Book Review – ‘Mary Tudor: A Story of Triumph, Sorrow and Fire’ by Anthony Ruggiero

Feb 17, 2021 ~ Helene Harrison ~ Leave a comment

Thank you to the author for sending me a proof of this book.

This is more of a thesis than a full-length book on the life and reign of Mary I. There are three main areas discussed – Mary’s early life and rise to the throne, her Spanish marriage to Philip II, and the French Wars during which England lost Calais.

The writing is strong, getting straight to the point the writer is trying to make. Many of the sentences I find quite long, and it could have benefitted perhaps from a more concise approach to sentence structure. Each chapter starts with a clear outline of what will be discussed, making it easy to follow. Some books it is sometimes difficult to figure out exactly what each chapter will be about, but not here.

The footnotes are well-done in the accepted academic style, but it feels like the same sources are used on repeat, lacking the variety of some other texts, in both primary and secondary sources. However, the sources used seem diverse, especially secondary sources, but could have benefitted from more exploration of primary sources. There are a few images used, but these could have benefitted from more involvement in the text, though the captions detail exactly what the image is and where it’s come from.

Nevertheless, an interesting read, especially around the French Wars, which I didn’t know as much about as the other sections. For anyone interested in Mary I, this is worth a read as it is concise and introduces some of the most important aspects of her reign.

Timetable of Tudor Events

May 11, 2017May 6, 2017 ~ Helene Harrison ~ Leave a comment

1457	28 January	Birth of Henry VII
1466	11 February	Birth of Elizabeth of York
1485	22 August	Henry VII defeats Richard III at Battle of Bosworth
	16 September	Birth of Katherine of Aragon
	30 October	Coronation of Henry VII
1486	18 January	Marriage of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York
	20 September	Birth of Prince Arthur
1487	17 June	Defeat of Lambert Simnel at Battle of Stoke
1489	28 November	Birth of Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scotland
1491	28 June	Birth of Henry VIII
1496	18 March	Birth of Mary Tudor, Queen of France and Duchess of Suffolk
1499	28 November	Execution of Edward, Earl of Warwick
1501	14 November	Marriage of Katherine of Aragon and Prince Arthur
1502	2 April	Death of Prince Arthur
1503	11 February	Death of Elizabeth of York
	8 August	Marriage of Margaret Tudor and James IV of Scotland
1509	21 April	Death of Henry VII and accession of Henry VIII
	11 June	Marriage of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon
	24 June	Coronation of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon
	29 June	Death of Margaret Beaufort
1511	1 January	Birth of Henry, Duke of Cornwall
1513	16 August	Battle of the Spurs
	9 September	Defeat of James IV of Scotland at Battle of Flodden
1515	22 September	Birth of Anne of Cleves
1516	18 February	Birth of Mary I
1519	15 June	Birth of Henry VIII’s illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy
1520	7 June	Beginning of the Field of the Cloth of Gold
	24 June	End of the Field of the Cloth of Gold
1521	17 May	Execution of Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham
	17 October	Pope grants Henry VIII title ‘Defender of the Faith’
1533	25 January	Marriage of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn
	1 June	Coronation of Anne Boleyn
	7 September	Birth of Elizabeth I
1534	20 April	Execution of Elizabeth Barton, Nun of Kent
1535	6 July	Execution of Thomas More
1536	7 January	Death of Katherine of Aragon
	19 May	Execution of Anne Boleyn
	30 May	Marriage of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour
	23 July	Death of Henry Fitzroy
	2 October	Beginning of the Lincolnshire Rising / Pilgrimage of Grace
1537	12 October	Birth of Edward VI
	24 October	Death of Jane Seymour
1540	6 January	Marriage of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves
	9 July	Annulment of marriage between Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves
	28 July	Marriage of Henry VIII and Katherine Howard, execution of Thomas Cromwell
1541	27 May	Execution of Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury
1542	13 February	Execution of Katherine Howard
1543	12 July	Marriage of Henry VIII and Katherine Parr
1545	19 July	Sinking of the Mary Rose
1546	16 July	Execution of Anne Askew
1547	19 January	Execution of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey
	28 January	Death of Henry VIII and accession of Edward VI
	10 September	Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
1548	5 September	Death of Katherine Parr
1549	20 March	Execution of Thomas Seymour, Baron Seymour
1552	22 January	Execution of Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset
1553	6 July	Death of Edward VI
	10 July	Proclamation of Jane Grey as queen
	19 July	Overthrow of Jane Grey and accession of Mary I
	22 August	Execution of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland
	1 October	Coronation of Mary I
1554	12 February	Execution of Jane Grey
	25 July	Marriage of Mary I and Philip II of Spain
1555	16 October	Execution of Nicholas Ridley, Bishop of London
1556	21 March	Execution of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury
1557	16 July	Death of Anne of Cleves
1558	17 November	Death of Mary I and accession of Elizabeth I
1559	15 January	Coronation of Elizabeth I
1587	8 February	Execution of Mary Queen of Scots
1588	19 July	First sighting of the Spanish Armada off the English coast
	29 July	Battle of Gravelines and defeat of Spanish Armada
1601	25 February	Execution of Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex
1603	24 March	Death of Elizabeth I and accession of James I

Continue reading “Timetable of Tudor Events” →

Who’s Who of Tudor History

Oct 8, 2015Feb 19, 2016 ~ Helene Harrison ~ Leave a comment

Aragon, Katherine of = First Queen to Henry VIII, marriage annulled 1533, died 1536.

Ashley, Kat = Governess and close friend to Elizabeth I from her childhood. Died 1565.

Aske, Robert = One of the leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536. Executed 1537.

Beaufort, Margaret = Mother to Henry VII. Outlived her son and saw the accession of her grandson, Henry VIII.

Blount, Bessie = Henry VIII’s mistress, and the only one to give him an acknowledged illegitimate child – Henry Fitzroy.

Boleyn, Anne = Second Queen to Henry VIII, executed 1536 for adultery and incest.

Boleyn, George = Brother to Henry VIII’s second Queen. Accused of adultery and incest with his sister. Executed 1536.

Boleyn, Mary = Sister of Henry VIII’s second Queen. Mistress of Henry VIII. Died 1543.

Brandon, Charles Duke of Suffolk and best friend to Henry VIII. Married Henry VIII’s sister, Mary. Died 1546. Continue reading “Who’s Who of Tudor History” →

She Wolves – Episode 3 – Jane Grey, Mary I and Elizabeth I 21.03.2012

May 19, 2015Aug 3, 2016 ~ Helene Harrison ~ Leave a comment

1553 only heirs to the Tudor throne were women – next three monarchs would be women
6 July 1553 Greenwich Palace Edward VI was the only son of Henry VIII and he died – political crisis as no one left to claim the title King of England
Women were not equipped to rule – weaker, more sinful, less rational, unable to fight or make law
Women who tried to take power were seen as unnatural or monstrous
English crown had always been worn by a man
Henry VIII had gone to extreme lengths to have a son to succeed him – declared his daughters bastards after getting rid of their mothers
Henry’s hopes rested on his son’s shoulders
His heir wasn’t clear – uncertain future, two half-sisters and seven cousins, but all of them were women
Which woman would it be?
Mary and Elizabeth knew that under Henry VIII’s will the crown should pass first to Mary then to Elizabeth if Edward died without heirs.
Edward VI was a protestant and Mary I a Catholic Continue reading “She Wolves – Episode 3 – Jane Grey, Mary I and Elizabeth I 21.03.2012” →

How important were Foreign Alliances in Promoting Support of the Tudor Dynasty?

Aug 22, 2014Jun 13, 2017 ~ Helene Harrison ~ 2 Comments

Foreign alliances were the backbone of the Tudor dynasty (1485-1603). They were a way to demonstrate support for a new dynasty, and cement its credentials. The claim of Henry VII to the English throne wasn’t that strong on its own, but was strengthened by political marriages, like that of Katherine of Aragon to Prince Arthur in 1501. However, wars also demonstrated that the dynasty had a right to the throne – Henry VII claimed that since he beat Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, Richard wasn’t the rightful ruler and Henry was. Foreign alliances were also used to neutralise threats from enemy countries, like Scotland. Several of these instances will be examined in the following essay.

The most important foreign alliance in the sixteenth century was the marriage of Prince Arthur, heir to Henry VII, to Katherine of Aragon, daughter of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon in 1501.This marriage demonstrated that the Spanish monarchy recognised the claim of the Tudors to the English throne. Refusing the marriage would show that the Spanish didn’t believe Henry VII to be the rightful King of England. Continue reading “How important were Foreign Alliances in Promoting Support of the Tudor Dynasty?” →

Spotlight: Mary I

Apr 21, 2014Feb 3, 2015 ~ Helene Harrison ~ Leave a comment

Names: Mary Tudor / Mary I / Bloody Mary

Titles: Princess of Wales / Lady Mary / Queen of England, Ireland and France / Queen of Spain

Dates: 18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558

Spouse: Philip II of Spain 1527-1598

Children: None

Parents: Henry VIII 1491-1547 & Katherine of Aragon 1485-1536

Siblings: Elizabeth I 1533-1603 & Edward VI 1537-1553 (half-siblings)

Noble Connections: Mary was the grand-daughter of Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain. She was also the cousin of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Her governess was the Countess of Salisbury, and her godparents included the Duchess of Norfolk and the Countess of Devon.

Continue reading “Spotlight: Mary I” →

What Made the Tudor Dynasty Unique?

Dec 8, 2013Jan 27, 2015 ~ Helene Harrison ~ 1 Comment

The Tudor dynasty was unique in several ways, not least that two of our most remembered monarchs were Tudors – Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Furthermore, the dynasty was unique in issues of marriage, succession, political unity, religion, and love. Read on to find out more.

Henry VIII is the only reigning monarch to have married more than twice. He was also only the second to have a wife who had already been married (the first was Edward IV whose Queen, Elizabeth Woodville, already had two sons when they married). He is also only the second King to have married a commoner (Edward IV was, again, the first). He is also the only monarch to have had one of his wives (let alone two!) executed. Even more shocking that the two executed were in fact cousins.[1]

Edward VI was the third reigning English monarch not to marry, the first two being William II and Edward V, the second of whom was too young to be married when he died, and the former appeared to have been too busy with wars and dissenters to think about a family. Continue reading “What Made the Tudor Dynasty Unique?” →

‘Mary and Elizabeth’ by Emily Purdy – Discussion Questions

Oct 23, 2013Mar 22, 2015 ~ Helene Harrison ~ Leave a comment

Emily Purdy's 'Mary and Elizabeth' (2011). — Emily Purdy’s ‘Mary and Elizabeth’ (2011).

1. Discuss the childhoods of Mary and Elizabeth. How were they different? How were they alike? How did their relationships with their parents, the loss of their mothers, the alternating periods of being in and out of their father’s favour, and their father’s multiple marriages affect and influence the women they grew up to be?

Mary and Elizabeth had very different childhoods. Their mothers definitely affected them differently. For one, Mary was old enough to understand what was happening when her mother and father split when Henry was courting Anne Boleyn. When Anne fell from favour, Elizabeth wasn’t really old enough to understand what was happening. This created differences in how Mary and Elizabeth each treated their stepmothers. Elizabeth was more accepting, being younger and more easily influenced. Mary was very set in her ways, having been under her mother’s wing for her whole life, until they were forcibly split apart. Their childhoods were alike in that they were both raised in the royal court, but Mary was raised until she was a teenager in believing she was legitimate and would one day be Queen, whereas by the time Elizabeth was old enough to understand she was already illegitimate. The multiple marriages of Henry VIII affected Elizabeth more than Mary. It is my belief that Elizabeth’s experiences with her mother and stepmothers were a key reason why she didn’t marry. Continue reading “‘Mary and Elizabeth’ by Emily Purdy – Discussion Questions” →

UPDATE: English Monarchs and When They Ruled

Jun 18, 2013Jan 28, 2015 ~ Helene Harrison ~ Leave a comment

This post is an update on a previous post. Instead of just listing the monarchs and consorts and when they ruled I have also listed the legitimate children of each union and their title.

William I (1066 – 1087) … Consort – Matilda of Flanders

Children – Robert, Duke of Normandy d. 1134

Richard d. 1075

William II d. 1100

Henry I d. 1135

Adelaide d. 1113

Cecily d. 1127

Matilda d. 1086

Constance, Duchess of Brittany d. 1090 Continue reading “UPDATE: English Monarchs and When They Ruled” →

The Basics of the Tudor Consorts

Jun 17, 2013Jan 28, 2015 ~ Helene Harrison ~ Leave a comment

As promised following my post on basic facts about the Tudors monarchs, a post on the basics of the Tudor consorts, including the six wives of Henry VIII, Elizabeth of York and Phillip II of Spain. Enjoy!

Elizabeth of York

Nicknames: None
Reigned: 18 January 1486 – 11 February 1503
Coronation: 25 November 1487
Born: 11 February 1466
Died: 11 February 1503
Parents: Edward IV of England d. 1483 & Elizabeth Woodville d. 1492
Married: Henry VII of England d. 1509
Children: Arthur d. 1502, Henry VIII of England d. 1547, Mary d. 1533 & Margaret
Importance of Marriage: Her marriage to Henry VII united the houses of York and Lancaster and ended the Wars of the Roses
Key Events: Marriage of Prince Arthur to Katherine of Aragon, defeat of pretenders like Perkin Warbeck and Lambert Simnel & the end of the Wars of the Roses Continue reading “The Basics of the Tudor Consorts” →

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