The Tudor Society
  • #OTD in Tudor history – 23 February

    A photo of Henry Grey's head

    On this day in Tudor history, 23rd February, Elizabeth of York, wife of Henry VII and mother of Henry VIII, was buried at Westminster Abbey, Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk, was executed on Tower Hill following the failed Wyatt’s Rebellion, and religious pamphleteer Job Throckmorton was buried…

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  • #OTD in Tudor History – 11 February

    Portrait of Elizabeth of York

    On this day in Tudor history, 11th February, Elizabeth of York, queen consort of Henry VII was born in 1466 and died in 1503, and in 1531, Convocation granted Henry VIII the title of supreme head of the Church in England…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 18 January

    Portraits of Elizabeth if York and Henry VII

    On this day in Tudor history, 18th January, King Henry VII married Elizabeth of York, uniting the Houses of Lancaster and York, Henry VIII dressed up as an outlaw to surprise his wife, and a man who was a composer, musician and spy was born…

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  • February 23 – Elizabeth of York’s funeral

    A portrait of Elizabeth of York with a photo of the front of Westminster Abbey, her resting place

    On this day in Tudor history, 23rd February 1503, Elizabeth of York, Queen Consort of Henry VII and mother of Henry VIII, was laid to rest at Westminster Abbey.

    Elizabeth had died on her 37th birthday, on 11th February, at the Tower of London, nine days after giving birth to a daughter, Katherine, who also died.

    In “The Last Medieval Queens: English Queenship 1445-1503”, J L Laynesmith writes of how at least £3,000 was spent on Elizabeth’s funeral, compared to the £600 spent on that of Arthur, Prince of Wales, the previous year, and that “the whole process was rich with references to the queen’s coronation”.

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  • Blog: A Tudor Style Banquet, Heritage Festival and Easter Fun

    This time we are not only looking back at what has been, but are also looking forward to what is to come. From Easter activities and exciting events you do not want to miss, to some fascinating videos from our website.

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  • 24 November – The death of John Knox and the coronation procession of Elizabeth of York

    On this day in Tudor history, 24th November 1572, John Knox, the Scottish clergyman, famous Reformer , royal chaplain, and founder of Presbyterianism, died at his home in Edinburgh as his second wife, Margaret, read aloud from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.

    John Knox is known for bringing the Protestant reformation to the church in Scotland and his controversial views about women rulers, but he was also chaplain to King Edward VI and had a very eventful life, being taken prisoner by the French and being forced into service on the galleys of their fleet at one point.

    Find out more about John Knox’s life and career in this talk…

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  • Did Elizabeth of York really have an affair with Richard III?

    Thank you to Şebnem for asking “Did Elizabeth of York really have an affair with Richard III?”, something which has been popularised by the “Cousins’ War” series of novels by Philippa Gregory and the TV adaptations of them.

    Is there any truth to this idea? Was Elizabeth of York in love with Richard III? Did Richard and his niece become lovers? And did Richard III poison Anne Neville, his queen?

    I look at what history tells us about Elizabeth of York and her uncle, Richard III.

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  • Broken leg kills translator, Elizabeth of York’s funeral, and an earl implicated in murder

    In the first part of This Week in Tudor history for the week beginning 22nd February, historian and author Claire Ridgway talks about a translator killed by a broken leg, the lavish funeral of Elizabeth of York, and an earl who rose in the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I, but who was implicated in a murder in his final days.

    22nd February 1571, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I – The death of translator John Bury after breaking his leg in a fall from his horse….

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  • 18 January – Henry VII and Elizabeth of York get married

    On this day in Tudor history,18th January 1486, twenty-nine year-old King Henry VII married twenty year-old Elizabeth of York at Westminster Abbey.

    This was over two years after he had vowed to marry her and nearly 5 months after his victory at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Why did Henry VII delay in marrying Elizabeth of York?

    Find out what delayed the marriage, and more about the bride and groom, in today’s talk.

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  • 25 November – The coronation of Elizabeth of York

    On this day in Tudor history, 25th November 1487, the Feast of St Catherine, Elizabeth of York, queen consort of Henry VII and mother of one-year-old Arthur Tudor, was crowned queen at Westminster Abbey.

    In today’s talk, I share details of Elizabeth of York’s coronation, including Elizabeth’s apparel, and who attended, plus a list of some of the interesting dishes served at Elizabeth of York’s coronation banquet which included swan and seal!

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  • 24 November – Elizabeth of York’s coronation procession

    On this day in Tudor history, Saturday 24th November 1487, the coronation procession of Elizabeth of York, queen consort of King Henry VII, the first Tudor monarch, took place in London.

    Elizabeth of York’s coronation was scheduled for the next day. She had become queen in January 1486, but her coronation had been postponed due to pregnancy and trouble with the Cornish rebels and Perkin Warbeck. Finally, Henry VII’s wife and the mother of little Prince Arthur could be crowned queen.

    Find out all about her coronation procession, what Elizabeth wore, who was involved and what happened, in today’s talk.

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  • 11 February – The birth and death of Elizabeth of York

    Fancy dying on your birthday! Well, that’s what happened to Elizabeth of York, queen consort of King Henry VII, founder of the Tudor dynasty.

    In today’s video, I tell you all about this Tudor queen, from her birth on this day in 1466 to her death on this day in 1503.

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  • Elizabeth of York in 60 seconds

    A portrait of Elizabeth of York, queen consort of Henry VII

    “Why did I limit myself to 60 seconds?” I keep asking myself! It’s so tricky to do any justice at all to these Tudor people in that time, but I hope that these videos do give people enough basic information to make them want to find out more.

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  • 18 January 1486 – The marriage of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York

    On this day in history, 18th January 1486, the twenty-nine-year-old Henry VII married the twenty-year-old Elizabeth of York.

    They made a striking couple. Elizabeth of York had classic English Rose looks – blonde hair, blue eyes and fair skin – and Henry was tall, slim, dark haired and handsome. They were the perfect couple, and their marriage brought hope to the country. It reconciled the warring Houses of Lancaster and York, and began a new royal house and era: the Tudor dynasty.

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  • 25 November 1487 – Elizabeth of York is crowned queen

    On 25th November 1487, St Catherine’s Day, Elizabeth of York, consort of Henry VII and mother of one-year-old Arthur Tudor, was crowned queen at Westminster Abbey. As Elizabeth’s biographer Amy Licence explains, her coronation had been postponed due to her pregnancy and then unrest in England.

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  • Mary Tudor, Queen of France, by Sarah Bryson

    On 18th March 1496, Queen Elizabeth of York, wife of King Henry VII, gave birth to a healthy baby girl at Richmond Palace. The little girl was named Mary and her birth was recorded by Elizabeth in her Psalter. Lady Margaret Beaufort, the King’s mother, also recorded Mary’s birth in her Book of Hours. On 18th March, Margaret recorded: “Hodie nata Maria tertia filia Henricis VII 1495”, or “Today, ws born Mary, the third daughter of Henry VII 1495.” Although Margaret recorded the date as 1495, this is because the new calendar year did not start in Tudor times until Lady Day, 25th March, so we’d say that she was born in 1496.

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  • Elizabeth of York by Sarah Bryson

    On 11th of February 1466, Elizabeth of York was born at the Palace of Westminster. Exactly thirty seven years later, at the Tower of London, Elizabeth died shortly after giving birth to her last child.

    Elizabeth of York was the eldest child of King Edward IV and his wife Queen Elizabeth Woodville. Elizabeth was christened in St Stephen’s Chapel in Westminster Abbey. Jacquetta of Luxembourg, Duchess of Bedford, and Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, stood as her godmothers and Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, stood as her godfather.

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  • February 2016 Tudor Life Magazine

    It’s our sex edition … and there are lots of things to discover within February’s Tudor Life magazine. Dare you read on? (Actually you won’t be shocked, but you will learn a lot!)

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  • Coronation of Elizabeth of York – 25 November 1487

    On 25th November 1487, St Catherine’s Day, Elizabeth of York, consort of Henry VII and mother of one-year-old Arthur Tudor, was crowned queen at Westminster Abbey. As Elizabeth’s biographer Amy Licence explains, her coronation had been postponed due to her pregnancy and then unrest in England.

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  • The Marriage Bed of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York

    Bed of rosesFrom now until 22nd November 2015, Hever Castle is exhibiting a late medieval bed believed to have been the marriage bed of King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. It is on loan from the Langley Collection.

    Extensive research has been done regarding the provenance of the bed, including DNA testing of the timber. You can read more about the bed and the research at the following links:

    Also in The Bed of Roses exhibition is a newly purchased 16th Century replica of a painting of Henry VIII by Joos van Cleve. Go to www.hevercastle.co.uk/ to find out more about the castle and visiting it.

  • Tudor Life February 2015 – Lady Jane Grey Special!

    Enjoy this amazing 82 page Lady Jane Grey Special Edition magazine.

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