The Beginning of the end for Anne Boleyn
Controversial Opinion? The Battle of Tewkesbury ended the Wars of the Roses, not Bosworth.
Hello fellow history lover!
I hope you have had a great week.
This week:
**ANNOUNCEMENT** A 7th speaker is added to the The Tudor Online History Festival Line Up.
The beginning of the end for Anne Boleyn.
Opinion Piece: The Battle of Bosworth did not end the Wars of the Roses, the Battle of Tewkesbury did.
It’s just over 2 weeks until the The Anne Boleyn Tour. The tour is timed to coincide with her execution date, 19th May, when we visit The Tower of London. Remember to follow British History Tours’ Instagram, if you’d like to follow us on tour. Go over to my Patreon if you’d like behind-the-scenes content - Join Now for £5.
If it’s the run up to The Anne Boleyn Tour then that also means we have entered the anniversary of the events which led to Anne’s execution. You can follow my daily posts on Instagram for a high level calendar of events or watch the 4-part mini series ‘The Downfall of Anne Boleyn’. - Watch Episode 1.
Opinion Piece
The Wars of the Roses were over in 1471, not 1485
The Wars of the Roses are generally considered to consist of three periods of fighting. The first period saw conflict between the supporters of Henry VI and Richard, Duke of York and were brought about by what was seen as the inadequacies of Henry VI’s personal ability to rule.
The second phase saw the fight go to the next generation, with Richard of York’s sons (Richard of York having died at the Battle of Wakefield in 1460) taking front and pivotal roles against those fighting to restore Henry VI, who had been deposed for the eldest son of York’s sons, Edward IV.
The third period is possibly the most familiar to people because it includes the Battle of Bosworth, August 1485, where Henry Tudor pitched himself in battle against the King, Richard III.
If you do an internet search for '“how long did the Wars of the Roses last?” You will find the answer always comes back as 1455 to 1485, or 1487 if the Battle of Stoke Field is counted. Ask, “who ended the Wars of the Roses?” and you will find the answer given is invariably “Henry Tudor/Henry VII".”
“Henry VII would be grinning from ear to ear if he knew the longevity of his propaganda”
The Battle of Tewkesbury took place in May 1471. The anniversary is this week, falling on the 4th May. (Catch my interview with Julian Humphrys, details below, for an in-depth discussion and explanation of the context and the the battle itself.) It was another 14 years until The Battle of Bosworth and yet, it is considered to be a part of the same conflict. I have never heard anyone ask, “Why?”
Well, I found myself asking this question and the answer I have landed on may prove controversial.
As the hot summer sun set late in the evening of the 4th May 1471, the Lancastrian cause was irretrievably lost. The 17 year old Edward, Prince of Wales, only son of Henry VI and his wife, Margaret of Anjou, was dead. A broken Margaret was under arrest and her husband, Henry VI was already a captive in The Tower of London. The Yorkist faction, under Edward IV, were victorious and now, no one was left to content Edward’s throne.
Almost 12 years later, on 9th April 1483, Edward IV died. He was only 40 years old and his son and successor, another Edward, was only 12 years old. In his will, Edward appointed his brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, as his son’s protector. To cut a long story short, Edward V was never crowned. He and his younger brother, Richard, were kept at The Tower of London on the orders of their uncle. Richard had the boys declared illegitimate on the grounds that their parent’s marriage was unlawful, and had himself crowned king. It is generally accepted that the boys never reappeared from the Tower, although some speculate that they may have escaped. Either way, Richard's deposition of his nephew created enemies.
Enter Henry Tudor who, since the age of 14, had been exiled in France. As unlikely focal head of the forces which looked to depose Richard, he entered the battlefield at Bosworth on the 22nd August 1485. Accounts suggest Richard fought bravely and valiantly (and I won’t say here - “despite scoliosis” because I have scoliosis and anyone who follows me on Instagram knows it doesn’t stop me doing much). Despite his courage and skill, he was killed. Henry Tudor therefore became king through right of conquest, God had delivered his verdict and it had been in Henry’s favour.
So with that, all the York brothers were gone and Henry Tudor became the ‘Lancastrian’ king. With his marriage to Edward IV’s daughter, Elizabeth, in January 1486, Henry is credited with combining the rival houses and ending the Wars of the Roses.
Well done Henry, what a fantastic piece of propaganda! To take a successful conquest by a noble from an illegitimate line, and create a story of liberation from a child-killing tyrant was skilled storytelling. Not only had our hero Henry rid the country of this foul and unjust king, but he seals the deal with a kiss, a literal one.
Of course, Henry doesn’t just leave it at being the liberating hero, he looks for even greater legitimacy by tacking his conflict on to the wars of York vs Lancaster, which had, to all intents and purposes, been concluded at Tewkesbury in 1471.
And so, Henry is credited with bringing peace to a country which hadn’t had a major conflict for 14 years until he started one, and uniting rival families the one of which he was supposed to represent not being his clear heritage.
The Tudor Rose emblem was the icon, the branding, of this achievement and was a genius move! Combining the little used rose emblems, into one as if his legitimacy was on a par to that of his wife, which it was not.
Still, one has to give credit where credit is due and to Henry VII and the Tudor propaganda machine, still effective over 500 years later, I give a respectful round of applause. However, I now take the view that Henry Tudor’s invasion was not part of the, latterly named, Wars of the Roses, and that portraying it as such, was a conscious move to add legitimacy to his actions. Let me know what you think in the comments below.
I put my point of view to historian and battle expert, Julian Humphrys, during our extended interview for Patrons. Join to hear what he had to say and if he agreed with me.
Interview out soon!
Patrons, as always, get early access to our latest historian interview. The Battle of Tewkesbury with Julian Humphrys will be available to members of my Patreon, later today (30th May). The episode is extended and ad-free.
The interview will be on general release on 4th May.
Did you know?
There are 25 fantastic historian interviews over on my YouTube channel? Click the button below to go to the Interview and Documentaries playlist on my channel and be sure to Subscribe if you haven’t already and help me break the 5000 subscribers barrier!
The Tudors Online History Festival
Another Speaker Added!
Attendees to this Autumn’s Online History Festival, The Tudors, will now be treated to 7 talks, with the addition of Fashion Historian, Eleri Lynn. All 7 speakers will not only be giving talks but will all be at the live Q&A session on Sunday 19th November!
(Remember, members of the British History Patreon get a 10% discount on event tickets - click here)
All of the talks, and recordings of the live sessions, will be available for 10 weeks following the festival.
The Anne Boleyn Tour, May 2024 is now sold out! Join the waiting list for The Anne Boleyn Tour, May 2025 by clicking here and dropping us a quick email.
There are more tours in the planning stages for 2024, keep your eye out. I would be really interested to know your answer to the following question. If you are considering, or perhaps even already taking, a tour in the UK, I’d love to know your preferred month of travel.
…and finally,
Join me for Tea Time History Chat Live this Wednesday as I discuss the events surrounding Anne Boleyn’s downfall and other history news.
Wishing you a great, history filled, week everyone!
from Philippa