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Henry VIII

Did a 1536 Jousting Accident Turn Henry VIII Into a Tyrant?

What Happened: The Accident That Changed History On January 24, 1536, Henry VIII participated in what would become his final jousting tournament. The 44-year-old king, renowned for his physical prowess and love of athletic competition, was knocked from his horse along with an unknown opponent. But this wasn’t just any fall—Henry’s massive warhorse, weighing hundreds of kilograms and encased in heavy armor, rolled directly on top of the unconscious monarch.

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The Psychology of Surviving Henry VIII's Deadly Court

What the Podcast Reveals History Extra’s new series “Tudor England: the big questions” launches with an examination of power dynamics during Henry VIII’s reign, hosted by historian Tracy Borman. The first episode focuses on how authority operated in Tudor England and what survival required when dealing with one of history’s most capricious rulers. The podcast explores the experiences of both courtiers and common people who lived under Henry’s rule, examining the psychological toll of constant uncertainty and the strategies people developed to avoid the king’s notorious wrath.

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