As dynasties go the reign of the Tudors was relatively short (1485-1603) but it holds its own in terms of infamous characters, nefarious schemes, and bloody events. It began in the aftermath of the Wars of the Roses, and reached its peak with the defeat of the Spanish Armada. The first English colony in North America occurred during the Tudor period, though it failed, vanishing into the woods of North Carolina. It produced some of the most famous monarchs in British history, including Queen Elizabeth I and her notorious father, Henry VIII. The latter, fed up with the lack of Papal co-operation regarding his marital status, separated the Church of England from Roman influence and control.
When one considers “Merrie Olde England” it is usually the Tudor period which comes to mind, with lavish banquets, court jesters and troubadours, festivals, Kings and Queens, courtiers and ladies-in-waiting. In truth it was a time of peril for all. Each of the Tudor monarchs faced schemes and plots to remove them from their thrones, through assassination, revolution, or the actions of foreign enemies such as France and Spain. Even Elizabeth, today honored as one of England’s greatest monarchs, spent her entire reign threatened by perceived enemies, some real, some not. Here are ten facts you might not know about the Tudors.
This is an encore of one of our previous lists, as presented by our YouTube host Simon Whistler. Read the full list!
