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/

Episoder(999)

From Empty Tomb to Easter Feast: Easter Sunday in Tudor Times

From Empty Tomb to Easter Feast: Easter Sunday in Tudor Times

Easter Sunday marks one of the most important moments in Christian history, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this video, I explore the events of that first Easter morning through the Gospel of Jo...

4 Apr 4min

The Dark Side of Elizabeth I’s Golden Age (What They Don’t Tell You)

The Dark Side of Elizabeth I’s Golden Age (What They Don’t Tell You)

Elizabeth I’s reign is often remembered as a Golden Age, a time of stability, cultural flourishing, and triumph over the Spanish Armada. But was it really golden for everyone? In this video, I go beyo...

3 Apr 7min

Good Friday in Tudor England: Ritual, Power, and the Reformation

Good Friday in Tudor England: Ritual, Power, and the Reformation

Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, a moment at the heart of the Christian faith, remembered as the ultimate act of sacrifice and redemption. But how was Good Friday marked in T...

2 Apr 7min

From Henry VIII to Today: The History of Maundy Thursday

From Henry VIII to Today: The History of Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday is often overlooked today, but in Tudor England it was marked with powerful and symbolic royal rituals. In this video, I explore the meaning of Maundy Thursday - from the Last Supper ...

2 Apr 5min

Why Is Elizabeth I Remembered as England’s Greatest Monarch?

Why Is Elizabeth I Remembered as England’s Greatest Monarch?

Elizabeth I is often remembered as England’s greatest monarch, but why? Her reign lasted over 44 years and saw the defeat of the Spanish Armada, the rise of Shakespeare and the arts, and the emergenc...

30 Mar 18min

The Manosphere vs Tudor England: Have We Heard This Before?

The Manosphere vs Tudor England: Have We Heard This Before?

I recently watched Louis Theroux' documentary "Inside the Manosphere", in which he interviewed several members of the online Manosphere, a community of influencers promoting controversial views of wom...

24 Mar 17min

The Myth of the Seductress and the Witch: Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth Woodville

The Myth of the Seductress and the Witch: Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth Woodville

For centuries, two queens have carried damaging reputations. Anne Boleyn has often been portrayed as the ambitious seductress who trapped King Henry VIII, while Elizabeth Woodville has been accused o...

17 Mar 11min

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 Mar 20min

Populært innen Fakta

mikkels-paskenotter
fastlegen
dine-penger-pengeradet
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
foreldreradet
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
treningspodden
jakt-og-fiskepodden
sinnsyn
rss-kunsten-a-leve
rss-bisarr-historie
rss-kull
gravid-uke-for-uke
hverdagspsyken
fryktlos
rss-var-forste-kaffe
level-up-med-anniken-binz
rss-impressions-2
hva-er-greia-med
hagespiren-podcast