Lost in Bohemia and Outremer. Eventful Year 2023

As 2023 is drawing to an end, a quick summing up. I haven't been much around here, on the blog, I admit, but it doesn't mean I stayed idle. I focued on the project I have been working on for three years now and hope to complete in 2024. Not to spill the beans, it HAS something to do with the Young King. I just do not want to reveal too much. Not yet. 

                         Photo courtesy of Tomáš Hejlek and Zbojník

Additionally, I got myself involved in supporting the project of a young film director from the Czech Republic, who has come up with an idea to make a new version of Robin Hood. There have been numerous versions of the story retold over the years, but none of them set in Bohemia. Leos Kastner decided to do something about it. His Zbojnik (The Outlaw) takes us to his family land, where upon the death of Přemysl Otakar II at the Battle of the Marchfeld (26 August 1278), chaos ensued. Ravages of injustice and violence swept the land. A younger son of a lord took part in Lord Edward’s Crusade (the Ninth Crusade under Edward, Duke of Gascony, the future King Edward I of England) and returned home from the Outremer only to see his king fall. Ulrich of Ruppau (Oldrich z Rupova) is a fictional character who, in the course of the story, gradually became acquainted with real contemporary historical figures. Ulrich is inspired not only by the legend of Robin Hood but also by the Czech legend of the bandit called Ondráš. What I find most refreshing about the project is the fact that the director himself and other members of the crew are true medievalists determined to make as historically acurate movie as possible. Historical consultant Marijan Krumlovsky did a great job with the reconstruction of Premysl Otakar II, ''the Iron and Golden King''. The king's great helm has already become the stuff of legends. 

Photo courtesy of Tomáš Hejlek and Zbojník

I did interviews with the director and with the historical consultant for Susan Abernethy's The Freelance History Writer. 

Interview with Leoš Kastner

Interview with Marijan Krumlovský

Thank you for the invitation, Susan! 

Also, together with Marijan Krumlovský we wrote an article for Medievalists.net about filming the scenes in the Holy Land, which must have been quite a challenge, but also great fun. See for yourself! Making a Medieval Movie: Crusading in a Czech quarry.

In June I was happy to welcome Sharon Bennett Connolly to the blog and we had a nice chat about her latest book. Henry the Young King's younger brother, John, and one of the greatest heroines of medieval England being the subject. You can read the interview here. Last, but not least, this year saw me joining Stephanie Churchill Ling as an administrator of Sharon Kay Penman's Facebook page. Sharon passed away two years ago, but we remember! And are determined to keep this memory alive. For the sake of her legacy, but also for her readers and admirers all over the world. You can view and follow the page here:

Sharon Kay Penman Page 

I would like to wish all Henry the Young King Blog readers a very Happy New Year! May it be a good one!

Katarzyna Ogrodnik-Fujcik