Product Description

It took Henry VIII 28 years, three wives, and a break with Rome before he secured a legitimate male heir. Yet he already had the illegitimate Henry Fitzroy. Fitzroy was born in 1519 after the king's affair with a Shropshire gentlewoman, Elizabeth Blount. He was the only illegitimate offspring ever acknowledged by Henry VIII, and Cardinal Wolsey was even one of his godparents. Created Duke of Richmond, he was educated as befitted a Renaissance prince and the offices bestowed upon him included Lord Lieutenant of the North and Lord Admiral of England; indeed rumours abounded that Henry VIII intended to make him King of Ireland. Widely reported to resemble his father, in both looks and character, he weathered the difficult years of the Reformation far better than either his sisters. This work examines just how close he came to being crowned King Henry VIX of England.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #363415 in Books
• Published on: 2004-01-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

About the Author
Beverley Murphy has an MA in Tudor Government and a PhD on the life and political significance of Henry Fitzroy. She has taught history at the University of Wales. She lives in Bury St Edmunds.

Customer Reviews

On the wrong side of the blanket - Henry VIII. ' s bastard
Henry Fitzroy was born early June 1519, the son of King Henry VIII. and his short lived mistress Elizabeth Blount. His father created him created Duke of Richmond, Duke of Somerset & Earl of Nottingham 21 June 1524. In 1533 he married the Duke' s of Norfolk daughter, Lady Mary Howard. He died in 1536 and was buried in Thetford.

One might say a short, but glorious life. But maybe it is rather uninteresting for a biography. Yes indeed, but there is the big "if" question related to Henry Fitzroy: Could he have become his father legitimate successor, could he be King Henry IX of England??

When Henry Fitzroy was born and lived his very existent seem to prove that not the King but his Queen, Catherine of Aragon, was to blame for not having a male heir to the throne. Step by step he king raised him and made him the first duke of the land. However, he never crossed the fine but distinct borderline to royalty. But still there was the possibility that he would have made him his heir.... So this book is much more than just a biography but gives the reader an inside into the complicated Tudor succession and the life at court. It shows how Henry VIII. used his son to play a powerful game. There was even the idea of marrying him to his half-sister The Princess Mary, than still the heiress of the crown, later to be Queen Mary I..

This book is full of inside into the life to the Tudor Court and the politics surrounding the succession. The Duke of Richmond is largely forgotten and not more than a footnote in history books nowadays but during his life time his very existent was a political factor one could hard ignore. The book is well written and a pleasure to read and will compliment your picture of the Tudor Court.

For the big question whether Henry VIII would have made his bastard heir to the crown I believe he would not have done it. Henry was too much king and conscious of the blood royal that he would have taken such a step. In his dealings with Queen Catherine of Aragon and her daughter Mary or with Queen Anne Boleyn and her daughter Elisabeth he always uphold the notion of legitimacy.

But read this book and find decided for yourself on your question. You will find all information necessary to decide in this excellent book.

History as it should be written
Well researched, and a convincing, well-supported argument examined a neglected area of British history. The style is a little technical, especially towards the end, which makes reading a little more like work than pleasure but very much worth reading, especially if you are interested in the Tudor period of history and the dynamics of Henry VIII's 'Great Matter' - the succession

A fantastic book that covers the life of the unknown tudor
Most people do not realise that for the entire length of Henry VIIIs "Great Matter" the king had a natural son, Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset.
This book investigates the life of this littleknown tudor prince, describing his background and upbringing. His relationships with the great tudor court personalities are also described, as are his links to the Howard family.
There is also a usefull geneology of his maternal family line.
A great biography of a prince who could have become Henry IX.