‘The Sixteenth Century in 100 Women’ by Amy Licence added to the General Works section of the bibliography.
Entry added to the following:
Art – Paintings – Teerlinc.
‘The Sixteenth Century in 100 Women’ by Amy Licence added to the General Works section of the bibliography.
Entry added to the following:
Art – Paintings – Teerlinc.
Stephanie Kline is the author of ‘Edward VI: Henry VIII’s Overshadowed Son’ which will be published by Pen and Sword Books on 30th April.
Stephanie also runs ‘The Tudor Enthusiast’ website.
Buy ‘Edward VI: Henry VIII’s Overshadowed Son’:
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Stephanie’s website: The Tudor Enthusiast
Twitter: @TudorEnthusiast
Many thanks to Stephaniefor answering my questions.
Why did you choose this subject for your book?
Pen & Sword actually approached me about writing a biography on Edward VI, so I can’t take credit for choosing the subject. And on that note, I have to admit that I was a little hesitant about the prospect of writing about Edward, only because I know that for the majority of Tudor fans, Edward doesn’t exactly leap off of the pages of history and seem like the most exciting figure of the time period – especially compared with his father. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to make his life and story interesting to readers, because I think the general impression of him (at least at first) seems to be that his reign was inconsequential and sort of boring – seeing as he was only fifteen when he died, and his government was handled by men other than himself. But in fact, I’m really glad that I took this challenge on. In doing the research, I quickly realized that there was much more to say about Edward’s reign than what I had initially thought, and that he had much more of a significant impact on England – even as we know it today – than I think he is often given credit for. So for that reason, I found this a really worthy subject to be focusing on and I made it my mission to write about him in such a way that would bring his character and impact to life. My goal in writing the book quickly became making his story interesting and engaging for people, so hopefully Tudor fans could gain a better appreciation and respect for his time as England’s king, and the ramifications from that brief period that we still see today, particularly in Protestantism and the Church of England.
What does your book add to previous works covering this subject?
I hope it adds more of a focus on exactly where Edward was, what he was doing, and (at least to some extent) what he was thinking throughout the goings-on of his reign. I think we generally see a lot of focus being placed on Somerset and Northumberland, as they were the two men who really led Edward’s government during his reign. But sometimes the focus on those two men really comes at the expense of talking about Edward. Reading a history of Edward VI’s reign can often feel like we’re just reading a history of the Dukes of Somerset and Northumberland, and I really wanted to avoid that as much as possible. Of course, any study of Edward is going to include his regency council and the two men who headed it – so it can’t entirely be avoided. But where possible, I really tried to focus the attention back on Edward. What was he doing? How was he spending his time? Do we know what he was thinking and saying, and was he writing in his Chronicle about what was going on? Sometimes the effort is futile, but it was important to me. This is a book about Edward and I wanted to keep him at the center as much as possible. I also really like to hope that I placed a great deal of emphasis on the ‘trickle-down’ effect that Edward’s reign had on Protestantism and religious change in England – through my final chapters that detail the Tudor reigns that followed his, and in my points about the effects he had on the modern-day Church of England. I really wanted to impress upon readers that his reign had lasting impacts, which we often don’t think about.
What surprised you most researching this book?
I’m happy to say that what surprised me most was just how dramatic Edward’s reign really was. As I said, we have a tendency to view this period of Tudor history as being relatively boring. When we compare it to other Tudor monarchs, it can feel lacking at first glance. But in fact, Edward’s time as king was filled with all kinds of drama – war with Scotland, serious financial hardship, political and religious riots and rebellion, notable noblemen’s executions, botched marriage plans, and a wave of sweating sickness that overtook much of London. It was actually a really hard time to be an Englishman, and that made for some unexpectedly interesting research. All was not boring in England between 1547 and 1553 – in fact, far from it. So, I was pleasantly surprised by all the ways in which drama and difficulty popped up in the period. Not ideal for Edward and his subjects, I know – but for me, it made for some fun reading and writing.
Do you think Edward or John Dudley was the instigator of the ‘Devise for the Succession’?
I argue in the book that it’s quite likely the idea originated with John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. With Edward’s health failing so dramatically between autumn 1552 and spring 1553, I think it stands to reason that Northumberland was feeling quite anxious about the prospect of Edward’s heir – his eldest sister, Catholic Princess Mary – coming to the throne. Not only would she surely undo all of the progress made for the Protestant Reformation, but she also downright hated Northumberland. What control he had held during the latter part of Edward’s reign would absolutely be gone the moment Mary became queen. So, I think it’s likely that he tried to take matters into his own hands – knowing that Lady Jane Grey was already (sort of) in line to the throne anyway through her mother, and was also a fervently Protestant peer of Edward’s. He knew Edward would likely support the idea (and he did). Not only that, but Northumberland could marry her to his son, Guildford, and potentially find himself even more in control of government as father-in-law of the Queen of England. With all of these puzzle pieces fitting together so neatly in Northumberland’s favor, I personally find it hard to argue against him being the mastermind behind the ‘Devise for the Succession’. But make no mistake – if Edward hadn’t agreed with the plan and seen its immense benefits for his Reformation, I firmly do not believe Northumberland would have had his way. This is a very strong example, in my view, of Edward being far more than the ‘puppet king’ (as he’s sometimes referred to). He had to have agreed with and believed in this plan – even if John Dudley was the original instigator.
What do you think Edward should be remembered for?
Without a doubt, he should be remembered as a reformer king. I think his reign’s impacts on Protestantism in England are really significant, especially when you consider how they evolved over the next several decades under his sister Elizabeth I’s reign. The Forty-Two Articles written during his reign (the Church of England’s statement of doctrine at the time) was later revised into Elizabeth’s Thirty-Six Articles, for example, which stand as one of the pillars of the modern-day Church, along with Thomas Cranmer’s Book of Common Prayer. The impacts of texts like these can’t be overstated when we look at the Church of England’s history. Although England’s Reformation never reached the peaks that Edward (and his advisors) wanted it to, it had really lasting effects that wove into the religious fabric of the country and remain there today. I think that’s pretty significant – especially for a fifteen-year-old king who reigned for only six years.
‘For too long, King Edward VI has been pushed to the very edges of Tudor history – overlooked in favour of some of the more vibrant personalities of his family members, such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Known as the ‘boy king’ of the Tudor dynasty, he is often remembered for little more than the ambitious councillors who governed England during his minority. His reign, however, and the significant religious changes that took place as he furthered the Protestant Reformation in England, had great influence over the remaining decades of the Tudor period and even modern Britain as we know it today. ‘Boy king’ though he may have been, Edward VI and his government were more significant to the history of England than he is often given credit for, and it is long past time for careful and thoughtful study of his life and reign. Edward VI: Henry VIII’s Overshadowed Son aims to reopen the pages of his story, arguing that however brief it may have been, Edward VI’s reign had lasting impacts on the religious landscape in England, and is certainly a Tudor reign worth remembering.’
Further details – Pen and Sword
Further details – Amazon.co.uk
The Sixteenth Century in 100 Women by Amy Licence
‘This retelling of the sixteenth century introduces the reader to a gallery of amazing women, from queens to commoners, who navigated the patriarchal world in memorable and life-changing ways. Amy Licence has scoured the records from Europe and beyond to compile this testament to female lives and achievements, telling the stories of mistresses and martyrs, witches and muses, pirates and jesters, doctors and astronomers, escapees and murderesses, colonists and saints. Read about the wife of astrologer John Dee, the women who inspired Michelangelo, the jester who saved the life of Henry IV of France, the beloved mistress of the Sultan Suleiman the Great, the wife of Ivan the Terrible, whose murder unleashed terror, set against the everyday lives of those women who did not make the history books. Introducing a number of new faces, this book will delight those who are looking to broaden their knowledge on the sixteenth century and celebrate the lost women of the past.’
Further details – Amazon.co.uk
30 May – Henry VIII’s Children: Legitimate and Illegitimate Sons and Daughters of the Tudor King by Caroline Angus
‘Of the five Tudor monarchs, only one was ever born to rule. While much of King Henry VIII’s reign is centred on his reckless marriage choices, it was the foundations laid by Henry and Queen Katherine of Aragon that shaped the future of the crown. Among the suffering of five lost heirs, the royal couple placed all their hopes in the surviving Princess Mary. Her early life weaves a tale of promise, diplomacy, and pageantry never again seen in King Henry’s life, but a deep-rooted desire for a son, a legacy of his own scattered childhood, pushed Henry VIII to smother Mary’s chance to rule. An affair soon produced an unlikely heir in Henry Fitzroy, and while one child was pure royalty, the other illegitimate, the comparison of their childhoods would show a race to throne closer than many wished to admit. King Henry’s cruelty saw his heirs’ fates pivot as wives came and went, and the birth Princess Elizabeth, saw long-term plans upended for short-term desires. With the death of one heir hidden from view, the birth of Prince Edward finally gave the realm an heir born to rule, but King Henry’s personal desires and paranoia left his heirs facing constant uncertainty for another decade until his death. Behind the narrative of Henry VIII’s wives, wars, reformation and ruthlessness, there were children, living lives of education among people who cared for them, surrounded by items in generous locations which symbolised their place in their father’s heart. They faced excitement, struggles, and isolation which would shape their own reigns. From the heights of a surviving princess destined and decreed to influence Europe, to illegitimate children scattered to the winds of fortune, the childhoods of Henry VIII’s heirs is one of ambition, destiny, heartache, and triumph.’
Further details – Pen and Sword
Further details – Amazon.co.uk
30 May – Arthur, Prince of Wales: Henry VIII’s Lost Brother by Gareth Streeter
‘For too long, Arthur Tudor has been remembered only for what he never became. The boy who died prematurely and paved the way for the revolutionary reign of his younger brother, Henry VIII. Yet, during his short life, Arthur was at the centre of one of the most tumultuous periods of England’s history. At the time of his birth, he represented his father’s hopes for a dynasty and England’s greatest chance of peace. As he grew, he witnessed feuds, survived rebellion and became the focal point of an international alliance. From the threat of pretenders to West Country rebellions, the dramatic twists and turns of early Tudor England preoccupied Arthur’s thoughts. At a young age, he was dispatched to the Welsh border, becoming a figurehead for a robust regional government. While never old enough to exercise full power in his dominion, he emerged as a figure of influence, beseeched by petitioners and consulted by courtiers. While the extent of his personal influence can only be guessed at, the sources that survive reveal a determined prince that came tantalisingly close to forging his future. Eventually, after years of negotiation, delay and frustration, the prince finally came face to face with his Spanish princess, Katharine of Aragon. The young couple had shared a destiny since the cradle. Securing the hand of this prestigious bride for his son had been a centrepiece of Henry VII’s foreign policy. Yet, despite being 14 years in the making, the couple were to enjoy just five months together before Arthur succumbed to a mysterious illness. Arthur’s death at the age of 15 was not just a personal tragedy for his parents. It changed the course of the future and deprived England of one of the most educated and cultivated princes in its history. Arthur would never wear the crown of England. But few Princes of Wales had been better prepared to rule. ‘Arthur, Prince of Wales: Henry VIII’s lost brother’ shows that Arthur Tudor was more than a prince who died. He was a boy that really lived.’
Further details – Pen and Sword
Further details – Amazon.co.uk