Catherine Parr/Sudeley Castle & David Deslandes
As promised last week, here is Pam's latest interview and article on Henry VIII.
So..! Please enjoy your read.
Stuart
www.guide-to-castles-of-europe.com
After his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, was beheaded on February 13, 1542, Henry VIII waited a little over a year for his sixth and final wife, Catherine Parr.
A mature, good-natured widow of 31, Catherine had been married twice before. Catherine was neither a beauty nor a coquette, but had a lively pleasing appearance. She was a serious, thoughtful woman whose intellectual tastes matched Henry's. Catherine's goodness was unmistakable. She paid loving attention to everyday things like decorating her chamber with fresh flowers daily and tending to her greyhounds. She was well dressed (French gowns, Venetian Sleeves) and she saw to it that her stepchildren were equally well dressed.
She married Henry VIII on July 12, 1543. Another man had already won her heart when the king approached her, Thomas Seymour, Henry's third wife's, Jane Seymour's attractive brother. He had proposed to Catherine and if not for Henry's intervention, she would have accepted Thomas.
Catherine served as Regent in Henry's absence. She was kept busy with the business of government as Henry was with the business of war. Catherine missed Henry and they kept up correspondence in his absence from England.
Catherine's dedication to purifying the church was as persistent as it was sincere. Henry enjoyed debates with Catherine. Her very dedication almost cost her life. It was rumoured that Henry was looking yet again for a new wife and may use a charge of Heresy to rid himself of Catherine. When she learned of this she fainted, then went to the king and proclaimed her devout obedience to him.
Catherine was the last of Henry's six wives, becoming his widow 28 January 1547. Catherine quickly married her fourth husband, Thomas Seymour, in June 1547.
In June 1548 she went to Sudeley Castle to give birth to her child. Sudeley Castle is set up against the beautiful backdrop of Cotswold Hills. Catherine Parr died in childbirth at Sudeley Castle, 5 September 1548, after giving Thomas Seymour a daughter. Her marble tomb rests at St. Mary's church which is situated within the castle's grounds. Sudeley Castle is now the family home of the Dent-Brocklehursts and Lord and Lady Ashcombe.
Today many romance novels feature castles as the back drop for their stories. Castles brings us our dark but tormented heroes with mystery.
I have interviewed, David Deslandes, a Mr. Romance winner and cover model. Who also headlines at mediaeval Times in Toronto to get his take on why women find castles and the dark heroes that are portrayed in them fascinating.
Why do you think that castles are an interest to many? And what if anything intrigues you about them?
I would imagine that unless you're a historian, that castles would hold some sense of mystery about the history of origin as well as the people and events that are/were associated with it. Perhaps the fact that "knights in shining armour" were associated with the time probably has something to do with it as well, since on some level I would imagine many ( not all) women would still find it romantic to be "rescued" from something by a knight on horse.
Personally the design or structure itself, its strength and the ingenious ways that secret passages were used and hidden is definitely interesting.
What do you know about King Henry VIII & His Six Wives?
To the best of my knowledge (without looking it up) I believe he had each wife killed (possibly beheaded I think) for not bearing him a son, or to move on with another woman because divorce was not allowed by the church. I can't recall but I think he then broke off from the church heading up his own, maybe???
Would you ever contemplate Six Wives?
HMM. . . six wives at once would definitely have some advantages . . . , however that also means having six "honey do" lists so . . . I think not.
What, so far if anything, have you learned about being the Dark Castle Lord, by being on a romance cover and working with the industry?
The cover I did was for a different time period so I can't say it really has any bearing here. I can say though that women always love the "bad" guy.
You might have not been on a castle cover yet but what have you learned about the Medieval Ages by working as a knight in shinning armour at medieval Times in Toronto?
Well . . . like I said before I think women still love the whole knight on horseback routine. Yes they definitely like a "bad" guy and long hair. I can't really say I have learned much from MT in terms of a historic point of view. Women were considered less then a man in many respects, something of a trophy or property, or in the case of marriages to solidify treaties or alliances between houses/families. So although it may seem all fun to imagine being a "princess or fair maiden", it probably wasn't all that fun during the time period for women.
Pam
So..! Please enjoy your read.
Stuart
www.guide-to-castles-of-europe.com
After his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, was beheaded on February 13, 1542, Henry VIII waited a little over a year for his sixth and final wife, Catherine Parr.
A mature, good-natured widow of 31, Catherine had been married twice before. Catherine was neither a beauty nor a coquette, but had a lively pleasing appearance. She was a serious, thoughtful woman whose intellectual tastes matched Henry's. Catherine's goodness was unmistakable. She paid loving attention to everyday things like decorating her chamber with fresh flowers daily and tending to her greyhounds. She was well dressed (French gowns, Venetian Sleeves) and she saw to it that her stepchildren were equally well dressed.
She married Henry VIII on July 12, 1543. Another man had already won her heart when the king approached her, Thomas Seymour, Henry's third wife's, Jane Seymour's attractive brother. He had proposed to Catherine and if not for Henry's intervention, she would have accepted Thomas.
Catherine served as Regent in Henry's absence. She was kept busy with the business of government as Henry was with the business of war. Catherine missed Henry and they kept up correspondence in his absence from England.
Catherine's dedication to purifying the church was as persistent as it was sincere. Henry enjoyed debates with Catherine. Her very dedication almost cost her life. It was rumoured that Henry was looking yet again for a new wife and may use a charge of Heresy to rid himself of Catherine. When she learned of this she fainted, then went to the king and proclaimed her devout obedience to him.
Catherine was the last of Henry's six wives, becoming his widow 28 January 1547. Catherine quickly married her fourth husband, Thomas Seymour, in June 1547.
In June 1548 she went to Sudeley Castle to give birth to her child. Sudeley Castle is set up against the beautiful backdrop of Cotswold Hills. Catherine Parr died in childbirth at Sudeley Castle, 5 September 1548, after giving Thomas Seymour a daughter. Her marble tomb rests at St. Mary's church which is situated within the castle's grounds. Sudeley Castle is now the family home of the Dent-Brocklehursts and Lord and Lady Ashcombe.
Today many romance novels feature castles as the back drop for their stories. Castles brings us our dark but tormented heroes with mystery.
I have interviewed, David Deslandes, a Mr. Romance winner and cover model. Who also headlines at mediaeval Times in Toronto to get his take on why women find castles and the dark heroes that are portrayed in them fascinating.
Why do you think that castles are an interest to many? And what if anything intrigues you about them?
I would imagine that unless you're a historian, that castles would hold some sense of mystery about the history of origin as well as the people and events that are/were associated with it. Perhaps the fact that "knights in shining armour" were associated with the time probably has something to do with it as well, since on some level I would imagine many ( not all) women would still find it romantic to be "rescued" from something by a knight on horse.
Personally the design or structure itself, its strength and the ingenious ways that secret passages were used and hidden is definitely interesting.
What do you know about King Henry VIII & His Six Wives?
To the best of my knowledge (without looking it up) I believe he had each wife killed (possibly beheaded I think) for not bearing him a son, or to move on with another woman because divorce was not allowed by the church. I can't recall but I think he then broke off from the church heading up his own, maybe???
Would you ever contemplate Six Wives?
HMM. . . six wives at once would definitely have some advantages . . . , however that also means having six "honey do" lists so . . . I think not.
What, so far if anything, have you learned about being the Dark Castle Lord, by being on a romance cover and working with the industry?
The cover I did was for a different time period so I can't say it really has any bearing here. I can say though that women always love the "bad" guy.
You might have not been on a castle cover yet but what have you learned about the Medieval Ages by working as a knight in shinning armour at medieval Times in Toronto?
Well . . . like I said before I think women still love the whole knight on horseback routine. Yes they definitely like a "bad" guy and long hair. I can't really say I have learned much from MT in terms of a historic point of view. Women were considered less then a man in many respects, something of a trophy or property, or in the case of marriages to solidify treaties or alliances between houses/families. So although it may seem all fun to imagine being a "princess or fair maiden", it probably wasn't all that fun during the time period for women.
Pam
posted by DCL Publications | 1:46 am
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