Baz Aveyard

Historian, Author, Speaker and Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society

Baz Aveyard is an independent medieval historian, author and public speaker based in Lincoln. He specialises in the lives of individuals whose stories illuminate the political, social and personal complexities of medieval England, particularly the women whose experiences have too often been overshadowed by those of kings, noblemen and warriors.

In October 2026, Baz was elected an Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, recognising his contribution to historical research and writing.

Following a career in higher education, including senior roles in nursing education and a lectureship at Sheffield Hallam University, Baz retired in 2016. His longstanding fascination with medieval history subsequently developed into a second career as a researcher, writer and speaker.

He has now secured contracts with Pen & Sword Books for four historical biographies:

• Joan Beaufort, Katherine Swynford’s Daughter: Matriarch of the North — a biography of the daughter of Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt, whose marriage into the Neville family placed her at the heart of northern aristocratic power. Scheduled for publication in 2027.
• Eleanor Neville — the remarkable and often tragic story of Joan Beaufort’s daughter, Countess of Northumberland, who endured the loss of her husband and four sons during the Wars of the Roses. Scheduled for publication in 2027.
• Piers Gaveston — a reassessment of the controversial Earl of Cornwall, his intimate relationship with Edward II, his extraordinary political career and his violent death in 1312. Planned for publication in 2028.
• Catherine de Valois — the story of the French princess who became Queen of England through her marriage to Henry V and whose later relationship with Owen Tudor helped establish the dynasty that would transform English history. Forthcoming from Pen & Sword.

Baz’s research places particular emphasis on contemporary chronicles, medieval records and archival evidence, while seeking to recover the human experiences behind the historical narrative.

An experienced and engaging public speaker, he regularly delivers illustrated talks to historical societies, U3A groups and other organisations. His subjects include Katherine Swynford, Joan Beaufort, Eleanor Neville and the wider world of medieval England.

Through his website, The Medieval History Bloke, Baz shares his research, visits to historic sites, discoveries and reflections on bringing medieval lives to a modern readership.