Tudor Times

PERSON OF THE MONTH

Arbella Stuart

Lady Arbella Stuart was a potential successor to Elizabeth I, but her life was one of frustration and sorrow.

On This Day 27th April 1522

On 27th April 1522, the Battle of Bicocca was fought between the allied forces of France and Venice, against the Spanish-Imperial-Papal force. It was a significant battle, in that it effectively ended French dominance in the Duchy of Milan. It is also important for the part played by heavy artillery – the Spanish guns massacred the Swiss pike-formations – previously the most successful military tool of the early 16th century. The forces were led by Odet de Foix, Viscount Lautrec, for France and Prospero Colonna (pictured) for the victors.
On This Day 26th April 1616

On 26th April 1564, John Shakespeare and his wife Mary, nee Arden, took their first son to be baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon. Little did they know that the baby at the font would become one of the most famous Englishmen ever born. William Shakespeare wrote about forty plays, considered to contain some of the finest prose and poetry in the English language as well as sonnets which have enchanted lovers for four hundred years. His career as an actor and playwright took him to the top of his profession, playing for both Elizabeth I and James VI & I. Read more about the sources of inspiration for his work here
On This Day 25th April 1507

25th April 1507 is the first recorded use of the name ‘America’ on a map. The map was created by the German cartographer, Martin Waldseemuller (also known in typical Humanist fashion by the Latinised form ‘Hylacomylus’). He based his 'Univeralis Cosmographia' on the accounts of Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci ('Americus Vesputi' in Latin), whence he derived the name ‘America’, on the basis that as Europa and Asia had been named for mythical women, so the new lands should be named for their explorer.

The map was produced both as a globe, and as a 12 panel wall-map (pictured) now in the US Library of Congress.

Historically, the Stuarts have enjoyed less attention – at least in popular media – than their Tudor predecessors on the English throne. However, whilst James VI and I, the first Stuart king of England, is not an unknown quantity, much of what is known about him in the public consciousness is based on myth and misconception. In this Guest Article, Steven Veerapen examines the evidence, or lack of it, for many of the myths that persist around James VI and I.

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