What has a Spanish scholar and humanist born on this day in Valencia, Spain, in 1492 got to do with the Tudors? Well, he helped shape the woman who would become Queen Mary I by advising her mother, Catherine of Aragon, on her education.
In today’s “on this day in Tudor history” video, I introduce Vives and his advice for Mary’s education, and also give details on the young Mary, including her intelligence and accomplishments.
[Read More...]
Today is Shrove Tuesday, the final day of Shrovetide and the last opportunity to use up forbidden foods and to have some fun before the abstinence of Lent – well, for some people anyway!
At the Tudor court, Shrovtide was marked with entertainment such as jousting, pageants, music and masques, plus lots of feasting. Alison Sim, in her book “Pleasures and Pastimes in Tudor England”, describes one Shrovetide entertainment, “threshing the cock”, which consisted of tethering a cock and then people trying to kill it by throwing things at it. A prize was given to the person who killed it. Sim also writes of how “sometimes the cock was buried with just its head sticking out of the ground and then blindfolded people would try to kill it with a flail.” I’m so glad that we don’t do that today! Awful!
[Read More...]
On this day in Tudor history, 5th March 1549, a bill of attainder was passed against Thomas Seymour, Baron Sudeley, uncle of King Edward VI, finding him guilty of 33 counts of treason.
In today’s video, I explain what happened and share some of the charges laid against this brother of Queen Jane Seymour.
[Read More...]
A theme of unrequited love, damsels in distress, lavish costumes, a peal of guns, fruit throwing and dancing – the ingredients of the lavish entertainment put on for the royal court on this day in 1522. And two of the participants were King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn!
In today’s “on this day in Tudor history” video, I share an account of the spectacular Château Vert pageant performed at York Place (Whitehall Palace) on 4th March 1522 as part of the Shrovetide entertainment.
[Read More...]
3rd March 1515 is one of the dates given in the French contemporary sources for the secret marriage of Mary Tudor, Queen of France, and Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, but did the couple really marry on this date?
In today’s “on this day in Tudor history”, I examine the English and French sources, such as letters and chronicles, to see which date they support for the couple’s secret marriage.
[Read More...]
As it was St David’s Day on Friday, I thought we’d celebrate it and the Tudors’ Welsh links with this Tudor and Wales Wordsearch.
Be warned, the words can go in all directions!
Good luck!
[Read More...]
In today’s “on this day in Tudor history” video, I look at the Shrovetide joust, which took place on 2nd March 1522, and share Edward Hall’s wonderful account of the knights’ costumes and their mottoes.
Was the theme of unrequited love aimed at anyone in particular?
[Read More...]
On this day in history, 1st March 1620, Tudor poet, composer and physician Thomas Campion died and was laid to rest.
Campion was a prolific composer and poet, yet he died in quite humble circumstances. He did, however, escape imprisonment and worse after being implicated in a man’s poisoning. Find out more about this man in this video.
[Read More...]
Happy St David’s Day to all those celebrating today! Will you be wearing a leek or a daffodil today? Do you celebrate it? Let me tell you a bit more about St David and also how the Tudors marked this occasion.
[Read More...]
For this month’s talk we are joined by Wendy J. Dunn, a novelist and tutor from Swinburne University of Technology. Wendy discusses the ins and outs of writing historical novels.
[Read More...]
What a wonderful month we have for our Tudor Society members with this 84 page magazine focusing on Tudor Explorers. The articles, as always, are excellent and we learned lots as the magazine went together. We hope you enjoy!
[Read More...]
On this day in Tudor history, 28th February 1525, the wizard earl, Gerald Fitzgerald, 11th Earl of Kildare, was born. He spent much of his life on the run, and I explain why and what happened.
Fitzgerald is recorded as dying in London of a natural death, but legend says otherwise! Find out about the legend regarding him dabbling in the dark arts and his ghost at Kilkea Castle.
[Read More...]
On this day in history, 27th February 1601, Mark Barkworth (also known by the alias Lambert), a Benedictine monk, was hanged, drawn and quartered, dressed in the habit of the Benedictine order, at Tyburn. Two others died that day: Roger Filcock, Jesuit, and Anne Line, a widow who had harboured priests. Barkworth was beatified in 1929, Line was canonised in 1970 and Filcock was beatified in 1987.
[Read More...]
On 27th February 1545, the Battle of Ancrum Moor, part of the War of the Rough Wooing, took place near Jedburgh in Scotland.
In today’s video, I explain what caused the War of the Rough Wooing and what happened when the English and Scots’ forces clashed that day. I also talk about the legend surrounding Lilliard’s Stone, which can be found on the battlefield.
[Read More...]
On this day in Tudor history, 26th February 1564, Christopher Marlowe was baptised in Canterbury.
Kit Marlowe wasn’t only a gifted poet and playwright, he was one of Tudor England’s colourful characters and there is controversy over his life, his works, his faith (or lack of it) and his violent death. In this video, I introduce this man, look at the allegations made against him and examine the theories regarding his death in 1593.
[Read More...]
On 25th February 1601, Elizabeth I’s former favourite, Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, was executed by beheading.
In today’s video, I share an excerpt from her book “On This Day in Tudor History” about Essex’s execution, which includes his scaffold speech, before explaining how this man went from being royal favourite to traitor. Pride really did come before a fall in the case of Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex.
[Read More...]
Thank you for all who came to the live chat with Rozsa Gaston, and congratulations to Laurie who won acopy of Rozsa’s book “Anne And Charles”. For those who couldn’t attend the chat, here is the transcript of our discussion. Hope to see you at the next live chat!
[Read More...]
On this day in Tudor history, 24 February 1500, a man who would be heir to three powerful dynasties and who would rule “the empire on which the sun never sets” was born. That man was Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.
In today’s video, I share some Charles V facts. He was an interesting man!
[Read More...]
This week’s Sunday brain-stretcher is a crossword puzzle. How much have you learned from Claire’s recent “on this day in Tudor history” videos? Test your knowledge with this February Tudor events cross word puzzle. Good luck!
[Read More...]
Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk, father of Lady Jane Grey, was beheaded on this day in 1554 after being found guilty of treason. I explain how he went from being pardoned to being condemned to death and executed in just a few months, and also share his execution speech.
I also share a story regarding his alleged mummified head!
[Read More...]
22nd February 1511 was a sad day for King Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, for it was on this day that they lost their son, Henry, Duke of Cornwall. The royal couple had been married less than two years and had already lost two children.
In this video, I share an account of this devastating loss.
[Read More...]
In this week’s Friday video, our roving reporter, Philippa Lacey Brewell, visits Stratford upon Avon, starting at Shakespeare’s birthplace, through town to Shakespeare’s schoolroom, where she shows us inside, and ending up at Holy Trinity Church where William Shakespeare was buried.
[Read More...]
Tomorrow is the date for this month’s expert live chat. It’s with author Rozsa Gaston who spoke to us about Anne of Brittany, queen consort of France to two kings, Charles VIII and Louis XII.
[Read More...]
On this day in Tudor history, 21st February 1595, Jesuit pries, poet and writer Robert Southwell was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn.
Who was he? Why was he executed? And why did Elizabeth I eventually move against Catholics? I explain in today’s video.
[Read More...]
On this day in Tudor history, 20th February 1547, the boy-king Edward VI was crowned king by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer at Westminster Abbey.
In today’s video, I share details of Edward’s coronation, including the changes made due to his youth – the king was just nine years old. He needed cushions on his throne!
[Read More...]
Today we have a guest post from the DigVentures team who are currently working at Sudeley Castle. Thank you to Maiya of DigVentures for contacting me and sending me this article. Over to them…
Tudor history fans are being invited to help archaeologists unearth a remarkable set of ruins recently discovered in the grounds of Sudeley Castle.
Sudeley Castle, in the Cotswold town of Winchcombe, was one of the Tudors’ most beloved palaces and housed many of those closest to the crown. It’s where Anne Boleyn stayed with Henry VIII while he decided to dissolve the monasteries and where Katherine Parr, his last wife, later lived after he died.
Now, a small team of archaeologists from DigVentures are on a mission to unearth traces of another remarkable moment in Tudor history: a famously epic three-day party attended by Elizabeth I to celebrate her victory over the Spanish Armada, held somewhere in the castle grounds.
[Read More...]
On this day in Tudor history, 19th February 1547, the new king, the nine-year-old King Edward VI, son of King Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, processed through the streets of London on his coronation procession.
In this video, I share details of the procession route, descriptions of the streets, the huge procession, and the pageants and entertainment that Edward VI and the citizens of London would have enjoyed on that day in 1547. It sounds like a spectacular event.
[Read More...]
On this day in Tudor history, Lady Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox and Elizabeth I’s cousin, was informed of the murder of her son, Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley.
Margaret had been imprisoned in the Tower of Lonon in 1566 after Elizabeth I had heard news of Darnley’s marriage to Mary, Queen of Scots, and was still in the Tower in 1567. News of her son’s murdered was carried to her by William Cecil’s wife, Mildred, and Lady William Howard.
[Read More...]
Happy Birthday to Queen Mary I! Yes, Mary I, a woman who has unfortunately gone down in history as “Bloody Mary” and whose reign is often seen as a failure, was born on this day in 1516.
In today’s video,I talk about Mary I’s birth and baptism and share some of Mary I’s achievements as queen. She’s so much more than Bloody Mary.
[Read More...]
On this day in Tudor history, 17th February 1547, Edward Seymour was made Duke of Somerset. He was already leading the boy-king Edward VI’s government as Lord Protector, something that King Henry VIII had not wanted, so how did he get to these dizzying heights and who exactly was Edward Seymour?
I explain what happened in 1547 and share some Edward Seymour facts.
[Read More...]