Why so much of the Tudors?

[HenriettatheChicken]

Just that really. Why so much about the Tudors, particularly Henry VIII? It’s been done again and again and again and we never seem to tire of it. What is it about that period that makes us all so fascinated?

AIBU to not tire of it, whilst accepting there are other interesting period that could be covered?

What other era would you suggest?

Aside from the Tudors, or the Cousins' Wars, what have you got?

Random Edwards, who nobody can remember?

Or Henrys 1, 2, 3, and 4?

Tell us about them.

@HenriettatheChicken didn't know there was a lot going on at the moment. It is absolutely jampacked with personal and political drama though, isn't it? So that's probably why.

I don't think it's my favourite era of history. I do have a strange fascination for the great Fire of London though.

@IlfordGap your username made me laugh. Didn't know there was a gap.

In summary, I don't seem to know a lot this evening 😂

They were a very interesting period of time in British history! The Plantagenets, 100 years war, war of the roses, etc.

As for the “random Edwards”, I’m sure you would enjoy at least reading up on Edward II, he met a very awkward end after a turbulent life.

Covered for whom? Children? I think the Tudors are so rich in terms of historical content that it’s the best hook to get kids interested in history, and then branch out from there.

My kids are absolutely fucking obsessed with the Tudors. It’s a combination of Six the Musical and Horrible Histories.

I suppose the Tudors give us a lot of drama - the period is a bit like a soap opera with twists and turns. But also significant moments in history, from the creation of the Church of England, two of our most iconic monarchs, divorce, betrayal, adultery, girl power. It was an interesting time.

But if you love the Tudor drama, you’ll probably also love to hear about Alfred the Great, Charles II, Richard III, the Plantagenets.

War of the Roses, 100 years war, 30 years war, Isabella the She Wolf of France, Mathilda and Stephen, the Black Death and the end of English serfdom, Pepys/Great Plague/Great Fire of London, Georges I and II, William & Mary ... loads to chose from. The Civil War and the Puritans used to get a fair bit of attention, but haven't been done for a while.

😂

'what have you got?'

Er, quite a lot?

Isabella sounds like one hell of a woman anyway

She had her husband overthrown in 12xx whatever

And she was French 🫪

Probably because it was a pretty pivotal point in the history of England; the break from Catholicism, dissolution of the monasteries, excommunication of Elizabeth I by Pope Pius - these completely changed the course of the country.

It's also probably the first era of history to be so well-documented, particularly in paintings (Holbein etc.). The invasion by the Normans was as pivotal, but without the art and diaries we have from the Tudors, people don't really 'connect' to the Normans as much.

As for Henry VIII, a king having six consecutive wives is unique, even in a world where women regularly died in childbirth. 'Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived' - unique. It lends a certain soap opera vibe to the man.

Yeah this, we’ve also still got a few of the castles and palaces like Hampton Court that people can see.

Would have preferred my kid to learn about Magna Carta, Roundheads and cavaliers, the history of suffrage - so democracy and how and why we have Parliament and the rule of law. We still have copies of Magna Carta, we still have two Houses of Parliament. Or about the industrial revolution and the impact that had on Britain.

Agree about the Victorian era.

English history

I've always absolutely loved that era. Even A level history was on the Tudors (and Stewarts).

They won't only learn about the Tudors at school, but some sticks more!

I remember studying the Romans (the villa at Cirencester), feudalism and the Magna Carta, the Industrial Revolution, the Renaissance (artists, scientists and philosophers), Tudors, unification with Scotland, Victorians, World Wars 1&2.

Pretty sure I was taught more though!

It’s an interesting period in history that sells well to the masses. People aren’t as likely to get excited over Bede writing the Ecclesiastical History… Certain periods are just more exciting than others namely Tudors, Romans, Vikings, Victorians and the World Wars here in the UK.

It is pretty much the basis of the English history curriculum still to this day. Probably touched upon Titanic at some point and as you got older, civil rights and slavery. GCSE tends to be the Holocaust and 1066 (or at least it was for me), I know now they teach about Native Americans too which is great. I did the Russian revolution and Maoist China at A Level.

Speak for yourself.

Well, yes to it being an important historical period, but honestly, I think the reason it’s so thoroughly over-emphasised in popular culture, documentaries, novels, tv series, musicals etc etc is because you can easily reduce all the complexities to a soap opera about a fat king with a roving eye and lots of wives, and another about a queen who has favourites but refuses to marry. You can reduce the complex stuff to a set of personalities very easily.

I did History O Level (yes I am that old).

It seemed to be corn laws that changed every 5 mins. I would have rather done the Tudors.

Although the European stuff was more interesting.

I think it’s just a fascinating well known story, like Titanic. There were other very notable sinkings but some events capture the imagination more than others. The 6 wives, the beheadings, the hero turned villain aspect, the mysterious and seductive Anne Boleyn. The shady court figures and the total change of the UK constitution to enable divorce and move away from the Catholic Church.

I’d add in Lollards, and the amazing women of the early 15th century