In which I celebrate Henry VIII

It is - unbelievably - almost 2009. This will mark the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's accession to the English throne. And England is throwing one hell of a party for their most memorable, controversial and beloved king. I cannot think of another monarch who has captured the public's attention (both domestic and international) more so than Henry and his exploits. The popularity of the TV series The Tudors, Philippa Gregory's novels (such as The Other Boleyn Girl), and numerous History Channel documentaries on his six wives (usually narrated by popular historian David Starkey) have proved that this is a part of history of which people just can't get enough.

I've always had a soft spot for this larger than life historical figure. In fact, the title of this blog comes from one of his original musical compositions (in case anyone was wondering). So I was thrilled when I learned that London was taking advantage of the first law of outreach, according to some archivists: anniversaries. Anything divisible by 5 or 10 will work, and 500 is a popular momentous age to celebrate (think back to the American celebrations of Columbus' 'discovery').

For the academics, there is an international conference to be held next July at Hampton Court Palace to discuss Henry and his court. Strangely the website claims to have a goal of "disseminat[ing] this research to a wide academic and non-academic audience" - a lofty goal perhaps for an academic conference. But they deserve praise for wanting to spread the knowledge further outside of academia's ivy-covered walls.

The real celebrations will be happening all throughout 2009, and there is an amazing array of exhibits and events. Hampton Court, already a popular historic site just outside of London, will open new rooms to the public and focus on one day in Henry's life: July 12, 1543, when Henry married his sixth wife. Costumed characters and recreations will abound. Hampton Court is one of the only surviving palaces used by Henry VIII. Despite its renovations in the late 17th century for William III, many parts from Henry's day are conserved, such as the chapel, great hall, and some Tudor kitchens, so there is an air of authenticity. Other events in 2009 will include musical concerts on period instruments, Christmas celebrations, a jousting tournament, a special coronation weekend, and cooking demonstrations - where visitors can help cook food Tudor-style and later eat some of the dishes at the cafe on-site. There will also be special ghost tours of the palace - because who doesn't love a good ghost story?

The Tower of London will also feature an exhibit, regarding Henry and his armour. The British Library will present Henry: Man and Monarch, and display manuscripts he commissioned and books he owned.

Lastly, for those interested in learning more about Henry VIII, Oxford's Continuing Education Dept will offer a course, "Henry VIII: Reputation and Reality", thus giving people the chance to learn more about Henry in a university setting.

The organizers have clearly realized that there is a large interest in everything Tudor these days, and I can't think of anything better than a year-long celebration that invites both scholars and the public to come to London and learn more about the Tudor period through exhibits, displays, events, etc. Visitors can walk the halls of a Tudor palace, eat 16th century food, hear 16th century music, see 16th century artifacts. They can literally walk in the shoes of a famous historical figure. I am very impressed at the level of engagement with the past that will be offered at these sites. Public history is about trying to impress our own interest with history onto those that may not be interested, and using music, art, food and events to show people a fascinating time period is a great way to get them involved - and maybe even learn something.


For more info, check out Susan James,
"London celebrates Henry VIII anniversary"