King Arthur in early Tudor England: Henry VII to Edward VI

Abstract

This thesis proposes that the early Tudor monarchs (Henry VII (1485) to Edward VI (1553)) identified King Arthur as a valuable symbol to enhance their prestige and promote their political and religious agendas, leading to significant and new interpretations of King Arthur. The enduring Plantagenet fascination with King Arthur during the Central and Late Middle Ages rested on the concepts of empire and his prophesied return. These themes continued to be strategically employed in the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries as the new Tudor dynasty emulated their Plantagenet predecessors, upholding the legacy of King Arthur’s appeal. The malleability of the Arthurian legend allows for an adaptation to the vicissitudes of the sixteenth century, as seen in its strategic employment during some of the most defining moments of English history. This thesis examined a variety of primary sources to consider Arthurian influence on six key themes relating to principal developments that shaped this period of English history: legitimacy, succession, diplomacy, confessional politics, identity, and territorial expansion. This study provides new insights into the interplay between literature and history and illuminates how Arthurian imagery was employed to help shape significant events of the era.

Date of Award	27 Jun 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Northumbria University
Supervisor	Neil Murphy (Supervisor) & Paul Frazer (Supervisor)