Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Secret Fertility Potions of the Royals
Friday, October 9, 2009
Five things you probably didn’t know about the Mary Rose
1. The debate continues as to why the Mary Rose mysteriously sank off the Portsmouth coast in 1545. Four of the suggested possibilities are:
- Too many cooks and not enough skilled seamen on board.
- Poor communication and slow responses from an international crew.
- A hole made by a French cannonball in battle led to the Mary Rose taking water onboard.
- The Mary Rose was too top heavy and keeled over when changing course.
2.On 19th July 1545 Henry VIII was watching his fleet set sail to battle the approaching French and saw the Mary Rose sink. So did the wife of Vice Admiral Sir George Carew, who was on board – not surprisingly, she fainted.
Maybe it is my morbid curiosity, but I find facial reconstruction technology utterly fascinating. I think the guy to the right looks a little like Richard Gere minus the full beard. Maybe? ok I have had better calls.
3. Scientists have used Facial Reconstruction technology to illustrate the facial features of the crew of the Mary Rose from skulls found on board (shown above).
4. As well as iron bolts The Mary Rose was held together by thousands of wooden pegs – each one made by hand.
5. Celebrated Marine Artist Geoff Hunt researched the Mary Rose for 113 hours before he began his new painting of the ship, unveiled earlier this year. His research revealed that King Henry VIII’s flagship had one more fighting castle deck than had previously been thought, fuelling speculation that it was the ship’s top heaviness that may have led to her mysterious sinking (shown here).
Not too shabby of a painting eh? Here is some more info about the Mary Rose:
http://www.maryrose500.org/
www.facebook.com/MaryRose500?_fb_noscript=1
www.twitter.com/MaryRose500
www.youtube.com/maryrose500appeal
http://www.maryrose.org/
http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Mary Tudor gets a new boyfriend
Philip, Duke of Bavaria came to England at the request of Henry VIII on December 8, 1539 with the hopes of wedding Mary. In the Tudors, Philip is portrayed as a Lutheran, but Cardinal Farnese reported to Pope Paul III that Philip was a Catholic. (1) Still, everyone knew the marriage alliance came with Lutheran and not Catholic support. Much like Cleves, Bavaria was closely aligned to the powerful princes of the Protestant Schmalkaldic league, but had not joined the league. At the time of the marriage negotiations, bets were being placed that Bavaria's status would soon change and upon hearing of the marriage negotiations, the French ambassador Castillon predicted that, ‘…if this King be abandoned both by Francis and the Emperor, he will enter the league and do his best to bring in the duke of Juliers [Duke William of Cleves] and the duke of Bavaria.’ (2) (Castillon’s prediction proved inaccurate because Henry stayed Catholic and Bavaria ended up fighting on the Catholic Imperial side in the Schmalkaldic War of 1546-1547….a story for another day.)
I hate to wreck a good love story, but Mary was actually not too keen on the idea of marrying Philip wishing instead ‘to continue still a maid during her life.’ But alas, she also understood that daddy’s wishes were to be obeyed and a secret betrothal was arranged. Philip was made a knight of the Order of England and a marriage contract and draft treaty were drawn up. In the marriage contract, Henry promised his daughter would come with a dowry including “40,000 golden florins” and a bunch of other goodies (but inheriting the thrown of England was not one of them). In return, Philip promised to kick the French or Imperial king’s butt if they dared to gang up on Henry. Philip then spoke to Mary in the gardens then adjoining the abbey of Westminster using some latin and German translators. Mary's dashing new suitor was even bold enough to plant a wet one on his future bride. Awwwwww. Had Mary found true love? According to court gossip, the betrothal was at least a done deal and the happy couple, ‘mutually declared, the said lord his resolution, taken with this King, to have her for wife …and the said lady her willingness to obey her father.'(3)
Then…inexplicably, the marriage negotiations fell apart and Philip returned to his own country mid January. We are left to speculate on why the match failed, but most likely Henry changed his mind because he didn’t need the support of the Protestant League once French and Imperial forces were no longer a threat.
But if you want to see more of the gorgeous O’Donoghue then viewers might be in luck because history tells us that we have not seen the last of Philip. He returned to England in 1546 to win Mary back. Will these two star-cross lovers find true love? Maybe season four will continue their torrid tale...
Notes:
(1) L.P., vol. XIV Part 2: August-December 1539, Card Farnese to Paul III
(2)L.P., vol. XIV Part 1: January-July 1539, pp. 51-77. Castillon to Montmorency
(3) L.P., vol. XIV Part 2: August-December 1539, Marillac to Montmorency