“Lancastrian”

War Walks

Jun 6, 2024

anniversaries, battles, genealogy, law, religion, television reviews

“Lancastrian”, Battle of Bosworth, BBC2, bigamy, D-Day, Edward V, Henry VII, illegitimacy, richard holmes, Richard III, Three Estates, war walks

This programme was first shown about twenty-five years ago and is now being repeated for the D-Day anniversary. It was presented by Richard Holmes, a military history lecturer and a Territorial Army officer, covering battlefields from centuries of conflicts. Series 2 covered Bosworth quite well, although it described “Tudor” as a “Lancastrian claimant” ready for…
Carson on the Beaufort Legitimation

May 19, 2024

anniversaries, genealogy, law, religion, sources

“Lancastrian”, 1397 charter, adultery, bigamy, bishop edmund stafford, Blanche of Lancaster, Boniface IX, Calendar of Papal Register, canon law, civil law, dispensations, Edward IV, Elizabeth Wydeville, excepta dignitate regali, Henry Cardinal Beaufort, Henry IV, Henry VII, illegitimacy, Joan “Beaufort”, John Earl of Somerset, John of Gaunt, Katherine de Roët, Lady Eleanor Talbot, Lancastrians, laws of inheritance, legitimisation, letters patent, Parliamentary Roll, Richard II, Thomas Duke of Exeter

Here is Annette Carson‘s investigation into the legal background behind the legitimation of the four Beauforts, a case with obvious implications for 1483 and the succession but some differences as well. Indeed, to what extent did Henry IV, with four healthy sons and two fit daughters want his half-siblings to be among his heirs?
Did Chaucer die a natural death….?

Apr 10, 2024

anniversaries, battles, genealogy, religion, The play’s the thing

“Lancastrian”, “Tudors”, Archbishop Thomas Arundel, Archbishops of Canterbury, authoritarianism, Battle of Bosworth, de heretico comburendo, executed women, Geoffrey Chaucer, Henry IV, Henry VII, John Morton, renaissance, Richard II, Richard III, Shakespeare, Spanish Inquisition, Stalin comparison, Terry Jones, usurpation

Here is an extract from Terry Jones’s exquisitely researched book Who Murdered Chaucer? This extract deals with the first Lancastrian usurpation of the throne of England. The usurper was Henry of Bolingbroke, who became Henry IV, and the king he usurped and killed was his first cousin Richard II. I think Terry Jones’s words…
Thou shalt not spread porkies….

Jan 14, 2023

anniversaries, battles, law

“Lambert Simnel”, “Lancastrian”, “Perkin”, “Tudor” propaganda, Burgundy, Earl of Northumberland, Edward of Warwick, executions, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Ireland, John of Gloucester, Lady Margaret Beaufort, Percies, pillory, proclamations, rebellions, Richard III, rumours, York

“….[A] proclamation to tackle unrest, 1487… stated that any person found to be spreading rumours was to be put into the pillory….” (from this site ) Oh dear, Henry VII didn’t like doses of his own medicine! I speak of rumours and lies. What’s the word….? Um, calumny. That’s it. You know, the rumours…
Bolingbroke and his flute….!

Sep 30, 2022

anniversaries, battles, culture, humour

“Lancastrian”, flutes, Henry IV, Henry VII, Lancastrians, lutes, music, Richard II, usurpation, Wars of the Roses

I feel it’s time to take another pop at a Lancastrian King Henry. On this occasion it’s Henry IV, the warlike Lancastrian usurper who murdered his cousin Richard II and stole the crown. A process that led to the Wars of the Roses. So definitely not one of my favourite kings. When it comes to…
Chief Sitting Bull, Henry V and Richard III….

Dec 15, 2021

anniversaries, archaeology, battles, genealogy, Science

“Lancastrian”, “Princes”, DNA, false paternity, Lancastrians, Native Americans, Richard III, Sitting Bull, USA

This article might seem to be solely about Chief Sitting Bull and his great-grandson, and a new method of proving DNA and so, but here’s the penultimate paragraph: “….Dr. Willerslev said it was possible, for example, that the methodology could help solve one of England’s most confounding cold cases: the fate of the…
THE TUDOR CROWN UNEARTHED

May 23, 2021

anniversaries, art, battles, religion

“Lancastrian”, Charles I, crown, English Civil War, Henry VI, Henry VII, Henry VIII, insanity, Market harborough, metal detecting, Naseby, Oliver Cromwell, St. Edmund, St. Edward the Confessor

A metal detector enthusiast has come up with an impressive find that may be worth a cool £2 million. Tucked away in a hole in a field field near Market Harborough was a tiny figure made of pure gold. This figure is believed to be from the ‘Tudor Crown’ designed by Henry VII for state…
Did Anne of Bohemia die of leprosy…?

Jan 6, 2019

anniversaries, archaeology, genealogy, Science, sources

“Lancastrian”, Anne Neville, Anne of Bohemia, Earl of Richmond, historical myths, letters, mistakes, pregnancies, Richard II, Richard III, Soar, Wenceslaus IV

Well, we are accustomed to incorrect reports about historic events, such as Richard III’s remains being tossed into the River Soar, and Henry “Tudor” being both “the Lancastrian heir” and “Earl of Richmond”. And that Richard III “poisoned” his queen, Anne Neville. Tradition abounds with these things, but today I came upon one I hadn’t…
Was Henry VII always so clever….?

Apr 21, 2018

anniversaries, battles, genealogy

“Beauforts”, “Lancastrian”, “Tudor” propaganda, “Tudors”, avarice, Battle of Bosworth, Elizabeth of York, Henry VII, historians, Historiography, Legitimacy, mythology, tyranny, Wales

Yet again, I tell you the old story of looking for one thing and happening on something else. This time an article that questions the ultimate effectiveness of Henry VII’s reign. Well, rather it raises questions that historians don’t seem to have asked before now. It is well worth reading, especially as there are links to other…