Cardinal Reginald Pole: Henry VIII's Dangerous Kinsman?

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I want to take a look at the life of Reginald Pole, in particular I want to explore his transition from trusted and supported kinsman of King Henry VIII to one of his greatest enemies…
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Intro / Outro song: Silent Partner, "Greenery" [ • Greenery - Silent Part... ]
SFX from freesfx.co.uk/...
Linked videos and playlists:
Eustace Chapuys: • Eustace Chapuys: Life,...
Pilgrimage of Grace: • The Pilgrimage of Grace
1549: • King Edward VI's Worst...
Images (from Wikimedia Commons, unless otherwise stated):
A tapestry by an unknown artist in the Flemish style of Catherine of Aragon and her husband Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales (early 1500s).
Magdalen College, Oxford: bird's eye view with academic figures and printed text. Line engraving by G. Vertue (1730). Held by the Wellcome Collection.
Portrait of Henry VIII by Joos van Cleve (c.1530-1535). Held by the Royal Collection.
Portrait of Pope Paul IV Carafa in the manner of Jacopino del Conte (c.1556-1560). Held by the Palazzo Ducale Mantua.
Portrait of Desiderius Erasmus by Hans Holbein the Younger (1523). Held by the National Gallery.
Portrait of Anne Boleyn by an unknown English artist (late 16th century, based on a work of circa 1533-1536). Held by the National Portrait Gallery.
"Katherine of Aragon, by an Unknown artist, oil on panel, c. 1520, L246."; on loan to the National Portrait Gallery, London; Lent by permission of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Church Commissioners for England, 2011.
Portrait of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey by Sampson Strong (1585-1596). Held by Trinity College.
Contemporary portrait of Eustace Chapuys at the musée-château d'Annecy at Annecy.
Portrait of Pope Paul III with Reginald Pole attributed to Perino del Vaga (1538-1539). Held by Santa Francesca Romana.
Portrait of Reginald Pole by an unknown artist (after 1556). Held by the National Portrait Gallery.
Detail from a blank political map of Europe. From commons.wikime...
Portrait of Charles V with a Dog, by Jakob Seisenegger (1532). Held by the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
“King Edward VI and the Pope” by an unknown artist (c.1575). Held by the National Portrait Gallery.
Portrait of Cardinal Reginald Pole after Sebastiano del Piombo (c.1549). Held by the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest.
Portrait of Pope Julius III by the circle of Girolamo Siciolante (c.1555). Held by the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam.
Portrait of Edward VI of England from the circle of William Scrots (16th century). Held in an unknown private collection.
Portrait of Mary I by Antonis Mor (1554). Held by the Museo del Prado.
Philip II and Mary I by an unknown artist (1558). Held by the Royal Museums Greenwich.
Portrait of Pope Macellus II from the workshop of Italian art schools of the Renaissance (16th century). Held by the Vatican Museums.
Portrait of Philip II by Titian (1551). Held by the Museo del Prado.
Quoted texts:
Hazel Pierce, ODNB entry on Margaret Pole.
T. F. Mayer, ODNB entry on Reginald Pole.
Letter from Eustace Chapuys to the Queen of Hungary. From www.british-hi...
Also consulted, were:
Other relevant entries from The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Online.
#History #Tudor #Reformation

[@grtlyblesd]

I find his mother, Margaret, to be a fascinating character in history. She had to overcome being the daughter of a traitor. She served a queen, a prince, another queen. She lost her brother as another accused traitor. She lost her husband. She fell on hard times. Then she met a terrible end. She knew so many of the big names in Tudor history, including Margaret Beaufort. Can you imagine having lunch with her and asking what she thought of some of these people? What was her relationship with cousin Lizzie like as kids, vs. at court later in life? Which was more terrifying, Margaret Beaufort or Elizabeth Woodville? Did she ever meet Jacquetta of Luxembourg? Had Jacquetta crossed paths with Joan of Arc? So many questions.

[@MisterSplendy]

Well said! Margaret was truly a martyr for not the Catholic Church, but for woman's rights/

[@joannshupe9333]

This was the most balanced and complete story of Reginald Pole. You've managed to impart more information, and more understandable information, in a half hour than some books I've read.

[@MisterSplendy]

Professor Kat is truly a remarkable educator.

[@Laramaria2]

The Pole family is quite interesting, sometimes I feel like they don't get the attention they deserve considering how close they were to all the chaos and intrigues of royal court. You can probably imagine my excitement about this video 🤭

[@alancumming6407]

Totally agree with you - Elizabeth Cumming

[@amandakozeniewski1226]

Absolutely agree!

[@karenkorab8269]

I never understood why Henry was so vicious toward the Poles. Learning that Reginald had not taken orders puts everything in a new light! ⛪

[@catherineaustin2]

Because they were Plantagenets. Because they were of royal blood, and therefore always a threat to him. It was never about so much what they did, it was about who they were. His father was exactly the same way, in that he had Margaret's brother executed for nothing more than having his grandfather's title of Warwick and having a prince duke for a father.

[@julzy3]

Reginald Pole seems to have been very intelligent & familiar with the poems of Thomas Wyatt. The poem featuring the line circa regna tonat came to mind, thanks to that episode, Dr. Kat! It seems he knew when to get out of the country (unlike his family, sadly). I think his main ambition was to stay alive. He would always be a threat as a male Plantagenet as long as Henry VIII & even Edward VI were alive, imo. Great episode!♟📜🎯

[@cathyrogers9276]

I do love how you explain the lovely and complicated Tudor court history! I learn so much from these videos!

[@prettypic444]

We need a follow up alt history video about what would happen if Pole became pope. Image how that would have affected Mary and even Elizabeth's reign! 👑⛪️💈

[@judyshoaf448]

"a selection of loopholes were created..." Love it!

[@glorialange6446]

I think Reginald Pole thought he was worth it all... archbishop, pope, king of england, Great video, Dr. KAT. I Always remember Poles bitterness about being given to the church and his dependence on favor and didnt want to be seen begging for what he saw as a right.

[@arcola44]

Love the subject! Thanks Dr. Kat for another great video. I knew Reginald Pole had to steer a middle course between his mother and Henry VIII. I believe you have touched on Pole's correspondence with his mother previously. I did not know about having to steer between Phillip II and Paul IV, or even the faith vs. works arguments at the Council of Trent! Also, didn't know about Mary I's threatened schism. That would make a great video! Awesome, as always. ⛪

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Love your content! Always with the great work🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@michellecornum5856]

👑🤔🪓⛪🪓 A very intelligent man. His lifestory would be titled How to Keep Your Head, Both Literally and Figuratively, in Dangerous Times. I like to think that from the beginning, he could see that it was best NOT to even accept gifts from these people, because everything smelled of death. And especially after they hacked up his mother -- oh, no, hell no, don't return there. It was unfortunate that the safer realm was also blood -lusty. But, hey, he died without being killed, so WIN!!

[@Kasamira]

Thank you for including That family tree, it’s so useful 😭 I’m always trying to remember how people are connected. This was great!

[@patriciagodfrey6345]

Thank you so much for covering this; it was the first time I had the whole picture (and it is rather grand and involved) laid out in a way that makes sense.

[@MountainPearls]

He’s something like my 20th Great Uncle (via his sister Ursula). We found out recently when we did the DNA test stuff. It’s wild to me.

[@astrohaterade]

17:36 Somehow, that seems to me like a glimpse at Reginald Pole as a son who just lost his mother to the horror that was their situation. I can’t imagine this was part of any of their wildest predictions of what their futures would hold, either as a family *or* as the mothers, sons, brothers that they all were. Very poignant.. On this note…would you be willing to consider an episode about contemporary popular opinions regarding Henry VIII? It seems like he would be the type of monarch to elicit some…interesting public and private opinions in terms of contrast from his personality change from beginning to the end of his reign, in the severity of the punishments he authored/endorsed, and just the overall level of social, cultural, religious, and other types of profound upheaval his reign saw. I’m curious as to what people would have said/not said, expressed, etc…for example, how would the family of individuals who were executed express this?Would they be willing to share their views publicly, or was it something they kept to themselves or just shared with only the most trusted people in their lives? Would these sources survive, if any were there to begin with? This has always fascinated me. Thank you for the time you take to make these videos. It is so refreshing to have an engaging yet factual presentation from a credentialed historian!

[@sarawallace6696]

You’re doing an amazing job opening up history to people. Your content is always presented in interesting ways. Thank you!

[@jennaolbermann7663]

I have not known this much about Reginald Pole, it was a very interesting depth view. The whole family story of the Poles is sad if not tragic when you consider the grisly end of Margaret Pole.

[@franceenwebb9003]

I believe Pole navigated the swamp of English politics wisely. Feeling abandoned by his mother, it is not surprising that he pledged his loyalty to his faith. I admire his constancy in an age of Machivellian social climbers.

[@debbralehrman5957]

Thank you for sharing this. For some reason I thought Pole had been caught and died close to his mothers death. I'm glad you straightened that out for me.🛐

[@BriarMB13]

Oh very excited about this one, going to watch it to unwind after a busy morning🥰

[@manyagaver1946]

I’m not sure if it would be enough for a full counterfactual history video but I’d love one on if either Pole had become Pope or not joined the church and married Mary as I believe was discussed at one point. Maybe an episode of mini counter factual histories would be good, things that aren’t meaty enough for a full episode

[@iriandia]

Has there been a video about Mary's potential marriages? I believe quite a few were discussed? Her eventual father-in-law Charles V and her half-brother the Duke of Richmond are the ones I knew about before this video.

[@tessat338]

One of the reasons that it was supposed that Pole didn't take holy orders until he was about to become Archbishop of Canterbury was to keep him in reserve as a possible bridegroom for Mary I.

[@iriandia]

@@tessat338 Yeah, it’s really interesting that he was able to rise in the church establishment without taking holy orders, because of political advantage. Pretty corrupt!

[@kayw3906]

Yayyyyyyy love your videos! Pole was an extremely interesting Tudor man.

[@jfs59nj]

Something about him has always bothered me. He seems to always have his eye on the main chance, then to renege to do something else. He seems shifty to me, though I haven’t done a lot of research on him. It’s just a nagging impression! LOVE THIS VIDEO.

[@lucieramirez1378]

Your presentation is flawless, thank you!🎉❤

[@waynebean1521]

Thank you so much! I noticed you cited Thomas Mayer's book....one of my interests was bibliography...its pretty scant. My bookshelves are full and my growing library devoted to the English Reformation(s) is filling up half of a long antique bench from a Primitive Baptist Church on my porch....much to the disgust of my spouse! I was wondering what you thought of George Lee's biography from 1888. There's also a tome copywritten in 2021 by a Wilhelm Schenk. The vague description makes me suspicious that it is a copyright-ducking American copy of Lee's book. I'd appreciate your advice in this matter. Anyway, I fondly remember gazing at Pole's not-so-impressive (I think) brick tomb at Canterbury, wondering who this enigmatic man was....after all these years, I find it puzzleing that his grave wasn't desecrated (or Mary's) during the Commonwealth....as Matthew Parker's was (might I suggest a video on Parker?)😂 Anyhow, I'm an old man, Im dyslexic, prefer fighting "hard copy" in an easy chair with a warm fire and good beer. I hope you will forgive my frailties....I so love your videos...and I can HEAR them, thanks to hearing aids and Bluetooth (my only compromise with modernity). Again, appreciate you SO much. Blessings, Wayne

[@AprilBird4]

I found this very informative, enlightening & entertaining. I knew the basics of Pole, his family tree & some of the various interactions with Henry VIII & Mary I, but this contained much more detail than I was aware of. I think he seems to have been caught between a rock & a hard place all his life & actually did a pretty good job juggling it all. Considering who he was dealing with & when..... you sure weren't going to please everyone!

[@annakitner1140]

I learned so much from this video. I feel like I have a greater understanding of Reginald Pole. I was unaware of all that transpired with him after the execution of his mother Margaret. Thank you so much, Dr. Kat, for such wonderfully informative video. ⛪✝

[@cindygrubbs5856]

Thank you, Dr. Kat! Great video! ❤

[@NicolaFrear-wt6gw]

Fascinating

[@karenkorab8269]

BTW, I LOVE the music played as the title of your videos is shown.

[@cathryncampbell8555]

Thank you for an absorbing video, Dr. Kat. Pole strikes me as a prickly character with unresolved mother issues. He seems to have been obsessed with getting better and better positions -- to the extent that he self-sabotaged by hesitation and withdrawal from offers. A deeply conflicted man. You *Invariably* produce informative videos with great content & graphics. God bless you for your hard work!

[@skiker4560]

Another great video. I always learn something. Thank you Dr. Kat. 👑 📜 ❤

[@helenhyde335]

Thank you Dr Kat for a rare, serious and informative view of Pole. As someone who is just finishing writing an accessible biography of Pole, I never cease to be amazed at some of the tosh written on him! You are a very welcome breath of fresh air and I have subscribed to your channel. Helen Hyde

[@AmberWatson-1921]

As always, you have uploaded a great video. Thank you!

[@Kasamira]

Oooh this looks so interesting

[@TSmith-yy3cc]

Cracking video as always! Thank you for your work!

[@bennylawrence6221]

⛪️⛪️⛪️⛪️✝️✝️✝️fascinating video with lots of new things about pole I didn’t know

[@hanaasbananas1780]

ooh interesting! I just listened to the Not Just the Tudors episode about him last night!

[@obcl8569]

Adore that podcast! And pretty much everything professor Suzannah Lipscomb has ever done 🤍 On par with Dr. Kat & Dan Jones for me😊

[@pfranks75]

Enjoyed the detailed history of the Pole Family!

[@OkieJammer2736]

Pole was definitely repeatedly behind the 🎱. Interesting video. Thank you

[@dellalavers8960]

Finally managing to watch live Premier ❤Looking forward to this

[@jennifersimon4066]

⛪️ Thanks for another informative video. Love listening and learning.

[@Shane-Flanagan]

Fantastic video Dr Kat 🎉 Thank you as always 🤗 Dr Kat certainly painted an interesting personal picture of Reginald Pole, aspects I had thought of before. A complicated character I think is fair to say 🤔 📚

[@waynebean1521]

Waiting with baited breath. This is the first time in a long time, I'm getting something I dearly wanted! You have become my premier, "ad fontes", Dr. Kat❤

[@dominicalberto2179]

I started watching these videos again. Always find them interesting!

[@cecilyupdegraff2559]

I loved this and thank you for bringing cardinal Pole into light. I have always found him self serving and have never liked his treatment of his mother Margaret. She was a lady who had enough tragedy, including giving her son up to the church. Women were expected to pump out children like a factory, and then blamed when things went badly, i e the loss of her means of support. She seems to have cared a great deal for all her children, including Reginald from what I have gathered over the years. He was not sent as a punishment, but to protect him. From what I’ve read of him, I’ve always found him self-serving.

[@jayneunderwood1914]

Just booked to see you at Harvington Hall in July. See you there.

[@emilyr3451]

Interesting video as always, Dr. Kat. I was listening as I washed my dishes, and you made an unpleasant chore rather enjoyable! 😀 🙏⛪️👑

[@kathrynmast916]

⛪️🤴🏼👏Dr. Kay never fails! Another interesting video of Tudors and their shenanigans.❤😊

[@cheryl_the_horsechick]

Dr kat you are fantastic teacher. I Iove your videos.

[@livesouthernable]

This was a great video! I learned a lot of new information about all the players in the Tudor court saga.

[@maidaerdenhout]

Very interesting , Thank you

[@gaylesuggs8523]

Another wonderful video - thanks so much, Dr. Kat!✝

[@pennyatkinson5740]

Thanks Dr Kat 🙏⛪

[@nearlydied]

Fabulous as always! I do have a question, though. Was it normal for someone given to the church to wait so long to takes vows? If not, how did he avoid committing to the church permanently for so long?

[@Elvertaw]

Great video! Never heard the part about Mary 1st threatening schism because of her Archbishop of Canterbury. Any more information on this? Maybe enough information for a video?

[@MaryTooker-s6b]

Yet another informative and accessible program from your channel. Thank You! 😊

[@signespencer6887]

So clear and interesting

[@DJ-mr6um]

Never been this early before, and i think its a testament to you that im so disapponted that i cqnt watch!

[@MB-ez7lf]

Brilliantly succinct as usual. 🙏

[@susiebepper8692]

Hi dr Kat ❤ u very interesting about Reginald pole I did get a little confused but came good 👑⚔️🙏🏻

[@mike-myke22]

Absolutely fascinating! 👍

[@rycoli]

Another great video! Thanks Dr Kat

[@APM-sr3jl]

Great work! Always more to learn about this time period and so many fascinating figures and their actions to contemplate.

[@quothraven7207]

Many thanks.

[@OldFartinTex]

always fascinating. thank u

[@kidmohair8151]

some years ago I was informed that the family name Pole, which up until then I had pronounced as anyone would, was actually pronounced "pool". and now I stand corrected and slightly confused, again. excelsior!

[@notpurrfect6397]

Thank you!

[@lmccarty2201]

Thank you for this. 💀📿

[@cmcg9035]

That was extremely informative! I'd heard things about him on the periphery of the extensive times he lived in, but not him as the main character in the story. Thanks! 🪶

[@beckymotorlodge]

Thanks!

[@529tmarie]

➕ great video

[@onlygrands2012]

Great video! Thank you so much for all your wonderful videos. I also watch HAD, love that too.

[@knighttemplar3755]

I like your videos Dr Kat. You are very knowledgeable about English history. I love English history, Tudor history in particular and especially England before the Reformation. Keep up the good work.

[@elizabethdibble5159]

I too have always been very interested in the Pole family, in particular, Lady Margaret who had such a tumultuous childhood. 👼🙏

[@susanfisher606]

Dr. Kat - wonderful video (as always)!⛪️👑 I would love to see a counter factual where Reginal Pole and Mary were married. I think that would make for some interesting speculation!

[@bryanpoole4140]

As a direct descent I find this extremely interesting

[@christyb2912]

⛪⚔ great research!

[@obcl8569]

I've been kicked out of the live chat? Ugh! Anyhow, here goes... ⛪✝️👑🎣(Closest thing I found to Pole lol)

[@LotsofWhatever]

Just finished listening to the podcast episode on Not Just the Tudors that just covered Pole.

[@sarahswingley122]

So excited for this!🎉

[@jeannechannon8947]

Love your history stor😊 How do I find your merchandise? Can't find the link.

[@Chipoo88]

Wonderful content! Thank you. I’ve often wondered if Reginald Pole knew that Mary had died or was he out of it since he died on the same day?

[@helenhyde335]

He did know: a servant 'accidentally' told him.😢

[@susanshelton9937]

👿👍👍👍👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😇😇 I just wanna stay. I love the story content I didn’t know what it means sounds silly but I work nights and sometimes I just put you on because you have such a lovely voice, so please keep up the good work.

[@mosaicweightedblankets7624]

Did not know he was Margaret Pole's daughter. Poor lady, she met a bad end. Fascinating how they are all related in different ways!

[@jwilli7434]

🕍About as "church-y" as my KZbin gets, lol! Enjoyed this video immensely, Dr. Kat.

[@starrywizdom]

The Rectory of Piddletown in Dorset? Oh my fuzzy goodness, I didn't know Dorset had a river Piddle! I'm tickled pink! Social Glyphs: ✝⛪📖

[@LaLayla99]

I had not really given much prior thought to the Pole family, tbh. Thank you for such a great overview of his participation in the Tudor reigns. It sounds that he wasnt quite as much of a Catholic hardliner as I had supposed. I thought he'd have been pro-Inquisition. If I ever get to write a historical screenplay, I will definitely request to hire you as an advisor! 😁 🕍

[@chrissikes4741]

Tha k you

[@dalestaley5637]

Hello Dr Kat ❤

[@bonnieskilton3247]

Please do a video on Stephen Gardner..

[@patriciahill6839]

Enjoyable 😊

[@sandrasawyer5523]

🕊️⛪️ great video as always

[@archeanna1425]

If there is an argument for such a thing as inherited personality, this family would certainly be presented as evidence. My wish is for a video collection full of good quality presentations like Wolf Hall and The White Queen. I know there is not always agreement about how history is presented but to be able to see actors and costumes and sets makes it so delightful to learn about the big picture of history. Thank you.

[@marshaprice8226]

Interesting video! Reginald Pole isn’t one of my Tudor era favorites. I do however appreciate his difficulties in being a member of the Plantagenet family that Henry VIII viewed as a danger to his position as king. 👑 or ⛪️

[@corriebelle]

Dr.Kat I'm not sure if you have talked about this, but can your merch be shipped to the US?

[@kearney2398]

This is the first time I’ve learned that Mary may threatened some kind of renewed break with Rome - over the pope’s attempt to rescind Pole’s legate appointment. This seems like a pretty big deal, and underreported

[@silvercityroyal]

The family tree ia complex but enough so that regi and mary would have made an amazing match!

[@Meriam151]

Why did they have a piece of of their clothing for what looks like is for their gentlemen parts on the outside of their clothing? I am not trying to be nasty just curious. I am from the US and love your history. I knw for more about your history than my own. lol It’s just so much more fascinating. Thank you for the education though your hard work and videos ❤😊

[@maryroccanti]

It's called a codpiece and was considered very manly!