D. M. Loades

From convenient accessory to sovereign lady, this book assesses the critical, colourful and at times dramatic role of the Tudor Queens of England.

Tudor Queens of England

The marital ups and downs of England's most infamous king. The story of Henry VIII and his six wives has passed from history into legend - taught in the cradle as a cautionary tale and remembered in adulthood as an object lesson in the dangers of marrying into royalty. The true story behind the legend, however, remains obscure to most people, whose knowledge of the affair begins and ends with the aide memoire 'Divorced, executed, died, divorce, executed, survived'. David Loades masterly book recounts the whole sorry tale in detail from Henry's first marriage, to his brother's widow, to more or less contented old age in the care of the motherly Catherine Parr.

The Six Wives of Henry VIII

The contemporary view of Henry VIII's younger sister, Princess Mary Rose, as one of the most beautiful princesses in Europe, was an arresting one. Glorious to behold, this Tudor princess with her red hair flowing loose to her waist, was also impossible for Henry to control. This biography brings the princess to life once more.

Tudor Princess, Queen of France, the Extraordinary Life of Henry VIII's Sister

Mary Rose

A magnificent tale of family rivalry and intrigue set against Henry VIII's court.

The Rise & Fall of a Tudor Family

The Boleyns

A major new biography of the most infamous king of England. 'Means to be God, and do as pleases himself' Martin Luther observed. It was a shrewd comment, not merely on the divorce in which the King was then embroiled, but upon his whole career. Henry VIII was self righteous, and convinced that he enjoyed a special relationship with the Almighty, which gave him a unique claim upon the obedience of his subjects. He subdued the church, sidelined the old nobility, and reorganised the government of his realm, all in the name of that Good Lordship which was his God-given responsibility. As a youth, he was a magnificent specimen of manhood, and in age a gargantuan wreck, but even in his prime he was never the 'ladies man' which legend, and his own imagination, created. Sexual insecurity undermined him, and gave his will that irascible edge which proved fatal to Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell alike. Several times during his reign he took out his frustrations in warfare, but succeeded only in spending vast sums of money. Henry VIII dominated England during his lifetime and for many years thereafter, as a warrior, as a renaissance Prince, and as Supreme Head of the Church, but his personality is as controversial today as it was in his own lifetime. He is a figure impossible to ignore. Professor David Loades has spent most of his life investigating the remains, literary, archival and archaeological, of Henry VIII, and this monumental new biography book is the result. His portrait of Henry is distinctive, he was neither a genius nor a tyrant, but a man' like any other', except for the extraordinary circumstances in which he found himself.

Henry VIII

"For over 50 years, one family dominated England's high offices of state. William and Robert Cecil, father and son, held unparalleled power as statesmen, diplomats, counsellors and spymasters throughout Elizabeth's reign and long beyond. From Privy Councillor to Chief Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer, both exerted far-reaching influence to secure the Queen's realm and legacy. They enjoyed her reliance and trust, and Robert the gratitude of her successor James I, yet each inhabited a perilous world where favour brought enemies and a wrong step could lead to disaster. In "The Cecils", leading Tudor historian David Loades reveals the personal and political lives of these remarkable men. He shows how father and son negotiated volatile court life, battling flamboyant favourites like Robert Dudley and the ill-fated Earl of Essex and playing for time to stabilize a country still torn by religious divide. He discovers the contradictory characters of these advocates of caution who nevertheless took great personal risks, such as William's role in the execution of Mary Queen of Scots and Robert's secret negotiations with James VI of Scotland before Elizabeth's death. Yet these principled public servants - who put the interests of the State before their own - still amassed large personal wealth, and relished its display at their great houses of Burghley, Theobalds and Hatfield. From the early days of turmoil, when William escaped the fate of Thomas Seymour and honed his strategies for survival, to the shadowy intrigues of the Jacobean court, this is a fascinating portrait of men who shaped an extraordinary age."--Bloomsbury Publishing.

Privilege and Power Behind the Throne

The Cecils

This political narrative of the rise and fall of the Tudor monarchy examines the relationship between the crown and the aristocracy.

England 1450 - 1660

Politics and Nation

Politics, Government, and Religion in England, 1553-1558

The Reign of Mary Tudor

This probing yet sympathetic account reveals a personality no less fascinating than Elizabeth in its contradictions

The Tragical History of the First Queen of England

Mary Tudor

The Tudor court was at once the political and cultural focus of the state and the setting for the monarch, who there exercised his or her patronage and attracted and rewarded service of all kinds. The author has written the first general account of this important and glamorous institution, whose structure, operation, and financing are of such fundamental importance in understanding how the Tudor monarchy worked. The Tudors were personal rulers, who set great store by their honour and prestige. Henry VIII and Elizabeth were particularly adept in creating powerful images for themselves, through court display and patronage, which contributed greatly to their authority at home and status abroad. In the sphere of domestic politics the role of the court was vital in providing a channel of access to the royal person. At the same time, the court's central position in the life of the nation ensured that it set the pace, not only socially and in the arts, but in religious and educational change. Using extensive quotations from contemporary sources, the author builds up a vivid picture of this amorphous, constantly changing entity and its evolution over the period into the most stable and organised royal household in Europe after the papacy. -- from Book Jacket.

The Tudor Court

Brings exciting Tudor period to life through the narratives written by eyewitnesses. Ove 150 illustrations in color and black and white.

Chronicles of the Tudor Kings

The Reign of King Edward VI

Recreating the dramatic events and personalities of Mary and Elizabeth's reigns, this book uses the words of their contemporaries as witnesses to an extraordinary period of history in the making.

Chronicles of the Tudor Queens

C. S. Knighton

The reigns of Edward VI and Mary I, and the early years of Elizabeth I were vital times for naval administration and witnessed the apprenticeship of many who would lead the service later during Elizabeth's reign. This volume includes the extant Treasurer's and Victualler's accounts, with entries from the State Papers which augment the calendar summaries previously published. Documents are also printed for the first time from a variety of archives in Britain and abroad.

The Navy of Edward VI and Mary I

About the reign of Mary I, who ruled England from 1553 to 1558.

D. M. Loades

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