Claire | April 20, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 20th April 1534, Elizabeth Barton, a Benedictine nun who became known as “the Nun of Kent” or “the Holy Maid of Kent”, was hanged for treason at Tyburn along with a few of her supporters. This young woman had experienced religious visions and people had even flocked to her […]
Claire | July 1, 2011
On this day in history, 1st July 1536, Parliament declared that Henry VIII’s two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, were illegitimate. This meant that the King had no legitimate children, just three bastards, so the pressure was now on the King’s new wife, his third wife Jane Seymour, to provide a legitimate heir, and preferably a […]
Claire | January 28, 2011
It is interesting that on this day in 1457 Henry VII was born and on this day in 1547 (weird digit thing going on here!) his son, Henry VIII, shuffled off this mortal coil. So, Happy 554th Birthday to one Henry and RIP to the other! The Birth of Henry VII Henry VII was born […]
Claire | December 30, 2010
On this day in history, 30th December 1546, Henry VIII signed his last will and testament, authorising changes he’d instructed William Paget to make on his behalf on 26th December 1546. You can read his full will in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 21 Part 2: September 1546-January 1547, but here […]
Claire | February 1, 2010
I didn’t manage to post on the anniversary of Henry VIII’s death, due to no electricity and internet, so please forgive this late post. On the 28th January 1547, Henry VIII, King of England and Ireland, died at the Palace of Whitehall at the age of 55. He was buried next to his “true wife”, […]
Claire | March 27, 2009
We all know that Henry VIII made changes to the rules of succession, with his three Acts of Succession, but now today’s British Monarchy and Government may be considering changes. The BBC has just reported that the Queen and Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, have discussed reforming the current rules concerning succession to the throne of […]
