Katharine of Aragon and the Castilian Grain Crisis

by Heather R. Darsie, J. D. Katharine of Aragon spent an agonizing seven years in England waiting for her future to find her. Although it was surely a depressing, demoralizing time, going back to Spain might have been more dangerous for Katharine. Things were not safe and secure as the Iberian peninsula, and particularly the Crown of Castile and León, faced crisis after crisis. One … Continue reading Katharine of Aragon and the Castilian Grain Crisis

Katharine of Aragon’s Spanish Legacy in England

by Heather R. Darsie, J. D. Katharine of Aragon left an indelible mark on Tudor England that remains to present time. We are still talking about her. Katharine’s life and the struggle she faced impacted her tremendously, and left a huge impression on her daughter Mary. This very evident when looking at who Mary I, England’s first queen regnant, chose as a husband and the … Continue reading Katharine of Aragon’s Spanish Legacy in England

Restoration of Anna of Cleves Portrait

by Heather R. Darsie, JD Please note that this was originally published at On the Tudor Trail. After decades of being on display at the renowned Louvre Museum in Paris, the dark, shadowy portrait of Anna of Cleves has been restored. The portrait was executed by Hans Holbein the Younger in 1539. An eager Henry VIII of England sent the German master to the United … Continue reading Restoration of Anna of Cleves Portrait

A Personal Note on Internet Discourse and a Request

by Heather R. Darsie, JD Today, Dear Reader, 20 February, is the anniversary of Edward VI of England’s coronation in 1547. As I do from time to time, I posted a little info about it on social media. I also mentioned that Edward’s father, Henry VIII of England, was buried days earlier at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. A curious interaction followed afterward. A person … Continue reading A Personal Note on Internet Discourse and a Request

Salisbury Cathedral during the Reigns of the Tudors

by Heather R. Darsie, J. D. The current Salisbury Cathedral was constructed at a quick clip from 1220 to 1258. An impressive number of stone masons carved and formed the bricks, finials, and columns from three types of limestone. They filled in the spaces between the cathedral’s Early English Gothic vaulted arches with tufa. The building dominated the building when it was built, but needing … Continue reading Salisbury Cathedral during the Reigns of the Tudors

Guest Post: Anne Boleyn’s Taste in Music

by Sylvia Barbara Soberton Sylvia is stopping by today in celebration of her new book, The Forgotten Years of Anne Boleyn: The Habsburg and Valois Courts. Enjoy the excerpt below. Click on the book cover image at the bottom of this post to order Sylvia’s book. –Heather Anne Boleyn’s taste in music Anne Boleyn spent her formative years between 1514 and 1521 at the French … Continue reading Guest Post: Anne Boleyn’s Taste in Music

The Consummation of Anna of Cleves’ and Henry VIII’s Marriage

by Heather R. Darsie, J.D. For decades, if not centuries, it has been assumed that Henry VIII of England and Anna of Cleves never consummated their marriage. The Secret Council that met to devise a way for Henry to have an annulment of his marriage to Anna, rather than a divorce, knew that they had to create air-tight documents to support the idea that Henry … Continue reading The Consummation of Anna of Cleves’ and Henry VIII’s Marriage

Anna of Cleves and the Wyatt Rebellion

by Heather R. Darsie, J. D. Anna of Cleves’ life in England improved substantially after her stepson Edward VI died in 1553. Anna and Mary I of England were very friendly with each other. Anna resumed coming to court, and even tried to help her friend Mary find a suitable husband. Mary wound up desiring a Spanish match, of which some in England unfortunately did … Continue reading Anna of Cleves and the Wyatt Rebellion

Anna of Cleves’ Early Life and Court Culture

by Heather R. Darsie, JD Anna von der Mark was born on 28 June 1515 as the second daughter and second child of Johann III of Cleves-Mark and Maria of Jülich-Berg. She followed another daughter, Sybylla, who was born 17 July 1512. Anna was named after her paternal aunt Anna, the only legitimate daughter of Duke Johann II of Cleves-Mark. Anna’s place of birth is … Continue reading Anna of Cleves’ Early Life and Court Culture