Huge figures such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I defined the Tudor period, as England split with the church in Rome and defeated the Spanish Armada. Uncover the extraordinary tales that made the Tudors the most enduring dynasty in English history INSIDE YOU WILL FIND: L Enthralling tales of the times L Maps and illustrations L Revealing images and expert analysis
Welcome
LIVING WITH THE TUDORS
THE RULERS & THE RULED • Find out how one family created the nation we know today
1 THE FAMILY WHO SHAPED BRITAIN • From religion and trade, to exploration and discovery, the Tudor dynasty paved the way to the Britain we know today
2 TROUBLED TIMES • Religion was at the heart of Tudor life, but choosing the ‘wrong’ way of worship could result in bloody consequences
3 WORK, REST AND PLAY • Life in Tudor England could be hard, and even dangerous, but there was still time to have fun
4 LIFE AT COURT • Becoming a successful courtier required money, contacts and patience
5 LIFE ON THE STREETS • Away from the glamour of the court, ordinary Tudors often struggled to survive
Tudor England’s landmark events • Charting the age of Henry VIII and his wives, Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots and William Shakespeare…
TRUE OR FALSE? • THREE TUDOR MYTHS, BUSTED
THE BATTLE OF BOSWORTH • On a Leicestershire field in August 1485, a single day of bloody combat brought about monumental change in England, as one dynasty fell and another was born…
THE KING IN THE CAR PARK • After nearly 475 years, Richard III’s long lost grave was finally found…
SITE OF THE BATTLE • Finding the exact location of this nation-changing battle was a 21st century mission…
THE BIRTH OF THE TUDOR DYNASTY • Henry Tudor had managed to get his hands on the crown, but could he keep it?
EXPERT VIEW
HENRY VIII • The six wives behind the troubled TUDOR KING
1 BECOMING KING • Henry’s charmed life ended abruptly when he became heir to the throne
2 ON THE THRONE • From playing sport to studying great thinkers, Henry was keen to show the world he was a true Renaissance ruler
POLITICS AND POWER • In England and abroad, Henry’s desire to shine was marked by all
4 ALL THE KING’S MEN • Getting close to the King could bring riches, power and prestige, but could also lose you your head
5 HENRY’S DOWNFALL • As the King’s weight accelerated and his health worsened, few could remember the golden years of his youth
Henry VIII: boy Prince to King • Henry’s life was a rollercoaster of romance, with plenty of treacherous plots, tragic turns and political twists along the way
NEWS OF THE WORLD • ELSEWHERE IN THE 1500S
THE ROYAL WEDDING OF HENRY VIII • Alison Weir looks back at the six ‘happy days’ that preceded ‘divorced, beheaded, died…’
BRITISH ROYAL WEDDINGS THROUGH HISTORY
THE LAST DAYS OF ANNE BOLEYN • It is said that the Queen of England laughed in the face of death. But was she guilty of the crimes for which she was condemned? Alison Weir investigates
5 MINUTES WITH Alison Weir • Alison is the author of the Six Tudor Queens novels, based on true events. She has also written several historical biographies.
EDWARD VI The Forgotten Tudor King • The son Henry VIII always wanted is maligned as a sickly child – a reputation he doesn’t deserve. The real Edward, writes Tracy Borman, was a hearty lad who could have been as terrible as his father
Family ties • The young prince had lost his mother and suffered a typically absent father, but his youth was marked with care and affection
WAS MARY REALLY SO BLOODY? • The Tudor monarchs ordered thousands of executions. But has the so-called ‘Bloody’ Mary...