Publication Date: September 2, 2024
“The Girl of Many Crowns” is the true and inspiring story of Judith, the first princess of France, who is a pawn in a complex political game of chess as her father, King Charles, tries to hold on to his kingdom. King Charles, grandson of Emperor Charlemagne, is beset on every side by Vikings, rebel lords, and greedy neighboring monarchs. He marries 12-year-old Judith to Aethelwulf, the aging King of Wessex, for political advantage. When she is widowed less than two years later, he arranges a second marriage for her. But, when Judith refuses to marry a third time at her father’s command, King Charles imprisons her in one of his palaces. Baldwin Iron Arm is a powerful knight from Flanders who pledges loyalty to King Charles and his family. As the companion of Judith’s brother, Louis, he fulfills his oath by protecting King Charles’ family from Vikings, rebel lords, wars, and assassination plots. He is conflicted when he must choose between obeying the king and rescuing his daughter Judith from her imprisonment.
As a Frankish princess, Judith knows her life will either include a convent or an arranged marriage. Regardless of which path, the one thing excluded from either one is personal choice.
Author D. H. Morris provides a captivating dive into life during the 8th century in The Girl of Many Crowns. The Kingdom of Francia, led by Judith’s father, is constantly caught up in power struggles, often by neighboring kings related by blood.
The author skillfully weaves rich historical information into the storyline, providing key context illustrating why Charles would choose an alliance for his daughter with a much older man.
It’s also why he selects Baldwin “Iron Arm” to serve as a mentor/companion for young Prince Louis. Baldwin is not only a handsome young man, but he is also full of compassion.
Judith’s perspective changes significantly as she marries not once but twice upon her father’s orders. Crowned as a queen, Judith decides the third time will be her choice, even if it involves a marriage well below her rank.
Defying a Frankish king can get rather complicated, especially with all of the political maneuvering, the danger of Danish invasion, and interference from religious leaders.
The author brings characters from history books to life and demonstrates how one couple fights the odds for a unified future.
The Girl of Many Crowns features fast-paced action covering seven years as a young girl gains the courage to chart her own path.
A native of San Diego, California, D. H. Morris has lived on four continents and traveled through many countries. She has four children and eleven grandchildren and currently lives with her husband in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Choral Music education and pursued graduate work in English at USU and law at the University of Utah. She is also a published playwright. As a descendant of Judith and Baldwin, the author discovered their intriguing story while doing a genealogical project. This journey inspired her to spend years researching everything about the 9th Century – including food, politics, travel, war, education, clothing, jewelry, religion, holidays, marriage customs, and medicine. She loves talking about this remarkable time in history when the European countries we know today were just being formed and fighting for their very existence.
Thank you for your thoughtful review of The Girl of Many Crowns! I’m delighted you found Judith’s journey both captivating and relatable. Her determination to claim agency in a turbulent world resonates across eras.
This theme of empowerment is so important to me that I’ve pledged to donate a percentage of the proceeds to the OUR Rescue group, which helps those in need break free from trafficking and child exploitation. I hope Judith’s story inspires readers to reflect on the nature of choice and courage in both history and their own lives!