Author: alicehoffmans

12. Between two historians: Lipscomb & Starkey

Hmmm idk I think Starkey understands Henry VIII better but Lipscomb understands Anne Boleyn better??

Like as historians not as people (because imo they’ve both said some…terrible things in the public sphere) I guess I’d say Starkey, he’s had a longer career and his Royal Inventory of Henry VIII has done so much for our understanding of both the man and the Henrician era. Lipscomb might catch up eventually but the research he’s done so far is invaluable and indispensable; a lot of historians mention him and his work in the dedications of their books and with good reason.

A Historical Make Me Choose/Talk About Master-Meme

morgauseoforkney:

(Because there aren’t enough let’s face it)

Make me choose:

1. Between two historical figures

2. Between two historical ‘periods’, reigns or eras

3. Between two conflicts

4. Between two historical objects

5. Between two historical pieces of clothing or fashion trends

6. Between two factions (anything from Lancaster and York to Whig and Tory)

7. Between two concepts (this is flexible)

8. Between two ‘areas’ of history (social, economic, military, et.c.)

9. Between two forms of transport or specific vehicles (the Mary Rose, penny farthing)

10. Between two general objects (cannons, dolls, knives)

11. Between two dishes or foods

12. Between two historians

13. Between two events

14. Between two historical couples

15. Anything you want

Talk About:

1. See the Make Me Choose Section (favourite figure, couple, place, e.t.c.)

2. Something about your own family’s history

3. A historical theory, trope, or misconception you HATE

4. A historical event you wish you’d been a fly on the wall for

5. A historical figure who you think is overrated

6. A historical figure you think is underrated

7. The oldest thing you can see from where you are sitting (can be a person).

8.  A favourite random historical anecdote or fact

9. A historical myth/legend/rumour/story (flexible)

10. Something historical related to where you live

11. Something historical related to where you were born

12. Somewhere historical you’ve been

13. Somewhere historical you’d like to go

14. A historical form of a language or dead language you wish you could speak/hear spoken

15. A historical headcanon you have

16. A piece of heraldry, historical symbol, badge, flag, e.t.c. you like/associate with

17.  A historical figure you would most like to meet in their own time

18. A historical figure you would most like to bring to the modern day

19.  Historical dinner party (who would you invite, who would you seat next to each other, what would you talk about- GO)

20. Free choice

Feel free to add your own!

where do you position yourself on the spectrum “cromwell alone is responsible for anne’s fall” — “cromwell and henry are responsible for anne’s fall” — “henry alone is responsible for anne’s fall” ?

I mean honestly I’ve varied on a lot on this spectrum over the years; I feel like it’s always adjusted at least a smidge anytime after I read a paper on this topic. 

I’d say I believed most in the third one when I was like, 13-20 and that in retrospect that was more influenced by fiction than research. 

Right now I’m pretty dead-center on the second one; with the caveat that I think it was Cromwell’s idea initially, not Henry’s. I’ve never been the first, because it’s literally impossible– a jury convicted her, and ultimately Henry had to sign her execution warrant for it be carried out. It could only be the first one if Cromwell literally had her murdered by an assassin or himself, via poison etc.