Northern Period Productions - Living History and Historical Interpretation

In these categories, we wish to illustrate the variety and depth of characters used in the performance of a scenario. We hope to develop these categories throughout the historical periods, lending an insight into the genre of living history

Martin de Mandeville

This is a very interesting person. He began life as John de Mandeville, a fictional character as I needed a link between Henry II, John de Courcy, Hugh de Lacy (the younger) and King John. I happened to mention this character to Gerry Healey of the Linen Hall Library as I was looking for as much historical material to make him as real as possible. Then the incredible happened, about one year later Gerry Healey was leafing through some old documents and he found a piece of research reprinted from the Transactions of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History Antiquarian Society - Volume XXXIV. Titled Robert I. and the De Mandevilles of Ulster, and there was my character all I had to do was change his name. He was involved with Hugh de Lacy (the elder), John de Curci, Hugh de Lacy (the younger) and was with King John at Carrickfergus on 27th July 1210 when he received a priest (a gift) from King John. He appears to have had two wives Isabelle and Amabilia to whom he had at least one son Robert and a daughter Joan.

The Lady de Mandeville

The Lady Isabelle de Mandeville, a Hiberno Norman, lives with her husband, Martin de Mandeville, daughter Joan and their small retinue at the motte, called Clonaenachmore (the great fair meadow), the once ancient Irish capital of Mourne, now called Greencastle. The motte is connected by a ferry and lies directly across the inlet from Carlingford Castle. This castle is built on the dower lands of Lescelin née de Verdun and is inhabited by herself and her husband Hugh de Lacy, the younger, the Earl of Ulster, who is Sir Martin's liege Lord.

The year is 1205. King John being the boyish, capricious, vindictive monarch that he is, is still having trouble with his barons. Willian de Braose has slipped into Ireland to evade the King's wrath and vengefulness, he has been sheltered by William Marshall (a leading knight of the realm), who has also crossed the sea to lie low in his Irish Estates.

What are the Lady de Mandeville's immediate thoughts on her future, her personal thoughts on her family, food, travel, her neighbours, friends and servants?