Art, obsession, and identity
The Tudor period in England and Wales lasted from 1485 to 1603. It was a time when the Tudor dynasty was in control of the monarchy, and many great social and historical changes were taking place. Some of the most famous women of the era were probably Queen Elizabeth I, Mary Tudor, and the six wives of Henry VIII. But what exactly was life like for them? Or the average woman trying to survive during a time of Reformation and greater societal recalibration, in the centuries following the Black Death?
Click on to learn what life was really like for Tudor women.
What we know about Tudor women is slightly obscured. This is because, at the time, it was usually men doing things deemed worthy of record, such as attending guild meetings or the Houses of Parliament. Not to mention the fact that it was men keeping the records!
However, a by-product of the Protestant Reformation, which took place under Henry VIII, as well as the creation of the printing press, was greater literacy among the general population.
This improved literacy means there are letters and diary entries that survive from the time, providing insight into the lives of women, from the upper echelons of society, right down to what was considered the lower classes.
During the Tudor times, Sumptuary Laws designated that only the upper classes could wear rich fabrics. These laws also dictated the purchases and luxuries allowed for each social class.
As the merchant class grew prosperous, Henry VIII became concerned. He revived laws that expanded the restrictions on clothing and other expenditures, for fear they would start to blend in with the nobility.
Only members of the royal family were allowed to wear ermine (stoat), while only members of the nobility were allowed to wear clothes trimmed with fox or otter.
Anne Boleyn was known for her stylish clothing. She had spent seven years living in France and brought a sense of French sophistication in her clothing to the English court.
During Tudor times, some women worked outside of the home, as well as raising a family. The occupations of lower-class women included: vendor, baker, milliner, tailor, brewery worker, textile worker, household servant, or seamstress.
Noble women and members of the gentry could become ladies-in-waiting to women of the upper classes, while within noble households women also worked as governesses.
A senior lady-in-waiting might act as a Mistress of the Wardrobe to her superior, in charge of the clothing choices and needs of the noblewomen or royalty.
Girls of all social classes were taught how to run households. Keeping accounts, performing daily tasks, using medicinal herbs, and acting as ambassadors for their husbands were critical skills they had to master.
Upper-class women who supervised large households were expected to know the basics of how things worked behind the scenes. This included meal preparation, food storage, ale brewing, yarn spinning, and making necessities like candles and soap.
In the absence of their husbands, they were expected to keep everything running smoothly at the estate. Merchant-class men often employed their wives and daughters. If the man was away for whatever reason, they were relied upon to run the business for him.
While some of women's education was limited to activities considered more "feminine" such as dance, needlework, and playing instruments; many women received an intellectual education.
Some women in the higher classes even completed an education in classical studies, languages, geography, astronomy, and mathematics.
Queen Katherine Parr's mother, Maud, educated her daughters using this model of studies. Upon becoming widowed, she established a "school for highborn girls," helping to ensure that those who attended would be able to discuss poetry and devotional works with their husbands.
Similarly, Queen Catherine of Aragon ensured her daughter, Mary, received a strict routine of demanding studies. This education aligned with Catherine's own upbringing.
Loyalty to the family of origin took precedence for women in the Tudor age. One of their main functions was to "advance" the social position of their families.
The relationships formed between social contacts would have served the primary function of advancing their family's interests. However, sometimes close relationships were formed between long-term servants and the women of noble households, who relied upon them as confidantes.
Regardless of their social class, women of the day were expected to marry and bear children. While they knew they couldn't marry for love, many desired to.
Marriages were usually arranged for adolescent girls in the noble class. Women were considered "chattel," legally controlled by their fathers, then their husbands.
If a woman became widowed, she was free to remain widowed under her own authority. Alternatively, she was also free to marry whomever she pleased. Becoming widowed was a common occurrence at the time, and it provided the opportunity to marry for love.
As divorce was almost impossible, if women wanted to end a marriage they did have another option: to become a nun. When a woman did so, her marriage would become annulled.
During the Tudor time period, women might have children every one to two years. Due to poor medical hygiene, it was not uncommon for women to die in childbirth.
Because of this, there was also a high risk that the child would not survive the process either. Catherine of Aragon's only surviving child was a daughter, Mary, but Catherine is said to have borne six children.
It's believed Anne Boleyn was pregnant at least three times, but possibly more. Of these, only her daughter—the future Elizabeth I—survived. Regardless of social class, giving birth was precarious in the Tudor age.
The wives of King Henry VIII and their experiences with childbirth demonstrate just how dangerous it could be for women at the time. Both Katherine Parr and Jane Seymour died of childbed fever, a common form of sepsis that occurred because hand-washing was rarely practiced by doctors or midwives.
Despite the challenges, some Tudor women, thanks to their status, were able to leave an enduring mark on history. One of the most famous Tudor women, who reigned for a period of 44 years, was Queen Elizabeth I. She never married and became known as the 'Virgin Queen.' She helped to establish a middle way in religious debates.
On becoming Queen, she assumed the role of Supreme Governor of the English Protestant church. However, she was known for her insistence on greater tolerance for English Catholics.
For most, however, their lives were usually spent managing busy households if they belonged to the upper classes, or engaging in hard physical labor if they were part of the lower classes. While noblewomen might spend the evenings hosting company, women of the lower classes had a focus on family and community. Many would gather to recite stories, sing songs, or simply catch up on the day's happenings around the fireplace.
Sources: (History Hit) (Historical Association) (Folger Shakespeare Library) (History Extra) (History.com) (The History Press) (Sandra Byrd)
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What life was really like for Tudor women
From the six wives of Henry VIII to those lower on the socio-economic ladder
LIFESTYLE History
The Tudor period in England and Wales lasted from 1485 to 1603. It was a time when the Tudor dynasty was in control of the monarchy, and many great social and historical changes were taking place. Some of the most famous women of the era were probably Queen Elizabeth I, Mary Tudor, and the six wives of Henry VIII. But what exactly was life like for them? Or the average woman trying to survive during a time of Reformation and greater societal recalibration, in the centuries following the Black Death?
Click on to learn what life was really like for Tudor women.