Think of some of the great contributions that have been made to culture and society; things that changed not only the world of our ancestors but also trickled down to our own. What about the establishment of the theatre industry, cemented into place by the Shakespeare-loving Elizabeth I in the late sixteenth century? Or Henry VIII's reform of the navy? And what about Henry VII's negotiations for the marriage of his son Arthur to the Spanish Katherine of Aragon, interlinking the Tudor dynasty with the powerful Habsburg rulers of Europe?
These are all important events, but they were not solely the work of any individual king or queen. Elizabeth I worked in conjunction with her on-off potential suitor Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester to establish the theatrical arts in England. Dudley was a theatrical patron with his own company of actors, personal links to William Shakespeare and The Globe Theatre as well as a grand finale performance hosted at his castle of Kenilworth in 1575. Elizabeth, also a keen supporter of the arts, oversaw its development and lent essential royal sparkle and authority to attract other patrons eager for their monarch's recognition. But even they were not the true founders of the theatre in England. In fact, its beginnings can be traced to two other power couples of the age who applauded actors and watched sets being built long before Elizabeth was even born.
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| Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Public Domain. |
Henry VIII is well-known for his efforts to tighten the navy, but the later efforts of Philip of Spain, King of England alongside his queen, Mary Tudor, are often neglected. Philip, with his Habsburg's experience of managing realms in distant lands, knew that England's safety lay in its status as an island, scribbling notes on the edges of dispatches with actions to be taken to enhance its security. He is often viewed as an absent, unbothered ruler forced into an unhappy marriage by his father, Charles V the Holy Roman Emperor. And yet there are many examples of changes he made, alongside his wife, in the country's religious, social, military and political affairs. Surviving sources also tell us about the couple's mutually respectful relationship and the aims they had for their joint rule.
And onto Henry VII. Historians disagree on the involvement he permitted his wife, Elizabeth of York, to have in government and some claim the queen was at odds with her mother in law Margaret Beaufort. But Elizabeth was an involved and active queen, and there is ample evidence that she handled Spanish diplomacy, sweet-talking ambassadors, sending correspondence to the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, and was just as concerned with the Tudor succession as her husband.
These are all power couples of the Tudor age, shaping the history of the era. Without them the sixteenth century would have played out very differently. But there are many more. Couples - if they are considered at all - are often discussed in history to emphasise a romantic story over any cohesive or conscious working arrangement between them. Often too, one will be discussed in more detail while the other is given a 'supporting role'. I argue that there is a case for exploring these joint contributions to history and examining combined legacies in the context of their relationship. It was through the work of couples, and not individuals, that the Tudors displayed the medieval custom of courtly love, encouraged new trends in art and science and navigated the religious intolerance of the period. Couples also triggered voyages to new lands, waged wars and ended conflicts. It is through the joint actions of one couple that the Tudor age even existed at all, and there is evidence that the union of Elizabeth of York and Henry VII was indeed brought about through the actions of both partners.
In my second book, published by Pen and Sword, I look at nine couples who made an impact on their own time, shaping the world in which they lived and affecting the lives of their contemporaries. Many of their decisions affect us even today. Power Couples of the Tudor Era - Influential Duos That Shaped the History of their Time discusses these partnerships, their historical significance and what their actions tell us about life during the Tudor age. We also assess aspects of their personal lives with one another and catch tantalising glimpses of their domestic lives in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. There are tales of strength and support but also stories of jealousy, ambition and the relentless grasping of power - at any cost. Find out more at Pen and Sword Books.
To discover more power couples of history, check out these articles.
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