Short History Of... The Tudors, Part 1 of 2
Mar 30, 2025
Tracey Borman, Chief Historian at Historic Royal Palaces and author of The Private Lives of the Tudors, dives deep into the captivating world of the Tudor dynasty. She discusses the tumultuous rise of Henry Tudor from the chaos of the Wars of the Roses and the political maneuvers that shaped early England. Borman explores Henry VIII's complex character, his break from Rome, and the fates of iconic queens like Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour. The discussion offers a fresh perspective on how these events laid the groundwork for modern Britain.
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Henry Tudor's Illegitimate Claim
- Henry Tudor's claim to the throne came from an illegitimate line, descending from John of Gaunt's affair.
- Despite this, his mother believed he was destined to be king and worked tirelessly to secure his future.
Henry Tudor's Tumultuous Early Life
- Henry Tudor's early life was marked by trauma, losing his father and nearly his mother during his birth.
- He spent his youth in exile in Brittany, rallying Lancastrian support against Richard III.
The Stanley Brothers' Decisive Move
- The Stanley brothers, powerful noblemen, initially sided with Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field.
- Their last-minute switch of allegiance to Henry Tudor proved decisive, leading to Richard's demise and Henry's victory.
