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/

Avsnitt(999)

Tudor Christmas Music Wasn’t Quiet: Instruments, Entertainers & Festive Noise

Tudor Christmas Music Wasn’t Quiet: Instruments, Entertainers & Festive Noise

Tudor Christmas didn’t just sound like gentle carols, it was bold, noisy, and spectacular. In this episode of my Tudor Christmas Advent series, we step beyond singing and into the vibrant world of Tu...

22 Dec 20256min

Christmas on the Streets: Tudor Mystery Plays & the Origins of the Coventry Carol

Christmas on the Streets: Tudor Mystery Plays & the Origins of the Coventry Carol

Tudor Christmas wasn’t just celebrated at home or in church, it was performed. In this episode of my Tudor Christmas Advent series, we step into the vivid, noisy, emotional world of Christmas mystery...

21 Dec 20254min

Christmas Wasn’t Just Feasting

Christmas Wasn’t Just Feasting

Christmas in Tudor England wasn’t only about feasting, pageantry, and celebration. It was also a season of obligation, a time when charity and almsgiving were seen as essential acts of faith. In this...

20 Dec 20255min

Play Along! A Tudor Christmas Trivia Challenge (Can You Beat Tim?)

Play Along! A Tudor Christmas Trivia Challenge (Can You Beat Tim?)

Think you know Tudor Christmas? In this festive quiz episode, I’m challenging Tim, my long-suffering cameraman (and husband!), with questions drawn from my Tudor Christmas Advent series. From royal f...

19 Dec 202514min

The Creatures That Shaped a Tudor Yuletide

The Creatures That Shaped a Tudor Yuletide

Christmas in Tudor England wasn’t just about people, prayers, and pageantry, it was also shaped by animals. In today’s episode of my Tudor Christmas Advent series, we step into the world of Tudor Chr...

18 Dec 20257min

The Beloved Tudor Palace That Vanished

The Beloved Tudor Palace That Vanished

Step with me into a palace that no longer stands, yet once witnessed some of the most important Christmases of the Tudor age. In this episode of my Tudor Christmas Advent series, we journey to Richmo...

17 Dec 20255min

Three Chilling Tudor Christmas Superstitions You’ve Never Heard Of...

Three Chilling Tudor Christmas Superstitions You’ve Never Heard Of...

Christmas in Tudor England wasn’t just a season of feasting, music and Yule logs… it was also a time when the veil between worlds felt unusually thin. In today’s Tudor Christmas Advent episode, I’m s...

16 Dec 20255min

What's Inside the Wonkiest Tudor House in England?

What's Inside the Wonkiest Tudor House in England?

Imagine rounding a frosty corner and discovering a house that looks as if it’s stepped straight out of a Tudor fairytale or Harry Potter - crooked beams, bowing floors, glittering leaded windows, and ...

15 Dec 20258min

Populärt inom Utbildning

rss-bara-en-till-om-missbruk-medberoende-2
historiepodden-se
det-skaver
nu-blir-det-historia
harrisons-dramatiska-historia
alska-oss
not-fanny-anymore
roda-vita-rosen
johannes-hansen-podcast
rss-foraldramotet-bring-lagercrantz
allt-du-velat-veta
sektledare
rss-viktmedicinpodden
sa-in-i-sjalen
rss-sjalsligt-avkladd
rss-om-vi-ska-vara-arliga
i-vantan-pa-katastrofen
rss-max-tant-med-max-villman
rss-basta-livet
rikatillsammans-om-privatekonomi-rikedom-i-livet