A king’s madness

There have been historians since at least Ancient Egypt who have described their time for posterity. Those of their chronicles not destroyed by the ravages of time (e.g. the razing of the Great Library of Alexandria) are perused by contemporary historians, frustrated by the missing pieces.

Then again, there are different interpretations of the facts. Which isn’t to say that the original version is wrong, but developments in medicine and psychiatry open new possibilities of solving age-old mysteries, which are being put under the microscope as it were.

One of the most intriguing characters of history was Henry VIII. The late 15th century War of the Roses over, the Plantagenet crown of England passed to the Tudors. King Arthur (not the Camelot monarch) wed Katherine of Aragon, who brought with her a sizeable dowry.

What followed has had historians at loggerheads for five centuries. Her sickly husband passed away. She would return to Spain with the dowry. Cut and dry. But it wasn’t. Spain wanted her on the English throne. England wanted to keep the dowry. Arthur had a robust sibling.

The Bible calls lying with one’s brother’s wife a sin. With Katherine swearing on her soul that her bedmate had been too weak to have sexual relations, she felt a wife in name only. Highly bribed, the Pope agreed and allowed her to marry Henry. Had she told the truth?

In The King’s Curse, British historian Philippa Gregory tends to agree mainly because Margaret Pole, one of Katherine’s ladies-in-waiting, who had the reputation of never having told a lie, supported her mistress’ story. Twenty years later, Henry VIII met Anne Boleyn.

In order to wed his paramour, the king tried to make Katherine “confess” that she and Arthur had been intimate. The queen refused, Margaret fully backing her. Margaret was sent to the Tower of London.

His curse was a blood disease which affected his brain, turning the good prince into a psychopath.

This isn’t the definitive Henry VIII biography, yet comes closer to it than most. Lots of historical titbits, like the Tower of London having been an animal menagerie for a spell.