“Paradoxically, however, although Mary’s pregnancy appeared to strengthen Philip’s position and power, linking discussions of his coronation with the imminent birth of an heir placed him in a position not unlike that of former queen consorts: except for Catherine of Aragon, whose coronation took place at the same time as that of Henry VIII,plans to crown Tudor consorts were usually connected with the proof of their fecundity. For example, King Henry VII’s wife Elizabeth was crowned only after she had borne a son. According to Charles T. Wood, the fact that Elizabeth had a better claim to the throne than Henry VII meant that ‘before a non-threatening coronation could take place, Elizabeth had first to produce a son, a male whose rights would supersede her own’. Of Henry VIII’s wives, Anne Boleyn’s coronation took place during her pregnancy, plans to crown Jane Seymour after the birth of Edward were thwarted only by her untimely death, and rumours of Katherine Howard’s imminent coronation circulated during a progress to York when it was believed she was with child. Although Renard believed that ‘in England the coronation stands for a true and lawful confirmation of title, and means much more here than in other realms,’ he presented the case for Philip’s coronation to Mary by citing ‘the precedent of Queen Catherine, her lady mother, who was crowned,’ implying that it would give Philip no more power than that enjoyed by a queen consort.”
I don’t know if only I or the rest of you notice how modern culture places English history the most (especially the Tudor and York dynasties,etc) on TV. Don’t get me wrong, they really deserve attention and they are interesting, but I think there are many other European (world!) dynasties that deserve a lot of attention. Again, don’t get me wrong, I adore those series, but I wish there were more series about Russian history, Austro-Hungarian, Italian, about the ancient peoples of America, Africa, Asia, about ancient Greece, Rome, etc … No hate, just my opinion! If you have any suggestions about some other historical shows (or movies, it doesn’t matter), feel free to answer me! Don’t you agree?
The Tudors in Love: The Courtly Code Behind the Last Medieval Dynasty, Sarah Gristwood (23 September 2021)
The dramas of courtly love have captivated centuries of readers and dreamers. Yet too often they’re dismissed as something existing only in books and song – those old legends of King Arthur and chivalric fantasy.
Not so. In this ground-breaking history, Sarah Gristwood reveals the way courtly love made and marred the Tudor dynasty. From Henry VIII declaring himself as the ‘loyal and most assured servant’ of Anne Boleyn to the poems lavished on Elizabeth I by her suitors, the Tudors re-enacted the roles of the devoted lovers and capricious mistresses first laid out in the romances of medieval literature. TheTudors in Love dissects the codes of love, desire and power, unveiling romantic obsessions that have shaped the history of this nation.
Woodsmoke and Sage: The Five Senses 1485-1603: How the Tudors Experienced the World, Amy Licence (31 August 2021)
Using the five senses, historian Amy Licence presents a new perspective on the material culture of the past, exploring the Tudors’ relationship with the fabric of their existence, from the clothes on their backs, the roofs over their heads and the food on their tables, to the wider questions of how they interpreted and presented themselves, and what they believed about life, death and beyond. Take a journey back 500 years and experience the sixteenth century the way it was lived, through sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.
Usurpers, A New Look at Medieval Kings, Michele Morrical (30 September 2021)
In the Middle Ages, England had to contend with a string of usurpers who disrupted the British monarchy and ultimately changed the course of European history by deposing England\x27s reigning kings and seizing power for themselves. Some of the most infamous usurper kings to come out of medieval England include William the Conqueror, Stephen of Blois, Henry Bolingbroke, Edward IV, Richard III, and Henry Tudor. Did these kings really deserve the title of usurper or were they unfairly vilified by royal propaganda and biased chroniclers? In this book we examine the lives of these six medieval kings, the circumstances which brought each of them to power, and whether or not they deserve the title of usurper
The Boleyns of Hever Castle, Owen Emmerson and Claire Ridgway (1 August 2021)
In The Boleyns of Hever Castle, historians Owen Emmerson and Claire Ridgway invite you into the home of this notorious family.
Travel back in time to those 77 years of Boleyn ownership. Tour each room just as it was when Anne Boleyn retreated from court to escape the advances of Henry VIII or when she fought off the dreaded ‘sweat’. See the 16th century Hever Castle come to life with room reconstructions and read the story of the Boleyns, who, in just five generations, rose from petty crime to a castle, from Hever to the throne of England.
Fêting the Queen: Civic Entertainments and the Elizabethan Progress, John Mark Adrian (30 December 2021)
While previous scholars have studied Elizabeth I and her visits to the homes of influential courtiers, Fêting the Queen places a new emphasis on the civic communities that hosted the monarch and their efforts to secure much needed support. Case studies of the university and cathedral cities of Oxford, Canterbury, Sandwich, Bristol, Worcester, and Norwich focus on the concepts of hospitality and space―including the intimate details of the built environment.
Hidden Heritage: Rediscovering Britain’s Lost Love of the Orient, Fatima Manji (12 August 2021)
Throughout Britain’s galleries and museums, civic buildings and stately homes, relics can be found that beg these questions and more. They point to a more complex national history than is commonly remembered. These objects, lost, concealed or simply overlooked, expose the diversity of pre-twentieth-century Britain and the misconceptions around modern immigration narratives.
Hidden Heritage powerfully recontextualises the relationship between Britain and the people and societies of the Orient. In her journey across Britain exploring cultural landmarks, Fatima Manji searches for a richer and more honest story of a nation struggling with identity and the legacy of empire.
The Dissolution of the Monasteries: A New History, James Clark (14 September 2021)
Drawing on the records of national and regional archives as well as archaeological remains, James Clark explores the little-known lives of the last men and women who lived in England’s monasteries before the Reformation. Clark challenges received wisdom, showing that buildings were not immediately demolished and Henry VIII’s subjects were so attached to the religious houses that they kept fixtures and fittings as souvenirs. This rich, vivid history brings back into focus the prominent place of abbeys, priories, and friaries in the lives of the English people.
Catherine of Aragon: Infanta of Spain, Queen of England, Theresa Earenfight (15 December 2021)
Despite her status as a Spanish infanta, Princess of Wales, and Queen of England, few of her personal letters have survived, and she is obscured in the contemporary royal histories. In this evocative biography, Theresa Earenfight presents an intimate and engaging portrait of Catherine told through the objects that she left behind.
Devil-Land: England Under Siege, 1588-1688, Clare Jackson (30 September 2021)
As an unmarried heretic with no heir, Elizabeth I was regarded with horror by Catholic Europe, while her Stuart successors, James I and Charles I, were seen as impecunious and incompetent, unable to manage their three kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland. The traumatic civil wars, regicide and a republican Commonwealth were followed by the floundering, foreign-leaning rule of Charles II and his brother, James II, before William of Orange invaded England with a Dutch army and a new order was imposed.
܀ history meme ܀ six relationships:Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon (x) (4/6) ↳ husband and wife
The longest of all his marital relations, Katherine’s presence in Henry’s life spanned from his childhood and up to his early forties. Their relationship would be one of love and heartbreak along the way, reaching a dramatic end that would alter the course of English history.
Although Katherine had previously been married to Henry’s older brother, Arthur, a papal dispensation had been granted that allowed for Henry to be betrothed to her as part of keeping the Spanish-English alliance. However, the alliance was disrupted upon the death of Isabella of Castile and Henry was forced away from Katherine who was once again in an uncertain position. Yet when Henry VII died and Henry came to the throne, he was reminded that he was still formally attached to Katherine and Henry made the decision to upkeep this promise. They were married on the 11th June 1509, a small affair that signalled a direct difference from his father’s reign. Their coronation followed almost a fortnight later which was a spectacular event and together they presented a new age.
The first half of their marriage was one in which Katherine enjoyed the love of her husband and was a close companion and advisor to him. She acted as the ambassador between her father and her husband, swaying both sides occasionally when needed. As for Henry, he “took great pride in his queen” and “some of their interaction was indeed playful, suggesting an easy familiarity with each other.” With Katherine, he could indulge in one of his favourite roles, that of the chivalrous knight and “she would be his queen of romance, the damsel to whom he could dedicate his feats of arms and gallant demonstrations of courtly prowess.” This was particularly acted out at the tournament at Westminster which could not fail to display to the love he had for her.
Despite the fact Katherine gave birth to a number of children, only Mary survived as many of the others were premature, stillborn or died a few days later. As the years went by, Henry’s preoccupation with having a male heir began to become more and more apparent. His affairs were known to Katherine but, although they would have been emotionally damaging to her, her position as his wife was still secure. This changed with the introduction of Anne Boleyn and wider religious-political pressures. Although Katherine fought the court that deliberated the grounds for the annulment of her marriage to Henry, she could not fight against the formidable power of the king. The marriage was officially annulled in 1533 and Katherine spent the remainder of her years in virtual poverty, abandoned by the man she had spent the greatest part of her life with.
∾ Fandoms: MC, MCK, the tudors, victoria, the white princess, reign, the spanish princess, marie antoinette, the white queen, ekaterina, the vampire diaries, the gossip girl
[Photo: A perched falcon with the red and white Tudor rose crest imposed on its breast, upon a green and white striped background, with text reading. “What’s so great about Katherine of Aragon? Wasn’t she just the old wife tossed over for Anne Boleyn?” followed by, “I WILL CUT YOU, YOU BLASPHEMOUS WENCH.”]
