Dark History of the Tudors

King Henry VI with his Queen Consort Margaret of Anjou. Margaret may look angelic, but she was a force to be reckoned with. She even ruled England when Henry VI was incapacitated.

TUDORS

INTRODUCTION

Stretching back to the Middle Ages, the fortunes of the English monarchy have been wracked with violence, dishonour and bloodshed for centuries. A bloody trail of treason casts its dark shadow over England's mighty rulers, whose tales of treachery and personal intrigues have delighted, appalled and captivated for centuries.

Murder. Usurpation. Adultery. War. Long Live the Kings of England!

Edward III was King of England from 1327 to 1377. His heroic reign is known for sowing the seeds for government and an effective military force, achievements all the more laudable as they followed the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II. Edward III sired 12 children. Two of his sons were made dukes - John of Gaunt was the first Duke of Lancaster and Edmund of Langley was the first Duke of York. Their descendants would plunge England into a civil war that would last for 30 years, only ending with peace when the Tudors took power in 1485, uniting the warring houses.

Getting to Know the Family

In an age where murder and duplicity came hand in hand with power and prestige, the origins of the Tudor dynasty were formed. But before the Tudors came to rule, a series of murders, depositions, madness and imprisonment unfolded over the course of generations until the Tudors would bring an uneasy peace to the troubled shores of England.

This painting by Henry Payne, 'Choosing the White and Red Roses' (1908) depicts the scene from Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part I, in which the warring houses of Lancaster and York and their supporters indicate their alliance by choosing red or white roses.

John of Gaunt's grandson was the famously heroic King Henry V. It was Henry's actions during the Battle of Agincourt that won him France and the hand of Catherine of Valois, who became his wife in 1420. They had a son, but their joy was short-lived and Henry V died in 1422. Catherine, alone in a strange country, sought comfort in the arms of Owen Tudor (Owain Tewder in his native Welsh). Owen Tudor was the humble wardrobe keeper of Catherine of Valois, the widowed wife of Henry V of the house of Lancaster. His lowly position meant the marriage was kept a secret at first, so no definite proof exists of the union.

Catherine .sought comfort in the arms of Owen Tudor. the humble wardrobe keeper of Catherine of Valois.

Henry VI would inherit the English and French thrones from his father, but his youth and precarious mental state would be the cause of disputes, intrigues and violence. In 1445, Henry VI married the tempestuous Margaret of Anjou in an effort to restore peaceful relationships with France. Henry VI was pious and loving, but also weak and prone to mental breakdowns, a complete contrast to his forceful wife. Their son, Edward of Westminster, would die in battle in 1471, leaving the heir to the throne in doubt.

THE MIRACULOUS KING

SHORTLY AFTER HENRY VI'S death, rumours abounded that he possessed saintly powers and could make miracles happen. 'Bending a coin to King Henry' could reportedly cause miracles to happen, including providing healing powers and even preventing death. People would make the pilgrimage to his shrine. He was even close to being canonized during Henry VIII's reign.

This painting shows Edward of Westminster as Edward IV's captive at Tewkesbury in 1471. It is believed that Prince Edward was dispatched by Edward IV's triumphant supporters.

Taking advantage of Henry VI's instability, Richard, the third Duke of York, and Edmund, the Duke of York's grandson, were both appointed Lord Protector of England in 1454 when Henry VI had a nervous breakdown. By January 1455, Henry had recovered enough to take back control of his country, but by then Richard of York had a taste for power. Richard was supported by Richard Neville, known as Warwick the Kingmaker.

Ironically, Richard of York would never wear the crown himself, but two of his sons would, showing that they were just as capable of treachery as their wicked father. Richard of York and Neville raised an army against Henry VI, claiming the first victory on the field of Saint Albans in May 1455. The Yorkist victors then imprisoned the confused King in the Tower of London until Henry regained his senses in 1456, once again returning to his throne. Richard of York had shown his true colours. He fled to Ireland, returning in 1459, determined that this time Henry would not be so lucky. Henry was sent back to the Tower and Richard ruled as Protector of the Realm. While he was not King, this was almost as good.

Meanwhile, Margaret of Anjou had been tirelessly raising an army by building up Lancastrian support and forming an alliance with James III of Scotland. The warring houses clashed in an almighty battle at Wakefield and won a great victory of the house of Lancaster, in which Richard of York was killed.

Henry's descent into madness continued until Richard's son, Edward of York, took over the claim to the throne and was crowned King in June 1461.

EDWARD THE SEDUCER

EDWARD WAS A gregarious, charming and handsome man, who had one fatal weakness. He was very promiscuous and could never turn down a pretty face. Edward's love of pleasure and self-indulgent nature made him enemies, as did his propensity for selecting other men's wives as his lovers. His many mistresses bore him several illegitimate children, in addition to the ten children he sired with his wife, Elizabeth Woodville.

Sins of the Father

Edward IV took advantage of the confusion to snatch the throne for himself. Edward made a very different King than Henry. A marked contrast, the first Yorkist King was handsome, tall and brave, giving the country an inspirational and charismatic leader. Unlike Henry VI, he was also a strong leader, taking a guiding hand in policy making. But his usurpation was not enough to secure the throne. In 1470, Edward IV's cousin, Richard Neville, now known as Warwick the Kingmaker, sought power for himself and reinstated Henry VI, taking advantage of the King's timidity to rule in his name. Neville resented the fact that Edward did not listen to him. He also opposed Edward's marriage to Elizabeth Woodville in 1464, whose family helped themselves to titles and wealth that Neville saw as rightfully his.

Neville plotted to return Henry VI to the throne, as the King was by now even easier to dominate. Edward IV fled the country, seeking safety in Burgundy with his brother, Duke of Gloucester, only to return in 1471. Here, poor old Henry VI was sent back to the Tower and Edward IV triumphed over Neville and his army at Tewksbury. During this battle, Edward of Westminster was killed, meaning that Henry VI's only heir was now out of the picture. Soon after, perhaps as a result of the grief at losing his son or from the combination of events that had blighted the last few years of his life, Henry VI died during the night of 21 May. Rumours that Edward IV had ordered Henry's murder have never been proven.

Edward IV did not have long to enjoy his victory. His health started to fail and he died of a stroke in April 1483. Knowing he might die, Edward made his trusted brother, Richard of Gloucester, Protector of the Realm as his eldest son was only 12 years old (English Kings only reached their majority at the age of 18, from when they could rule unaided). Nevertheless, Edward was the rightful heir to the throne and was proclaimed King on 9 April 1483. But Edward V would never wear the crown. His loathsome uncle and Protector - who had been controlling the boy King from the word go - proclaimed himself King on 26 June, less than three months after the death of Edward IV, to whom he had sworn loyalty to Edward V. Richard III abducted the King and his brother, Richard, Duke of York, locking both boys in the Tower of London where they were rarely seen again.

FACT OR FICTION: RICHARD III

SHAKESPEARE PORTRAYS RICHARD III as a true villain. His physicality is monstrous to match his dark, conniving nature. Richard's anger at his deformity and the disadvantages it caused him have long been thought to be falsehoods added to embellish his ugly character. However, the discovery of Richard III's skeleton in Leicester in 2013 (see Chapter 1) has proved that Richard did indeed suffer from curvature of the spine.

... I, that am not shaped for sportive tricks,
Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass;
I, that am rudely stamp'd, and want love's majesty
To strut before a wanton ambling nymph;
I, that am curtail'd of this fair proportion,
Cheated of feature by dissembling nature,
Deformed, unfinish'd, sent before my time
Into this breathing world, scarce half made up,
And that so lamely and unfashionable
That dogs bark at me as I halt by them.

Shakespeare, Richard III

Rumours whisper that Richard killed the unhappy princes to rid himself of the threat they might one day cause.

'Subtle, False and Treacherous'

Richard III is a captivating character who remains controversial to this day. The Tudor reign following his death helped to shape opinions of him as cheerfully murderous and capable of doing anything to secure the power he craved so much. Physically, his portraits show...