Even the most beloved of sovereigns faced moments of disorder and disruption at some stage during their reign. How they responded to those periods is what made them a great or a weak monarch. More importantly, it is what continues to make their reigns fascinating for historians and story tellers. In this, Henry VIII, arguably England’s most famous - or infamous - ruler was no different from the rest. Selfish, opinionated, lustful and driven, Henry VIII created disorder and chaos in his country, laid the foundations of the Anglican Church and began the process of changing a tiny, wind-swept island off the coast of Europe into a mighty Empire, the likes of which the world had never seen before. This fresh new perspective of Henry VIII’s reign and legacy takes the readers on a journey through the key moments of unrest and open rebellion. We learn about the cataclysmic events that were catalyst for disorder and disturbance to the general public, and journey through the instances of open rebellions like the Pilgrimage of Grace of 1536, one the most significant uprising of the sixteenth century, not just for Henry himself but for any of the great Tudor monarchs. Last but certainly not least, we look at how war disturbed the peace of Henry’s tumultuous reign with the rebellion of Rhys ap Gruffydd in Wales, the Scottish invasion and the Silken Thomas Revolt in Ireland. The reign of Henry VIII began with joyous celebration at the arrival of a shining new king and ended with widespread terror at the rantings of a psychotic overlord. By focussing on the rebellions against Henry VIII, we cast new eyes on his character and gain a fascinating insight into the lives of Tudor men and women during the turbulent thirty-nine years of his reign.
