk 2 - Tara Sim

Firestarter: Bk 3 - Tara Sim

Boyfriend Material - Alexis Hall

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid

Written in the Stars - Alexandria Bellefleur

Red, White & Blue - Casey McQuiston

One Last Stop - Casey McQuiston

Honey Girl - Morgan Rogers

Autoboyography - Christina Lauren

My Policeman - Bethan Roberts

A Great and Terrible Beauty: Bk 1 - Libba Bray

Rebel Angels: Bk 2 - Libba Bray

The Sweet Far Thing: Bk 3 - Libba Bray

The Rules of Magic - Alice Hoffman

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe - Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Iron Widow - Xiran Jay Zhao

My Top Ten Faves (in no particular order):

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous - Ocean Vuong

The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller

Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade - Diana Gabaldon

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue - Mackenzi Lee

Timekeeper Trilogy - Tara Sim

Boyfriend Material - Alexis Hall

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid

Written in the Stars - Alexandria Bellefleur

Red, White & Blue - Casey McQuiston

One Last Stop - Casey McQuiston

DNF’ed Books (did not finish)

Fix Her Up - Tessa Bailey

My Top 25 Faves Overall (in no particular order):

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

The Scarlett Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne

All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous - Ocean Vuong

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

The House of the Cerulean Sea - T.J. Klune

Temeraire Series - Naomi Novik

Mistborn Trilogy - Brandon Sanderson

The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller

Circe - Madeline Miller

Timekeeper Trilogy - Tara Sim

Boyfriend Material - Alexis Hall

Red, White & Blue - Casey McQuiston

Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade - Diana Gabaldon

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue Trilogy - Mackenzi Lee

Lockwood and Co Series - Jonathan Stroud

Bartimaeus Series - Jonathan Stroud

The Trials of Apollo Series - Rick Riordan

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge - M.T. Anderson

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking - Susan Cain

The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah

The Starless Sea - Erin Morgenstern

We Hunt the Flame Duology - Hafsah Faizal

The Peculiar - Stefan Bachmann

(Okay, fine, I lied! lol My Top 26 Faves Overall, because I just COULDN’T find one more I could bear to take off the list. ^.^)

(My End of the Year Book Asks here.)

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josefavomjaaga · 3 years

Text

Helfert, Joachim Murat, Chapter 6, Part 5

Things are getting ugly now, brace yourselves.

Rarely has anyone been more fatally self-deceived than Joachim Murat, when he convinced himself that he need only present himself on the soil of his former kingdom and everything would fall to him. And for the full measure of his misfortune he had chosen the coast of Calabria, that stretch of land where the old dynasty had always found its enthusiastic followers willing to make sacrifices, while Murat's name, which was conflated with that of the madman Manhès, was virtually maligned and cursed there. But even elsewhere in the country, with the rapidly changing impressions of the southerners, his memory was not merely obliterated, as if a century had passed since then: everything connected with his actions, everything that reminded one of him, was as if it had been tainted. His officials, many of whom the new government had left in their positions, were looked upon with disdain and persecuted by the population; indeed, there were violent acts, bloody uprisings against them, so that the government had to intervene with all the severity of the law.

An example of this is given in the following footnote:

Jablonovski PS. ad numerum 12 of 21. September 2, mentions such an uprising in Salerno, in which several Murat officials were killed; a royal commission came from Naples and now eleven of the mutineers were sentenced to death: "il arrive à chaque instant de pareils événements; la présence de nos troupes les empêche dans la capitale, et si elles quittaient Naples aujourd'hui, demain tous ceux qui avaient été employés par Murat seraient égorgés". See also n. 13 on 3 October: "Dans les provinces qui étaient oprimées sous le gouvernement de Murat les passions haineuses de cette nation agissent avec plus de force".

Apparently, some people were disappointed that they were not allowed any excesses after the change of government. Helfert continues:

At the Court of Naples in the first days of October, nothing was known about Murat's departure from Ajaccio, nor was it possible to know anything about it: on the other hand, other news had arrived which upset the King in the extreme. Jablonovski, towards whom the monarch was always of the most winning friendliness, noticed a change in the monarch's behaviour at the cercle on October 4, the name day of Emperor Francis, which was always festively celebrated at Ferdinand's court. None of the ministers was able to tell our envoy what the king had against him until Princess Partanna, whom Ferdinand alone had taken into his confidence, told him: it was a coded dispatch from Prince Castelcicala which had arrived from Paris and informed the monarch that Austria had offered Murat an asylum within her borders. Jablonovski seized the first opportunity to confront Circello on the matter. "Shouldn't your King prefer," he said, "that Murat should stay 200 miles from Naples, under the eyes and supervision of a powerful ally of His Majesty, rather than having to constantly fear that the adventurer might land at a point on the coast which, because of its great extent, can never be properly guarded, and disturb the peace of the kingdom? Of course he won't succeed, that's what our troops are for. But he can cause enough unrest and disorder, especially if, as is not at all improbable, he joins forces with the Barbaresques and sets out to do mischief".

The argument was plausible and had all the greater effect because just in the last few days, October 4 and 5, reports had been received that put our envoy's ideas in a peculiar light. Murat's squadron had not gone entirely unnoticed on the Neapolitan coast: on the 4th a vessel had been observed near Sorrento which was thought to be a pirate ship and which seemed to be waiting for others like it; on the 5th a similar signal had arrived in the port of Salerno. The two pieces of news caused all the more concern in government circles because at the same time Baron Lebzeltern sent a message from Rome to the commandant of Gaëta, who reported to the capital without delay that Murat had left the port of Ajaccio with several ships.

All these facts also came to the knowledge of the diplomats of the friendly powers, at least to that of Jablonovski, who reported on them to his Cabinet on 6 and 7 October. On the other hand, what was decided at court remained a secret for the time being. They could only conclude from all sorts of signs and hints that the King's Council had agreed on a drastic measure. Our envoy and the British one thought that orders had been issued to all coastal points to treat Joachim Murat with martial law if he were seized with arms in his hand. Medici had also given orders to all commanders of the troops posted along the coasts from Salerno to Calabria to take the severest measures against those citizens who would join the ex-king. A Captain Spadea, who had returned from Sicily and was therefore undoubtedly familiar in court circles, informed Guglielmo Pepe privately "that much blood would flow in the kingdom in a short time".

Pizzo is, or was at that time, a town of about 8000 inhabitants situated on a height close to the sea, on the shore of which, where one used to land, there were individual houses and magazines. From the coast, at that time rather bumpy and uncomfortable, a path wound up to the town, which led to the main square and continued over the latter in the somewhat steeply rising road leading to Monteleone. On a hill overlooking the town on the left, in the direction in which we enter the town in our minds, there was a castle dominating the Rhine and the town.

Murat's small band, not counting himself, consisted of 29 heads, 26 of them militairs. He wore a uniform of sky-blue cloth, colonel's epaulettes, a tricorn on his head, but no medal or decoration of any kind on his chest. Some people who were on the beach during the disembarkation ran to watch the unusual spectacle and, while the Muratists kept shouting "Evviva il Re Gioacchino!", returned the greeting forced upon them. The same was the case with individuals who came to meet them as the group marched up the mountain path. Thus they arrived at the main square, where a lot of people had gathered, attracted both by the festival day and by the strange procession. The people's expressions reflected curiosity, astonishment, surprise, but not joy. On the contrary, when Murat addressed them, talking about redemption, about liberation, a woman from the people shouted at him: "You talk to us about the freedom you want to give us and you had three of my sons shot"!

This anecdote apparently goes back to Ferdinand of Naples personally, at least Helfert says in a footnote: "Tu parli di libertà e mi hai fatto fucilare tre figli! This turn the king told Prince Jablonovski, No. 15 to the 15th of October 2."

That was a wicked interjection! From their barracks appeared the coastguard, 15 men of artillery under Lieutenant Barba, armed and in their old uniform. "Behold my soldiers!" exclaimed Murat, turning to them: "Do you recognise your king? Shout: Long live King Joachim!" An official of the Duke of Infantado named Alcalà and others ran up to them and exhorted: "Shout: Long live Ferdinand!" They did neither, which Murat interpreted as a good sign that the old soldier's spirit would persuade them in his favour. But it was only amazement, or if you will, a kind of enchantment, which the unexpected appearance of the former king with his commanding and winning appearance exercised on them, as well as on the majority of those gathered in general.

While this was going on, two or three young people had approached Murat's entourage and persuaded them that nothing could be done here in Pizzo, that the population was stubborn, but that in Monteleone the "king" would certainly find his party! So Murat ordered the departure for Monteleone and called on the gunners to join him. They did not do so, but they followed his march at some distance. Joachim could no longer rest; he was not prepared for such a cool, even ambiguous reception. He strode hastily up the mountain road, so that, out of practice from the long sea voyage and affected by the excessive excitement, he had to pause to catch his breath. The coastguard was a good distance behind, marching slowly, as if irresolute, while from the town a crowd of armed men was seen approaching, by whom the artillerymen were soon overtaken. The ex-king's leaders became suspicious and urged them to hurry: "see if we can reach Monteleone as soon as possible!" But they were already close at hand, preceded in passionate haste by a gendarmerie captain named Trentacapilli; he had formerly been a gang leader, General Manhès had had three of his brothers hanged. "The general and all of you will follow me to Pizzo!" he commanded. "It behoves you," Murat replied, "to obey your king and escort him to Monteleone!" Murat's officers wanted to pounce on the audacious man, but Joachim resisted them, and he was allowed to return to his troop, from which shots were now fired. The Murat's wanted to return fire, but their master would not allow it: I do not want even one of my subjects to lose his life for the sake of my landing!

But he realised that all was lost. He and his officers, while his few men were soon crushed and overcome by the superior force, sought to reach the shore of the sea quickly, not on the paved path, but down the slope over hill and dale, with their pursuers hard on their heels, with whom they fought on the way. A single boat was found on the shore, which the officers wanted to unhitch in a hurry to head for Barbara's Trabacolo, which, instead of waiting nearby as he had been ordered, was cruising far from the shore on the high seas. But in the agitated haste, the boat could not be disentangled, and already the few were surrounded on all sides, and fists armed with sabres, axes and picks were raised against them. At this Murat surrendered: "Here you have my sword, but spare the lives of these brave men who have followed me into my misfortune!"

These words were only like an invitation to the enraged to turn their threats into action. Captain Pernice and Sergeant Giovannini fell to their deaths at Murat's side, Franceschetti fell to the ground badly hit, Lieutenant Moltedo and three others were wounded. They were seized, led or rather dragged, some of them barely able to carry themselves, into the village, under constant threats, punches and blows that spared the ex-king as little as his fellow victims. More than once an axe was raised to split Murat's head, if others had not intervened and prevented it. At this, speeches were heard which struck Joachim more sensitively than their weapons: "Were there not enough of these unfortunates? Had you not drunk your fill of the blood of your victims? Did you again need scaffolds and gallows?" He was almost completely stripped of his clothes, everything he carried was taken from him, and Trentacapilli did not miss a single thing: his money and his diamonds, his bills of exchange, his passport, everything he had to hand over. To seal his misfortune, a copy of his manifesto and his decree were found in his wallet, the incontestable proof of his hostile intention, the clear refutation of his pretence that he had only wanted to land on the coast in order to obtain the means to continue his journey to Trieste!

#joachim murat #caroline murat #hundred days #napoleon #naples 1815 #helfert murat

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sepulcrorum · 4 years

Text

JUDE LAW, FIFTY, ARCHBISHOP DE MEDICI. ❝ ⤚⟶ EUROPE, 1458. thanks is given by the DUCHY OF FLORENCE, ARCHBISHOP GIANCARLO DI GIAN GASTONE DE’ MEDICI, from FLORENCE. they are at best CHARMING, and at their worst IMPIOUS. whilst abroad, their ambition is to REAP EVER MORE GREATER LUXURIES FOR HIMSELF. HE seems to remind everyone of JUDE LAW & DESIRES BOTH HERETICAL AND UNHOLY : THE SONG OF SOLOMON SPILLING FORTH FROM ONE’S LIPS WHILST IN THE THROES OF PASSION ; INTELLECTUALISM SOUGHT FOR HEDONISM’S SAKE : ANTIQUATED TEXTS SMUGGLED FROM THE CRUMBLING REMNANTS OF ANCIENT ROMAN VILLAS AND DISPLAYED TO EXPECTED LOOKS OF AWE ; & HOLINESS FOUND, HOLINESS LOST, HOLINESS REVERED : A CERTAIN SLANT OF LIGHT SHINING THROUGH HIGH-VAULTED ARCHES. ❞

introduction

Provide a blurb introducing your character generally. This should include an overview of strengths, weaknesses, aspirations, and set backs.

It has been once said by the Lord: be ye like children, for ye to enter the Kingdom of God. Capricious, selfish, absorbed only by thoughts of himself, petty, and whimsical, the Archbishop de’ Medici does not assume the dignity of his station as a member of the Church but he does assume all the qualities of a child in him, and that makes him saved by default.

His theology is quaint, bordering on unorthodox, and it’s almost tempting to call him out for heresies but he knows too much about Scripture and can run circles around any fellow servant of Christ, much more the ordinary layman. He’s either mystical or absolutely canonical: at a certain point in theology, everything becomes one and the same. Give him time, and he can justify anything—the cruellest of acts as well as the most compassionate acts of goodwill and charity—with verses pulled from the Holy Book and the most seraphic smile on his face, almost as if his lips are intoning a blessing. He’s a Devil’s advocate in perhaps more ways than one, the destruction of Rome entire as one itinerant preacher once called him, and yet he luxuriates on wealth on top of the social pyramid, secure in his position and backed by the splendorous wealth made available by his family’s support.

Yet despite all this, despite possessing all the qualities of a man who could be—intelligent, charming, sociable, and ambitious—Giancarlo ended up being the man who isn’t, by some strange (perhaps cruel) twist of fate. With his dubious origins erasing any hope for a cardinalate, much less a chance for the Throne of St. Peter, he languishes in his role as a mere archbishop. As the years pass, he has turned bitter, cruel, recalcitrant—for what does a child do when they are given what they want?

They throw a tantrum.

What are some potential plotlines you are interested in pursuing?

I’ve inserted the little nuggets of the plotlines I plan to pursue on the blurb but to expand on it:

First is I am definitely very interested in making him a Cardinal and that is very much a thing he also wants for himself, even as much as he denies it and says he never wanted it anyway. It’s a way for him to rationalise the fact that, strictly speaking, his life didn’t go the way he wanted it to go, and so he subsists on the lie that his life (as it is right now) was what he always wanted—but ultimately, I do think that he’s still on the lookout for any opportunity to finally have the red robes of a cardinal.

Second is the state of Florence and of Italy as a whole. The blemish of the riots on the Florentines’ reputation is something that must be rectified—not even because someone died (after all, very many people die everyday) but because it sends the message that they are unable to control their own people. The Church as an institution that does much works of charity can be used to pacify the rebellious masses and perhaps turn them into the better angels that they haven’t been before. Meanwhile, Italy as a whole concerns him because they are still, ultimately, disparate nation-states with differing goals and ambitions. In a world filled with empires and hegemons, Giancarlo realises that the Italian peoples must unite—far better that it be headed, of course, by the Church or by Florence, but unity itself is non-negotiable. If the Italians do not want to be swallowed up by their neighbours, they must pool together their resources and make a stand for their existence.

Thirdly is the option of interfaith dialogue. Giancarlo is by no means perfect, but I do imagine he’s a touch more tolerant than most holy men are. He’s less a crusader and more of a diplomat, far too disillusioned to really believe in any cause of holy war. Entrenched in cynicism—usually a character flaw—he’s cognisant enough of the fact that humans are going to be shitty one way or another, and religion has almost no bearing on whether one is a good person or not. As such, I do think he has a lot of plotting potential for those characters following a different faith, and it’s fun to see how that might all play out.

three bullet-points.

Giancarlo di Gian Gastone de’ Medici is born a stain of shame. Birthed by a servant-girl and the man from whom his name marks out as his progenitor, he is kept by his father as a spare heir—only to be tossed away when a legitimate one finally comes. In this act, his father has taught him the harsh realities of life: one minute, you can have everything in front of you; the next, it all comes crashing down with nothing to show for it. He is left with no security save that which his father carved out for him: mastery of an abbey at twelve years of age and, from there, the religious life. There was nothing else for him. There is nothing else to him.

Giancarlo takes to the intellectual and monastic life quite quickly. His learning under humanist tutors in the household of his father has enabled him to take quickly to reading dense texts that speak of grand contexts. It helps that he is good with languages, and that he is friendly to everyone he meets. How bright his career would be, some would say, before adding: if only he wasn’t illegitimate. And so that stain of shame that adorned the Medici family history now mars his own future: he was always going to be a mistake, and the world will never let him forget it.

He is, by all accounts, a very disenchanted man who works himself through a façade of mustered charm gathered from who-knows-where with his mind an utter repository of Scripture and theological concepts. He can quote from Papal Bulls enacted centuries ago as easily as if they had been dictated to him just that moment; yet he always says it so drily that you’d think he’s mocking the words he’s citing. He’s in the habit of mentioning what kind of sins one is doing but always concludes it with a small note of how God is a forgiving God. He delights in the company of the wicked and the infamous; truly good people disgust him. He thinks God is present more in ugliness than any kind of beauty exemplified in art and song, and that He is dirt-covered, bloody and bruised, made with mulch and rot and diseased flesh. His God is filthy; it is only natural. We all fashion God into the form that would accept us the most.

character sheet.

FULL NAME : giancarlo di gian gastone de’ medici TITLES :

commander of badia fiorentina ( from 1420 - 1428 )

commander and rector of badia fiorentina ( from 1428 onwards )

metropolitan archbishop of florence ( from 1446 onwards )

master of the sacred apostolic palace ( from 1450 onwards )

BIRTHPLACE : florence, italian peninsula

AGE : fifty, b. 10 november 1407

LANGUAGES : fluent — italian ( tuscan ), french, ancient greek, latin, arabic, spanish, german, bavarian ; conversational — english, portuguese ; learning — ottoman turkish, farsi / persian

DYNASTY / HOUSE: house de’ medici

MOTHER & FATHER : unnamed servant girl & gian gastone de’ medici

SPOUSE : none

ISSUE : none

SIBLINGS : giovanni, lucrezia, and girolamo ( half-siblings )

OTHER : lorenzo de’ medici ( tbd )

ZODIAC : scorpio sun / sagittarius moon / scorpio rising

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION : roman catholicism

ORIENTATION : bisexual biromantic ( with a medium to high preference for his own gender )

PERSONALITY TYPE : estj-a / choleric-sanguine / enneagram tbd / slytherin

VICES : everything

VIRTUES : knowledge can be and is a virtue but not with giancarlo, babyyyyy

FACECLAIM : jude law

HEIGHT : 6′1″ or 1.85m

RECOGNISABLE FEATURES : kindly-seeming blue eyes that speaks to unfathomable depths — look too closely, and you just might find yourself falling in them; an ever-present smile that can turn earnest or mocking depending on the conversation; a smug demeanour that you can’t help but feel that he thinks he knows better than you

REPUTATION IN PORTUGAL : a famed master theologian but also a widely known libertine, giancarlo both attracts and repulses the whole of christendom with his easy smiles, his kindly-looking blue eyes, and the power of the storied lineage that has produced him. for all those who’ve had the chance to coalesce in rome—or perhaps even the italian peninsula—his name will revoke memories of scandalised whispers erupting from people huddled in corners as soon as they see him make entry into a room. portugal as of yet is a new frontier, not for reasons of lack of opportunity but due to lack of interest. after all, why stray from that eternal city whose glory is sung in ancient ballads and whose place in the world is the envy of millions? now that he is here, however, he is more than eager to make his mark.

WANTED CONNECTIONS :

i sought whom my soul loves — were giancarlo any other man, they could have been together, a couple enjoined in the warm embrace of love and unity; yet, alas, the Church has bound giancarlo to herself, and he is a weak and foolish man who cannot find himself able to stand up to anybody. ever since then, their meetings have been few and far between—but no less precious to giancarlo, no less treasured, no less sought for. ::: ( open to anyone, preferably female but any gender can technically work ! )

a young deer on the mountains of Bether — arcadian idyll had been the theme of their shared years, wild and wandering, when responsibility had been a far off concept that seemed as foreign as greying hair and the yoke of adulthood. they frolicked in sun-kissed green-topped hills and ran as carefree as the wind. now they are old, both with their respective offices, and there is nothing else to them save nostalgia over lost innocence—if they had innocence at all. ::: ( open to anyone of the same age range as giancarlo ! )

beautiful as the moon, clear as the sun — a look at them and they’re like fourteen again, dumbstruck and awed, ashamed of his own lowly station and the stain of his origins—yet now they are old, and they have significantly more resources available to them now than they had before. giancarlo has always loved what he has thought is lacking within himself; he has always sought the true, the good, and the beautiful. he deludes himself into thinking he’s found it in god, but he is about to discover he’s wrong. ::: ( open to anyone ! )

with my royal people’s chariots — people have the propensity to think that giancarlo’s last name and relative wealth and status makes him the gatekeeper to the pope’s favour. he does not think himself as holding the keys to anything, but he lets other people do—mainly because it affords him the simulation of power the likes of which he only imagined as a child. of course, there is no real backing to the promises he says he’ll fulfil for them, but it is a merry show nonetheless and a piece of theatre that giancarlo’s keen to continue in lisboa. ::: ( open to anyone who’s looking to curry favour with the pope ! )

you who dwell in the gardens — there are many blooms in the garden of God’s creation and it is not a stretch to say giancarlo is absolutely besotted with the idea of experiencing all of them. this meet in lisbon might prove to be a more fortuitous moot than the one in florence, and he is always keen to start dialogue with any and all those who would like to exchange knowledge for knowledge’s sake, even those that the rest of christendom would not welcome. ::: ( open to non-christian characters ! )

the shadows flee away — giancarlo isn’t known for moderation and temperance; he has always been one driven to excess, and he has never toned down his appetites for the sake of any cause or person. he is a flit of a thing, a butterfly eager to sap the nectar out of any willing flower before moving to the next, willing to spill honey-laced words out of cherubic lips if that is what it took to mark one as his next conquest. in this, he has doubtless transgressed against many, and there are some whose memories run long and whose desire for correction would cover even those who are consecrated to God. ::: ( open to anyone ! )

#crhs.intro #* ( 𝔤𝔦𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔞𝔯𝔩𝔬 ) ╱ per speculum in ænigmate : info !

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the-archlich · 4 years

Link

Recently finished this book.

It was extremely informative. Knowing little about the era (previously I only read Hibbert’s book on the Borgias and Turnbull’s The Art of Renaissance Warfare) I found it to be an excellent introduction to one of the families who drove the Renaissance. It provided a good overview of the events in Italy during the length of their personal dynasty and a thorough look at the individuals at the head of it.

Personally, I hate every single Medici. Cosimo and Lorenzo had some impressive personal qualities but there was nothing endearing about them. I warmed to their successors even less, who lacked their talent as well as any drop of charisma. Compared to the large than life Borgia family, they are men of weak character and filmy personalities. The wisest Medici stayed in the background, and that was for the best. Some were intelligent, most were foolish, and none were compelling. Much of their fortune was spent funding the efforts of far better men, and that’s all they were good for. They were tyrants who destroyed the republic of Florence and bankrupted the city before they were through.

Even so, while I find them all personally distasteful, I think it is impossible to overstate how much European culture owes them. They employed (and found work for) the greatest artists of the age. They built schools and universities, bringing education to new heights. They revived lost classics and gathered thousands of books from across the world. They patronized and protected scientists even after they were deemed heretical. And (through Clement VII’s ineptitude) they allowed the Protestant Reformation to flourish.

They were small men, but at least their money enabled the works of people infinitely greater.

Also I can spell Renaissance now. So there’s that.

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phenomenist-blog · 5 years

Text

7. Regensburg, Germany

Regensburg is the original capital of Bavaria. It has the most preserved Old Town of any large Medieval city in Germany. Because of this, Regensburg is a legitimate candidate for the “most authentic German city.”

Besides Augsburg, a second Roman city along the Danube has a destiny to also become one of the great Germanic cities. The city is Regensburg, which actually has an old Celtic name, “Radasbona,” a name that pre-dates Roman times. In 90 A.D., the Romans choose Radasbona as a site for a fort. It sits along the longest river on the continent, upon the Northern-most apex of the Danube. This position makes Radasbona vital to the Roman defense of the Northern frontier. Because of this, the Roman fort becomes a site of real importance, and by the second century A.D., Marcus Aurelius sees the need to upgrade fortifications. He also declares the fort a “city,” and gives it a new name: “Castra Regina.” This translates in German to “Regensburg,” and in English to “Fortress on the River Regen.”

Seated at the intersection of major trade routes, yet also far to the East of the other Roman cities of Germania, Regensburg is a remote but comfortable enough location for a regional capital to develop, and that is exactly what happens. The region around Regensburg become known as Bavaria, because of the Bajuwaren, a Germanic tribe that lives there. Still within Roman times, a Catholic bishop seat develops in Regensburg, and as Rome falls, the bishop-seat falls naturally into Germanic hands. By 530, Regensburg becomes the first and the official capital of Bavaria, a political role that the city plays for the next seven centuries, under the Agilolfing ruling family. Finally, by the eighth century, the Carolingian dynasty takes over the Germanic world, and they produce the greatest monarch in Germanic history: Charlemagne. He sends the ecclesiastical section of his General Assembly to Regensburg. For a time, this puts Regensburg center-stage in the theology of the day, because the city has the most-concentrated collection of bishops in all Germanic Christendom.

A key controversy of Christianity in the Low Middle Ages revolves around the Spanish heresy of Adoptionism: the claim that Jesus is not literally a God, nor a Son of God, until he proves his devotion, at which point the Father brings him into the divine family by adoption. While this heresy gains popularity in parts of Germanic territory, the central role that the Bishopric of Regensburg plays in its condemnation entrenches the city as a conservative Catholic stronghold, representative of the greater Germanic mindset of the time. This reputation significantly increases the power of Regensburg, and not long after this, when the descendants of Charlemagne partition their massive Empire into three large parts, they choose Regensburg to be the capital of the Eastern-most of these Imperial sections, in 843, under Emperor Louis the German. In other words, Regensburg becomes the second Imperial Seat of the Holy Roman Empire, the greatest Germanic State of all history. In the European order, this puts Regensburg on the same footing as either Rome or Paris, for a time. Of course, no Imperial Seat lasts for long in the tumultuous Holy Roman Empire. Suffice it to say that Regensburg is one of many co-capitals in the Middle Ages of Germany.

While Mainz is the true center of Germanic Christendom, Regensburg represents Eastern Germanic Christianity. Because of this, the city fulfills a uniquely important and unexpected role as bridge between the Germanic West and the Slavic East. A strong relationship begins in 845, when fourteen Bohemian princes suddenly arrive at the gates of Regensburg, in search of Western baptism. The baptisms occur at St. John’s church, in the Old Town of Regensburg, and this represents the official beginning of the Christianization of the Czech people.

Structurally within Europe, this joyous occasion forges an intimate tie between the regions of Bavaria and Bohemia, a tie which lasts for all time. The Regensburg-Prague connection specifically develops when the Bishopric of Regensburg becomes the official mother to the diocese at Prague. This is how Czech lands come to forsake Eastern Orthodox Christianity and adopt Roman Catholic, and the partial “Westernization” of Czech Culture goes back to these roots. The incorporation of the entire Slavic Kingdom of Bohemia into the Germanic world is eventually a political reality, and like Regensburg, Prague is also destined to one day become one of the temporary seats of the Holy Roman Empire. Regensburg is thus a bridge between two worlds, East and West. Perhaps the city can thank the extremely long, Eastward-flowing Danube River, for making this cultural connection possible.

After Regensburg establishes itself as an early Medieval bulwark of Germanic religion and politics, the city also begins a new era of material and economic dominance in Europe, starting in the years 800 to 1000, when the population of the city nearly doubles to 40,000. At this point of the Low Middle Ages, Regensburg is the largest Germanic city, a status that lasts for over a century, until Cologne eclipses its population in the High Middle Ages. This puts Regensburg on a short list of alpha German cities throughout history.

Critically, in the twelfth century, mighty Regensburg changes the economic and developmental fortunes of the whole European continent, forever, when its architects finish the construction of the massive stone bridge that crosses over the previously-uncrossable Danube River. This significant accomplishment in Medieval design links South to North. Specifically, Regensburg links Italian cities such as the prosperous independent Republic of Venice with Germanic cities to the North, primarily Lübeck, the center of the Hanseatic League, the biggest trade union of the Middle Ages. Essentially, Regensburg is the central crux of a new era of European trade, even more impactful from an economic perspective than the East-West bridge that Roman Emperor Constantine originally builds across the Rhine, in Cologne. Regensburg has the most important bridge in Medieval history, and in historical context, its construction is so well-timed, that it literally corresponds to the booming rise of cities, across the entire continent. Before the Regensburg bridge over the Danube, there just are not that many cities in Europe. The importance of the stone crossing can hardly be overstated, and it still stands to this day, at the gateway of the city, an awe-inspiring structure that is structurally impressive as well as Classically beautiful.

Because of its North-South bridge, as well as its natural position along the East-West Danube, Regensburg becomes just as prosperous as Cologne, a model Medieval trade city. Regensburg also defines what is now the world-famous Bavarian culture of global commerce. In the thirteenth century, Regensburg becomes a Free Imperial City, or autonomous city-state, within the Holy Roman Empire. This status provides significant trade freedom that attracts several wealthy banking families, who happily make their residence in lovely Regensburg. These developments constitute the beginnings of banking in Bavaria, the region that becomes the center of all European banking when the families of Augsburg inherit the entire banking Empire of the Medici in Florence. To this day, Bavaria is the wealthiest of all German provinces, and that is thanks to the pioneering banking efforts of Regensburg and Augsburg.

In the Late Middle Ages, Augsburg eclipses Regensburg economically, and Nuremberg takes over as the capital of Bavaria. Because of this, official power abandons Regensburg until the seventeenth century. Oddly enough, in spite of its early and very powerful Catholic roots, Regensburg, just like Augsburg, defies the traditions of Bavaria as a whole and openly accepts Protestantism in the Reformation. That is, the people of the Free Imperial City of Regensburg become fully Protestant. However, the original Catholic Bishopric within Regensburg maintains its permanent seat, with its own autonomous status. This makes two cities, technically, within Regensburg, one Protestant and one Catholic. Only a very powerful city like Augsburg or Regensburg could fight the staunchly-Catholic tradition of Bavaria and become a “mixed” city of dual denominations.

In addition, three separate Catholic churches attain autonomous status, within the walls of Regensburg. These are the beautiful abbeys of St. Emmeram, Niedermünster, and Obermünster. These three stand to this day as iconic symbols of the Medieval Old Town, and they assert total political autonomy, which makes them like three, miniature versions of the Vatican, within the walls of Regensburg. Some of the most subtle and beautiful views in all the city can be found in and around its church buildings.

Finally, in 1663, Regensburg enters back into the political conversation of Germanic Imperial Cities when the Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire stops moving from city to city and finally comes to rest in Regensburg. This creates a new branch of government called the “Perpetual Diet of Regensburg,” and it represents an unprecedentedly stable form of Germanic Congress. It is essentially the foundation for any Modern notion of German democracy. Because of this, Regensburg sits right next to Vienna in importance as a political city at the sunset of the Holy Roman Empire. Overall, historians consider Regensburg to be one of the four main capitals in the history of the Empire.

While many great German cities tragically meet near or total obliteration during the Allied bombings of WWII, Regensburg, like no other city of comparable Medieval size, emerges incredibly lucky, with almost no damage to its Old Town. Then, as a continued twist of fortune, the economic hardship of the post-war environment proves so severe, within Regensburg specifically, that there is no effort to rush the construction of modern concrete buildings. Because of this, when conditions finally improve, Regensburg rises from the ashes of WWII with a surprise blessing: a weirdly, perfectly-intact Medieval city center. There is no other city like it. It is the most authentic large Medieval city in Germany to survive so well into the modern era.

Not only does Regensburg have the reputation as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but any discussion of the “most authentic German city” would be impossible to take seriously, without it. No other city as powerful as Regensburg across so many eras of history presents such a well-preserved Old Town, undisturbed by war. How is it still standing? Such beauty, power and scope do not normally survive the tumult of Germanic history. A person could spend a lifetime in the city, exploring its cultural depths, and never exhaust the treasures, nor really even come close. It is one of the greatest cities in the world, where a seamless, uninterrupted timeline spans the Roman era through the entire Medieval Germanic era to the Modern, and that is precisely what makes the city such a fantastic place. A person who walks, bikes, rides the tram, or drives a car through the city will probably be shocked at how well a Medieval structure blends together with Modern practicality. Nobody who claims it as the “most authentic German city” would receive argument from anyone who know the city well. No wonder the entire Old Town has received protection from the UN as a World Heritage Site, an international recognition. It is a city that perfectly represents Germanic history.

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trainerfox25 · 3 years

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Civ 6 Highlander

Nov 16, 2018 Civilization 6 new Civs - all new Civs in Rise and Fall and other Civ 6 DLC. Scotland Unique Unit - Highlander: Industrial Era recon unit with additional Combat and Ranged Strength, and another. Myles Horton discusses the founding of Highlander, 1979, Warren Wilson College, Digital Library of Appalachia. Police file on Myles Horton, Alabama Photographs and Pictures Collection, ADAH. Minutes for Planned Freedom School Meeting at the Highlander Folk Center, January 6, 1965, Lucile Montgomery Papers, WHS. The Skirmisher is a Medieval Era recon unit in Civilization VI: Gathering Storm. It upgrades from the Scout (or its replacements).

EthiopiaLeaderZara YaqobAbilitySolomonic DynastyUnitShotelaiBuildingRock-Hewn Church