RANKING THE TUDORS | Who was the best Tudor? Who was the worst Tudor? Royal history documentary

How would you rank the Tudor monarchs, from worst to best? Let me know in the comments below and remember to check out my Patreon site at www.patreon.com/historycalling and my Amazon storefront at www.amazon.com/shop/historycalling

Just one more point about Henry VII: unless I’m mistaken (not for the first time), when he came to the throne the country was nearly bankrupted from the Wars of the Roses. When he died the country was financially sound. To some extent this should at least explain if not justify his “grasping” nature. Plus he was devoted to his wife.

I always questioned how much Edward’s deathbed will was his own doing and how much was Northumberland. I can’t imagine a dying teenager was all that coherent and it’s no coincidence that the move appears to have only benefitted the man who just so happened to have been at Edward’s bedside

Henry VII’s life is truly so fascinating and it’s amusing how people then and now argue back and forth about how legitimate his blood claim on the throne is (even tho he won by right of conquest) it still endangered his life

Henry VII is an easily slept on Monarch but he's my personal favourite. An underdog who managed to take the thrown and bring relative stability and growth to England. Easily my favourite followed close by Elizabeth I

I’m going with Henry VII. He came from literally nothing, an exile in a foreign country, to become king of England. And when he became king, England was economically bankrupt from years of internal political strife. By the time he died, the royal coffers were full, and the nation was at peace. (Another possible justification for his miserliness.) Also, he was faithful to his wife, loved his children, and made sure that England had an heir. Elizabeth was a great queen, but I wouldn’t say that the Stuarts who succeeded her were great monarchs, so her refusal to produce an heir of her own is a strike against her, in my opinion.

It’s because of Henry VIII that we’re even talking about the Tudors 500 years on. He may have been a tyrant, but he’s made billions for the British tourism industry.

Henry vii is my favourite simply for ticking so many boxes as one of Britain’s most effective kings, but I do agree with your point about Elizabeth doing all this as a woman in a man’s world. I recently listened to a podcast comparing Catherine Medici, Elizabeth de Valois and Mary queen of Scot’s and what I realised is that no matter what they did, they’re seen as failures and really just couldn’t win. Elizabeth I is often criticised because she’s seen as someone who didn’t ever make a decision or do anything unless forced to do so, but actually all her choices were bad when you see how it played out with her contemporaries.

I think that Henry VII had seen enough of what conflict could do, firsthand, and this made him not a fan of needless violence. He probably just wanted some stability after the chaotic life he’d led.

Scenario: Henry VIII, laid up with a bad leg, spends a weekend bingeing this channel, even considering dispatching Holbein to paint our hostess for his consideration, until he gets to this entry. History Calling is then sent to the Tower, lands and titles forfeited. Loyal viewers like me hold out for a while, but that rope-knots-in-the-eyes thingy is worse than it looks, and soon we all sing like canaries. May we hear your scaffold speech?

I like the order in which you ranked the Tudors. I still giggle remembering you calling Edward “a little prick” in a former vid lol 😂 Thank you for another amazing vid!

Something else that's also worth noting in Henry VII's favor is his loyalty as a husband. His marriage to Elizabeth of York was a political one with so much riding on it but they seem to have forged a true partnership based on mutual devotion. Unlike his father-in-law or more famous son, Henry VII never took a mistress. I think Elizabeth of York softened his rough edges and brought a kindness to the monarchy that it desperately needed.

Even before watching, that's an easy one; a no brainer if you will. Elizabeth 1 - saved the best Tudor for last. Her legacy lives on .......🙂

Another plug for Henry VII: every British monarch since - including Charles III - is descended from him. The family might not carry his name, but it’s his blood that’s still on the throne today.

5. Henry VIII .. 4. Edward VI .. 3. Mary I .. 2. Elizabeth I .. 1. Henry VII H8 made tyrants look good. Eddy would of continued the destruction. Mary was a tortured soul but "somewhat" forgive her acts. Lizzy rebuilt a nation but committed unforgivable acts. H.VII was a justified miser, the last warrior, ended the family war & built a kingdom. Years observing the Tudor's, Henry VIII one saving grace was his patronage of Hans Holbein the Younger. As a fellow artist, his sketches & artworks (and his fathers) still amaze me. Oddly, I prefer his draft sketches, as they're spontaneous perfection on paper and some complete drafts like that of William Parr show Holbein thinking on details such as jewellery, fabric, or colours. It's something I still do to perfect the final pieces, to use as a reference of ideas & methods day or often years later. Yet, they're rarely shown or were trimmed & lost. Also of his preparation of painting paper pink in advance for skin tones, use of white chalk, red vermilion, yellow ochre and lamp black pigments, with watercolours for blues & browns often go untold. Apologies for my Hans rant, but he's by far my favourite Tudor Not a Tudor or monarch, but I can't imagine them without him.

And I agree with your #5. He wouldn't have got far without the help of all those Thomases and Audley as Lord Chancellor.

I definitely agree with your list. I do feel bad for Mary’s story. Elizabeth’s life was a difficult one too. Elizabeth was more resilient than Mary. And Elizabeth was wiser than Mary. That’s just my opinion. Thank you for another great video.

👏👏👏Thoroughly enjoyable, HC! I'm rewatching this on YT because it's so much fun as well as being informative. Poor Lady Jane. Eric Ive's book (your recommendation) is a great read but so sad. Have a great week! 🙏🏼

I haven’t watched most of it yet but so far it’s similar to mine Worst to best Henry VIII Mary I Edward VI Henry VII Elizabeth I

Thanks for this I’m surprised you left out the reasons for Jane’s execution and that Mary had wanted to spare her. It changes the narrative