KellyMarie said

I always wondered who it was that is killed by the French in the first few minutes of the first episode of the Tudors. They say it’s the King’s Uncle and I was wondering who? His father had no siblings and his mothers brothers were dead. Was it one of Elizabeth Woodville’s siblings?

Edit: Wait strike that, I just checked, they were all dead before the reign of Henry VIII.

His father H.7 did have step siblings it’s possible they meant one of them..
As the name of the uncle was not given it’s possible it was either Sir Edward Stanley or James Stanley. These were among others the sons of Margaret Beaufort 3rd husband Lord Stanley, who was one of the main people who turned against Richard 3rd on the battlefield at Bosworth.

There was also Arthur Plantagenet who was the natural son of Edward IV but he lived though until 1542. Arthur, Viscount Lisle was the Governer of Calais and was one of the noblemen who welcomed Anne of Cleves as well as one of those who attended Henry and Anne Boleyn during thier visit to France prior to their marriage.

And several of Elizaeth of York’s sisters were maried at the time. Thier husbands would be uncles by marriage to Henry.

Sharon said

I never understood that scene. As far as I know none of Henry’s uncles were killed by the french at that time. It was probably put in to portray the start of hostilities between England and France.

I think you are right there Sharon. France and England’s relationship was none too pleasent at the best of times. It may have seemed a strange way to start the series off but it was a good one.. It hooked me straight away..

Claire said

A theory that came up in a discussion on tudorhistory.org was “they took the character of William Courtenay and handed him the fate of Oddantonio da Montefeltro. Oddantonio was murdered in the Ducal Palace in a similar Brutus like manner…except a century before Henry VIII. It was a very strange scene to include.” Courtenay died in 1511 of pleurisy and was the husband of Catherine of York, Elizabeth of York’s sister and therefore uncle of Henry VIII.

Thank you Claire. Either way it was a strange story line. I thought at one point it was meant ti be Jasper Tudor who was married to Queen Lizzie’s sister Catherine.