Recent Posts
The Art of Courtly Love: Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII
Today's post is a wonderful guest article by Sandra Byrd, author of To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. Sandra looks at the art of courtly love and how several of the 'rules', as outlined in the definitive book by Andreas Capellanus, The Art of Courtly Love, interplayed for Anne and Henry. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did! The Art of Courtly Love: Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII by Sandra Byrd The art of courtly love and chivalric romance so popular during the early medieval … [Read More...]
Important update: Yellow was not the colour of Royal mourning in Spain
In a recent post discussing how Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII reacted to the news of Catherine of Aragon’s death I examined what contemporary evidence survives and also outlined the views of several prominent Tudor historians. When outlining Alison Weir’s views I quoted from the 2007 edition of The Six Wives of Henry VIII where it is said that Anne and Henry wore yellow ‘as a mark of respect for the woman that Henry insisted had been his sister-in-law’ as yellow was the colour of royal mourning … [Read More...]
Write Anne Boleyn Competition!
On the 30 July, On the Tudor Trail turns two years old! To celebrate and thank you all for your wonderful support, I am running a ‘Write Anne Boleyn’ competition. To enter you need to either write a short story including Anne as one of the main characters or alternatively, write an article about any aspect of Anne Boleyn’s life. Maximum word count is 2,000 words. Entry is only open to our mailing list subscribers (if you are not one already, sign up on our homepage). All entries should … [Read More...]
Anne Boleyn: The Young Queen To Be
Anne Boleyn: The Young Queen To Be by Josephine Wilkinson was recently published by Amberley Publishing and promises to be the story of Anne Boleyn's early life, told in detail for the first time. Well, not exactly the first time, as this is a reprint of The Early Loves of Anne Boleyn published in 2009 except with a new title. Here is the synopsis: The story of Anne Boleyn's early life, told in detail for the first time. Anne Boleyn is perhaps the most engaging of Henry VIII's Queens. … [Read More...]
How did Anne Boleyn react to the news of Catherine of Aragon’s death?
This post was prompted by an interesting comment left by one of On the Tudor Trail’s readers in regards to whether or not Henry and Anne celebrated the news of Catherine’s death or whether the evidence has in fact been misinterpreted by various authors and historians. I have myself read many interpretations, including that Henry and Anne wore yellow and celebrated with great relief at the passing of their enemy; that only Anne wore yellow, as Henry was too distressed by the news and ordered … [Read More...]
Dr David Starkey’s lecture at Peterborough Cathedral
Today's post is a guest article by On the Tudor Trail reader Keeleigh Hodgson, who has very kindly taken the time to write a summary of the lecture that David Starkey recently gave to a packed Peterborough Cathedral. I know that those of us who live abroad or who were unable to make the lecture are very grateful that Keeleigh has taken the time to share this information with us. Please join me in welcoming Keeleigh to On the Tudor Trail and thanking her for her time. David Starkey's … [Read More...]
A review of The Tudor Secret by Christopher Gortner
Having read and loved The Last Queen by Christopher Gortner I couldn’t wait to read the first book in the Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles – The Tudor Secret. I read the book in a few sittings and was hooked from the opening line, “Everyone has a secret. Like the oyster with its grain of sand, we bury it deep within, coating it with opalescent layers, as if that could heal our mortal wound.” The story is set in the summer of 1553, a time in Tudor history filled with danger and … [Read More...]
The Birth of Henry the spare and not the heir!
On the 28 June 1491, Elizabeth of York gave birth to her third child, Henry, at Greenwich Palace officially known as Placentia. Little Henry was Henry VII and Elizabeth’s second son. Arthur, their eldest and heir to the throne of England, was a few months short of his fifth birthday when his brother entered the world. Richard Foxe christened Henry at the church of the Observant Friars but when it comes down to details about Henry’s birth, very little was recorded. Henry was, as David … [Read More...]
Ghost stories from Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace has been the setting for many dramatic royal events over the last 500 years, including the death of Henry VIII’s third wife, Jane Seymour and the imprisonment of his fifth wife, Katherine Howard. It is no wonder then that visitors and staff alike have experienced unusual phenomena within its walls. Perhaps one of the most famous stories is that of Katherine Howard’s screaming spectre. On 30 October 1541, Thomas Cranmer informed Henry, via a letter, that his new Queen … [Read More...]
Catherine of Aragon crowned Queen of England
Catherine of Aragon married Henry VIII in a private ceremony on 11 June 1509 and was crowned alongside him in Westminster Abbey two weeks later. On the day before their coronation, they processed through London and were met by cheering crowds. According to Alison Weir Henry wore, ‘a robe of crimson velvet trimmed with ermine over a coat of ‘raised gold’, which was embroidered with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, great pearls and other rich stones, and Katherine in virginal white satin.’ … [Read More...]
Henry VIII Week at the Falstaff Experience
The Falstaff Experience Tudor World Museum in Stratford-Upon-Avon is hosting a week long celebration for Henry VIII's birthday. Henry would have been celebrating his 520th birthday this year and to honour the notorious monarch, celebrations will run from Saturday the 25th June until Sunday 3rd of July. Visitors will be able to meet Henry VIII and some of his wives at different times throughout the week and each visitor will receive a small gift from the big man himself. To make it even … [Read More...]
Latest Comments