On the 22nd of February, 1511, Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, experienced a devastating loss. Their infant son – Henry, Duke of Cornwall – died, suddenly and expectedly, at the age of only fifty-two days at Richmond Palace. The cause of his death was not recorded....
Coronation of a Tudor Boy King
A Boy King Henry VIII died on 28 January 1547, leaving his son, Edward Tudor, to inherit the English throne. At first, Henry’s death was a secret even to his only surviving legitimate son, Edward Tudor. His uncle – Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford – and Sir Anthony Browne escorted Edward...
The birth of Empress Matilda
Matilda (the Latin form of Maud) is known as Empress Matilda. She is a legendary woman who could have been England’s first queen regnant in her own right. But the terrible wheels of fate were in motion, and she was never crowned Queen of England. She is a woman who...
The Shrovetide joust: ‘Declare I dare not’
In 1526, Shrove Tuesday (the 7th of February) was celebrated with a traditional solemn joust at Greenwich Palace. Jousting was one of Henry's favorite sports. The Shrovetide joust was a special event for Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, as the English monarch’s motto tentatively reflected that he had found...
A Plantagenet Captive King
Journey from Acre and Capture The peace treaty between Richard the Lionheart and Sultan Saladin was signed on the 2nd of September, 1192. It reestablished the Kingdom of Jerusalem, although without the holy city. The Third Crusade was officially over, and Richard set out on a long journey back home....