The Tudor Queens of England

An intimate and revealing look at the daily lives and responsibilities of the Tudor Queens of England From Elizabeth of York, wife of Henry VII, the first Tudor monarch, to Elizabeth I, her grand-daughter and the last, The Tudor Queens of England delves into the secret lives of some of the most colorful and dramatic women in British history. The majority of the fourteen queens considered here, from Catherine de Valois and Elizabeth Woodville to Elizabeth of York, Jane Seymour and Catherine Parr, were consorts, the wives of kings. Although less frequently examined than ruling queens, queen consorts played a crucial and central role within the Royal Court. How did they behave (in and out of the bedchamber)? How powerful were they as patrons of learning and the arts? What religious views did they espouse and why? How successful and influential were they? From convenient accessory to sovereign lady the role of queen was critical, colorful, and often dramatic. The Tudor Queens of England is the first book of its kind to intimately examine these questions and more. Continuum International Publishing Group Contents 4 Illustrations 6 Introduction: Image and Reality 8 1 The Queen as Trophy: Catherine de Valois 20 2 The Queen as Dominatrix: Margaret of Anjou 30 3 The Queen as Lover: Elizabeth Woodville 50 4 The Queen as Helpmate: Elizabeth of York 78 5 The Queen as Foreign Ally: Catherine of Aragon and Anne of Cleves 94 6 The Domestic Queens: Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour and Catherine Parr 120 7 The Queen as Whore: Catherine Howard 146 8 The Queens who Never Were: Jane Grey and Mary Stuart 162 9 The Married Sovereign: Queen Mary I 194 10 The Unmarried Sovereign: Elizabeth I 216 Epilogue: Queens Since 1603 234 Notes 242 Additional Reading Suggestions 256 Index 260 A 260 B 260 C 261 D 263 E 263 F 264 G 264 H 265 I 265 J 266 K 266 L 266 M 267 N 267 O 268 P 268 Q 269 R 269 S 269 T 270 U 270 V 270 W 271 Y 271 9781847250193 Synopsis: From Convenient Accessory To Sovereign Lady, This Book Assesses The Critical, Colourful And At Times Dramatic Role Of The Tudor Queens Of England. Illustrations -- Introduction: Image And Reality -- 1: Queen As Trophy: Catherine De Valois -- 2: Queen As Dominatrix: Margaret Of Anjou -- 3: Queen As Lover: Elizabeth Woodville -- 4: Queen As Helpmate: Elizabeth Of York -- 5: Queen As Foreign Ally: Catherine Of Aragon And Anne Of Cleves -- 6: Domestic Queens: Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour And Catherine Parr -- 7: Queen As Whore: Catherine Howard -- 8: Queens Who Never Were: Jane Grey And Mary Stuart -- 9: Married Sovereign: Queen Mary I -- 10: Unmarried Sovereign: Elizabeth I -- Epilogue: Queens Since 1603 -- Notes -- Additional Reading Suggestions -- Index. David Loades. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [235]-252) And Index. From Elizabeth of York--wife of Henry VII, the first Tudor monarch--through to Elizabeth I, her granddaughter and the last in the line, this book explores some of the most colourful and dramatic women in British history. Queen consorts were central to the Royal Court but their role has rarely been examined or contrasted with the better known ruling queens. How did they behave (in and out of the bedchamber)? How powerful were they as patrons of learning and the arts? What religious views did they espouse and why? How successful and influential were they? Reveals the stories of the fourteen Tudor queens of England, from Catherine de Valois through the six wives of Henry VIII to Elizabeth I, and explores the different roles they played in the country's history.