The details of the various ‘pretenders’ to the throne who emerged during the reign of Henry VII have become clouded by myth and legends. Nathen Amin’s new book therefore shines much-needed light on the known facts.
Henry’s opponents had good reason to ‘muddy the waters’. They needed a figurehead, someone for potential rebels to rally around, with a good story to justify revolt.
One of the less well known is Lambert Simnel, and his story proves hard to pin down. Nathen points out that the little we know comes from official records written after the failure of the Simnel conspiracy. According to Vergil, the king decided a fitting punishment would be to work as a ‘turnspit’ in the royal kitchens, followed by an unlikely promotion to the well-paid position of ‘trainer of the king’s hawks.’
Another pretender, the mysterious Perkin Warbeck, received similarly surprising tolerance from the king, who initially placed him under house arrest in the royal household. Nathen Amin avoids speculation about the reasons, and has been meticulous with his research, leaving no stone unturned. As a result, he has created the definitive guide to the Tudor pretenders, which I’m happy to recommend.
Henry’s opponents had good reason to ‘muddy the waters’. They needed a figurehead, someone for potential rebels to rally around, with a good story to justify revolt.
One of the less well known is Lambert Simnel, and his story proves hard to pin down. Nathen points out that the little we know comes from official records written after the failure of the Simnel conspiracy. According to Vergil, the king decided a fitting punishment would be to work as a ‘turnspit’ in the royal kitchens, followed by an unlikely promotion to the well-paid position of ‘trainer of the king’s hawks.’
Another pretender, the mysterious Perkin Warbeck, received similarly surprising tolerance from the king, who initially placed him under house arrest in the royal household. Nathen Amin avoids speculation about the reasons, and has been meticulous with his research, leaving no stone unturned. As a result, he has created the definitive guide to the Tudor pretenders, which I’m happy to recommend.
Tony Riches
(A review copy was kindly provided by Amberley Books)
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About the Author
Nathen Amin grew up in the heart of Carmarthenshire, West Wales, and has long had an interest in Welsh history, the Wars of the Roses and the early Tudor period. His first book Tudor Wales was released in 2014 and was well-received, followed by a second book called York Pubs in 2016. His third book is a full-length biography of the Beaufort family. He is the founder of the Henry Tudor Society and has featured discussing the Tudors on BBC radio and television, as well as in print and online media across the UK. He has a degree in Business and Journalism and now lives in York, where he works as a Technical Writer. Find him on Twitter @NathenAmin.
Thank you for your review. (Love your series on the Brandons! Haven't read the Elizabethan series yet but plan to. Looking forward to them.) I enjoy Nathen Amin's work very much. Michelle t
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle :)
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