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​Series One An Old Tale of Wives

Episode One The State of Christendom

In this first episode titled the State of Christendom. We will look at the rulers on the continent of Europe at the turn of the 16th century and examine the balance of power and geography, all of which set the stage for one of the most dramatic episodes in the history of England.
 We will familiarise ourselves with the dynastic ambitions of Catherine of Aragon’s Transtamara family the enormous territories of the Habsburgs of Austria and Germany. The domineering Valois of France, the hitherto ambitious Tudors of England and the vast spiritual and temporal authority of the papacy.
 In amongst all the dynastic grandeur. There was one man, a commoner, a layman who rose to incredible heights drawn by an insatiable desire for power – the power that he craved had been created over centuries.
 This man was Thomas Wolsey, and the power that he craved was that of the papacy – the papal office.
He wanted to be Pope and it was that insatiable lust for authority that ultimately led to the overturn of the old medieval order.

Excerpt below titled An Introduction to the Man who was Henry VIII from Series One A Old Tale of Wives, Episode One  The state of Christendom

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Episode Two Anne de Boulogne and on to 1521

Why is Anne Boleyn so famous, almost as famous as Henry VIII himself?
After all, Henry was married to Catherine for something like twenty-one, or even twenty-seven years, depending on which criteria you use to determine the marriage's end.
Was she a marriage breaker or the unfortunate wife of a cruel, tyrannical king?
Or perhaps her role in the reign of Henry VIII is overstated to a point where history itself is distorted.
Well, for the time being at least, we are where we are. To some, Henry's wives and Anne de Boleyn, in particular, are the most important factors to consider during the reign.
In this, the second episode titled Anne de Boulogne and onto 1521 we will do as the title says, and take a first  look at the enigma who was Henry's first queen.
​And then, in 1521 the plots for which the reign is famous or infamous begin to emerge, so we complete our back story which involves the events and the people who took centre stage. 

Excerpt below titled Anne de Boulogne from Series One A Old Tale of Wives, Episode Two Anne de Boulogne and on to 1521 

Coming Up Bad Faith and Betrayal in Bruges