the TUDOR TUTOR
Your cheeky guide to the dynastyDigit-al Anne Boleyn
Can we please clear something up? Anne Boleyn did not have an extra finger on either hand.
Twitter seems to be a popular mill for this particular rumor. Today I actually found a tweet which claims that she had “an extra one on each hand. Must have looked like an octopus when they buried her with no head.”
A similar tweet from last week reads “Henry VIII’s 2nd wife, Anne Boleyn, had six fingers on one hand. Special gloves all her life.. She also had three breasts.” He goes on to defend this claim and insists that “there was MORE about her which I am not at liberty to reveal.” Oh, the mystery!
Another recent tweet gushes that Anne “had 3 nipples and an extra finger on one hand. lol cool.” Nah, not so much.
I also came across this fallacy whilst watching “Steel Magnolias” one night last week.
Anne’s enemies in the 16th century and beyond talked quite a bit of smack about her, claiming that she had excessive moles, warts, and superfluous fingers.
In Tudor times, such irregularities might have indicated a bent toward witchcraft. Do we really think that Henry VIII would have changed the entire belief system of his country for a gal with [what would have been described at the time as] a deformity?
However, since I do subscribe to the idea that we learn something new every day, I will leave you with this tidbit: The name for having an extra finger on one or both hands? Hexadactyly. There — I feel better now.
The Not-So-Great Pretender
Tudor or trickster?
I’ve just come across this interesting bit from a 1931 newspaper (and resurrected in a Daily Mail article from several years ago). Have a look!
Apparently, one Anthony Hall (above) had been making his way around England, claiming that he’d been descended from an illegitimate love child of the unmarried Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. In a letter to George V (or as he’d addressed, “Mr. George Frederick Earnest Albert Windsor,” he wrote:
“‘You have no connection with the British Royal Family. You are an outsider. ‘Therefore leave the country. I claim the Crown.”
As King Anthony, 23rd descendant of the House of Tudor, he delivered speeches to large crowds and even threatened to shoot George V “like a dog.”
Fortunately, “King Anthony” died without issue or William might have a real treat on his hands in the future.
Occupy Hampton Court
- Copyright: The Tudor Tutor
A President’s Library Fit for a King
Walk into the Library of Congress and look up: Wow!
On a trip into D.C. last week, I finally applied for my reader card at the Library of Congress! I was excited to finally get my very own card, complete with my picture (how official! lol), which allows me to delve into lots of juicy research material at this gorgeous facility (see above).
Before I got comfy behind a computer for some in-depth searching of the State Papers Online: The Government of Britain 1509-1714, I explored the tourist end of the building. There is a wonderful exhibit on the second floor which I’d like to recommend to you: first, because it’s impressive and second, because you will find some books about our Tudors and the history of England in general on its shelves.
It’s Jefferson’s Library, a recreation of the 6,487 volumes (!!!) from Thomas Jefferson’s personal library which had been purchased by Congress. The third president of the United States had said “I cannot live without books” and there’s no reason to doubt him. His personal collection was organized by subject (as it is in the exhibit), such as Surgery, Botany, Mineralogy, Pastorals, Logic, and Tragedy; his interests were as highly-specified as they were varied.
Of particular interest in the History category are:
- Life and Reign of King Henry the Eighth (Herbert)
- The Workes of Sir Thomas More (London-1537)
- Introduction to the History of Great Britain (Macpherson)
- Annales of England: Containing the Reignes of Henry the Eighth, Edward the Sixth, Queen Mary (Francis Lord, B.P. [book publishing] of Hereford)
- A Description of the State of Great Britain (London, 1652, Gildas)
To find these books, head to the third case from the left, and count four shelves down. There they are!
The King Next Door
When compared to his drama-addled successors, Henry VII seems to be the Stable One in the Tudor family, doesn’t he? The man who grabbed the crown from Richard III in a heated battle and began one of the most iconic dynasties in English royal history looks quite subdued in light of the way the rest of the House of Tudor history played out.
I wanted to share with you the description of Henry VII as a family man which Francis Bacon wrote in his biography The Historie of the Raine of King Henry the Seventh (1622):
“Towards his Queene hee was nothing Vxorious nor scarce Indulgent; but Companiable, and Respective, and without Jealousie. Towards his children hee was full of Paternall Affection, Carefull of their Education, aspiring to their High Advancement, regular to see that they should not want of any due Honour and Respect, but not greatly willing to cast any Popular Lustre upon them.”
I find it so interesting to delve into the character and reign of this man, probably because he is [sadly] such an afterthought. It’s worth mentioning that there is a new book out devoted to Henry VII; check it out!
Mediocre Expectations
Charles Dickens was a man of many words. Many, many, many, many words. I don’t know how well his books would go over if they were newly-released today because most people have the attention span of a gnat. But part of his appeal, at least to me, is the gorgeous way he serves up succulent sentences full of the finest detail.
I love me some Charles Dickens, but the man could not say the same about our Henry VIII, apparently. In his Child’s History of England (used in British schools well into the 20th century), Mr. Dickens had these many, many words for the much-married monarch:
“Bluff King Hal [was]…one of the most detestable villains that ever drew breath…He was a big, burly, noisy, smelly, small-eyed, large-faced, double-chinned, swinish looking fellow in later life (as we know from the likenessess of him, painted by the famous Hans Holbein), and it is not easy to believe that so bad a character can ever have been veiled under a prepossessing appearance…He was as most intolerable ruffian, a disgrace to human nature, and a blot of blood and grease upon the History of England.”
So, no questions then?
You can read Dickens’ history book online here; if you are only interested in the Tudor bits, they fall between pages 145 and 193.
God Hath Sent a Prince!…err, Princess!
Elizabeth I "Virgin Queen" by Alexia Sinclair
Today is the 478th birthday of our marvellous ginger queen, Elizabeth I! Oh sure, at that time her father was hoping there would be cause for a tiny codpiece in his newborn’s layette. But his wife (at that time) gave birth to a healthy baby girl who would go on to become on of Britain’s most iconic monarchs.
Thanks to Lara Eakins at TudorHistory.org, we can check out Elizabeth’s actual birth announcement! (and its transcript, if you can’t read fancy-shmany loop-de-loops.) In the third line, dead center, you can see where “prince” was hastily corrected to “princess,” as hopes for a boy had been dashed.
If there was ever a girl who had to be born a Virgo in order to survive, it was this one. Witty, organised, patient, methodical, and intelligent are traits of those born under this sign (and believe me, I know, I’m married to one!). Elizabeth was in the precarious position of queen during a tumultuous time in England’s history, and she could not flub it up.
It was a miracle she got to that point to begin with, if you think about it:
- Once upon a time, Henry VIII was married to a fine catch, that Spanish princess Catherine of Aragon; they were supposed to live happily ever after. As we know, that didn’t work out, although a daughter (the future Mary I) was born.
- Elizabeth came next, to Henry and Anne Boleyn…but she was still a girl, and that wouldn’t do.
- Henry finally found his heir in little Eddie, his son with Jane Seymour!
- Eddie did succeed his father, but was one sick puppy after a while and died at the age of 15.
- Next up: Mary I! Unhappy marriage, no heirs, cancer consumes her, and only then…
- “The queen is dead: Long live the queen!” 25-year-old Elizabeth takes her place on the throne.
* Killer image of Elizabeth I at the top there, isn’t it? It’s by Australian photographer / digital artist Alexia Sinclair. You can find this image and the rest of the “Regal Twelve” here.
Starkeypalooza!
His remarks on Newsnight after this summer’s London riots gave 102 academics from universities across Britain fuel to pen a letter to the BBC, encouraging them to stop referring to Dr. David Starkey as a “historian” except on the subject of the Tudors.
Oh please.
Is Starkey all that concerned with other people’s opinions? Only he can answer that. Does he think before he speaks? Probably to a greater extent than the Duke of Edinburgh does. A bespectacled gay man who was born crippled with two left feet, he says he knows hurt and prejudice and that he is “not, in any way, racist” but rather thinks racists are “demented.” I certainly agree with him there.
I was under the impression that we no longer publicly hang people for expressing their opinions. And Dr. Starkey, who has certainly inspired ire in the past (I have to bring up this swipe at “pretty-girl history”), is also admired and respected by many for his vast knowledge and his tirelessness in sharing it with the Tudor-loving world. So here I give you a lovely linkfest to just some of the myriad goods from that Tudor historian we all love to hate disagree with!
- Waiting for Starkey “is a little scary” for this Times columnist
- The Guardian published this interview when his “Windsors” series wrapped up
- Was he rude in his interview with The Independent some years back? Find out.
- Here he discusses Henry VIII with Hilary Mantel in one, two, three parts.
- Some starting vids of the man chatting about Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr
- and some bits on Mary I and Elizabeth I
- as well from his special Henry VIII: The Mind of a Tyrant and from the “Monarchy” episode on Henry VIII
- Got a craving for a Starkey read about the Tudors? (and a LOT of time on your hands?) Amazon’s got your David Starkey right here, for the UK and for the US.
- Starkey says the Vatican’s calling and it wants its church back
- Maybe you’d like a taste of some other dynasties? Here’s Starkey having a chat about the Normans, the Plantagenets (including some Lancastrians), the Stuarts, and the Hanoverians
- Here’s the PBS interview with the man behind their “Six Wives of Henry VIII” special
- Starkey’s stint on Jamie’s Dream School (warning: rip-roaring profanity) and the lessons he learned from the experience
- Speaking on the subject of the monarchy for Cambridge University
- David Starkey? There’s an app for that.
- Interestingly, his eyebrows have their own Facebook fan page
I intent to make this an on-going list, so please check back for more classic Starkey!
Tudor Date Triple-Threat
Henry Tudor rocks the crown as Henry VII after the Battle of Bosworth Field
What is it about 22 August?
On that date in 1485, the Tudor dynasty was born! The Battle of Bosworth Field took place and Henry Tudor claimed victory over Richard III, getting the dynasty off to a dramatic start and claiming the title of Henry VII.
Henry Tudor’s standard-bearer, Sir William Brandon, died right off the bat. That day, he left behind several little ones with his wife, Elizabeth.
One of these tots was a boy named Charles, whom you might recognize if I showed you this pic of this actor. Yes, Sir William’s little boy grew up to pal around with Henry VII’s little boy, eventually becoming the first Duke of Suffolk, marrying a number of times (including a marriage to Henry VIII’s sister Mary), and eventually dying on…
…the 22nd of August, in 1545. I can’t make this stuff up.
Take a Bite Out of the Tudor Tutor Social Network!
What can you expect from the Tudor Tutor in the social networking world?
If you “like” my Facebook page, you’ll hear from me once or twice per weekday, on average (and sometimes on weekends). I’ll link you to the latest blog post, share a Tudor-related newsstory with you, commemorate “this day in Tudor history,” or ask open-ended questions on the time period and its players, starting up a discussion among those who “like” the page.
If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll get lots of Tudor-related news, video, facts, and photos during the day (mostly on weekdays). I’ll also link you to the latest blog post, reflect on “this day in Tudor history,” and go off on occasional tangents about coffee, food, Harry Potter, and current events. I love to retweet, so I’ll put interesting tweets I see right in your path as well.
Join me on the Tudor Tutor Facebook page, Twitter account, or both and I promise to keep you in the loop on the “latest” from 500 years gone by!
* Like those awesome cupcakes in the pic above? They’re from this Etsy page.
