A blog about the British Renaissance and modern Renaissance Faires.
Welcome to my blog! In this section, I will post about the British Renaissance, the term commonly applied to the time period when the Tudors ruled England. I will be discussing many aspects of social, legal, practical, economical, religious and domestic life and relating these events and ways of life to modern Renaissance Faires.
My blog begins following a period in history of great turmoil. Civil War and fierce fighting had broken out between factions vying for control and the right to lead the nation. Proponents for each side wore the symbols of their factions. Leaders for each side faced each other repeatedly in heated battles. Finally, victory for one side was achieved and a leader was placed in power. Under this leader, great advances occurred in administration, economic and diplomatic policies.
Following the first leader, a heavy set man came to power. Famous for his many mistresses, he also had multiple foreign-born wives and many children. He enacted severe penalties for those who did not share his beliefs. Feelings of paranoia and hostility against foreigners were rampant in his country. The status of many women in the country declined. The nation became embroiled with several foreign wars. But his focus was on maintaining his image as a great leader, despite his fearsome temper, and he generated genuine devotion among his many followers. He also instituted major religious reforms.
He was followed by two short-term, ineffective leaders; but then a third leader stepped forward, his daughter, and she proved to be one of the greatest leaders his country ever knew. Under her reign, the country saw great advancements in science, literature, and culture.
Sound like the last several years of politics in modern America with a hope for a future President? No, this is a brief description of British politics from the end of the War of the Roses that placed Henry VII on the throne in 1485, to the death of Elizabeth I in 1603.
The British Renaissance begins following the end of the War of the Roses. Rival lineages, both of the House of Lancaster, engaged in a series of battles for control of the British crown. One branch was the House of Lancaster, symbolized by a red rose. The other was the House of York, symbolized by a white rose. The Yorks ruled England from 1377-1485. However, social and financial troubles, plus a series of mentally and physically weak kings, provided fertile ground for a Lancaster heir to step forward and claim the right to rule. The Yorks did not agree. Thus, the War of the Roses. Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond and of the Lancaster lineage, defeated the last York king, Richard III, at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Henry Tudor ascended the throne as Henry VII.
Henry VII married Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV and the niece of Richard III. This marriage thus reestablished stability and power within England and was symbolized by the uniting of the red and white roses into what is now called the Tudor Rose.
Henry VII’s reign was characterized by rebellions, pardons, paranoia and greed. But it was also characterized by great advances in economic and diplomatic policies, and fiscal prudency which restored the fortunes of the British monarchy. It was also characterized by the birth of two sons, Arthur and Henry.
Henry VII’s first son and heir apparent, Arthur,was born in 1537 and ascended to the throne upon his father’s death in 1547. At age 11, he was betrothed to Catherine of Aragon and married her at age 14. He died in 1553 at the age of 15. His death occurred shortly after the marriage. Catherine claimed the marriage had never been consummated. Thus, the stage was set for Henry VII’s second son to assume the throne as Henry VIII.
Henry VIII was engaged to his brother’s widow, Catherine of Aragon, in an effort to guarantee an alliance, through marriage, with Spain. Six children issued from this marriage, but all but one, Mary I, died in infancy.
Henry VIII was known to have an eye for the ladies of the court and had several mistresses. Thus, when Anne Boleyn caught his eye, and as he was still lacking a male heir, Henry VIII petitioned the Catholic Pope to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, claiming that the Bible prohibits marriage to a brother’s widow. When the Pope refused, Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church and placed himself as head of the new Church of England. He then married Anne Boleyn, who gave birth to Henry VIII’s daughter, Elizabeth I.
Anne Boleyn was later beheaded for treason, as famously documented in several histories and movies. Henry VIII then married 4 more times and produced two more children: Edward VI died, possibly from tuberculosis, six years after succeeding his father. In 1553, Mary I succeeded her brother and ascended to the throne on a populist movement after threatening war over her right to ascension. But once on the throne, Mary I came to be known as Bloody Mary because of the many executions of Protestant clergy and sympathizers that occurred as a result of her attempt to restore the Catholic Church as the rightful church in England. She died in 1558, possibly due to ovarian cancer, after reigning for only 5 years. Following Mary I’s death, Elizabeth I ascended to the throne. Elizabeth I is typically considered to be one of the greatest monarchs in British history and her reign is referred to as Britain’s Golden Age. Although she was Protestant, she tolerated and allowed the Catholic Church to exist in England. During her reign, there were widespread increases in literacy. English drama flourished. The playwrights William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe became known throughout England. England’s navy became the greatest naval force on the planet and Britain’s status abroad was greatly enhanced. Global exploration was encouraged, and Francis Drake was knighted by Elizabeth after his ships circled the globe. Her diplomatic skills increased British trade and commerce, thus increasing British prosperity. Significant scientific advances occurred in astronomy, mathematics and navigation. Inventors flourished and developed many inventions, such as knitting machines, the telescope, flush toilets, the first robot, frozen chicken and bottled beer!
Renaissance Faires have become celebrations of the positive that occurred during the British Renaissance while quietly acknowledging the negative. Typically, Renaissance Faires celebrate the time of either Henry VIII’s reign, or the Golden Age of Elizabeth I’s reign. The goal of the Virginia Renaissance Faire is to be faithful to the period of Elizabeth’s reign through various themes and demonstrations. During the Queen’s Luncheon, Nobles may recreate events from history that occurred during Elizabeth’s reign.
Entertainers are to be found throughout the Faire grounds. Jousters perform for the Queen, and just as in Elizabeth’s time, the lists include both men and women jousters! Greyhounds race; jugglers juggle; fire eaters eat fire; acrobats perform death defying feats 20 feet above the ground; weavers weave; herbalists grow herbs and Shakespearean plays are performed in just one minute! Armored knights do battle; the militia demonstrates their firearms; the Queen bestows knighthood on those who are worthy; pirates may wreak havoc; cooks prepare food in brick ovens; blacksmiths work their forge; those with legal grievances can sue at the Court of Common Pleas and those with broken hearts can take their cases to the Court of Love. Minstrels roam; beer flows; merchants pedal their wares; and turkey legs and the Queen’s favorite cakes are available to enjoy.
These and many other topics will be discussed in future blogs, including: Baking, swordplay, games and toys, the criminal system and punishments, clothing and style and many more. When I discuss the legal system, learn what happens when a mother sues her son for failing to show her proper reverence.
To learn more about the Virginia Renaissance Faire, go to: www.VaRF.org. The Virginia Renaissance Faire runs for five weekends from Mother’s Day through early June. I hope to see you there!
The Virginia Renaissance Faire is produced by Out of the Woodwork Productions, a 501C(3) non-profit. To make a tax deductible contribution, please go to www.paypal.me/VaRenFaire.
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