ONLINE TALK: 'Son of Prophecy: The Rise of Henry VII'
This Sunday at 4:30pm (BST) I will be looking at the origins of the Tudor Dynasty and how they knocked the Plantagenets off their perch. This is the Tudors, but not how you know it.
Zoom Tickets here:
www.fosml.org.uk/zoom/
In a few weeks I will be in Coventry spending a Saturday evening discussing the foundations of the Tudor Dynasty, in a city that Henry VII often travelled through. Looking forward to trying some Godcakes!
Tickets available now. Don't miss out:
www.albanytheatre.co.uk/shows/henry-...
Wales and Adidas have revealed their new jersey and it is inspired by the golden dragon banner (Y Ddraig Aur) that as per Adam of Usk's chronicle, Owain Glyn Dwr raised at Caernarfon 1401. This was said to be based on the attributed banner of Uther Pendragon, father of King Arthur.
If there is one thing we can all agree on about Tudor history, it is that Hans Holbein was a genius. Check out this detail from one of his painting at the National Gallery.
More here:
nathenamin.substack.com/p/exploring-...
"As merely the great-great-great grandson of Edward III, you are wholly unsuitable to be king of England, sire, your claim is inconsequential at best. What's worse, you're Welsh, French-Welsh even!!'
Henry VII:
I took this close up picture of the Wilton Diptych for my newsletter tomorrow. I love it when you can see the cracks in the oil. But check out the badges the angels behind the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus are wearing. Richard II, the White Hart, had some ego, didn't he?
The FOURTH Medieval Murder Mystery will take place at Raglan Castle on Bank Holiday Weekend 24/25th May. I think its the best medieval-related event I've ever been to. Who wants to kill Henry VII? Well, there's a lot of suspects. Can you find the culprit?
cadw.gov.wales/medieval-mur...
After 35 live events last year, I'm taking it a bit easier this year. But I will be speaking at most of the main history festivals. Next up is COVENTRY where I'll look closer at Henry & Elizabeth and the Marriage that Made the Tudors. Love, war, grief, we'll cover it all.
I recently gave a talk on Sir Rhys ap Thomas, the lord from West Wales who may very well have been involved in the death of Richard III. A titan who helped prop up the fledgling Tudor regime, you can watch the full talk here:
nathenamin.substack.com/p/live-talk-...
📜It was great to recently partner with @hrp-palaces.bsky.social to explore how Henry VII looked to his Welsh lineage to bolster his weak claim to the English crown, a subject I have worked on for more than a decade. You can read how Henry managed this on my newsletter Hiraeth. Links in bio.
My review of the 'A Taste of Loyalty' film premiere, which looks to bring a different interpretation of Richard III to the big screen. The vision is ambitious, the passion infectious, and the potential enormous.
A BOAR-ILLIANT success 🐗
nathenamin.substack.com/p/a-taste-of...
🏴 When he became king of England by usurping the Plantagenets, Henry Tudor's claim to English kingship was notoriously tenuous. So he instead looked to his Welsh, to his British, lineage, to build a new narrative of unity, hope and legitimacy.
Learn how: nathenamin.substack.com/p/how-henry-...
💚On St David's Day 1537, a Yeomen of the King's Guard presented a leek to Mary Tudor (the future Queen Mary I). Though she had been declared illegitimate by her father Henry VIII and all her rights removed, she had once been regarded by many as Princess of Wales.
Sydney Curnow Vosper's famous 1908 painting Salem features an elderly Welshwoman in traditional national costume. But where did this costume come from, and is it even traditional? And why were effigies of Welshmen hanged in London in the 1600s?
Read more:
nathenamin.substack.com/p/dydd-gwyl-...
This Sunday is St David's Day and I have collaborated with Historic Royal Palaces on Substack to explore how Henry VII, Founder of the Tudor Dynasty, mined his Welsh background to conceal weaknesses in his claim to the English crown. Follow now to read (it's free)!
🏴Meanwhile, if you want to learn about St David's Day, Welsh traditions, how we celebrate our patron saint's day both now and in the past and, of course, about Dewi Sant himself, I wrote this lengthy article last year.
nathenamin.substack.com/p/dydd-gwyl-...
This Sunday is St David's Day and I've teamed up with my friends at Hampton Court Palace to bring you something exciting - make sure you're following my newsletter to get it!
nathenamin.substack.com
This August, 'Son of Prophecy: The Rise of Henry Tudor' hits stores in paperback. Learn the bewildering story of the Tudors before they became THE Tudors. It's a tale of rebellion, struggle, grief, death, desire and ambition. Pre-order NOW
www.amazon.co.uk/Son-Prophecy...
On St David's Day, in partnership with Historic Royal Palaces, I'll be publishing a new article looking at how Henry was able to mine his Welsh ancestry to develop and sell the Tudor brand, before, during and after he usurped the English throne from the Plantagenets. Keep tuned.
It was a banner laden with political propaganda and dynastic symbolism designed to broadcast the Tudors' ancient British pedigree and counteract their weak claim to the English throne. They were laying claim to an older form of kingship than England's.
#OTD 1959, following lengthy campaigns, the flag of Wales was officially recognised by the United Kingdom Parliament and recognised as the national flag of the Welsh people. The flag was inspired by the battle standard created by Henry VII in 1485.
READ NOW: 'Arresting the King's Brother, and why it isn't Unprecedented'
nathenamin.substack.com/p/arresting-...
The King’s brother has been arrested, but unlike what some media commentators are saying, this isn’t exactly unprecedented in English royal history. Back in 1477, the king’s brother found himself in a very tricky spot. It’s a sorry tale of treason, murder, and barrels of wine.
👑By 1485, Owen’s grandson Henry Tudor ventured so far to claim to to the heir of Lancaster. What a remarkable spin of Fortune’s Wheel, one you can read all about in my book 'Son of Prophecy', on sale everywhere now.
🪓 For their leading role in the Last Welsh War of Independence, the House of Lancaster completely destroyed the House of Tudor between 1400-1412. Yet, by 1430 a bold son of this Tudor line married the widow of Henry V, the warrior who had crushed the Welsh revolt...
Owain ap Maredudd ap Tudur (or Owen Tudor) was a great Welshman with a remarkable story to tell. Son and grandson of Welsh rebels, husband to a Queen of England, father of the Tudor dynasty and executed in his 60s. Watch my full discussion about him below
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo-B...
💖Did you know the earliest known Valentine's Day message belongs to the 15th century? Read all about the lovesick Margery Brews and her 'well-beloved Valentine' who she loved ‘truly over all earthly things’ below: 💞
nathenamin.substack.com/p/dud-you-kn...
Is this the face of Anne Boleyn or her daughter, Elizabeth I?
My review of the extraordinary new Hever Castle exhibition can be found below. This is not to be missed!
nathenamin.substack.com/p/is-this-th...
Who was this woman who cared for Owen Tudor’s decapitated head? Well, I have thoughts…
nathenamin.substack.com/p/the-death-...
Up today on my newsletter, I turn a look at the death of Owen Tudor, summarily executed by the Yorkists in his 60s. Son and grandson of rebels, husband of a queen, father to earls, he was remembered in death as 'a gallant and blameless man'. Followers can read now.