Talk by David Starkey @ Whitley Bay Playhouse 11/05/2016
A couple of months ago I went to hear a talk by David Starkey on the Tudor succession at my local theatre. These are the notes I took on the day:-

Similar to today?
Cromwell similar to David Cameron?
Death of a monarch – die publicly, semi-public, public proclamation.
Every Tudor death of a monarch is kept secret.
Intrigues, political struggles – characteristic over regime with autocratic rulers.
Henry VIII’s death replicates that of Henry VII.
Elizabeth I’s death = change of dynasty. Robert Carey rides to Edinburgh to tell James VI of Scotland he is now James I of England.
One smooth succession – death of Mary I, throne goes to Elizabeth I. Mary believed she was pregnant even on her deathbed.
English relations with Scots not good historically – Elizabeth militarily prepared over religion.
Henry VIII’s death – divided factional politics, like today – parties divided within themselves. Continue reading “The King is Dead: Royal Death and Succession under the Tudors”