'Son of Prophecy: The Rise of Henry Tudor' - OUT NOW

The Tudor Origin Story you didn't know you needed

‘Son of Prophecy: The Rise of Henry Tudor’ is now officially on sale – fourteen years I have been working towards this moment, to tell the full story of the Welsh family we came to know as the Tudors. And now you can share that story with me.

What is the book about?

The Tudors are, of course, England’s most celebrated royal dynasty, every child having learned about Henry VIII and his six wives, or the Virgin Queen and the Spanish Armada, at school. The merry England of Shakespeare, Raleigh and Drake is firmly etched on the minds of our collective consciousness.

It is often overlooked, however, that the Tudors have their origins in rural Wales, far from the urban centres of English power where in later generations they dared to become great. When the first Tudor king, Henry VII, won the English drown by defeating Richard III in battle, he was a stranger to the people he now ruled, and described by his defeated foe as ‘an unknown Welshman’.

The Tudors trace their origins as a political force to the marriage between Ednyfed Fychan and Gwenllian ferch Rhys in the early 12^th century. Ednyfed was the right-hand man of the prince of Gwynedd, Llywelyn the Great, whilst Gwenllian was the daughter of the Lord Rhys, prince of South Wales.

After Wales was conquered in 1282, the descendants of this union would play a crucial role in representing Welsh interests under English rule. Hywel and Tudur ap Goronwy, for example, killed a royal taxman in 1346, whilst Rhys and Gwilym ap Tudur captured Conwy Castle in 1401 and were their cousin Owain Glyn Dwr’s leading supporters during the War of Independence in the first decade of the 15^th century.

When one of their number, Owain ap Maredudd ap Tudur, or Owen Tudor as the English called him, crossed the border as a young man, he found himself a French bride. This wasn’t just any woman, however, but the widow of King Henry V. It was Owen’s grandson Henry Tudor, born in Pembroke and raised in Gwent, who would emerge from relative obscurity to win the crown of England against every odd.

As well as covering this oft-overlooked Welsh background of Henry Tudor, we will also closely follow the story of his birth, his childhood, his exile abroad, and his triumphant return home to challenge Richard III for the English crown, realising the Welsh bard’s hopes that he was the Son of Prophecy, the messiah who had come to save his people from tyranny. This is the story of the Tudors, but not how you know it.

What have people said about it?

I am fortunate that those who have seen the book prior to publication have been very kind about the book. Below are some of the reviews by our finest historians:

‘Painstakingly and meticulously researched, Amin’s is a hugely important work that adds significantly to our understanding of England’s most famous dynasty. Groundbreaking’ - Nicola Tallis, author of Young Elizabeth

‘The Tudors are the most celebrated dynasty in British history, but until now the story of their origins has been largely overlooked. This impeccably researched and endlessly fascinating new book proves that the prequel was every bit as dramatic as what followed. Not to be missed’ - Tracy Borman, author of Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth

‘Amin has knocked this one out of the park. He proved once and for all that you cannot understand Henry VII’s reign and even all of the Tudors without understanding and knowing their Welsh ancestry. Incredibly well-researched and with an eagle eye for details, Son of Prophecy is a must-read for any Tudor lovers!’ - Estelle Paranque, author of Blood, Fire and Gold

‘A genuinely important book, giving a radical new perspective on the rise of the Tudor dynasty. Compelling, detailed, and densely researched, it’s an eye-opener for even the Tudor veteran. It certainly made me aware - and ashamed - of just little I’d known about Welsh history’ – Sarah Gristwood, author of Tudors in Love

‘Written with empathy and deep understanding, and full of fresh insights – an important new work on the first Tudor king’ – Michael Jones, author of Black Prince’

‘The story of the Tudor family is the context for so much of the 15th century’s story. From enemies of the Lancastrian state to dying in its service and then becoming its successor, it’s a mind-blowing story expertly told by one of the best around. I’ve read it, I loved it. I recommend it heartily’ – Matthew Lewis, author of Richard III; Loyalty Binds Me

Where can I buy it from?

‘Son of Prophecy: The Rise of Henry Tudor’ is widely available in the UK and be purchased from your book retailer of choice, though it’s always nice to support an independent!

For US and the Rest of the world, Son of Prophecy is released around the world on 14 November, BUT a UK bookseller called Blackwell Books ships WORLDWIDE for free of charge. So to get your copy early, head HERE