What REALLY Happened to Henry VIII's Legs?

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What was wrong with Henry VIII's legs? Was it a jousting injury, chronic ulcers, an infection, or even syphilis? And did that famous jousting accident in 1536 really cause the leg problems that plagued the Tudor king for the rest of his life? I've been digging into the contemporary accounts of Henry VIII's health, and some of the things I've discovered have made me question stories I've read, and even repeated myself, over the years! In this video, I'm looking at when Henry's leg problems actually began, what Tudor ambassadors reported about his painful sores and leg ulcers, and just how serious his condition became. In 1538, Henry was reportedly dangerously ill when one of the fistulas in his legs stopped draining, and by 1544 his legs were being described as the "worst legs in the world"! I'll also be investigating the evidence for the 1536 jousting accident, the story of Tudor surgeon Thomas Vicary supposedly curing Henry's sore leg, and the medical explanations that have been suggested, including chronic venous disease, infection and syphilis. And what about Henry's personality? Could years of chronic pain have contributed to the changes we associate with the king in his later years? As always, I'll be going back to the original Tudor sources to see what we actually know, what we can reasonably suggest, and where the evidence simply isn't there.

Want to explore the evidence further? I've also been doing some extra research into Henry VIII's leg problems for my YouTube channel members, including a closer look at Thomas Vicary, the surgeon who supposedly cured Henry's sore leg, and an investigation into syphilis in Tudor England, the treatments available and what George Constantine's recommendation of guaiacum might actually tell us. Depending on your membership tier, you'll have access to these additional Evidence Room videos and other exclusive Tudor history content. Just click the Join button to explore the different levels and see what's included. And a huge thank you to everyone who's already supporting my research through channel membership! I'd love to know what you've always believed about Henry VIII's leg problems. Did you think they were caused by the 1536 jousting accident? Let me know in the comments! If you enjoy Tudor history, Henry VIII, the six wives of Henry VIII and investigating the stories behind the familiar history, do subscribe to The Anne Boleyn Files for more Tudor history videos. #HenryVIII #TudorHistory #AnneBoleyn