For today’s post I would like to do a short discussion of the story of Anne Boleyn’s ghost. This is a subject that should not surprise my regular readers, as I have written about Anne many times, and have mentioned that she is my all time favorite queen! In that way this post…
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Elizabeth Woodville and Anne Boleyn Parallels
For today’s post I would like to look at some of the parallels between the stories of Elizabeth Woodville and Anne Boleyn! I have written about both of these queens multiple times, and I thought looking at them both would be an interesting post. Elizabeth Woodville was the first “commoner” queen of England. …
Read MoreThe White Falcon
Today I would like to discuss Anne Boleyn’s coronation song. On Sunday June 1, 1533 Anne Boleyn was coronated Queen of England. Her coronation ballad was titled The White Falcon, and was written to honor her new role as queen. It was a time that Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII were at…
Read MoreTudor Women’s Fashion
At the Tudor court, as with many other royal courts, fashion was an important element of how courtiers distinguished themselves. There are strict court politics when it came to sartorial choices, yet some were able to make a splash in how they dressed. Two of the most important figures in the Tudor era to…
Read MoreAnne Boleyn and the Art of Flirting in Royal Courts
I have written about courtly love traditions before. Today I want to focus on a specific element of courtly love tradition. Flirting was something well groomed and intelligent courtiers were expected to participate in. There were rules to how to flirt without offending the strict traditions of the royal courts! Flirting would…
Read MoreRumours About Elizabeth I
Welcome to the final day of Elizabethan Intrigue week, here at White Rose of Avalon! Elizabeth I was far from being without her share of scandalous rumors! In this post I will take a look at three of the most interesting rumors spread about her! I will start with a rather obvious rumor. …
Read MoreThe Ridolfi Plot, the Babington Plot, and the Execution of Mary Stuart
For day six of Elizabethan Intrigue week I have chosen to discuss the plots to remove Elizabeth from the throne, and replace her with Mary Stuart! The Ridolfi Plot was hatched by Roberto Ridolfi in 1571 with the intent of assassinating the Protestant Elizabeth to put her Catholic cousin on the throne. The…
Read MoreChristopher Marlowe: Playwright Spy
For day five of Elizabethan Intrigue week I have chosen to focus on the figure of the great playwright, Christopher Marlowe. Christopher Marlowe, who was known to his friends as Kit, died a mysterious death. His death has long been attributed to his other job, spy for Elizabeth I! Kit Marlowe is best…
Read MoreSir Francis Drake: Elizabethan Pirate
For day four of Elizabethan Intrigue week I have chosen to discuss the figure of Sir Francis Drake. The most famous privateer at the court of Elizabeth I, was none other than Francis Drake! He worked on some of the earliest English slaving missions to Africa. He was second in command during…
Read MoreSir Walter Raleigh
For day three of Elizabethan Intrigue week I have decided to focus on the figure of Sir Walter Raleigh. If you are a fan of the All Souls trilogy of books, and the A Discovery of Witches television series (which is based on it) then you may remember Walter Raleigh as a character during…
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