Why are the Tudors so popular?

[LizardPotter]

Is it Henry VIII that people like, or Anne Boleyn?

I’d say it’s both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Both are very interesting influential historical figures.

To me it's the complex relationships, backstabbing, politics, the reformation rumbling on, life-or-death stakes, romance... all coming together at the same time.

All the people involved lived out a soap opera: main characters and bit parts both. The action is unrelenting. There's an angle to follow for everyone. If you had to write a drama, you couldn't make it up ... The Tudor era is the inspiration for Game of Thrones. Have you watched Succession ... everyone needs an heir but which one ...

That period of history is exploding with ego-driven characters who inflict or meet violent ends. People are equally fascinated and repelled. There are unexpected twists when people die suddenly or babies are not born.It's not just Henry VIII and Anne Bo, there are loads of other people and issues.

Plus, look back a generation to Henry VII and how he came to the throne and look back a further generation to the War of the Roses (the cousins' war): Edward IV and Richard III, the princes in the tower. From the moment Henry VI dies and even before it's wall to wall.

Elizabeth I is the (partial) resolution to 80+ years of scrambling for the throne and grappling with religion.

Because visually they are so good!

There is also so much material available to this particular era . Portraits , castles , museum exhibits .

I think the Tudors is the oldest history we have with actual paintings and museum pieces that belonged to them. Putting a face to a name brings history to life. Once you get back to the Plantagenets, there isn’t the wealth of artefacts that we have from Tudor times.

aside from the fact that it’s absolutely fascinating!! Tracy Borman is my hero though, so I’m biased!

I think the Hans Holbein portraits really bring them alive.

For me, it's henry V11 all the way. He seized the throne, and was quick on quelling mercenary armies. He imposed taxes and collected them ruthlessly. Probably the best ruler we ever had. And having sorted the finances, he was quite fair minded.

Mind you, he did not worry about being popular!

Henry and six wives is TV/film gold.

There are plenty of other interesting historical periods, but since the Tudors were a money spinner may as well stick with them.

I think it’s because it feels more ‘real’, I can d
go a few miles down the road and see the ruins of a dissolved monastery. I like the idea of touching those same stones tha our distant ancestors could have touched.

Surely it is predominantly because Henry VIII's creation of the Church of England is still having an impact over 500 years later? There are so many things, like divorce, that this paved the way for.

We were watching an old Gogglebox re-run last night and one of the Geordie girls said that she hated history lessons in school because she 'couldn't fucking stand Henry VIII'.

I said to DH that it says a lot about our education system that all she remembers of history is Henry VIII. And tbh, I'm the same. I remember some WWI material, but mostly, we seemed to go over and over the bleddy Tudors.

I've just watched The Serpent Queen, TV series about Catherine Medici and the French monarchy. Was very good and not a period I knew much about. Elizabeth 1 (played by Minnie Driver) was a minor character in it. The Serpent Queen was cancelled but there will be a spin off featuring Elizabeth! Another Elizabeth TV show, do we need another one about her?

The Tudors are more than just Henry VIII and Anne

Henry VII and his mother, and the background to them, very interesting
Mary, poor Mary
The wives individually and the various plotting
The fate of various advisors
The Scottish branch and resulting Mary Queen of Scots, her son James who was a Stewart but also from Tudor stock
Poor Edward
Elizabeth

Dont forget Lady Jane Grey, queen for 9 days.

What channel is that on

It's on the Channel 4 app

It was the most extreme family and politics. And the beginnings of the world we now inhabit. 1485/1472 was the start point for my A level history programme as the origins of the modern world. Columbus and exploration. The beginning of modern politics. Totally fascinating, if you care.

I thought War of the Roses was the inspiration for Game of Thrones. Though to be fair could be either.

I actually prefer Edward IV and his philandering is what gave Richard III opportunity to declare his nephew’s illegitimate. Also Henry VIII is a dead ringer for his grandfather Edward IV.

Id love to go back to that era and be a fly on the wall. I do wonder if I’d understand what was being said though.

And to answer your question Anne Boleyn all the way not the psychopath that was Henry.

The Tudors era isn't the inspiration for GoT. It was the Wars of the Roses 1455 - 1487.

The Tudors took the throne in 1485 so there was a v. small overlap.

Not everything is about the £%@&%! Tudors!

This is why I laugh to myself when people go on about politicians and back stabbings and double crossing and poor leadership and chops and changes in political direction

Look what people have lived under in times past, absolute chaos, constant wars.

Im watching the channel 4 series the White Queen at the moment, I read the book and didnt realise there was a series, its ok, not that accurate to history but the general gist is right.

Ania Magliano does a great stand up piece about what is must have been like to be a normal member of the public, witnessing the Tudor royal life and scandals like we do today.

‘Christ, DIVORCE. What a time to be alive!’
’Oh he’s got married again, that’s nice. I hope it works out this time’
‘Wait he’s done WHAT?? Why didn’t he just divorce her??’

Well in terms of impact, the ramifications of the break with Rome are exactly why we have the royal family we have now. We had the house of Hanover out of the blue and out of nowhere as there was no protestant heir but there were plenty of catholic or not protestant enough options. Then the same when the last of the Georges went, it was a scrabble around to get Victoria. And then our own royal family coming from that

I think its Simon Schama that does a good explanation of why Brexit is connected with how England/Britain sees itself and that started with big Harry and the break with Rome.

Yet history lessons cover so much more than The Tudor which goes to show that regardless of being interested or not, it’s memorable because all the other topics and education are largely forgotten.

I'm certain you are right, but I literally can't remember anything except Henry VIII and WWI. I feel like we did those on a loop for the whole of secondary school.

Well, aside from A Level history, in which we studied the French Rev.