Henry VIII: The Making of a Tyrant?

Was Henry VIII a Tyrant?

A four-month online course with Professor Suzannah Lipscomb

Enrol now

Reviews

Fantastic

Laura G

Really wonderful course, very glad I signed up. So much information and work has gone into this. Thank you so much Suzannah! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Amazing course, so accessible! I’ve loved every minute!

Rebecca Dignam

I have loved everything about this course. As someone with health issues I would never have access were it not for this amazing format. I also have auditory issues, so cannot thank you enough for ensuring all the videos were captioned! I have lear...

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An enjoyable and informative course. Thank you!

Rachel Carter

I’m so glad I joined this course. I’ve been fascinated by the Tudors since I first discovered them in year 6 (and then went on a school trip to Hampton Court Palace) Thank you Suzannah for delivering this rich and engaging course on Henry VIII! I’ve enjoyed every moment and I’ve learnt a lot that I didn’t know before. You conveyed the information in a way that I found easy to engage with and digest. I very much hope there are more courses in the future!

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Exceeded my expectations

Jerry Busone

This course exceeded my expectations. It was easy to follow and taping the live sessions helped tremendously to stay and or get back on track. Thank you for your work Suzannah; your knowledge and how you present history makes the past come to life...

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Perfect Way to Spend 4 Months

Allison Donlevy

A totally absorbing, interesting and yet fun way to delve into the murky world of Henry VIII. Covering the politics, religion and intrigue of one of England's most famous monarchs. Highly recommended.

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Wonderful course

Petra Ivenz

Thank you once again for the wonderful course you put together for us. I've been crazy about the Tudors for many years, and despite thinking I knew a lot, each module taught me something new. The course was carefully planned and prepared, reflecting your obvious passion for the subject. This dedication shone through in every aspect of the material. Your passion and dedication are very inspiring. I particularly enjoyed working with the primary sources and found your informative videos a highlight. Starting this September, I'll be teaching a course on English History, and I cannot wait to incorporate as much of the knowledge I gained here as possible. Thank you again, and I look forward to attending your next course.

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An Informative and Thought-Provoking Course

Lucy Menadue

This wonderful course is filled with information, thought-provoking questions and primary source documents. It invites participants to digest the information presented in bite-size chunks to best be able to process and reflect. Professor Lipscomb ...

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Brilliant

Heather Rima

If you love the Tudors and want a place to learn more and talk to others that share your love this is the place for you! You get to be taught by a world renowned Tudor historian. You are shown primary source material (including Henry’s love letters to Anne Boleyn!). And you get to participate in group zoom chats with the professor herself. Highly recommend!

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Once In A Lifetime

Jamie Blackford

I have been intrigued by the Tudor court for over 15 years. Suzannah Lipscomb has been one of my go-historians. This class has taught me more than I ever thought possible. The people of the court came alive, and many concepts could translate to today's world. The live lectures were amazing and covered a variety of topics to answer any Tudor interests. I would recommend this course to any history lover.

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The course

Delve into the fascinating life and deadly preoccupations of one of history's most infamous figures – Henry VIII.

Henry VIII is a king we all think we know. But his psychology has been described as the 'ultimate unresolvable paradox of Tudor history'.

Join Professor Suzannah Lipscomb for an in-depth online course that attempts to unravel the riddle.

In this four-month course, through video lectures, online reading, and engaging live discussions, we'll examine the events and influences that transformed Henry VIII.

We'll explore the experiences, ideas and people who helped to change Henry from an acclaimed young king into a paranoid and cruel monarch, presiding over an irrevocably changed religious and political landscape.

Above all, we will try to answer: did Henry VIII become a tyrant?

Don't miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the man behind the myths with one of Britain's leading Tudor historians.

What's included:

16-week course + bonus material

8 core modules + 1 bonus module
47 video lectures
8 live 1-hour Q&A sessions with Suzannah
online community
primary sources introduced throughout
closed captions on all videos
further reading lists

Your tutor

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb

Suzannah Lipscomb FSA, FRHistS is an award-winning historian, author and broadcaster.

She is Professor Emerita at the University of Roehampton and Senior Member at St Cross College, Oxford. She received a Double First, MSt and DPhil in History from Lincoln and Balliol Colleges, Oxford.

Suzannah is a leading Tudor historian. She has written and edited seven books, including 1536: The Year that Changed Henry VIII, A Visitor's Companion to Tudor England, and The King is Dead: The Last Will and Testament of Henry VIII. She is currently writing a new history of Henry VIII's queens.

Suzannah is also an established television presenter. She has written and presented history series on the BBC, ITV, More 4 and Channel Five, including A History of Royal Scandals, Walking Tudor England, Hidden Killers of the Tudor Home and Henry and Anne: The Lovers Who Changed History.

Suzannah has been a research curator at Hampton Court Palace, royal historian for NBC, columnist for History Today, and is a Trustee of the Mary Rose.

She also hosts the successful Not Just the Tudors podcast from History Hit.

Course curriculum

1. How to use this course
2. Introduction to the course
1. 1.1 Welcome to Henry VIII: The Making of a Tyrant?
2. 1.2 What do you know about the main players in Henry VIII's court?
3. 1.3 Henry VIII, Katherine and Wolsey: politics and the search for glory
4. 1.4 Katherine's influence on Henry
5. 1.5 Katherine's letter of 16 September 1513
6. 1.6 War, Wolsey and the Field of Cloth of Gold
7. 1.7 Wolsey's rise
8. 1.8 George Cavendish on Wolsey
9. 1.9 Wolsey's pomp
10. 1.10 The politics of persuasion
11. 1.11 Foxe or lion?
12. 1.12 Optional Further Reading
13. 1.13 Module 1 Q & A (Live Zoom)
14. Feedback for Module 1
1. 2.0 Divorce and supremacy
2. 2.1 Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn
3. 2.2 The love letters
4. 2.3 Henry VIII's letters to Anne Boleyn
5. 2.4 Transcriptions of Henry VIII's letters to Anne Boleyn
6. 2.5 If you want to hear more about the love letters...
7. 2.6 Anne's voice
8. 2.7 Seeking an annulment
9. 2.8 Katherine at Blackfriars, 1529
10. 2.9 George Cavendish, Katherine's speech
11. 2.10 Wolsey's fall
12. 2.11 Supremacy and the break with Rome
13. 2.12 Bonus Videos: Channel 5's Henry and Anne: The Lovers Who Changed History (externally hosted)
14. 2.13 Divorce and supremacy quiz: test what you've learnt!
15. 2.14 Optional Further Reading
16. 2.15 Module 2 Q & A (Live Zoom)
17. Feedback for Module 2
1. 3.0 Faction and counsel
2. 3.1 The fall
3. 3.2 The evidence
4. 3.3 The dossier
5. 3.4 Innocent or guilty?
6. 3.5 The historiography
7. 3.6 Investigation
8. 3.7 Henry's reaction
9. 3.8 Reflection
10. 3.9 Bonus Video – BBC 2's The Last Days of Anne Boleyn (externally hosted, not subtitled)
11. 3.10 Optional further reading
12. 3.11 Module 3 Q & A (Live Zoom)
13. Feedback for Module 3
1. 4.0 The Henrician Reformation
2. 4.1 The Six Martyrs
3. 4.2 Reformation theology – what do you know?
4. 4.3 England and Europe
5. 4.4 The Ten Articles – question
6. 4.5 The Ten Articles – text
7. 4.6 Reform
8. 4.7 The Six Articles
9. 4.8 Reaction
10. 4.9 Henry's faith
11. 4.10 Stoning the Pope
12. 4.11 Optional Further Reading
13. 4.12 Module 4 Q & A (Live Zoom)
14. Feedback for Module 4
1. 5.0 Scars on the landscape
2. 5.1 The scale of English monasteries before the dissolution
3. 5.2 The monasteries
4. 5.3 The purpose of the dissolution – reading primary source evidence
5. 5.4 Articles of inquiry for the dissolution
6. 5.5 The Valor Ecclesiasticus and the Pilgrimage of Grace
7. 5.6 The Pontefract Articles – what do they tell us the rebellion was about?
8. 5.7 The myth of the just king
9. 5.8 The eradication of monasticism
10. 5.9 Optional Further Reading
11. 5.10 Module 5 Q & A (Live Zoom)
12. Feedback for Module 5
1. 6.0 Magnificence
2. 6.1 Dress and pageants
3. 6.2 Chroniclers on pageants
4. 6.3 Portraiture I
5. 6.4 Portraiture II
6. 6.5 Representations
7. 6.6 Other images of Henry
8. 6.7 Propaganda
9. 6.8 Architecture
10. 6.9 Bonus Video – Nonsuch Palace – (c) University of Roehampton, prepared for our FutureLearn course on The Tudors 2019
11. 6.10 Optional Further Reading
12. 6.11 Module 6 Q & A (Live Zoom)
13. Feedback for Module 6
1. 7.0 Literature, opposition and tyranny
2. 7.1 Was Henry a tyrant?
3. 7.2 Definitions of tyranny
4. 7.3 Treason and the Mouldwarp
5. 7.4 Acts of Parliament
6. 7.5 Treasons Act 1534
7. 7.6 An Act Abolishing Diversity in Opinions 1539
8. 7.7 Circa regna tonat
9. 7.8 Wyatt and Surrey
10. 7.9 Mine Own John Poyntz
11. 7.10 Executions
12. 7.11 Reflections on tyranny
13. 7.12 Optional Further Reading
14. 7.13 Module 7 Q & A (Live Zoom)
15. Feedback for Module 7
1. 8.0 Henry's final years
2. 8.1 Threat
3. 8.2 Bonus Video – Mary Rose – (c) University of Roehampton, prepared for our FutureLearn course on The Tudors
4. 8.3 Henry's last year and last will
5. 8.4 Transcript of Henry VIII's will
6. 8.5 The will and Queen Kateryn Parr
7. 8.6 Conspiracy
8. 8.7 Signature
9. 8.8 Optional Further Reading
10. Feedback for Module 8
11. 8.9 Module 8 Q & A (Live Zoom)
1. 9.0 Henry VIII on Film
2. 9.1 Your favourites
3. 9.2 History on film
4. 9.3 Introducing The Private Life
5. 9.4 Nationalism and authenticity
6. 9.5 The Private Life and sex
7. 9.6 Your response to The Private Life of Henry VIII
8. 9.7 Anne of the Thousand Days: introduction
9. 9.8 Historical accuracy in Anne of the Thousand Days
10. 9.9 Sex, gender and women
11. 9.10 Original trailer of Anne of the Thousand Days
12. 9.11 Your response to Anne of the Thousand Days
13. 9.12 Henry VIII (2003)
14. 9.13 Your response to Henry VIII
15. 9.14 Conclusions – Henry VIII on film
16. 9.15 Optional Further Reading
17. Feedback on bonus module
18. Feedback on the whole course

About this course

£199.00
129 lessons
9 hours of video content

Pricing options

£199.00

Regular price

Enrol now
Pay in instalments

Pay in instalments

Enrol now

Reviews

Definitely recommend

Meagan Wickham

I really enjoyed taking this course, it was both fun and interesting. I would definitely recommend this course to other Tudor nerds like myself and I would definitely be interested in taking any courses in the future. I'm giving this course FIVE STARS! It was such a privilege and big opportunity getting to talk with Suzannah Lipscomb and to be taught by one of my favorite historians.

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A joy and a pleasure

Leanne Arker

I enjoyed every minute of this course. There was enough time between each question and answer session to cover the videos and reading. And having access to the course materials for another few months means that I will be able to look at some of th...

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To the point

Itziar Larrabeiti

Excellent

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Superb course!

Lory Newmyer

Professor Lipscomb guides her students into fascinating depths of study, offering a range of access points, from ample primary source materials to fascinating and easily accessible videos. I’ve learned a great deal - much more than I imagined possible ~ and have loved every bit of it. Dr. Lipscomb also created a truly lovely learning community in the Tudor Nerd Collective, underscoring her generosity as a teacher and historian. I’m greatly looking forward to the next course! Thank you.

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This course has been amazing

Karina King

Professor Lipscomb has put together a fascinating and well researched course that offers her personal insights and thoughts on the topic, the opportunity to view historical documents and a reading list to explore the subject should you wish. There was time to meet as a group and discuss personal thoughts or ask questions to Prof Lipscomb along with the Tudor Nerd community group. The course has enabled me to look beyond, through and around Henry in a way I had not considered so much. I feel I have learned so much about the social and political background as well as HR's upbringing and personality. And yes, he was a tyrant in my opinion!!!

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Excellent Course

Joel Quinn Hagenburg

This course was excellent. Thank you so much!

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An Incredible course!

Robin Hancock

I loved this course from beginning to end. A perfect pitch to have a light touch or a deep dive into a very niche subject within a subject, this course was both enlightening and engaging. It somehow enabled the content to widen my scope of historical knowledge at the same time as focus it. A truly wonderful experience. Fingers crossed for more courses! Engaging, thought provoking and entertaining.

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Amazing – once in a lifetime

Janet Avery

This course has been amazing - a once in a lifetime experience. I have learned so much and mostly have learned the value of original documents and how to view history like a professional historian. I have been so impressed by the generosity and kindness of Suzannah in making information available to all of us and in kindly and thoughtfully responding to all of our questions in the zoom sessions. Suzannah, your generosity and kindness and enthusiasm for history is nothing short of amazing and inspiring. Thank you so much! I will miss this course, but look forward to the next one!!

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Great

Maja Pantelic

I was extremely pleased with the course on Henry VIII that I recently attended. The group dynamic was excellent, with everyone showing great enthusiasm and engagement. The professor was truly phenomenal—her depth of knowledge, teaching style, and passion for the subject made the experience both enriching and enjoyable. The discussions were insightful, and the course exceeded my expectations in every way.

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Fantastic course

Helen Louise Bright

Very interesting and engaging. Suzannah is down to earth and approachable, she's a fountain of Tudor knowledge. And the chance to be part of the Tudor Collective with other Nerds is fantastic; only bad thing I never wanted this course to end ! Loo...

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A must for the Tudor historian

Eric Skoda

Have you ever sat watching a good historical document and wished you could ask the presenter more questions about the topic? Suzannah Lipscomb has made this possible with her online course Henry VIII:The Making of a Tyrant. This four-month course is filled with detailed information that Suzannah Lipscomb has put together from her extensive research on this topic. Through course videos, excepts from documents, and bi weekly Zoom sessions with fellow “Tudor Nerds”, Suzannah Lipscomb takes the experience of learning history to a higher level. This course is a must for the Tudor historian.

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FAQ

How is this course delivered?

The course is mostly delivered online asynchronously, with live Zoom sessions with Professor Suzannah Lipscomb every two weeks. Every two weeks, a new bundle of video lectures will be released, together with online exercises. And every two weeks, for sixteen weeks, there will be a live Zoom session with Professor Suzannah Lipscomb, where you have the chance to pose questions to her. All Zoom sessions are recorded, captioned and immediately uploaded to the course.
How much is this course worth?

This course is as substantive as a degree module. Its true cost is therefore £1,500. The price is a fraction of this.
When does the course begin?

The course is now live The first live Q&A on Zoom will be on Tuesday 6 May and they will follow every two weeks until 12 August. They run at 8:30pm BST for an hour. As much of the course is online, however, it is possible to join the course at any time, and catch up in your own time. All Zoom sessions are recorded, captioned and immediately uploaded to the course.
Can I pay in instalments?

Yes, you can divide the regular price of the course into four monthly payments. In some countries, you also can choose Buy Now Pay Later payment methods through Klarna, Clearpay or Afterpay.
What will I learn?

You'll learn about the preoccupations, ambitions and character of Henry VIII. We'll look at the young Henry, divorce crisis, Reformation, fall of Anne Boleyn, dissolution, court, wars, magnificence, literature about and opposition to the king, and meet some of the most colourful characters of the age.
How much material will I get?

A lot! In total, there are 47 video lectures, 8 live Zoom sessions with Suzannah Lipscomb, a huge number of primary sources, an opportunity to be part of an online community of learners, and lists of further reading.
Are there any reduced price places?

Yes. It is possible to divide the regular price of the course into four monthly payments. And there is a limited number of discounted concessionary price places available for those who are carers or unwaged, who truly need it: click on 'Contact Us' at the foot of the page if this applies to you.
Who is this for?

This course is for everyone – from those who love the Tudor period to those who know nothing about Henry VIII but want to find out more. Whether you're a student, retired, mother of babes in arms, PhD candidate, or just plain ol' history fan, you're welcome here.

Dig deep into the Tudors

With one of the world's leading Tudor historians

Enrol now

Welcome to the course!

Module 1: Henry VIII's Search for Glory

Module 2: Divorce and Supremacy

Module 3: Faction and Counsel: The Fall of Anne Boleyn

Module 4: The Henrician Reformation

Module 5: Dissolution and Rebellion

Module 6: Magnificence and Propaganda

Module 7: Literature, Opposition and Tyranny

Module 8: Henry VIII's Final Years and Legacy

Bonus Module: Henry VIII's Posthumous Reputation: The King on Film

About this course

£199.00

Pay in instalments