Tag Archives: Wives of Henry VIII

Book Review: Elizabeth -The Virgin Queen And The Men Who Loved Her

19 Thursday Mar 2015

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Elizabeth I of England is an icon among icons. Her public image of “Good Queen Bess” has long since survived her, elevating her to almost immortal status. Numerous books are sold about her, her legend, and her life. We know the English court was her universe, and “Gloriana” was its Sun.
But what of the planets of the court? The men who served as her ministers, advisers, and friends? They orbited around her, hoping for as much time in her rays as possible. Those men are the focus of the book, “Elizabeth – The Virgin Queen And The Men Who Loved Her” by author Robert Stephen Parry. Mr. Parry is the writer of other historical novels, such as, “The Arrow Chest” and “Wildish”. I read “The Arrow Chest” a couple years ago, so I jumped at the chance to read his takes on Elizabeth I, one of my all-time favorite historical figures.
The book has an interesting structure. It’s set up as a series of short lectures on the various personalities the dominated the Elizabethan court. Each section starts with a short bio on the men being presented, who include, Henry VIII, Thomas Seymour, Robert Dudley, John Dee, the Duke of Alencon, William Cecil, Walter Raleigh, Christopher Hatton, and Robert Devereux. As I stated, each section starts with a short biography of the figure, with the basics of who they were, and how they were an integral part of the solar system of Her Majesty’s universe. The non-fiction section is then followed by a short fictional story, relating to the man being profiled. The stories vary between private, emotional moments with a young Elizabeth, to facing the full rage of the Tudor temper, and how that might have played out.
I don’t read much fiction these days, but I couldn’t be happier that I read this book. I have read considerable amounts on Elizabeth, so the majority of the information was not new to me, as it won’t be for many people interested in this period. But the fictional short stories were a great addition, and Mr. Parry has the ability to describe the events in such a way, that you’re immediately engrossed and emotionally invested in the story. If you’re new to the Elizabethan period, this book can be a great starting point, for learning more about court life, and the central courtiers who surrounded the legendary Queen. I think that if you’re a seasoned Tudor fanatic, you’ll still enjoy the easiness with which the book flows, and the different perspectives that the author brings to life. I’m currently just starting another book of Mr. Parry’s on Elizabethan life, and I’m bursting with excitement!
You can read more about the author and his work at http://www.robertstephenparry.com
All his books are for sale in Kindle and paperback on both Amazon US and UK.

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Katherine Howard: A New History

01 Saturday Nov 2014

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I always get slightly excited when I see that I have email, so you can imagine how much more excited I was when I was asked to review this book. “Katherine Howard: A New History” is the first book by young Tudor Historian Conor Byrne. Katherine is often portrayed as the vapid teenaged fifth wife of the indomitable Henry VIII of England. Her time as Queen was cut short, and her life ended with the stroke of the axe, after her alleged infidelity. Modern day TV and movies show her as just a girl who wanted nothing more than to “party” and have fun, unconcerned for anything but herself, to the point of having an affair with one of Henry’s most trusted courtiers. Like many people misaligned from this time period, I can’t help but wonder… How much of that is true, and how much is made up?

While we will never be able to answer many of the questions we have about Katherine, Mr. Byrne has gone to great lengths to make us rethink our positions. By referencing a wide variety of sources, the writer seeks to repaint the image of Katherine from that of the silly girl who was in over her head and just looking for a good time, to that of a young woman, abused throughout her early life, and used as a pawn by her status-seeking family. Mr. Byrne sets the stage for Katherine’s rise to fame by starting with the politics of the Henrician court, and how after the tumultuous reign of her cousin, Anne Boleyn, the Howard family looked for a way to once again emerge as the top dogs in the palace.

The author starts before Katherine’s birth, describing the world she was born into. He tells us of the proud Howard family, humbled by the scandal of Anne Boleyn’s execution, because of her Howard lineage. The noble family sought to gain the King’s ear and trust again, and thrust Katherine forward as a means to do just that. Mr. Byrne believes that Katherine was the true victim of her story, as a young woman who was used by ne’er do well men for her entire life. Her life was one of continued sexual abuse by the likes Henry Manox, Francis Dereham, and Thomas Culpeper. His further analysis even looks into portraits of Katherine and their identifications, and re-examines her reign, pointing to evidence that shows she was not a frivolous party girl, but took her duties as Queen seriously.

If you are a tried and true Tudor-holic, I highly recommend this book. It’s chock-full of details, and Mr. Byrne does his absolute best to rehabilitate the reputation of the ill-fated consort. I always enjoy new perspectives of historical figures, so for me, this was a pleasure to read, and it definitely turned what I thought I knew of Katherine on its side.

“Katherine Howard: A New History” by Conor Byrne is available on Amazon US and UK in both Kindle and Paperback formats. You can follow the authors blog here.
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George Boleyn: Tudor Poet, Courtier and Diplomat

06 Wednesday Aug 2014

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George Boleyn is quite the enigmatic character. Often misaligned with his sister, Anne Boleyn, as they suffered the same fate in 1536 when they were executed on trumped up charges, stemming from Henry VIII’s wish to have a son- which seemingly he could not with Anne. But were the siblings guilty of incest? Was the lesser known brother homosexual or a womanizer? Who was George Boleyn?!
Clare Cherry and Claire Ridgway sought to try and answer these questions as best they could with the information available. There are no known portraits of George, but they’ve been able to compile an outline of his life, based on letters, diplomatic cables and state papers.The writers really strive to separate fact from fiction. As with many historical figures from that time, there are gaps in George’s life and details that we will never know, but with this resourc, we can begin to truly paint a picture of who George Boleyn was- and who he most certainly was not.
I found that the book gave me some real insights into court life under Henry VIII. “Bluff King Hal” was definitely a pleasure-seeking man, but he relegated state business to the men he trusted most. George was among the men he trusted deeply, as shown by the offices and duties assigned to the young Boleyn. George acted on behalf of Henry many times, negotiating with the King of France. From the numerous missions, assignments and offices George was given, it’s obvious to see that he was not just the partying playboy that some modern fiction plays him to be.
This book is a must have for anyone who is interested in learning about the inner workings of the court during Tudor rule. If your focus is mainly on the wives of Henry VIII, this probably isn’t the reading material for you. Of course, there are mentions of Anne, Jane Seymour and Catherine of Aragon, but they are not the focus of the book. You will learn more about the proud man who also bore the now infamous name and how he contributed to the court before the rise of his sister. Claire and Clare also spend a whole chapter addressing the relationship of George with his wife, Jane, Lady Rochford, who later shared her husband’s fate. They lay out the evidence we have to dispel the popular myths of Jane’s complicity in the investigation against her husband and sister-in-law. Also, there are some great resources towards the end of the book, with timelines, poetry and writings about George.
“George Boleyn: Tudor Poet, Courtier, and Diplomat” is available for purchase through Amazon US and UK, and I encourage anyone wanting to know more about the real Tudors to visit Claire Ridgway’s site The Anne Boleyn Files for true and factual information.
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September 1st

15 Saturday Feb 2014

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Events:
1532 – Henry VIII creates Anne Boleyn Marquess of Pembroke, in her own right, in anticipation of their marriage, which happened the following year.

Birthdays:

1651 – Natalya Naryshkina is born into a minor noble family. However, in early 1671, she was catapulted to the front of Russian politics when she wed Tsar Alexis I. She would bear him three children, including the future Emperor Peter the Great. The Tsarina remained active in politics until 1676, when she was widowed. She lived at the court of her stepson, Feodor III, until his death 1682, and her son, Peter, was put forth as the ten-year-old Tsar. Natalya was put forth as regent, but was replaced by her stepdaughter, Sofia Alekseyevna, and sent away from court, while her son was named co-Tsar with his brother Ivan. When Peter assumed control of his government 1689, she returned to his court until her death in 1694.

1711 – William IV, Prince of Orange, and first hereditary stadtholder of the Netherlands. His father died just 6 six weeks before he was born, so he ruled under a regency until 1731. William married Princess Anne, the daughter of King George II of Britain. Popular with the people, he ended the indirect taxation, which made a small amount of people very rich. Dying early, at age 40, he was succeeded by his son, William V.

1878 – Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is born in Germany, as the daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, and his wife, Russian Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna. She was a grandchild of both Queen Victoria of Great Britain, and Alexander II of Russia. “Sandra” spent her childhood in Britain and Malta, where her father was stationed, but moved to Germany permanently when her father succeeded to the Ducal throne of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. In 1896, she was married to Prince Ernst of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, and they would later have five children. After her father’s death in 1900, she served as regent briefly for her cousin, Charles Edward, the underage Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Prior to World War II, she was a supporter of the Nazi party, but she died at age 63 in 1942, without seeing the end of the war.

Deaths:
1715 – The indomitable “Sun King” of France, Louis XIV died at age 76. Born in 1638, he was the son of Louis XIII, whom he succeeded in 1643. His reign of 72 years is the longest in French history. Louis oversaw the building of the Palace at Versailles, and turned it into the center of his court and government. He firmly believed in the Divine Right of Kings, and ruled as an absolute ruler, after consolidating power when reaching majority. France was also a leading military power in Europe during his reign. He had 6 children by his first wife, Maria Theresa of Spain, and may have married again after Maria’s death, to Francoise d’Aubigne, although the marriage was never announced or made public. His son and grandson, both named Louis, had predeceased the King, leaving as heir the five-year-old Louis XV as king.

Have an awesome day!

July 28th

07 Wednesday Aug 2013

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Events:
1540 – Henry VIII of England married his fifth wife, the teenaged Catherine Howard. Catherine was a granddaughter to the Duke of Norfolk, and a first cousin to Henry’s second wife, Anne Boleyn. Later, the marriage would fall apart Catherine executed for misconduct before and after she was Queen; namely, having an affair with another courtier.

Birthdays:
1347 – Margaret of Durazzo is born. In 1369, she married Charles, Duke of Durazzo, her cousin, who became King of Naples in 1382, and King of Hungary in 1385. She would be widowed in 1386, and her son Ladislaus would succeed his father, and later her daughter Joanna would rule Naples as Joanna II. She died in 1412 of the plague.

1860 – Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna is born in Russia. She was the daughter of Grand Duke Michael and his wife, Princess Cecile of Baden, and a granddaughter of Tsar Nicholas I. At age 19, she was married to the Grand Duke Friedrich Franz III of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and had three children. Due to his health and her unpopularity in the region, they rarely lived there. Their son would become the new ruler in 1897, and her two daughters went on to be Queen of Denmark, and Crown Princess of Germany. Anastasia lived the majority of her days in France afterwards, and even caused shock when she gave birth to a child by her personal secretary. She died in France in 1922.

Deaths:
1844 – Joseph Bonaparte, elder brother to Napoleon Bonaparte, died in Italy. He served in various posts in the French government during his brother’s rise, and helped with the overall coup d’état. Later, in 1806, his brother then installed him as King of Naples and Sicily, which he would only rule until 1808. That same year, his brother tried to install him as King of Spain, but his three year rule was never secure. Joseph actually stole some of the Spanish crown jewels on his way out, and later sold them in the US, where he primarily lived. He was 76 at his death.

1849 – A 50 year old Charles Albert of Sardinia died in Portugal, just months after being deposed and exiled. He had been overthrown in the revolutions of 1848, and was replaced with his son, Victor Emmanuel II. He had been King of Sardinia since 1831.

Have a great day!

July 16th

23 Tuesday Jul 2013

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Events:
1377 – A ten year old Richard II was crowned King of England, after the death of his Grandfather, Edward III. His father, known as Edward, The Black Prince, died when he was just 3 years old.

1951 – King Leopold III of the Belgians was forced to abdicate in favor of his son, Baudouin. The abdication was due to his conduct during World War II, and spent the rest of his life in semi-retirement, acting as an advisor to his son from time to time. He died in 1983.

Birthdays:
1611 – Cecilia Renata of Austria is born to Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II and Maria Anna of Bavaria. In 1637, she became Queen consort of Poland when she married Władysław IV Vasa, King of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth. She would be popular in the country and at court. She was influential at first with her husband, promoting the causes of her Habsburg family, but after time, her advice was ignored. She had three children, two died young, and one stillborn in 1644, which claimed Cecilia’s life shortly after.

Deaths:
1342 – Charles I of Hungary died in Visegrad at age 54. He was of the House of Anjou, but had a dynastic claim to the Hungarian throne, which he claimed in 1312. He is credited with being one of the more successful Hungarian medieval rulers, for his overhauls of the way royal favors and grants were given, he would also reform the government and economic systems.

1557 – Anne of Cleves died in England. Anne is famous for being the fourth wife of Henry VIII of England. Their marriage was annulled after just six months, and Anne was given a settlement of lands, homes, and an annuity. She had been in London when her former stepdaughters rode into the city in 1553, when Mary became Queen. She had lived a quiet life since the end of her marriage and was 41 years old. She is the only wife of Henry VIII to be buried in Westminster Abbey.

Have an awesome day!

July 12th

18 Thursday Jul 2013

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Events:
1191 – Saladin’s troops in Acre surrendered to Phillip II of France, ending a two year siege of the city.

1543 – King Henry VIII of England and Ireland married his sixth wife, Catherine Parr, the recently widowed Lady Latimer. The marriage would last until Henry’s death in 1547.

1690 – The Battle of the Boyne took place in Ireland between the forces of the deposed James II and VII and his son in law, William III. The battle was a victory for the Williamites and James would never regain the British crowns.

1806 – Sixteen German states and Liechtenstein form the Confederation of the Rhine after leaving the Holy Roman Empire.

Birthdays:
1596 – The future Michael I of Russia is born in Moscow. He was the nephew of Ivan the Terrible’s wife, Anastasia, and was offered the throne in 1613. It was the first Tsar from the House of Romanov, who would rule Russia until the abolition of the monarch in 1918. He was said to have a good personality, and left the government to his councilors most of the time. His son would succeed him as Alexei I. Michael died also on this day in 1645.

1870 – Prince Louis II of Monaco is born in Baden, Germany as the son of Albert I and Lady Mary Hamilton. He became Sovereign in 1922, following the death of his father. Under his rule, Monaco formed its first Football Club and the first Grand Prix of Monaco took place as well. He attempted to remain neutral during World War II, but Monaco was occupied by the Nazis. He would do his best to help Jews who were about to be arrested escape capture. His grandson and successor, Rainier thought Louis to hesitant to fight the Nazis, which caused a rift between them.

No additional deaths.

Have a great day!

July 9th

15 Monday Jul 2013

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Events:
1540 – The marriage of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves was formally annulled. Anne was Henry’s fourth wife, and this would be Anne’s only marriage. The annulment was declared on grounds of non-consummation and Anne’s pre-contract with the son of the Duke of Lorraine. Anne consented to the split and was given a yearly monetary settlement, several houses, and a place at court.

1807 – French Emperor Napoleon I and Russian Emperor Alexander I sign the Treaty of Tilsit. Prussia also signed the treaty which ceded territory to France. Napoleon created the Kingdom of Westphalia from some of the territory he gained.

1810 – The Kingdom of Holland is annexed by Napoleon I as part of the First French Empire.

Birthdays:
1511 – Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg is born in Germany to the Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg. In 1525, she was married to Christian III of Denmark and Norway, much to her chagrin. Despite the unhappiness of the marriage, they had five children, who included the future Frederick II of Denmark and Norway, and Magnus, King of Livonia. Frederick became King and Dorothea a widow in 1559. Her relationship with her children was poor from then on out, and she died in exile in 1571.

1578 – The future Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor was born in Graz, Austria. He became Emperor in 1619 after the death of his childless cousin Matthias died. The Thirty Years War fully encompassed his reign. He would have seven children with his wife, Maria Anna of Bavaria, who included Emperor Ferdinand III and a Queen consort of Poland. He ruled until his death in 1637.

1786 – Princess Sophie Helene Beatrice is born at Versailles as the youngest child of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The child lived less than a year, and died before her first birthday the following year, after having convulsions for several days.

Deaths:
1654 – Ferdinand IV, King of the Romans died of smallpox at age 20. He was the eldest son and heir of his father, Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor, and was starting to take of his father’s titles and duties.

1746 – Phillip V of Spain died in Madrid at age 62. He was French born, but had a claim to the Spanish throne, and was named the successor of Charles II of Spain, in his will. The War of Spanish Succession would be fought to protect his claim. In 1700 he officially became King, and ruled for the first time until 1724. He abdicated in favor of his son, Louis. Louis was young, unmarried, and died of smallpox just seven months into his reign. Phillip took then throne again, and was king until 1746. His rule is the longest in modern Spanish history.

1985 – Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg died at age 89 in the capitol city of Luxembourg. She had reigned from 1919, when her elder sister, Marie-Adelaide, abdicated in her favor. She abdicated herself in 1964. The year of her accession, she was married to Felix of Bourbon-Parma, with whom she had six children. Much like other rulers in Europe during World War II, she spent the war in exile, working for her country’s cause, and became a figurehead for Nazi opposition. Her younger sister, Antonia, who had married into the Bavarian royal family, would spend time in the Dachau concentration camp.

Have a great day!

June 28th

28 Friday Jun 2013

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Events:
1461 – Edward IV of England is crowned as king at Westminster Abbey. He was the Duke of York, and had successfully taken the throne from his cousin, Henry VI, during what is called the Wars of the Roses. He would rule until 1470 when Henry took the throne back from Edward until 1471, when the Yorkists took it back once again.

1519 – Charles I of Spain was elected to succeed his grandfather as Holy Roman Emperor, becoming known as Charles V. He was 19 years old. Between his succession as Emperor, and inheriting the Habsburg lands of father, and the Trastamara lands of his mother, Charles ruled an intimidatingly large portion of Europe. He ruled Spain until 1555, when he abdicated in favor of his son, Phillip II, and then abdicated as Emperor in 1556, in favor of his brother, Ferdinand. However Ferdinand would not be confirmed for another 2 years.

1709 – The Battle of Poltava takes place in modern day Ukraine. It was part of the Great Northern War, and fought between the Swedish forces of Charles XII and the Russian forces led by Peter I, or Peter the Great. The fight was a decisive victory for the Russians, and we saw the decline of Swedish as a European power.

1838 – The 19 year old Victoria was crowned as Queen of Great Britain. She went on to have the longest reign of any British Monarch and became an icon.

1914 – Austrian Archduke and heir to the Austro-Hungarian Imperial throne, Franz Ferdinand, was shot and killed, alongside his wife, Sophie, in Sarajevo, Serbia. Franz was the nephew of Emperor Franz Joseph I and was not expected to succeed until 1889, when he cousin, Crown Prince Rudolf committed suicide, and then his father renounced his place in the line. This was the spark that set off World War I, though fueled by several other issues.

1921 – The Vidovdan Constitution is proclaimed as the first constitution of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes by King Alexander I.

Birthdays:
1491 – The future Henry VIII is born at Greenwich Palace to King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. He was a second son, and not initially set to be king, but with the sudden death of his elder brother, Arthur, in 1502, Henry was thrust forward. He succeeded his father in 1509, just before he turned 18. He would then marry his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, the widow of his brother. They had one daughter to survive, Mary, who later became the first undisputed Queen regnant of England. Henry would then be married five more times after he had his marriage to Catherine was annulled. Anne Boleyn was next, with whom he had a daughter, later Elizabeth I. Anne was executed in 1536 and shortly after he married Jane Seymour, with whom he had the future Edward VI. Jane died shortly after the birth of their child. The German Anne of Cleves was next; their marriage was also annulled. Then Catherine Howard, who was also executed, the finally, Catherine Parr, who outlived Henry. He was also responsible for the separation of England from the Roman Catholic Church, and is one of the founder of the English Navy. Henry was also known to be very intelligent, despite his later behavior, and was an accomplished composer.

No additional major deaths.

June 24th

24 Monday Jun 2013

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Events:
1314 – The Battle of Bannockburn concludes between the English and Scottish forces, with a rout in favor of the Scots. It would take England another 14 years to recognize Scottish Independence.

1340 – The Battle of Sluys took place as part of the Hundred Years War. It was a naval battle, and a decisive victory for the English, giving them control of the Channel.

1509 – Henry VIII of England and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, are crowned at Westminster Abbey in London.

Birthdays:
1314 – Philippa of Hainault is born in the Low Countries, to William I of Hainault and Joan of Valois. In 1326, she was betrothed to the future Edward III of England, in order to secure an alliance between her father and Edward’s mother, Isabella of France, who was planning an invasion of England. They married in early 1328, and her coronation took place in 1330. She would give birth to their first child, Edward, also in 1330, shortly before she turned 16. She was popular and well loved by the people, and known for her kind and compassionate nature. She acted as regent for Edward at times, while he was away on military campaigns. She passed away at age 55, outliving nine of her 14 children.

1343 – Joan of Valois is born in France, as the fifth child of John II of France and Bonne of Luxembourg. She would lose her mother to the plague when she was a young child. In 1352, she married Charles II of Navarre. She would have seven children with him. Her children include Charles III of Navarre, and Joanna of Navarre, second wife of Henry IV of England. She sadly died early in 1373, at age 30.

1535 – Joanna of Austria, Princess of Portugal is born in Madrid to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and Isabella of Portugal. She was married to her first cousin twice over, Prince John Manuel of Portugal. They would have one child, born after John’s death, who went on to be Sebastian I of Portugal. She left Portugal and her son while he was still a baby, never to return or see him in person again. She lived out her days at the court of her brother, Phillip II of Spain, where she died at age 38.

1825 – Grand Duchess Alexandrova Nikolaevna is born in St. Petersburg to Russian Emperor Nicholas I and Empress Charlotte of Prussia. She was said to be beautiful with a great personality, and a talented musician. In 1844, she married to Prince Frederick William of Hesse, but she was already ill with tuberculosis, and then became pregnant shortly after. Her illness caused her to go into labor three months early, and neither her or the infant would survive. She was only 19 years old.

1860 – Mercedes of Orleans is born in Madrid as the daughter of the Duke of Montpensier, Antoine d’Orleans, and Spanish Infanta Luisa Fernanda. The niece of Queen Isabella II, she lived in Spain until the deposition of her aunt, but in 1878, after the restoration, she married her first cousin, now Alfonso XII. The marriage lasted only six months, which included a miscarried child, before Mercedes succumb to typhoid fever, just days after her 18th birthday.

1869 – The future Prince George of Greece and Denmark is born in Corfu, Greece. He was the second son of George I of Greece and Queen Olga Constantinova. He was active in the Greek military fighting against the Ottomans, and is known for once saving his cousin, the future Tsar Nicholas II, from an assassination attempt while visiting Japan. In 1907, he married Marie Bonaparte, from the non-imperial branch on the family. They had two children, Peter and Eugenie. They lived out their days in France and were married for over 50 years.

No major deaths.

Have a great day!