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Misremembering Mary I: History’s Largest Misconceptions about England’s First Crowned Queen

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Guest post written by Johanna Strong Mary I, England's first crowned queen regnant (1553-1558), is often popularly remembered as either a tragic figure or as a tyrannical one. While traditional histories such as G.R. Elton's focus on the religious persecution undertaken throughout Mary's reign, others attempt to soften her character by narrating her phantom pregnancies and the frequent absences of her husband, Philip II of Spain. Both of these approaches and styles of [More]

Tudors to Windsors: 500 Years of British Royal Portraits

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Exhibition at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.  Open 28th May to 31st October 2021. Written by Melanie V. Taylor for TudorsDynasty.com On Tuesday 25th May I got on a train to London for the first time in a year.  Suitably masked I was heading off to my favourite London museum for a preview of the Tudors to Windsors exhibition being held in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. For those who have never visited this museum, it is part of the Royal Museums [More]

Tudor Royals in Portraiture: 1485-1558

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How we know the Tudor Royals from 1485 - 1558; and who painted them. Guest article by Melanie V. Taylor A recent article in various publications, including The Smithsonian magazine, looked at Franny Moyle's suggestion that Holbein left  clues regarding the identification of one of his sitters of his miniatures being of Henry VIII's fourth wife, Anna, Duchess of Cleves.  It is not the first time this possibility has been discussed.  Heather Darsie describes how Anna [More]

The 1348 Black Plague: Devastation Through Europe

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Guest post by Juliana Cummings As we come to what appears to be the end of the global pandemic, I've often thought about those who were alive during another pandemic-one that was almost 700 years ago. While Covid 19 was a scary and uncertain time for us all, we could at least rest assured that we had the knowledge and experience of doctors and scientists who understood the virology. We relied on the millions of brave first responders who cared for the sick and dying, knowing [More]

Book Review – Jane Parker: The Downfall of Two Tudor Queens by Charlie Fenton

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Review by Sarah J. Hodder Jane Parker, Lady Rochford, Jane Boleyn, or even just the wife of George Boleyn, this new book by Charlie Fenton gives us a glimpse into the life of this intriguing woman who, as the title suggests, is often credited with an involvement in the downfall of two of England's queens. Jane Boleyn is exactly the type of subject that grabs my attention, a woman in history that is often in the shadows and so I was excited to read and review this book. [More]

Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex – Tudor Rebel (Guest Post)

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Guest post by Tony Riches Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, is one of the most intriguing men of the Elizabethan period. Tall and handsome, he soon becomes a 'favourite' at court, so close to the queen many wonder if they are lovers. The truth is, of course, far more complex, as each has what the other yearns for. Robert Devereux longs for recognition, wealth and influence. His flamboyant naïveté amuses the ageing Queen Elizabeth, like the son she never had, and his [More]