Tudor Wives Top List!

Okay so this is our first thread in Tudor Discussion ( )
I want you to list your favourite order of Henry's wives.
(1 being best and 6 being worst)
You don't have to put the one you are on top, haha.
Okayy I'll go first!

1. Anne Boleyn
2. Jane Seymour
3. Kateryn Parr
4. Anne of Cleves
5. Katherine Howard
6. Katherine of Aragon

Boleyn
Parr
Aragon
Cleves
Howard
Seymour

though I do admire and love them all dearly.

Boleyn because she just totally rocks! Strong, inteligent, knew how to make the best of herself, and immovable in her convictions insisting that her child be born out of marriage and being prepared to die in order to protect her daughter. Few people realise how long she fought Henry off for, that she was quite old to be rearing children when she finally married, that she was in love with another man whom Henry prevented her being with and that her union with Henrey came about because of her family'and not because of any arrogance on her part.

Parr again for intelligence, taking care of Henry's children, being a good Queen supporting the King and for realising her lot and putting up with Henry when really she wanted to be marrying Tom Seymour.

Aragon because she was a strong fiery immovable woman who again fought for her child and who ran the country beautifully in Henry's absence. I admire her religous convictions but thought they went a teensy bit OTT at times. I also admire her heritage, that she came from the union of Ferdinand and Isabella the monarchs who united Spain.

Cleves because she behaved with good grace in the rediculous situation she was placed in and became a good English subject.

Howard because was again forced into a rediculous situation having to marry the old king when so in love with another. I think if she'd been allowed to grow up a little first she'd have behaved more wisely. But really, she was doing her best under the circumstances. I do also think people are often too judgemental of her intelligence,

Seymour I am a little dissappointed with because I am a devoted Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth Tudor girl, though I adore her for her lovely son Edward and sadly really can't get to know her very much because she wasn't around very long for me to see what a true Queen she may have been. I admire her knowledge of herbs and potions, and it amuses me greatly that Anne Boleyn has been pegged by history as a witch while her successor Jane was the one with the wiccan tendancies!

I kind of love all the wives. Anne Boleyn is my favorite. She seems somehow modern and she just got a horrible deal, really tragic. I find as I get older I can realte better to k of A. Her stubbroness & character are impressive. I love how A of C got the house, money etc. Don't get mad get evem. Although I'm not sure thats how she saw it. But she definitely fared the best of all the wives. KH just seems a victim too. She actually did what she was accused of but she was so young & had a horrible upbringing. And really should someone get their head cut off for cheating on their husband? Parr is kind of enigmatic. She seems very studious & kind of nerdy but then Henry is barely in the ground and she runs off and marries one of the hottest men in England. I thnk she even more than the others created a family for Henrys children Seymour is admirable because she was just a little nobody, not beautiful, barely educated and she became Queen. She was even more of a girl next door than Anne Boleyn. Well thats how I think. I love this period of history. When I was little I stole a book from the library about this subject!

I really hope all of the wives make a cameo in like the last episode. Imagine it! It would be amazing! There could be like a final scene of just all the wives, the children and Henry. Sigh. I suppose I can dream, would be something pretty special though..

Catherine Parr wrote:

I really hope all of the wives make a cameo in like the last episode. Imagine it! It would be amazing! There could be like a final scene of just all the wives, the children and Henry. Sigh. I suppose I can dream, would be something pretty special though..

Personally I hope they extend the show all the way to 1603 & Elizabeth I's death!

They planned to at first, but they made so many faults alot would be impossible, like the merging of Henry's two sisters and marrying a Portugese King. So the whole Mary Queen of Scots couldn't really happen. So this is the last series

I guess we're all on the same page - Anne Boleyn is probably the most interesting, in terms of having the eventful life/marriage and seeming to be one of the more complex personalities.

I'd probably go with

Boleyn
Parr
Cleves
Seymour
Howard
Aragon

Katherine of Aragon
Jane Seymour
Katherine Parr
Anna of Cleves
Katherine Howard
Anne Boleyn


Katherine of Aragon was one of the best educated and her devotion serves as a lesson to us all. None of Henry's other wives had her strength or will.

Jane Seymour was a little boring but a very nice woman and she was one of the first people to show Mary kindness.

Katherine Parr was intelligent and a good stepmother, but allowing Somerset (I think) and Elizabeth to ... have relations was a terrible lapse in judgment.

Anna of Cleves I'm almost totally neutral about. She's pretty boring.

Katherine Howard was a teenage girl. But still, cheating on the King was stupid. I don't care how old or gross he was, it was not a wise decision.

And Anne Boleyn is really repulsive. The way she treated Katherine and Mary was totally unacceptable.

Marie, you are so harsh! Even OOC you are so harsh! Most of what was done to punish Mary & Katherined was at Henry's behest! You must know that he was determined to be rid of Katherine long before he met me.

Yes I am harsh, but not unfair!

Henry was a disgusting monster, and he's rotting in Hell as we speak, but Anne Boleyn was no bystander. I don't understand why people keep defending her terrible behavior.

And I do not believe he wanted to get rid of Katherine seriously before you. I think most of the time he supposedly wanted to get rid of her are gossipy lies. For most of them she was pregnant. Why would he divorce a pregnant woman for not giving him a son?

1. Anne Boleyn
2. Jane Seymour
3. Katherine Howard
4. Anne of Cleves
5. Catherine of Aragon
6. Catherine Parr

...there's my list yaye

Elizabeth Tudor wrote:

Seymour I am a little dissappointed with because I am a devoted Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth Tudor girl, though I adore her for her lovely son Edward and sadly really can't get to know her very much because she wasn't around very long for me to see what a true Queen she may have been. I admire her knowledge of herbs and potions, and it amuses me greatly that Anne Boleyn has been pegged by history as a witch while her successor Jane was the one with the wiccan tendancies!

I am finding that most people can't appreciate both Anne and Jane - it's like you have to choose one or the other. If you like Anne, Jane is the antichirst and vice versa. IMO, Anne was brilliant, witty, inspiring and all together an amazing woman. But Jane should too be appreciated for her manipulation of the situation with Henry, if not also for her kindness, gentlness, and loyalty. Most avid Anne fangirls HATE Jane because - well, she stole Henry - but all of that intrigue really fascinates me, and Jane did so "most virtuously". She was able to seduce without the sex, so to speak.

I knew very little about Tudor history prior to seeing The Other Boleyn Girl, which made me interested in watching The Tudors. Now, before you may judge me and say, "that show is totally inaccurate!", it is really what hooked me in and made me WANT to research and learn more about the actual events and people.

At first I too disliked Jane, but when I saw Anabelle Wallis' portrayal in The Tudors, I completely fell in love with her. I felt Anita Briem was kind of blah, and well, I'm sure we all hung on Natalie Dormer's Anne Boleyn, so seeing the "next wife" come along while AB was on the downward spiral was difficult. But Anabelle just carried the character with poise, grace, and gentleness - she also played her as I believe her to be - proactive, but to a point as to protect her ownself. I also really enjoyed how she interacted with Mary and Elizabeth in the show, so I was delighted to see that was some truth in that. I was sad to see her die after only 4 episodes.

I would like to know where you found out about Jane's knowledge of potions/wiccan tendencies, as I have never read that. I would really like to know more about that!

Jane Seymour wrote:

I am finding that most people can't appreciate both Anne and Jane - it's like you have to choose one or the other. If you like Anne, Jane is the antichirst and vice versa. IMO, Anne was brilliant, witty, inspiring and all together an amazing woman. But Jane should too be appreciated for her manipulation of the situation with Henry, if not also for her kindness, gentlness, and loyalty. Most avid Anne fangirls HATE Jane because - well, she stole Henry - but all of that intrigue really fascinates me, and Jane did so "most virtuously". She was able to seduce without the sex, so to speak.

I knew very little about Tudor history prior to seeing The Other Boleyn Girl, which made me interested in watching The Tudors. Now, before you may judge me and say, "that show is totally inaccurate!", it is really what hooked me in and made me WANT to research and learn more about the actual events and people.

At first I too disliked Jane, but when I saw Anabelle Wallis' portrayal in The Tudors, I completely fell in love with her. I felt Anita Briem was kind of blah, and well, I'm sure we all hung on Natalie Dormer's Anne Boleyn, so seeing the "next wife" come along while AB was on the downward spiral was difficult. But Anabelle just carried the character with poise, grace, and gentleness - she also played her as I believe her to be - proactive, but to a point as to protect her ownself. I also really enjoyed how she interacted with Mary and Elizabeth in the show, so I was delighted to see that was some truth in that. I was sad to see her die after only 4 episodes.

I would like to know where you found out about Jane's knowledge of potions/wiccan tendencies, as I have never read that. I would really like to know more about that!

So true, I used to despise Jane Seymour because of what happened to Anne Boleyn. However, like you said - Annabelle Wallis was the perfect Jane. The show portrayed her manipulation which i'm glad of, aswell as her docile nature and how even though things Henry did may have angered her, she managed to keep her composure. She'd obviously learnt from her predessecers. For example, if Anne Boleyn had managed to act like Jane in the marriage I think Henry would have given her more chances to produce a son. Alas, then that wouldn't be the same Anne Boleyn. The Tudors has really changed my opinion of all the wives - I've actually ended up thinking less of Katherine Howard. I hope the show shows her emotional side (if she has one,) and tries to put it to the audience why she did things rather than just pure stupidity/lust. At the moment I am totally going through a Jane Seymour obsession, but Anne Boleyn will always be my Number 1 Girl!

Oh gosh, I've been brought up with tales of Kings and Queens like most children are told fairytales, and have been studying those surrounding Elizabeth Tudor since she became my idol when I was a small child... so it's difficult to remember which of my many books collected over many years lists the information.

However I seem to recalle David Starkey touching upon the fact briefly in one of his many programmes on the Royals. Whether it was the Six Wives one, one of the Henry VIII programmes or his monarchy series I'm not sure.

I'd reccomend any of his programmes. Although he does my head in as a historian (because he declares things fact just because he's found one source on them and it fits in with his theory) he is especially thorough on his research of all things Tudor and is often turning up new pieces of evidence and new theories. I believe you can view shortened versions of his Six Wives programmes on YouTube. If anyone is a little unsure about any of the Queens I'd suggest the Starkley excerpts as the first point of call. His work is very watchable and entertaining if you get my meaning.

Anyway, if I recall one of the books that mentions Jane's knowedge of plants, herbs and their uses I'll check what the source was for you.

Marie Stuart wrote:

Yes I am harsh, but not unfair!

Henry was a disgusting monster, and he's rotting in Hell as we speak, but Anne Boleyn was no bystander. I don't understand why people keep defending her terrible behavior.

And I do not believe he wanted to get rid of Katherine seriously before you. I think most of the time he supposedly wanted to get rid of her are gossipy lies. For most of them she was pregnant. Why would he divorce a pregnant woman for not giving him a son?

For the love of God woman, Wolsey & he had begun making inquiries on the continent for a French princess for him to wed!

I just think that Janes was even more than Anne the tool of her family. Plus she is implicitly involved in her Anne's murder. That bothers me. To stand there and do nothing about it. She mostly lured the King by just being a mirror or flip side of Anne. Face it it was just luck that she had a son & he was an ineffectual ruler who never made it out of his minority. I don't hate Jane but I am not very impressed by her either. Although I have read many times of how kind & gentle she was.

I think Jane was 1/2 tool, 1/2 acting of her own accord, that's how I see it anyway. Who could blame her really? Honestly, at the prospect of being Queen, would any of us acted differently? I know I sure wouldn't have.

Jane just beat Anne at her own game, basically. Anne was far from a saint, and treated Katherine very badly, so I find it hard to say Anne was totally 100% wronged by Jane. If Anne could do it, Jane thought, I can too, and well, she did. In my eyes she was playing under the same rules as Anne.

Anne also promised and demanded alot, and when she failed to deliver, she dug her own grave. I agree that is was pure luck Jane gave Henry a son, and yes, I agree he was a crap ruler. I suppose that is how Anne had the last laugh, as what she left behind besides being the most popular and most influential wife.

I do think Jane had the right idea - cut out before things went to hell and she had to put up with Henry for much longer.

Jane Seymour wrote:

I think Jane was 1/2 tool, 1/2 acting of her own accord, that's how I see it anyway. Who could blame her really? Honestly, at the prospect of being Queen, would any of us acted differently? I know I sure wouldn't have.

Jane just beat Anne at her own game, basically. Anne was far from a saint, and treated Katherine very badly, so I find it hard to say Anne was totally 100% wronged by Jane. If Anne could do it, Jane thought, I can too, and well, she did. in my eyes she was playing under the same rules as Anne.

Anne also promised and demanded alot, and when she failed to deliver, she dug her own grave. I agree that is was pure luck she gave Henry a son, and yes, I agree he was a crap ruler. I suppose that is how Anne had the last laugh, as what she left behind besides being the most popular and most influential wife.

I do think Jane had the right idea - cut out before things went to hell and she had to put up with Henry for much longer.

I could not agree with you more. You just said everything I said, only you said it in a way that that home-wrecking Diva can't be angry. Merci!

Marie Stuart wrote:

Jane Seymour wrote:

I think Jane was 1/2 tool, 1/2 acting of her own accord, that's how I see it anyway. Who could blame her really? Honestly, at the prospect of being Queen, would any of us acted differently? I know I sure wouldn't have.

Jane just beat Anne at her own game, basically. Anne was far from a saint, and treated Katherine very badly, so I find it hard to say Anne was totally 100% wronged by Jane. If Anne could do it, Jane thought, I can too, and well, she did. in my eyes she was playing under the same rules as Anne.

Anne also promised and demanded alot, and when she failed to deliver, she dug her own grave. I agree that is was pure luck she gave Henry a son, and yes, I agree he was a crap ruler. I suppose that is how Anne had the last laugh, as what she left behind besides being the most popular and most influential wife.

I do think Jane had the right idea - cut out before things went to hell and she had to put up with Henry for much longer.

I could not agree with you more. You just said everything I said, only you said it in a way that that home-wrecking Diva can't be angry. Merci!

You also forgot

JANE RULED!
SHE PROVIDED THE COUNTRY WITH EDWARD VI
IF ONLY HE WAS BORN EARLIER AND HENRY HAD DIED EARLIER, PERHAPS HE COULD HAVE KILLED ARY TUFOR BEFORE SHE BECAME QUEEN AND DESTORYED EVERYTHING!!!!!