Tudor History: Henry VIII's Many Mistresses with Dr. Elizabeth Norton
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Henry VIII is famous for his six marriages. Outside of wedlock, he also had a complicated personal life, with a number of his mistresses wielding political influence in England. This seminar will discuss the mistresses of Henry VIII, including Bessie Blount, who gave birth to Henry VIII's only acknowledged illegitimate child, and Mary Boleyn, whose sister famously became the king's second wife. It will also discuss claims that Anne and Mary's mother, Elizabeth, also shared the king's bed, as well as delving into the question of the paternity of Mary's children. Rumors that Henry was contemplating taking a seventh wife, towards the end of his life, will also be considered.
Led by an expert on the Tudor Dynasty, Dr. Elizabeth Norton, this Conversation will look in-depth at the romantic affairs of Henry VIII, outside of his six marriages. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased understanding of the complicated love life of England's most married king.
Series Description
The Tudor Dynasty captures the imagination like no other period in English history. This series of talks led by British historian Dr. Elizabeth Norton will examine the world of the Tudors – and the many wives of the notorious King Henry VIII – with each week’s standalone lecture looking at a particular topic or theme.
Dr Elizabeth Norton is a British historian, specialising in the Tudor period. She has degrees from both Oxford and Cambridge universities and King's College London. She is the author of twelve books, including 'The Hidden Lives of Tudor Women', 'The Temptation of Elizabeth Tudor' and biographies of four of Henry VIII's wives. She regularly appears as an expert on television.
This conversation is suitable for all ages.
90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.
Like many I've long been interested in Henry VIII's tumultuous love life. The stories of his six wives are well known, but today's discussion about his many mistresses was eye-opening and fascinating. Dr Norton is a noted Tudor historian and presented an informative and entertaining look at Henry's known and rumoured extra-marital lovers and illegitimate children.
Elizabeth covered so many "intimate" details about Henry's love life that it was hard to fully catalog his experiences. Love hearing about the sexual lives of people about whom we have heard so little information as to their sex lives. Puts flesh onto the printed word. Elizabeth is terrific and so much fun. With just the right amount of sparkle in her eyes and voice.
Dr. Norton shed light on the many complicated relationships which occurred in Henry VIII's life, and suggested why some resulted in marriages and others did not. Dr. Norton illustrated her lecture with as many contemporary pictures as were available, and made this complicated period accessible to those who are not as familiar with it as she is.