The History of England

We discuss what we know about Anne as Queen consort, and chart the progress of the break with a thousand years of tradition in the declaration of royal supremacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The start of 4 weeks of fun, debate, voting and prizes as we consider the life of Anne Boleyn and decide whether Catherine was being fair in describing Anne as the Scandal of Christendom. This week a summary of the life of Anne to 1532. You can find out more here http://bit.ly/ABDebate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Wolsey's fall was a period of stalemate; but between 1529 and 1532, Henry's thoughts crystalised, Anne became to be openly at his side - and a new weapon joined the king - the exocet that was Thomas Cromwell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1529 the campaign for the King's great matter, his divorce came to a climax. Wolsey persuaded the Pope to allow a court to be held in England under Cardinals Campeggio and Wolsey. On its success or failure would rest Wolsey's own future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The king's Great Matter as it was to be called, outraged and divided Christendom, and has been dividing us ever since. What motivated it? Who was responsible? The debate starts here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1520 the Pope threatened an obscure Augustinian monk with excommunication. Why ? What happened next? And how did the English react? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The traditional story of the English Reformation has been of a rotten, moribund, venal church, just waiting to be toppled by reformers, the pyre ignited by Luther's teachings. But was the late medieval church really in such a rotten state? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The diplomacy of the early 1520s culminated at Pavia, with the ruin of French hopes - and also English as Hapsburg for a while reigned supreme. Domestic politics saw Wolsey discredited for the first time, and the Boleyns arrive at court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry had shown a hint of the man he would become in 1510 by the execution of Empson and Dudley. In 1521, the Duke of Buckingham was in his sights, as Europe's Universal Peace sank beneath the waves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is in the reign of Henry VIII that we first hear of the 'masque' - entertainment that drew from Mummers, Mystery plays, and 'disguisings'. We talk about Anne and Mary Boleyn's education - and Shakespeare and the word 'bump' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Enter Thomas Boleyn, courtier, and the realities of being a courtier. And the field of the cloth of Gold; Henry and Wolsey's mission to uphold the treaty of universal peace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wolsey had tried war with France, they'd tried war by proxy, they'd tried peace. In 1518 the most remarkable of their plans - the Treaty of Universal peace where 20 states guaranteed the peace of Europe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being made a Cardinal in 1515 gave Wolsey the perfect opportunity to give the vainglorious side of his nature full reign. He made full use of it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The story of a love affair - probably. In 1514 Henry married off his 18 year old sister to the gouty, siphilitic, toothless 50+ year old Louis and sent her to France., She came back a year later married to someone else entirely Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1513 there were two English victories. One of them would have a profound effect on English history. The other one was mainly a mad dash in pursuit of a bunch of cavalry eager to escape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The path of Renaissance diplomacy was both torturous and without scruple; as Henry finds out as he thirsts for glory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Historians have identified the 16th and 17th centuries as a time of revolutionary change in Europe, driven by military technology. We talk a bit about that, and about the personalities Henry VIII was up against. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry VIII was released by this accession to the courtly, chivalric life of the hunt, and masque, and tournaments. In this he was encouraged by by Council - while his father's 'peace party' got on with the business of ruling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The accession of Henry VIII was greeted with a huge sigh of relief and great enthusiasm. His court was to change immediately, and politics for ever. Although the Book of the Courtier would not appear until 1528, it could have been written for the Tudor court to explain how to win the favour of the Prince. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Henry has been assessed by historians through the ages, and the controversies of his reign. And assessments of the man himself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Through the 15th century, Portugal explored the African coast in search of the Indies and the fabulous wealth of the trading networks with the East - such as those of Mansa Musa from Timbuktu. Until the great expeditions of Columbus and Da Gama led to the opening of contact with the Americas and Asia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happened when Henry was gone. And the report card - was Henry an incompetent tyrant, a fun loving saviour of England's future - or something in between? Should we listen to Francis Bacon or to Henry himself? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While the young prince Henry built a group of aristocratic companions and longed desperately for the joust, his father drove his hatchet men Dudley and Empson ever further into the dark world of extortion and oppression. But in 1509, Henry fell ill again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry had found two hatchet men to replace Reginald Bray - Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley. They spread their tentacles and contacts through London and England, and used the Council Learned to drive their master's policy to extort every possible fee 'to the king's advantage'. And did pretty well for themselves too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the early 1500's Henry VII saw many of his closest confidentes and supporters die. Catherine of Aragon was to be one of those who suffered as a result. He also built the rather magnificent palace at Sheen, renaming it Richmond; not knowing that in a few years, it would be the place of his death. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.