The Tudor Society

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  • The Pregnancies of Katherine of Aragon by Sarah Bryson

    9 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
    19 Comments

    Sadly, on this day in history, on the 9th of November 1518, Katherine of Aragon, first wife of King Henry VIII, gave birth to a stillborn girl.

    There are very few surviving details of Katherine’s pregnancy but Venetian Ambassador Sebastian Giustinian wrote that “This night the Queen was delivered of a daughter, to the vexation of as many as know it;—the entire nation looked for a prince.” A later report in the Venetian archives stated that: “The Queen had been delivered in her eighth month of a stillborn daughter, to the great sorrow of the nation at large”.

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  • Catherine Parr by Sarah Bryson

    9 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
    2 Comments
    Catherine Parr

    Catherine was born in 1512, most likely in London or Buckinghamshire. Her parents were Sir Thomas Parr, a favourite of King Henry VIII during his early reign, and Maud Parr, who served as a lady-in-waiting to Henry VIII’s first wife Katherine of Aragon. It is believed that Catherine was named after the Queen. Catherine had a younger brother named William, born in 1513 and a younger sister named Anne born in 1515.

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  • Catherine Carey and Henry Carey by Sarah Bryson

    9 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon, by Steven van Herwijck

  • Eustace Chapuys – diplomat, protector, and Mary I’s unsung hero

    5 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Eustace Chapuys

    On this day in Tudor history, 21st January 1556, former imperial ambassador, Eustace Chapuys, died in Louvain (Leuven) in Belgium, the place he had retired to in 1549. He was laid to rest in the chapel of Louvain College, the college he had founded following his retirement.

    Chapuys, who was born between 1490 and 1492 and was the second son of Louis Chapuys, a notary of Annecy, in the duchy of Savoy, joined the imperial service in 1527. Two years later, in September 1529, he arrived in England to act as advisor to the emperor’s aunt, Catherine of Aragon, in the negotiations regarding the annulment of her marriage to Henry VIII. He was her link to the emperor and to Rome. He became Catherine’s champion, preparing Catherine’s formal protest when Cranmer summoned her to his special court in 1533, a court that ruled her marriage to the king invalid, and in 1534 he acted for Catherine’s daughter, Mary, when he drew up her protest against the Act of Succession. He wasn’t only their staunch supporter and go-between, he became their friend, and I’d go as far as to say that he became a father figure to Mary.

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  • Green Groweth the Holly by Henry VIII

    5 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    A portrait of Henry VIII by an unknown artist, c. 1520.

    Henry VIII wasn’t just a king, he was also a composer. One of his beautiful creations, the carol “Green Groweth the Holly,” has sparked centuries of debate.

    Was this lyrical masterpiece a heartfelt love song for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon? Or was it simply an exercise in courtly love and poetry?

    In this post, I delve into the fascinating lyrics, the rich symbolism of holly and ivy, and the context in which it was written. Was it composed during the early days of their passionate romance? Or does its timing suggest it might not have been about Catherine at all?

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  • Two Queens, One Tower, and a Royal Physician

    5 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Thumbnail for my video on Bathasar Giercy

    What do Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and the Tower of London have in common? Balthasar Guercy, an Italian physician who served both queens—and found himself imprisoned for his beliefs.

    Originally from Milan, Guercy rose to prominence at the Tudor court, healing some of the most powerful figures of the day. But in 1543, he was arrested for supporting papal authority, a dangerous stance under Henry VIII’s reign. Facing potential execution, Guercy’s life hung in the balance… until Holy Roman Emperor Charles V stepped in to save him.

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 16 December

    6 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Portrait of Catherine of Aragon and a photo of the Archbishop's Palace at Alcala de Henares

    On this day in Tudor history, Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s first queen consort, was born at Alcalá de Henares (1485), and soldier and courtier George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent, died (1503)…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 30 November

    7 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Elizabeth I in her parliamentary robes

    On this day in Tudor history, 30th November, Henry VIII was reproached by the two women in his life: his wife, Catherine of Aragon, and the woman he wanted to marry, Anne Boleyn (1529), and Elizabeth I delivered her famous Golden Speech to the House of Commons (1601)…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 14 November

    7 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Portraits of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, Arthur Tudor, and Catherine of Aragon

    On this day in Tudor history, 14th November, Catherine of Aragon married Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales (1501); Henry VIII may have married Anne Boleyn (1532); and an inventory was taken of Thomas Culpeper’s “goods and chattels, lands and fees” (1541)…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 9 November

    7 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Catherine of Aragon

    On this day in Tudor history, 9th November, Queen Catherine of Aragon suffered a stillbirth (1518); and the Rising of the North against Queen Elizabeth I began (1569)…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 8 November

    7 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Portraits of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon

    On this day in Tudor history, 8th November, Henry VIII made a rather strange speech explaining his troubled conscience about his marriage to Catherine of Aragon (1528); and scholar, literary patron and chamberlain to Catherine of Aragon, William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy, died at Sutton on the Hill (1534)…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 6 November

    8 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    A photo of Hampton Court Palace and portraits of Henry VIII and Catherine Howard

    On this day in Tudor history, 6th November, Catherine of Aragon met Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales, for the first time (1501); and Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth wife, was abandoned by her husband the king at Hampton Court Palace. She would never see him again (1541)…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 7 October

    9 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII

    On this day in Tudor history, 7th October, Pope Clement VII wrote to Henry VIII telling him that his marriage to Catherine of Aragon would not be annulled; and George Gascoigne, a gifted poet who was involved in Robert Dudley’s last ditch attempt to woo Elizabeth I, died…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 1 October

    9 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    A photo of Westminster Abbey and a portrait of Mary I

    On this day in Tudor history, 1st October, scholar, royal tutor and administrator John Alcock, Bishop of Ely, died at Wisbech Castle; and Mary I, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, was crowned queen at Westminster Abbey…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 27 September

    9 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    A portrait of a woman thought to be Catherine of Aragon with a map of Spain

    On this day in Tudor history, 27th September, John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk and first husband of Margaret Beaufort, was born; and fifteen-year-old Catherine of Aragon set sail for England from Laredo, Spain, for her marriage to Arthur Tudor…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 9 September

    9 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Portraits of Catherine of Aragon, James IV and Thomas Howard

    On this day in Tudor history, the English force defeated the Scots at the Battle of Flodden while Catherine of Aragon was regent (1513); and the infant Mary, Queen of Scots, was crowned queen at Stirling Castle (1543)…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 11 August

    10 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Portraits of Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII

    On this day in Tudor history, 11th August, the friars observant were expelled from their houses due to their support of Catherine of Aragon, and Sir Maurice Berkeley, former gentleman usher of Henry VIII’s Privy Chamber, died…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 3 July

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Portraits of Catherine of Aragon and Mary I, and a sketch of Perkin Warbeck

    On this day in Tudor history, 3rd July, pretender Perkin Warbeck landed on the Kent coast; Catherine of Aragon was ordered to call herself “Princess Dowager” and not queen; and Mary I bid farewell to Philip of Spain…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 27 June

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    A young Henry VIII

    On this day in Tudor history, 27th June, two of the chief commanders of the Cornish rebels were executed; thirteen-year-old Prince Henry (Henry VIII) repudiated his betrothal to Catherine of Aragon; and William Bradbridge, Bishop of Exeter, died…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 25 June

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Portraits of Mary Tudor, Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon

    On this day in Tudor history, Catherine of Aragon became betrothed to Prince Henry, the future Henry VIII, and Mary Tudor, Dowager Queen of France, sister of Henry VIII and wife of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, died at the age of 37…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 24 June

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Engraving of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon's coronation

    On this day in Tudor history, 24th June, Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon were crowned king and queen in a joint coronation ceremony; Elizabeth I’s favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, was born; and courtier and poet Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, died…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 23 June

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    A portrait of a young Henry VIII with a portrait of Catherine of Aragon

    On this day in Tudor history, 23rd June, Henry VIII and his new bride, Catherine of Aragon, had their coronation procession through the streets of London; mathematician and physician Thomas Hood was baptised; and miniaturist Levina Teerlinc died…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 21 June

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Portraits of Catherine of Aragon and Lady Jane Grey

    On this day in Tudor history, 21st June, Henry VIII travelled from Greenwich to the Tower of London; Catherine of Aragon gave an impassioned speech at the Legatine Court; letters patent were issued stating that Edward VI’s heir was Lady Jane Grey…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 14 June

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Portrait of a young Mary I, portrait of Sir Anthony Browne, and a photo of Sir Francis Bryan in Wolf Hall

    On this day in Tudor history, 14th June, Sir Anthony Browne and Sir Francis Brya, were interrogated regarding their alleged support of Mary, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon; Catherine’s former confessor, William Peto, was made a cardinal; and Sir Christopher Danby, who’d been implicated in the Pilgrimage of Grace and had survived being a Catholic in Elizabeth I’s reign, died…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 12 June

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Photo of the Tower of London and a portrait of Thomas Cromwell

    On this day in Tudor history, 12th June, Henry VIII’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, got cross with him, telling him to abandon his “wicked life”; Richard Rich interviewed an imprisoned Sir Thomas More; and a newly imprisoned Thomas Cromwell pleaded his innocence and begged for mercy…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 11 June

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Portraits of a young Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon

    On this day in Tudor history, 11th June, England’s new king, Henry VIII, married Catherine of Aragon; humanist and scholar Sir Anthony Cooke died; and the Feast of St Barnabas was celebrated…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 5 June

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Portrait of Robert Devereux

    On this day in Tudor history, 5th June, Catherine of Aragon’s lady and good friend, Maria de Salinas, married William, 10th Lord Willoughby of Eresby; Elizabeth I’s favourite, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, was charged with insubordination; and physician and naturalist Thomas Moffet died…

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  • The Intriguing Tradition of Proxy Weddings

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Proxy wedding thumbnail

    Join me as I delve into the fascinating world of proxy weddings, from historical royal unions to modern-day ceremonies. Discover the story behind Marie de Guise and King James V of Scotland’s proxy wedding, a common practice for diplomatic unions among European ruling houses.

    Learn about notable proxy marriages throughout history, including Catherine of Aragon and Arthur Tudor, Margaret Tudor and King James IV of Scotland, and Princess Mary Tudor and King Louis XII of France. Uncover the unique customs and rituals associated with these proxy weddings, from symbolic gestures to mock consummations.

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 9 April

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    portrait of Catherine of Aragon

    On this day in Tudor history, 9th April, Catherine of Aragon found out that she’d been demoted to Dowager Princess of Wales; Cardinal Pole’s legatine powers were revoked; and Catherine Willoughby’s second husband, Richard Bertie, died…

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  • #OTD in Tudor history – 27 March

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Portraits of Arthur Tudor and Catherine of Aragon

    On this day in Tudor history, a treaty arranged the marriage of Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales, and Catherine of Aragon; a young apprentice was burnt to death for reading the Bible; and George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury, was buried…

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