Mary Tudor

The Princess and the Knight (Guest Post)

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  The Princess and the Knight Guest post by Sarah Bryson The story of Charles Brandon and Mary Tudor reads like a fairy tale. Born in 1496 she was the youngest surviving child of King Henry VII and his beautiful wife Queen Elizabeth. Mary was raised to be the perfect image of a princess. Mary was educated in all the necessities for royal women of the time including singing, dancing, embroidery, and playing a musical instrument. In fact Mary was an excellent [More]

Tudor Power Couple: Edward and Anne Seymour

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The consummate “power couple from hell” Edward Seymour and his wife Anne Stanhope were portrayed in Showtime’s “The Tudors” as selfish, greedy and uncompromising. In real life you could say the same...or is there more to the story? Edward Seymour Born in 1500, Edward Seymour was the second son of John Seymour and Margery Wentworth and grew up at Wolf Hall. The eldest son of the couple, John most likely died in infancy - so Edward was now the oldest. He had nine siblin [More]

Secret Marriage: Mary Tudor and Charles Brandon

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  When Mary Tudor arrived in France she experience a French court that was reasonably well ordered and steadily developing as the trend-setter in French material culture. Louis most definitely spoiled his new, young bride and Mary appears to have done her duty as an English Princess and made the King of France, her husband, very happy. As he said himself, "I can sufficiently praise and express my delight in her." Nearly three months into their marriage, o [More]

The King’s Delight: Marriage of Mary Tudor to Louis XII

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Mary Tudor, Queen of France was the title she earned when she married Louis XII of France. The marriage was one that was arranged by her brother, King Henry VIII of England and not a love match. On 9 October 1514, at the age of 18, Mary Tudor married 52-year-old King Louis XII of France. The below letter was written by the King of France to his brother-in-law, Henry VIII. In the letter he describes his delight with his new wife only a few months after their [More]

Description of Departure of the King’s Sister: 1514

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Princess Mary Tudor was the younger sister of King Henry VIII. She was said to be the King's favorite sister. Henry arranged for Mary to wed the King of France - as always, a political alliance for England. To have France as an ally instead of an enemy was definitely a benefit to the country after years of fighting. This letter is written by a Venetian merchant in England who wrote this letter to his brothers including this one about Princess Mary's departure from England [More]

Mother Guildford: Joan Vaux

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It's not very often that we take a look behind the scenes to the people who cared for the beloved children of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. I stumbled across Joan Vaux while looking through old translated letters, however, she was mis-labeled as Jane, Lady Guildford - or "Mother Guildford." In the explanation of this letter it discusses her dismissal from the service of Mary, the French queen, by her husband Louis XII. This, of course, is referring to Mary Tudor - favorite [More]

Anne Parr: Witness to History

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Lady Anne Parr was sister to Kateryn Parr -- sixth wife of Henry VIII. Anne Parr is unique because she was either a Maid-of-Honor, or Lady-in-Waiting to all the wives of Henry VIII, all six. A Maid-of-Honor was generally a young girl in her teens, just starting out at court. In order to hold the position one had to be part of a noble family. Physical beauty was also requirement, so we must assume Anne was considered attractive. A Maid-of-Honor also had to impress courtiers [More]

The Troubled Life of Mary I of England

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Birth: 18 February 1516, Greenwich Palace Father: Henry VIII Mother: Katherine of Aragon Accession: 19 July 1553 Coronation: 1 October 1553 Husband: Philip II of Spain (m. 25 July 1554) Preceded by: Edward VI Succeeded by: Elizabeth I "The Pearl of the Realm" In history, Mary Tudor is best known as "Bloody Mary." She was so much more than what history painted her to be as a ruler. If we go back to the beginning of her life we'll be able to get a bette [More]