Madness, Melancholy, and Moonbeams: Mental Illness in Tudor Times

Madness, Melancholy, and Moonbeams: Mental Illness in Tudor Times

In today’s podcast, I’m diving into a thought-provoking—and often heartbreaking—topic: mental illness in Tudor England.

From moon-induced madness and “uterine vapours” to melancholy queens and frenzied courtiers, the Tudor understanding of mental health was a complex mix of medicine, superstition, religion, and fear.

Did you know Jane Boleyn’s breakdown led Henry VIII to change the law so she could be executed? Or that people paid to watch the inmates of Bedlam Hospital for entertainment? And what about Richard Pace, Henry VIII’s secretary, who was said to tear his clothes and rant?

I’ll explore how Tudor people defined and treated mental illness, the roles of institutions like Bedlam, beliefs about the four humours, “wandering wombs,” and how the Dissolution of the Monasteries impacted care for the mentally ill.

We’ll meet real historical figures—from Queen Mary I to court fools considered holy—and look at how the legal system, family, and Church responded to mental illness.

Inspired by my research with Clare Cherry and Amelia Sceats’ brilliant thesis, this is a deep dive into a rarely discussed but important aspect of Tudor life.

Like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments—how do you think society's view of mental illness has changed?

#TudorHistory #MentalHealthHistory #JaneBoleyn #AnneBoleyn #Bedlam #HistoryVideo #ClaireRidgway #TudorMadness #HistoricalTruths #HenryVIII

Sceats, Amelia G. (2016) Rationality and reality: perspectives of mental illness in Tudor England, 1485- 1603. Masters thesis, University of Huddersfield - https://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/31474/

Jaksot(999)

Did Anne Boleyn Seduce Henry VIII? The Truth About His Obsession

Did Anne Boleyn Seduce Henry VIII? The Truth About His Obsession

For centuries, Anne Boleyn has been portrayed as the great seductress of Tudor history, the ambitious woman who bewitched Henry VIII and destroyed his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. But when we exa...

11 Maalis 20min

The Scandal That Nearly Destroyed Young Elizabeth I

The Scandal That Nearly Destroyed Young Elizabeth I

Before Elizabeth I became one of England’s greatest monarchs, she faced a scandal that could have destroyed her reputation , and possibly her future. In 1547, after the death of Henry VIII, the young...

6 Maalis 10min

Elizabeth I Before the Crown: From Princess to Prisoner

Elizabeth I Before the Crown: From Princess to Prisoner

Queen Elizabeth I is remembered as Gloriana, England’s Virgin Queen and ruler of a golden age. But before the crown came danger. Born the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth went from ...

2 Maalis 27min

History Got This Wrong: Anne Boleyn Was Never “Too Low” for Henry Percy

History Got This Wrong: Anne Boleyn Was Never “Too Low” for Henry Percy

Was Anne Boleyn really too socially inferior to marry Henry Percy, heir to the powerful Earldom of Northumberland? For centuries, Anne Boleyn has been portrayed as an ambitious social climber, a woma...

23 Helmi 7min

Anne Boleyn’s Last 18 Days: The Fall That Shocked Tudor England

Anne Boleyn’s Last 18 Days: The Fall That Shocked Tudor England

In May 1536, Anne Boleyn went from Queen of England to execution in just eighteen days. It remains one of the most shocking political collapses in English history - a moment that destroyed families, ...

19 Helmi 5min

The Secret Promise, The Poet, and the Myths: Anne Boleyn Before Henry VIII

The Secret Promise, The Poet, and the Myths: Anne Boleyn Before Henry VIII

In 1522, Anne Boleyn returned to the English court, and within a few years, she was already at the centre of political tension, whispered promises, and poetic legend. Long before Henry VIII began his...

17 Helmi 25min

Mary I’s Pregnancies Explained: London Celebrated a Prince… But There Was No Baby

Mary I’s Pregnancies Explained: London Celebrated a Prince… But There Was No Baby

In 1555, London celebrated the birth of a prince. Church bells rang. Te Deums were sung. Birth announcements were prepared. Only… there was no baby. Mary I didn’t just believe she was pregnant, she...

13 Helmi 9min

The Truth Behind “Bloody Mary” -  A Beginner’s Guide

The Truth Behind “Bloody Mary” - A Beginner’s Guide

When you hear the name Mary I, you probably hear one phrase: “Bloody Mary”. A queen of fire and fear. A religious fanatic. A failure compared to Elizabeth I. But that version of Mary is a shortcut, ...

10 Helmi 38min

Suosittua kategoriassa Koulutus

rss-murhan-anatomia
psykopodiaa-podcast
voi-hyvin-meditaatiot-2
adhd-podi
rss-rahamania
rss-narsisti
aamukahvilla
rss-vapaudu-voimaasi
psykologia
rss-liian-kuuma-peruna
rahapuhetta
kesken
rss-duodecim-lehti
rss-eron-alkemiaa
rss-valo-minussa-2
uskonnon-pitka-oppimaara
jari-sarasvuo-podcast
mielipaivakirja
rss-tietoinen-yhteys-podcast-2
rss-koira-haudattuna