I love that you focus on the importance of Courtenay in the defeat of Warbeck. Henry was so intelligent in the marriages of Elizabeth of York’s sisters, Cecily, Anne and Katherine, Bridget the youngest becoming a nun. I have a biography of the Tudor Earls of Devon written in 1961 which laughably states that the marriage of Princess Katherine and William Courtenay was a love match. Hardly. William’s dear old dad was a faithful Lancastrian exile and was knighted on Henry’s return. That marriage cemented that loyalty just as Cecily’s to John Welles half brother of Margaret Beaufort and Anne’s to Thomas Howard the future 3rd Duke of Norfolk. Henry’s strategies on the marriage market are part of why he succeeded so well with most of his aristocracy after he came to the throne.
A great read, Nathen. Thanks for sharing! I'm sure you've answered this question elsewhere (I've seen your face alongside Matt Lewis's!), but I'd be really interested to know your thoughts on the recent 'new evidence' uncovered about the princes in the tower... I found it difficult to believe its credibility, personally, but this era is far outside of my research area so I have only a shallow understanding of events!
After his defeat in the Battle of Worcester, Charles II fled and hid, trying to escape England. Isn’t a retreat when facing insurmountable odds, sometimes the long term strategic advantage? Is it really a sign of a feeble heart and evidence Warbeck’s claim was not legitimate? Or is it just the sensible thing to do in the situation he found himself in.
(Just to be clear, I am not suggesting Warbeck was 100% Richard. In my humble opinion the jury is out still on that…I’m just wondering if his retreat is admissible evidence.)
I love that you focus on the importance of Courtenay in the defeat of Warbeck. Henry was so intelligent in the marriages of Elizabeth of York’s sisters, Cecily, Anne and Katherine, Bridget the youngest becoming a nun. I have a biography of the Tudor Earls of Devon written in 1961 which laughably states that the marriage of Princess Katherine and William Courtenay was a love match. Hardly. William’s dear old dad was a faithful Lancastrian exile and was knighted on Henry’s return. That marriage cemented that loyalty just as Cecily’s to John Welles half brother of Margaret Beaufort and Anne’s to Thomas Howard the future 3rd Duke of Norfolk. Henry’s strategies on the marriage market are part of why he succeeded so well with most of his aristocracy after he came to the throne.
A great read, Nathen. Thanks for sharing! I'm sure you've answered this question elsewhere (I've seen your face alongside Matt Lewis's!), but I'd be really interested to know your thoughts on the recent 'new evidence' uncovered about the princes in the tower... I found it difficult to believe its credibility, personally, but this era is far outside of my research area so I have only a shallow understanding of events!
After his defeat in the Battle of Worcester, Charles II fled and hid, trying to escape England. Isn’t a retreat when facing insurmountable odds, sometimes the long term strategic advantage? Is it really a sign of a feeble heart and evidence Warbeck’s claim was not legitimate? Or is it just the sensible thing to do in the situation he found himself in.
(Just to be clear, I am not suggesting Warbeck was 100% Richard. In my humble opinion the jury is out still on that…I’m just wondering if his retreat is admissible evidence.)