: Judith John
: Dark History of the Tudors Murder, adultery, incest, witchcraft, wars, religious persecution, piracy
: Amber Books Ltd
: 9781782741817
: 1
: CHF 8.10
:
: Biographien, Autobiographien
: English
: 224
: DRM
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB

'Divorced, beheaded, died,
Divorced, beheaded, survived.'
-Rhyme describing the fates of Henry VIII's wives
Beginning with the victory of Henry Tudor over Richard III at Bosworth Field in 1485, and ending with the death of the childless Elizabeth I in 1603 following a 45-year reign, the Tudor dynasty marks a period in British history where England was transformed from a minor medieval kingdom to a preeminent European power on the verge of empire.
Yet this period of great upheaval had a dark side: Henry VIII's notorious break with the Roman Catholic Church and his divorce or execution of four of his six wives; the sad story of teenaged Lady Jane Grey, who was monarch for just nine days before being executed in favor of the Catholic Mary I; and Queen Elizabeth I, who defeated the Spanish Armada, suppressed the Irish rebellion, and sponsored pirates and slave traders in the quest for new territories in America.
Illustrated with 180 photographs, paintings, and illustrations,Dark History of the Tudors is a fascinating, accessible account of the murder, adultery, and religious turmoil that characterized England's most infamous royal dynasty.

King Henry VI with his Queen Consort Margaret of Anjou. Margaret may look angelic, but she was a force to be reckoned with. She even ruled England when Henry VI was incapacitated.

TUDORS


INTRODUCTION


Stretching back to the Middle Ages, the fortunes of the English monarchy have been wracked with violence, dishonour and bloodshed for centuries. A bloody trail of treason casts its dark shadow over England’s mighty rulers, whose tales of treachery and personal intrigues have delighted, appalled and captivated for centuries.

Murder. Usurpation. Adultery. War. Long Live the Kings of England!

Edward III was King of England from 1327 to 1377. His heroic reign is known for sowing the seeds for government and an effective military force, achievements all the more laudable as they followed the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II. Edward III sired 12 children. Two of his sons were made dukes – John of Gaunt was the first Duke of Lancaster and Edmund of Langley was the first Duke of York. Their descendants would plunge England into a civil war that would last for 30 years, only ending with peace when the Tudors took power in 1485, uniting the warring houses.

Getting to Know the Family


In an age where murder and duplicity came hand in hand with power and prestige, the origins of the Tudor dynasty were formed. But before the Tudors came to rule, a series of murders, depositions, madness and imprisonment unfolded over the course of generations until the Tudors would bring an uneasy peace to the troubled shores of England.

This painting by Henry Payne, ‘Choosing the White and Red Roses’ (1908) depicts the scene from Shakespeare’sHenry VI, Part I, in which the warring houses of Lancaster and York and their supporters indicate their alliance by choosing red or white roses.

John of Gaunt’s grandson was the famously heroic King Henry V. It was Henry’s actions during the Battle of Agincourt that won him France and the hand of Catherine of Valois, who became his wife in 1420. They had a son, but their joy was short-lived and Henry V died in 1422. Catherine, alone in a strange country, sought comfort in the arms of Owen Tudor (Owain Tewder in his native Welsh). Owen Tudor was the humble wardrobe keeper of Catherine of Valois, the widowed wife of Henry V of the house of Lancaster. His lowly position meant the marriage was kept a secret at first, so no definite proof exists of the union.

Catherine …sought comfort in the arms of Owen Tudor… the humble wardrobe keeper of Catherine of Valois.

Henry VI would inherit the English and French thrones from his father, but his youth and precarious mental state would be the cause of disputes, intrigues and violence. In 1445, Henry VI married the tempestuous Margaret of Anjou in an effort to restore peaceful relationships with France. Henry VI was pious and loving, but also weak and prone to mental breakdowns, a complete contrast to his forceful wife. Th