The Wives of Henry VIII

Overview

Courted under the nose of her predecessor, Anne Boleyn, betrothed the day after she was beheaded, and married just ten days later, Jane Seymour has become a scapegoat of history, much maligned and misunderstood as Queen. 

Jane seemingly appeared out of nowhere, emerging in the sources in 1535 - the subject of the king's rapt attentions. She is described as Anne’s opposite: submissive, meek and silent. She was also frequently dismissed as dim witted and dull. a rather one sided and ultimately unfulfilling portrayal of the woman who successfully drew the King away from his most “entirely beloved” Anne.

In this lecture, join Dr Lauren Mackay as she sifts through the evidence surrounding Jane, from her early years at court to Anne Boleyn’s downfall and her eventual role as Queen. This lecture sheds light on her character and her beliefs, moving away from the traditional view of Jane to reveal a woman of strong convictions, a queen who sought to heal the rifts within the fractured Tudor family, and whose triumph – giving birth to Henry’s longed for son and heir - ultimately cost her life.