David Starkey on Katherine Parr -- Part one

Clips on Katherine Parr, Henry VIII's sixth wife, from the documentary 'The Six Wives of Henry VIII'.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Katherine
• Parr
• David
• Starkey
• Henry
• VIII
• Six
• Wives
• Tudor

[Kitty273]

I think this wife got the worst of it. King Henry was batshit mad by then and covered with festering sores. Not to mention fat as all outdoors.

How she stood it is a miracle.

[AWickedMind]

Even for gowns, wealth, servants, court life, castles, and queendom, you couldn't drag me down the aisle to Henry VIII. Gross.

[ladythalia]

@xxtctbmexx And remember, a woman's status in medieval England was like that of a child. Unmarried young girls were their father's property and he governed their inheritance if they had any. When they married, that authority was transferred to her husband. But it is true that some women espescially widows were freer. Although, the former wife might just as well be kicked off her estates to make room for a male heir from another part of her late husband's family branch.

[ladythalia]

@xxtctbmexx Yes, but it was most likely Anne's outspoken character that got her killed. He allowed it when he was infatuated with her, but then he discarded her for a mellow and timid little wife. Even she was rebuked quite harshly when she tried to argue with him, and he reminded her of what had happened to Anne. The same was true of Catherine Parr. She came pretty close to imprisonment herself. I think that after Anne Boleyn he would never allow a woman to outsmart him and say no to him again.

[xxtctbmexx]

@ladythalia

i wouldn't necessarily be broke, i mean look at katherine parr one of the reasons henry took interest in her was to actually have some of her money. She was a very rich widow after all her husbands. My comment was purely a joke. I know that henry was pretty damn psycho after reading about his reign and researching it. But then again most woman weren't all that helpless. Look at Anne Boleyn she had plenty of say in the matters of love with him. you could easily say no to him.

[ladythalia]

@xxtctbmexx How? As a single woman, you couldn't go anywhere without a male escort, and you'd probably be broke as well. Back then, women didn't have any say in economic matters, sincethey werethought too feeble-minded to govern their own money or estates. And even if you managed to escape, the king would most likely do something really nasty to your remaining relatives; like killing them, take all their properties, imprison them, torture them... Or most likely all of the above.

[nicoleca0427]

@whyNasra I would say more lust. You know how many people he prolly had sex with? hmm.. sounds like every man out there to me, just wanting to get it in.

[whyNasra]

This man falls in love with every women. 

[TachieBillano]

@ArtificialRed1083: Dude. Back then, women could not say no. If a woman said no to the King without an excuse he could accept, His effin' Majesty could get mad enough to ruin them (e.g. take away whatever wealth she had by decree), or even declare them traitorous subjects -- and have them beheaded.

[vampyregirlie]

@ArtificialRed1083 I think that is untrue. Back then if the King desired you...you didn't say no. Your family wouldn't let you, and if you did deny him he could make your life hell. So you simply didn't say no.

[Nicollie1062]

@Flohaug81 well I don't think not speaking badly of somebody means you love them..or even respect them for that matter. It could be out of fear.. .or it could be just a part of a person's personality. Some women just don't talk shit about their men, no matter how they truly feel about them. :)

[Nicollie1062]

@FlowerChild65 blind love and denial most likely.