09.07.05
7 Sept - Today in History
Sep 7 1533, Elizabeth I is born of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII at Greenwich
Sep 7 1548, Catherine Parr, widow of Henry VIII, dies
((c)Copyright 1990-2005 by Robert Heckendorn, All Rights Reserved.)
Since I’m on another Elizabeth I kick, these seemed appropriate to write about. I think the fire has been fueled both by The Other Boleyn Girl, which I have already written about and the continuing discussion in class both about what history is and what is the difference between history and historical fiction.
For me the boundaries are fairly easy to see. In History: A Short Introduction, John Arnold states unequivocally that historians must never ever make something up. Our job is to ferret out the facts and try to make some sense of them. If we must guess because there is a gap in the evidence, then we must state we are doing so.
Philippa Gregory writes about things that could not have been documented; conversations in private chambers about the king’s favourite sexual acts and family meetings held to discuss which Boleyn girl was to do what in order to gain Henry’s favour.
Henry’s and England’s eagerness for a male heir led to Henry’s 6 wives (that and a few other factors). His only legitimate male heir, Edward, died without another male heir in place setting the stage for political struggles between half-sisters Mary and Elizabeth, which included a religious struggle between Protestants and Catholics. The more I read about this, the more taken in I get.
Part of Catherine Parr’s “job” as Queen was to reconcile Henry to his daughters. After Henry died, Catherine married Thomas Seymour (brother to Henry’s 3rd wife, Jane Seymour). Thomas is alleged to have at least tried to take sexual advantage of a teenaged Elizabeth, and even plotting to marry Elizabeth.
Catherine died 15 years after Elizabeth was born, ~18 months after Henry and a week after her only child, Mary, was born (who died shortly after her mother did).
I am beginning to understand why people become so obsessed with the royals.
| Queen Elizabeth I: Google: Queen Elizabeth I Google Print: Queen Elizabeth I Google Scholar: Queen Elizabeth + England + Monarch Google Images: Queen Elizabeth I Wikipedia: Elizabeth I of England |
Anne Boleyn: Google: Anne Boleyn Google Print: Anne Boleyn Google Scholar: Anne Boleyn Google Images: Anne Boleyn Wikipedia: Anne Boleyn |
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| Henry VIII: Google: Henvy VIII Google Print: Henry VIII Google Scholar: Henry VIII + England + Monarch Google Images: Henry VIII Wikipedia: Henry VIII |
Catherine Parr: Google: Catherine Parr Google Print: Catherine Parr Google Scholar: Catherine Parr + England + Henry Google Images: Catherine Parr Wikipedia: Catherine Parr |