Tudor Survivor You’ve Never Heard of

What does it take to survive the deadly world of Tudor politics?

Sir Thomas Heneage seems to have known the answer.

He began his career in Cardinal Wolsey’s household, slipped seamlessly into Henry VIII’s privy chamber, witnessed the king’s secret wedding to Anne Boleyn, replaced an executed groom of the stool, worked with Thomas Cromwell… and still managed to keep his head.

By the time of his death on 21st August 1553, Sir Thomas Heneage had served Henry VIII, Edward VI, and even congratulated the new queen, Mary I, on her victory over “Queen Jane.” He was a man who understood that in Tudor England, survival wasn’t about luck—it was about timing, tact, and knowing when to step forward… and when to step back.

In this podcast, I’ll uncover the life of this often-overlooked but fascinating Tudor insider who navigated factional rivalries, religious change, and the rise and fall of powerful figures—without ever facing the block himself.


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