Category: Wooing a Lady

On This Day, This and That, Women, Wooing a Lady

Margaret Douglas, Tudor Poetess & Henry VIII’s Niece

by Heather R. Darsie On 7 or 8 October 1515, Margaret Douglas was born to Margaret Tudor and Margaret Tudor’s second husband, Archibald Douglas. Margaret Douglas’ mother fled into England over trouble between Margaret’s half-brother James V of Scotland and Margaret’s father Archibald. Margaret was born at Harbottle Castle in Northumbria. She joined Cardinal Wolsey’s household around 1528, when she was roughly twelve years old. … Continue reading Margaret Douglas, Tudor Poetess & Henry VIII’s Niece

Heather R Darsie4 Comments
On This Day, This and That, Women, Wooing a Lady

The Scandalous Marriage of Katharina von Bora and Martin Luther

by Heather R. Darsie On 13 June 1525, forty-one-year-old Martin Luther married twenty-six-year old Katharina von Bora. Katharina was given to the Church at a young age. By her early twenties, she and several other nuns in the Marienthron convent were familiar with Luther’s teachings and wished to practice them. They became fed up with religious life, and wanted to leave the convent. Katharina von … Continue reading The Scandalous Marriage of Katharina von Bora and Martin Luther

Heather R Darsie2 Comments
Women, Wooing a Lady

Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England

by Heather R. Darsie Eleanor Ramnulfid of Aquitaine, born circa 1122, was a pretty, wealthy teenager when she married her first husband. No confirmed likenesses of Eleanor exist, and it is not known what she looked like other than that Eleanor was a beauty with gorgeous eyes. Eleanor’s father died when she was young, leaving her the vast, rich territory of Aquitaine in southern France. She was … Continue reading Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England

Heather R Darsie2 Comments
Wooing a Lady

Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII: The Last Love Letter

by Heather R. Darsie Henry VIII of England’s last love letter to Anne Boleyn shows how close and far the couple felt to achieving their purpose of an annulment for Henry from Katharine of Aragon, which would pave the way for Anne to marry Henry. Henry is also chiding Anne just a bit, referencing her “inutile and vain” thoughts, or baseless flights of fancy. He … Continue reading Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII: The Last Love Letter

Heather R Darsie3 Comments
Wooing a Lady

Henry VIII’s Seventeenth Love Letter to Anne Boleyn

by Heather R. Darsie The seventeenth love letter from Henry VIII of England to Anne Boleyn was likely written in late September 1528 because it mentions the arrival of the papal legate, Cardinal Lorenzo Campeggio. Campeggio was acting legate in Rome for Pope Clement VII after Henry’s nephew through his current marriage to Katharine of Aragon, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, sacked Rome in … Continue reading Henry VIII’s Seventeenth Love Letter to Anne Boleyn

Heather R Darsie1 Comment
Wooing a Lady

Love Letter Sixteen from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn

by Heather R. Darsie The sixteenth love letter from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn was written around the middle of September 1528. Pope Clement VII, captured by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in June 1527 after the sacking of Rome in May, was still Charles V’s prisoner. The Pope did not return to Rome until October 1528. When Henry wrote this letter, he was … Continue reading Love Letter Sixteen from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn

Heather R DarsieLeave a comment
Wooing a Lady

Love Letters Fourteen and Fifteen from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn

by Heather R. Darsie Letter Fourteen speaks for itself: it seems that someone leaked information about Henry’s desire to meet with Anne Boleyn. Letter Fourteen is one of the shortest, if not indeed the shortest, of Henry VIII’s letters to Anne. It says: “Darling, I heartily recommend me to you, ascertaining you that I am not a little perplexed with such things as your brother … Continue reading Love Letters Fourteen and Fifteen from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn

Heather R Darsie1 Comment
Wooing a Lady

Love Letter Thirteen from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn

by Heather R. Darsie “The approach of the time for which I have so long waited rejoices me so much, that it seems almost to have come already.” Anne Boleyn by Andern Holt, 19th century, via Wikimedia Commons These joyful words from the besotted Henry VIII of England were written to Anne Boleyn either shortly before or shortly after 17 May 1527.* On that date, … Continue reading Love Letter Thirteen from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn

Heather R Darsie2 Comments
Women, Wooing a Lady

Love Letter Twelve from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn

by Heather R. Darsie The twelfth love letter from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn is a doozy, colloquially speaking. It shows the passion Henry has for Anne, the court intrigues of the Boleyn family, issues Henry had with religious entities in England, and was likely written just before Cardinal Wolsey made a brazen move counter to Henry’s wishes. Let us begin.  Wenceslaus Hollar, via Wikimedia … Continue reading Love Letter Twelve from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn

Heather R Darsie2 Comments
Wooing a Lady

The Eleventh Love Letter from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn

by Heather R. Darsie In case you missed Love Letter Eleven on Tudors Dynasty at http://www.tudorsdynasty.com/the-love-letters-from-henry-viii-to-anne-boleyn/ The tone of this letter from late June 1528 is in stark contrast to Henry VIII’s previous two letters to Anne Boleyn: not only is he overjoyed that Anne has escaped death from the Sweat, he is also quite flirtatious. From the contents of the letter, it seems the two … Continue reading The Eleventh Love Letter from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn

Heather R Darsie1 Comment