Henry VIII's Syphilis and Other Diagnoses

There is an area of medical history that seeks to diagnose historical figures, is this valuable? Could it damage the study of history?
I really relied on the NHS website for extra context for today's video; just one more way that that great institution has supported me during this uncertain time. Thank you to our NHS heroes!
I hope you enjoy this video and find it interesting!
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Also, if you want to get in touch, please comment down below or find me on social media:
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Intro / Outro song: Silent Partner, "Greenery" [ • Greenery - Silent Part... ]
Images:
Portrait of King Henry VI of England by an unknown artist (c.1540). Held by the National Portrait Gallery. From Wikimedia Commons.
Portrait of King Richard III of England by an unknown artist (late 16th century). Held by the National Portrait Gallery. From Wikimedia Commons.
Portrait of King George III in coronation robes by Allan Ramsay (c.1765). Held by the Art Gallery of South Australia. From Wikimedia Commons.
Portrait of Queen Victoria by Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1859). Held by the Royal Collection. From Wikimedia Commons.
Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I of England in her coronation robes by an unknown artist (between 1600 and 1610 copy of a lost original of c. 1559). Held by the National Portrait Gallery. From Wikimedia Commons.
Portrait of King Henry VIII by an unknown artist, after Hans Holbein (after 1537). Held by the Walker Art Gallery. From Wikimedia Commons.
Model of an arm showing smallpox infection, from the Mütter Museum
Twitter: @MutterMuseum
London Board of Health searching the city for cholera during the 1832 epidemic. Lithograph, 1832. Held by the Wellcome Collection. Creative Commons.
Henry VIII and the Barber Surgeons by Hans Holbein with additions and rewordings by other hands (begun c.1543; additions and rewordings mid-16th century and 17th century) Held by The Worshipful Company of Barbers. From Wikimedia Commons.
The Martyrdom of Mercury. The scourge of Venus and Mercury, represented in a treatise of the venereal disease. John Sintelaer. 1709. London: G. Harris. From: www.researchgate.net/figure/T...
Websites used for reference:
www.nhs.uk
www.who.int/csr/disease/small...
ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/mcl...
www.sciencedaily.com/releases...
inews.co.uk/opinion/comment/l...

[@ashlieneevel9671]

KZbin has been insisting I learn about henry's syphilis so after skipping it four times I've finally submitted

[@juanitarichards1074]

He never had syphilis. His medical records and symptoms have been examined by modern doctors and he did not have the symptoms, nor was he ever treated with mercury, which was the only treatment in those days (it didn't work). Advanced syphilis caused huge bone deep ulcers on the face, the bridge of the nose and the forehead, so bad they couldn't be hidden. People who had those ulcers were outcasts from their family and community. Plus the mercury stunk so badly you could smell it from the next room, and everybody knew what that smell was so they would be outcast because of the smell alone.

[@doesnotFempute]

Same lolll

[@nkley1]

Oh, this happens to me too! I often see a video pop up over and over again until I succumb, and then I’m glad I did! 😂😂

[@megasheiladbowers9364]

He did not have Syphilis

[@karaburnley8978]

Me too!

[@naelyneurkopfen9741]

Given his weight, ulcerous legs, low libido etc, I've always thought he was diabetic.

[@heytherejay04]

There was a documentary here on youtube that talked about this! I’ll try to find it and link it if I can! As someone with diabetes, and a long line of diabetes in my family, all of his symptoms seem to match up Edit: I couldn’t find the documentary online, but I found it on Daily motion dai.ly/x30omwb

[@janisjoplin4647]

Naelyn Eurkopfen Diabetic is what I thought as well. Well documented he could not pass on any sugary food.

[@KirstenMarie_MS3]

At 400lbs, it's pretty possible. Contrary popular belief, it's not sugar that causes diabete, it's an abundance of lipids (fats) that drive type 2 diabetes, especially triglycerides. Lipids have a much higher impact on insulin resistance. As royalty, his diet would be high in fatty foods high in triglycerides. And those tight garters would reduce blood flow to the lower legs making peripheral neuropathy even worse.

[@omfug7148]

@@KirstenMarie_MS3 yes, exactly, I am a type 2 myself, and I have been convinced that Henry had diabetes.

[@mjinba07]

@@KirstenMarie_MS3 Current research shows - it's not the lipids, it's the carbohydrates. Which he would have also had plenty of.

[@pleidastaurus5908]

Being a migraine sufferer myself, it’s impossible to exercise a bad temper during an episode, it’s painful to even speak let alone throw an angry tantrum

[@marilynnanney6261]

❤️

[@Aussie00]

100% right, l can hardly think straight when l have one.

[@SuperDrLisa]

I can't see right, and sounds hurt

[@MrRainrunner]

Exactly!

[@katherineduck5701]

As a fellow sufferer I agree

[@Thepourdeuxchanson]

Among all the other excellences of her videos, I think her integrity shines out. The last five minutes of this video shows it very well. There is no rush to judgement, no pet theories given precedence, no half baked popular misconceptions underwritten, and no insistence that her conclusion is the only possible conclusion. She is a genuine investigative historian, and I think she's a good influence on anyone doing their own research for whatever purposes.

[@shadowmatrix0101]

The Kell Positive genetic disorder reminded me of Queen Victoria's hemophilia hidden in the male bloodline and how it was ironic that they all inbred to keep the bloodline pure, but just passed along the deadly disease for their kids to die from.

[@MyFiddlePlayer]

True, true, and UNRELATED! Since hemophilia is a sex-linked disorder (=carried on the X chromosome), it lies hidden in the FEMALE bloodline (not male) and does NOT require inbreeding to manifest itself. If a woman is a carrier, (statistically) half of her sons will get the disease and half of her daughters will be carriers, the degree of relatedness between her and the kids' father is completely irrelevant.

[@AvaCherry189]

I worked as a nurse in obstetrics for many years. Here in the US we call it ABO incompatibility. It would be a reasonable theory for a reason for miscarriage. However, Rh negative moms aren’t real frequent, so for all his wives or even to have 2 consecutive is unlikely. They

[@jsainz706]

@@AvaCherry189 No where in the US does any bloodbank refer to Kell positive genetic disorders as ABO incompatibility. They are two different blood group systems, not having anything to do with each other. While yes you are right that its reasonable theory for miscarriage, in 20 years of bloodbanking, I have never seen ABO incompatibility with the mother kill that many children. As far as RH negative mothers, we don't know Henry's blood type and the Kell system isn't associated with the Rhesus system so again, not related.

[@clydepiper4046]

There's an infamous cemetery in Louisiana with irreverent tombstone ingravings - the one that started it all was - " I Told You I Was Sick "

[@RadioJonophone]

Spike Milligan has that on his tombstone.

[@bedstuyrover]

There's an interesting book of epitaphs, written circa 1900, called "Here Lies". one entry " He looked up the shaft to see if the elevator was coming. It was".

[@chrysalis72]

I want that on mine, go out with a smile.

[@albaformiga7932]

I want this on my tombstone

[@sandraswannell4170]

After living with someone who experienced two acquired head injuries I can attest to a definite change in personality. It made him short tempered, nasty after drinking and at times violent. He lost empathy and curtesy. We no longer live together. 😒🙁

[@cabdaly]

Hitler had syph as well

[@Jen7867]

I'm so sorry. 💔 But at the same time, I'm glad that you are not living together anymore, since he was obviously very difficult and continuing to live together would have negatively impacted your well-being. Maybe I'm being overly kind since I don't know the particulars of the situation, but I hope that he has caretakers or loved ones who can occasionally check on him/socialize with him. TBI is such a tragic thing. I very much admire people like Kevin Pearce, who have truly made the best of their situation after a TBI. Best wishes and lots of love to you!!

[@EmilyGloeggler7984]

I hope you didn’t divorce him?!

[@spencerfrankclayton4348]

​@@EmilyGloeggler7984Doesn't sound like they were married.

[@llamamama2910]

If he was abusive, regardless of the reason, I hope she did

[@amyjones2490]

My brother in law suffered a head injury from a motorcycle accident and he became very mean and paranoid. He never was the same.

[@elliebarrington-denning3218]

My son shot himself with an air rifle. Before this he was the most charming loveable young man you could wish to meet. After rthis incident he became the most vile and horrible person on earth, his whole personally changed overnight, so I lost my son completely, so I understand Henry's accident completely. 😢

[@gigiw.7650]

@@elliebarrington-denning3218 I am so sorry for your troubles 😢

[@archangelhalo6358]

Yes, I Definitely Believe Henry's Head Injury Resulted In The Way He Treated People Not That's Any Excuse However, Gives An Understanding Of The Underlying Cause, Shame They Didn't Have MRI Scans Back Then.

[@zuverzagmail]

When I worked in a neuro unit as a nurse, it was common knowledge that people with head injuries, or fresh off a stroke can often become jerks. It was important for us to not take it personal.

[@cleliaparnell8743]

I totally understand that....

[@SakuraAsranArt]

I work in mental health services and as well as folks with mental illness we also see a lot of people with traumatic brain injury. Henry VIII definitely exhibited symptoms consistent with a head injury. Migraines, change in personality and temper and I believe that this may also have contributed to his obesity. People with brain injuries can become more impulsive and less able to regulate certain behaviors, like overeating and alcohol consumption. Consumption of alcohol can also be a way of self medicating. In a time before pain killers he may well have used alcohol to relieve the pain of his various health issues.

[@shadowfox009x]

Chronic pain probaby would have made everything worse as well. His temper, potential depression and his self-medicating with alcohol.

[@Orphen42O]

Like his maternal grandfather, Henry VIII was a glutton who became obese around the age of 40. Both men had been athletic in their youth, but when they became obese when they stopped exercising. Edward IV and Henry VIII were handsome men in their youth.

[@theShamrockShepherdWagon]

Didn't Henry VIII have a very severe jousting injury? perhaps that contributed.

[@songsofthecentury3909]

Obesity was due to lack of exercise because of his injury.

[@Orphen42O]

@@songsofthecentury3909 Edward IV, Henry VIII's maternal grandfather, had the same problem. Although he was slim and athletic as a young man, he became obese in his late 30's because he drank and ate to excess.

[@sandracheeks1811]

I really respect that she stresses the limits of making any assumptions, rather than trying to push any one opinion on us. You can tell she is a true scholar.

[@ShannaNL]

Yeah, the true scholar needs to assert that with Shakespeare books right behind her face, which look to be straight from the retailer, never opened.

[@sandracheeks1811]

shanna people who love knowledge take exceptional care of their books. My books look almost new too. I consider it disrespectful to batter them the way you see most people do. That’s why I rarely if ever lend them out...because I know they likely won’t be cared for properly and will be returned with a cracked spine, dog-eared pages, food stains, pen marks, etc.

[@ShannaNL]

@@sandracheeks1811 Sweety I do the same, yet.... it's impossible to have not the back of the book, the parts that folds open, sorry don't know the english word for it, undamaged. Nor when storing books vertically to not have damage on the parts sliding over the planks. Both Marquis de Sade havem which she stored on the left, quite battered both of them, as the Queens book lying on top of them. She isn't as carefull as you might suggest. I'm sorry that I have an eye for details and a sceptical mind that isn't to your liking. Yet you are projecting your carefullness onto someone who obviously isn't

[@sandracheeks1811]

shanna you are assuming that she obtained each book in new condition. If the book was used when it was acquired, then she has no control over its prior treatment. I have many books like that, too. I’m sorry that you feel that the condition of one’s reading material is a reflection of their intellect.

[@ShannaNL]

@@sandracheeks1811 More the way in which something is applied to give the presumption of intellect. The ones who feel the need to prove are the ones lacking. ;-)

[@QueenCityHistory]

There was a documentary made years ago called Inside the body of Henry VIII. It was fascinating. I believe Henry suffered from diabetes. When you look at his illnesses and issues aside from the head trauma point towards diabetes..and I LOVE Dr Lucy Worsley! !!

[@bexp436]

I watched that too. I thought it was excellent and really explained a lot.

[@melbabowen4389]

Love your channel. As a 40 year registered nurse, in my estimation, I feel very confident , ole Henry had Type 2 Diabetes. He was terribly heavy, and had a terrible, non-healing leg ulcer. the possibility of him having syphillis is very high, due to his reported sexual encounters. Of course, diabetes causes symptoms many other conditions, such as heart disease, other vascular disease. The Kell disease carrier would definitely explain why so many of his wives had still births after the first pregnancy. Very interesting. Maybe King Charles and Prince William will be more interested in solving these mysteries.

[@angelau1194]

@@margo3367 But who's to say who he had sex with depending on his fancy - the kitchen maid the wench he saw when he was out riding with his buddies. I don't think he would have been too bother if he saw a "comely maiden" and whether he took her by force or not wasn't the issue, after all he was the king. He just didn't marry these women,and I'm sure that he left many bastards in his wake.

[@carolvan664]

I agree! DM makes sense! Impotence, infection... gotta love a good nurse sleuth! (I am one too!)

[@tastx3142]

@@margo3367 Sorry, but STI’s affect every socioeconomic group. Anyone working in health care sees that, regardless of the status of those who have been infected.

[@jackelinn88]

@@tastx3142 I don't think that @Margo is suggesting that people of a higher socioeconomic group cannot be affected by STI's but rather that many of the women Henry was involved with were from the well known, aristocratic families at court. Noble women at the time lived very circumspect and highly scutinised lives and, due to the very nature of court and the social mores of the time, would not have been likely to have multiple partners.

[@cristinamiacatio1031]

@@margo3367 yes because at the time, they were all pure and immaculate ... 😉

[@bettygreenhansen]

As a Registered Nurse, I think I can speak a bit to the cause and treatment of King Henry VIII’s leg ulcers. The wounds would be slow-healing due to decreased blood flow to his lower legs, perhaps from scarring from his injuries, and/or clothing strictures, and/or weight-gain, and/or genetic predisposition. These deep-thickness wounds would today be drained at bedside or in surgery, and then dressed with a modern wet-to-dry dressing, or, a gauze moistened by sterile, neutral saline solution, topped by a dry gauze, and secured. It has the effect, as the moistened gauze slowly dries, to draw pus and dead cells out of the wound. The dressing needs to be changed at least 3 times a day. The poultice dressing of King Henry’s day would have had a similar therapeutic effect with the additional benefit of natural antibacterial and analgesic agents, such as honey, garlic and other sulfur-containing herbs, as well as castor oil (astringent) and herbs for swelling, pain, and inflammation being applied directly to the wound. In other words, Henry’s medical treatment by his surgeons-while antique-would have been better than nothing, and, coupled with Henry’s general personal hygiene being a cut above other Tudor-era men of his same age, probably A LOT better than nothing, prolonging his life well past the point where he would have normally succumbed to infection. ❤️

[@jrojala]

Thanks for this, very interesting

[@juliaspelich5912]

Ko

[@rsoubiea]

I’ve always wondered about his ulcerated wound. Thanks for all the interesting information, comparisons between modern day treatments, compared to treatments available back in Henrys reign. medical care wasn’t very advanced so a lot of home cures where used, while those where somewhat helpful, they weren’t like antibiotics and such. I think Henry got short tempered as he aged due to his life wasn’t going as he wanted, he was bothered by this and his leg was causing him discomfort.

[@valerier4308]

Thanks for the explanation.

[@juanitarichards1074]

It's thought by modern doctors who have studied his ancient medical notes that he was a diabetic, and this would have prevented his wounds healing as well.

[@gayledaniel4630]

I’ve read that he smelled so bad due to his legs they could smell him coming. I am sure he must have been in a lot of pain.

[@chrysalis72]

Body devomposing before death he would have smelt like a corpse, a walking zombie.

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

Good.

[@ajrwilde14]

he stank of evil

[@chrysalis72]

Would that be gangerene i wonder

[@throttle4593]

When I was little, my great grandmother had weeping ulcers on her legs, and I still remember the smell. It was vile.

[@karetzkyj]

I always felt strange because I never found Anne of Cleve's ugly--there was a sweetness and sly smile in her portrait. Prof. Kat made me feel less "weird" and enlightened me on her personality and appearance.

[@OzmaOfOzz]

She looked best from his wife's based on the portraits. She looked more like us, like human, rather than other portraits of his other wives which I can not imagine how they truly looked in real life. However. I was watching a documentary about paintings in those times that said that if women didn't have the best features, they asked the painter to enhance their traits. Or minimise. Paint their breasts bigger, make their noses smaller, etc. It is a possibility that Anne of Cleves portrait truly did not resemble her in real life. Or maybe he didn't have any chemistry with her, maybe she was too shy for his taste. We won't ever truly know though.

[@stephenbutterfield5986]

She was attractive and didn't want to be with henry with that stinky leg and fat

[@adrianjohnson7920]

@@OzmaOfOzz Because Anna of Cleves was apparently a kind, common-sensical, humble lady, many have said that Holbein fell somewhat in love with her himself, which came through in his portraits. Newly widowed, he confided his two children to the care of Anna of Cleves just before he himself died of plague. She had the boy apprenticed to a good trade, and provided the girl with a dowery to marry a suitable husband. Anna was a peacemaker between Mary and Elizabeth, and was sincerely mourned by both of them. He servants adored her for her goodness.

[@angelau1194]

@@OzmaOfOzz I thought that Anne of Cleves was pock marked which the painter omitted to portray in his portrait of her to show her in a better light.

[@conniecondra4535]

@@OzmaOfOzz Holbein was in Henry's employ and was told NOT to flatter any of the women whose portraits he painted when the "wife auditions" were taking place. Holbein may have taken a few liberties, but I think that Anne of Cleves was pretty but not beautiful. Henry was wanting a "trophy wife" as seen by his next choice--Katherine Howard.

[@cathycallaghan3744]

I loved this video! It's the first one I've watched. As a nurse in an Aged Care facility in Australia, I found this topic fascinating. To me, the most plausible retrospective diagnoses for King Henry VIII, would have to be the possibility of Type 2 Diabetes mellitus with chronic ulcers as complications. If he had poor circulation in his lower legs, that could also indicate a heart condition as a symptom is often oedema (swelling) in the legs, feet and ankles that over time causes cellulitis (infection in the cells) which causes weeping of fluid and can lead to ulcers that won't heal easily. Now I'm imagining things! Often, in my job, we are in danger of forgetting our residents are people who had lives and histories that were significant before they became older and frailer or unwell...it's helpful to look at their diagnostic profiles as it reminds us of their humanity and informs not only their clinical care needs but also their need for emotional support as they continue to age and struggle to manage their symptoms. King Henry was no different other than that he lived through a period without the medical care around today. Retrospective diagnosis as a profiling tool helps us connect with him as a real person, a vulnerable human, making him suddenly far more relatable. We will never know for sure what ailed him, but the process of trying to discern his health issues is helpful for seeing him with fresh eyes.

[@llamamama2910]

Sugar was still new

[@nicolebaggers7598]

This channel is keeping me sane during quarantine.

[@redforrori]

+1

[@victoriachism4741]

And I want to peruse her bookshelves. The bookstores and libraries here are closed for quarantine. Sigh.

[@Gamecockinnc1]

Nicole Baggers Me too. 🙌🏼❤️

[@dawngagnon7787]

Yessss!

[@Echo_Reyes]

Even if it wasn’t quarantine the sea of information from this channel is a gold mine

[@maryrhudy9250]

I've long wondered if Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymore didn't get some nahsty STDs from Henry that kept them from being as ble to carry a baby to full term.

[@StephanieMT]

Also an STDs could have played in Jane and Edwards death, I know jane I think died from child birth but std could have played a part

[@rhiahlMT]

@@StephanieMT I think it's more likely Jane Seymour died as a result of an infection cause by the full placenta not being evacuated. Not that I wouldn't doubt Henry had an STD but in Jane's case I don't think so.

[@daniellejoseph1576]

Chalymedia ?

[@juliewagner8240]

Hum I’ve never even thought about that. I have laughed that the sex of the baby is up to the man and yet they always blame the woman.

[@jaynewhite6699]

Danielle f

[@ingagirard9656]

Being a Diabetic myself I feel that many of the symptoms that Henry had point to Type 2 DM, but I also think he may have had Gout and migraines as well. Thank you for this fascinating study!

[@helenoneill880]

I walk around with my iPad when doing my housework, have it beside me while weeding the garden. Your channel is fabulous . I wish I had you as a teacher when I was young. You bring a fresh and human element to all the historical characters you research and bring into our homes. Thank you so much.

[@deanvrabl]

I agree

[@lamidene8139]

There’s something a little funny to me thinking of Henry the eight: this powerful and feared ruler, looking into the future and seeing a woman call him “our boy”.

[@adamant7794]

broke mirror did yew... henry is a good boy for ladies with nice duckies though.

[@OzmaOfOzz]

Lol😂

[@ponygirl390]

During my training as a Paramedic, diagnostics were explored. Using the diagnostic techniques taught in college, I believe Henry VIII was a diabetic with a chronic closed head injury and Kell's syndrome

[@Jen7867]

Wow, I need to look this up! Thanks.

[@elizabethmcleod246]

He definitely had something serologic going on. I agree with your analysis.

[@suziemartin3587]

True

[@claudermiller]

I would imagine in those days everyone worried about getting sick. A scratch could become infected, turn to gangrene and you're finished. Am I right?

[@BrittleSun]

Yes-he would have been terrified of it particularly as he didn't have a male heir that had come of age. Up until penicillin became available in the 1940's, a simple bacterial wound infection from pruning the roses could result in chronic sepsis and death.

[@claudermiller]

@@BrittleSun i had a great grandfather die of carbuncle syndrome. It results from an infection started by an ingrown hair. Imagine that.

[@horseenthusiast1250]

Yeah, that tracks. Even now with modern medicine, I tend to get very anxious about small injuries and illnesses (though that is due in part to how hard it is to go to the doctor). Sometimes if I have colds or flus I get worried I'll die in my sleep, and it always makes me laugh a little in a morbid way because it's such an old, human sort of fear.

[@amylh322]

How awful! We really do live in a lucky time. Two of Henry's wives died in completely preventable ways. After childbirth, so many of the rich at that time didn't know that a doctor was less likely to wash his hands as a midwife was, and the new Mothers often died of terrible infections that came in on the hands of a doc who had just been with a sick person. Jane and Katharine Parr (of course Henry's widow) needn't have died.

[@lucindawelenc2191]

Henry was, certainly. But there was a lot of fatalism in most people, as taught by the church. If something happened to you, it was God's Will.

[@skyriser347]

As someone living with a traumatic brain injury, it does affect your mood. Also, my mother was diabetic, and when I would take care of her, if her blood sugar levels were elevated, it would cause her to be ill tempered as well. Although you sited many good points for all that I had heard, I still believe the best likely possibility for all he had going on, would be diabetes. With the absence of being able to exhume the remains of these important members of the past, we can only speculate, and draw up our own conclusions. I am not a medical professional, but I know what I have been through, and from all that I have heard, I can only guess as to what he had. Thank you for putting forth videos like that that entertain, and inform us. I thoroughly enjoy watching them. Although I am late to the game on finding your channel, I look forward to getting caught up on all of your posts. They really are delighful to listen to. Keep up the good work, and I can't wait for more videos as they come out!

[@merrilyjunecowgill2960]

Xss

[@geslinam9703]

Ironic that it’s likely his fault that his babies miscarried, or were stillborn

[@donna6428]

I know and His poor wives paid dearly

[@coraelizabethbrna439]

I would call it less ironic and more just a fact. His entire life when his health started downward was just trying too desperately to prove his manhood. He knew, I think most knew, really, but no one could actually vocalize it.

[@jeanfish7]

Blame it on the genes

[@joannshupe9333]

And yet it's said that the children 2 of his mistresses bore were healthy.

[@reuvenknight1575]

God, imagine what it would be like to lose so many children, especially at such a young age and after so many of your brothers and sisters had died as babies. He literally is 18, has a stillborn, next baby is a boy who dies of probably SIDS at 2 months and all reports say he LOVED that baby. Then 2 more stillborn/died soon after birth. And then It. Just. Keeps. Happening. That would screw someone up a lot. And then you have the gossip and all the pressure to have a heir and most of the babies dying...It's not surprising he was over the moon when his first illegitimate son was born and it is said they had a long and good relationship for most of his life. And he was said to have loved his daughters quite a bit too, as long as other queens didn't try to stop it. He may have actually liked kids, even if he was a monster in many ways. And that makes his many loses all the more tragic.

[@Glorindellen]

having sustained a childhood traumatic brain injury, with all it's long term effects, I believe Henry is a classic head injury case. I've lost my temper over some very minor things and lashed out at complete strangers in public, completely out of all proportion to what precipitated it.

[@ktloz2246]

I used to do that when i was on Kepra, since i stopped i'm in more control.

[@Glorindellen]

@@ktloz2246 I'm mostly in control, but there are rare times when I melt down.

[@m0L3ify]

I dunno, Henry was actually sick a lot. It sounds like he had PTSD from getting sick more than any actual hypochondria. I mean...that is an actual thing. If I was him, living in a time when "etiology unknown" was the norm, I'd be afraid of being around sick people, too. I can't say I blame him.

[@suzannesinclair2165]

I think his fear of getting sick might also be related to his brother Arthur’s untimely death (possibly from the sweating sickness).

[@Ethericrose]

Hmmmm, worrying that a test wasn't performed correctly is a normal thought pattern. My friend was misdiagnosed for two year with tennis elbow. The gp brushed her request for a deeper diagnosis away. Two years later she was found to have stage 5 cancer. The pain in her elbow was due to the the under arm gland being cancerous and sending shooting pains down to her elbow. If that gp had taken her concerns seriously multiple surgeries could have been avoided as well as chemo and radio therapy. Some of us, including myself are extreamly in tune with our bodies, we know when something is not right. Medical professionals are not all knowing God's.

[@paigetomkinson1137]

I'm very sorry about your friend. That's horrendous.

[@evaperez4139]

I never care for history. Especially in JHS and High School. Now I can't get enough. 43 years later never too old to learn Stay safe Greetings from Puerto Rico

[@amylh322]

I think I was born loving history. I was reading about real Queens when my friends were reading about pretend ones. I!I'm weird I guess, but I still love history. Learned nothing in school so I've always had to hunt it down.

[@j4eyes1]

I loved this presentation. Henry Viiii is a great person to do this sort of posthumous appraisal. I, personally think he did not contract syphylis, although we cannot be certain. His nutrition as a child and young child would have been good, but necessarily what we would consider a healthy diet! Head injury whilst jousting - he was knocked unconscious, always a bad sign! But he did come around and seemed alright. But any episode of unconsciousness can cause long term problems. It might have been the second head injury that exacerbated the damage from the first incident, when he was younger and more likely to recover. Personality changes can and do occur following head injury, these changes can totally change the person in terms of personality and behaviours. Leg ulcer, I believe the first jousting accident caused skin damage to the lower leg, which healed but no time frame is given. A high protein diet would certainly help. As would intake of fruit and vegetables, for the vitamin C, which plays a part in healing. The second injury was when he was older (40ish). His diet would be rich and give high amounts of protein and fat. I am not sure how much of Henry’s diet would have come from carbohydrate sources? Fat intake was probably quite high. In his 40s he would have put weight on and continued to do so as he was depicted as being quite corpulent in later portraits. The garters he wore would definitely had an impact on the leg wound as it would impair blood flow and probably make his lower legs swell. This in itself would impair healing and even cause the wound to open up. Lack of antiseptics, let alone antibiotics would also be factors in delayed healing of a chronic wounds. As he aged, his physicians opted to keep the wound open so pus could drain. If they had not taken this course the king could well have died of septicaemia. One antiseptic that they could have been accessible would have been salt water for cleaning the original wound and again when it became chronic. But I doubt that would have been used! Chronic infection and resultant pain will make people less patient, less understanding and possibly paranoid, Henry certainly showed paranoia, from my reading about him. If he had been anyone else but the king he probably would have died from the later infection. Chronic, long term pain does cause personality changes. As does chronic infection. Sorry for the long ‘essay’. I am a retired nurse, old enough to have seen chronic skin wounds/ulcers and bone injuries.

[@tomkellycartoons]

Thank you. Your observations are both interesting and sensible. Besides, I love nurses. I’ve experienced illness in my time and I insist it was the nurses who healed me; not the doctors! 😂👍🌷

[@ladyredl3210]

No apologies needed. You're knowledgeable. It's great.

[@teprakp]

Jane Pickford; as one nurse to another … very well said! Thank you

[@gwenmartinsen3979]

I read that he was knocked unconscious for several hours during a jousting match. A concussion is a brain injury, so I've always thought that his brain injury could be at least part of why he was thereafter grumpy, more short - tempered, unhappier, etc. People rarely, if ever, get nicer after a brain injury. A very bad headache is not necessarily a "migraine", a migraine is vascular in nature. Some people also self - medicate with food.

[@Faeyakim]

Yes it is partially vascular in nature, but the root cause is in the bra8n & nerves. The blood vessels swell, pinching the neurons wrapped around them, and they release CGRP which makes them swell: This is why we feel the throbbing pain. The nerves start sending pain signals and after a while become overloaded and continue sending pain signals regardless. This is why parts of our faces feel painful, as the Trigeminal nerve to which those small nerve fibers connect innervates part of the face, and it gets overloaded. The root cause of all of this begins in the brain, however. Many people see things just before the migraine starts, and this is caused by a small storm of electrical activity (not unlike in a seizure, but in a smaller area). Some may be experiencing these storms in places other than those for processing vision and are less obvious. These storms are part of a process that ends with those little blood vessels pinching nerve endings, and scientists are actively working to sort out that process now. All that to say its really a brain issue masquerading as a vascular issue mainly because the vascular issue causes the most common and obvious symtpm: The throbbing pain. Migraine is very heritable, and a range of genes can make one more likely to experience them. A major blow to the head causing an ABI can definitely destabilize the brain chemsitry and make it more likely for someone to experience frequent or chronic migraines. It is in fact a common symptom of ABI. So yes vascular, kind of. But mostly, it's the brain 🧠 and genes that affect how easily nerves fire. It it's too easy for them to fire, seizure disorder and chronic migraines can result. A major blow to the head causing bleeding in the brain and damage to brain tissue can also disrupt that balance, leading again potentially to seizures and migraines.

[@carolinewtucker3268]

I’m a huge history lover and going through these videos during quarantine has been such a stress reliever!

[@karenclaudino]

I’ve been bingeing your Channel for the past few days and I would like to thank you for your excellent content and approach. I’m very happy to see the number of subscribers growing so quickly for the past week. Well deserved! Love from a Brazilian that loves British history :)

[@paulinawatts8539]

snap!

[@jennaolbermann7663]

Henry VIII's health has long been an area of curiosity to me. I watched the documentary on his health done by Lucy Worsley. I would not be surprised if much of his health issues were due to his diet, level of medical knowledge and his paranoia about his health and his dynasty. As far as his head injury from jousting, I can see how that could have been a factor in altering his behavior. He was a demanding, self centered man and I wonder if he would have lived a happier, healthier life had his brother Arthur become king instead.

[@RussiaIsARiddle778]

Undoubtedly.

[@WooffzTheCoon]

Likely, he would’ve had a church career or become a groom for a foreign princess, as 2nd in line to the throne until Arthur had kids would’ve made him very desirable.

[@selecttravelvacations7472]

The treatments for his conditions were also very toxic. Mercury, arsenic etc

[@maureenconnelly1100]

Thanks for your wonderful analysis...Having worked in Wound Care, I would add to your diagnosis. I’m surprised no one has mentioned CRONIC OSTEOMYELITIS which I think is most likely the root cause of his chronic painful, non healing wounds that became more painful when they closed/healed...an indication that purulence was building up internally. Osteomyelitis would also Account for the Fetid Odor, excessive yellow/purulent drainage, pain, edema, and systemic symptoms reported. Regardless of the cause, due to the severity and chronic nature of his condition, I believe that amputation would have ultimately been the treatment of choice, and prolonged his life.

[@jcopher2730]

I stumbled across your channel by accident, and what a happy accident! I've always been a history geek and junkie. You are such a breath of fresh air, and I've now turned some of my friends onto your channel. Thank you! As a retired nurse and what I've read and heard about Henry Vlll; I can only imagine as to what his cholesterol was as well as his high blood pressure, and what and how he ate, that I would surmise that he also would've had Type 2 Diabetes.

[@lagerthathorkildsdottir9074]

Henry could also have suffered damage to his frontal lobes hence the paranoia, shift in temper etc. I have personally cared for people who suffered damages to their frontal lobes and I recognise a lot of symptoms in the description of Henry.

[@ajaylet8466]

With everything he had going on I’m shocked he lived as long as he did. Especially with the open leg wound.

[@carmenwheatley7316]

Ajay Let. Keeping them open and draining probably kept him alive longer.

[@ajaylet8466]

Carmen Wheatley it’s crazy to think that helped. ! And didn’t get worse infection.

[@rakucrease8030]

There are heaps of people that live with open wounds for decades - honey is great for them.

[@SunflowerSpotlight]

My mother had cancer discovered during an unrelated surgery in January, 2019. She had to be opemed up because her abdomenal cavity and eight organs has cancer in and around them. They thought her pain was ovarian or uterine, and the canver was there, but so many other places. I mention this because she was put on chemo within weeks of the surgery. It prevented the wound from closing, and it still refuses to close. Now, a year and a half later, it still won't close. Without ny Dad being a doctor and us working out a way to do her dressing changes, she'd have needed a home health nurse this whole time. Even with modern medicine, constant attention and care, and frequent dressing chsnges (multiple times a day), it's become infected several times, and she's been septic three times. She needed a wound vac once, which was the only option for her to live beyond a few weeks, but was considered unnecessary treatment by her insursnce. It was cheaper to just look the other way and let us scrounge for it or to let her die. With her cancer being found at stage 4, the virus threatening her life and temporarily forcing her to pause her chemo, she is still hugely at risk for.... just an open wound that refuses to heal, Even with the best knowledge and wisdom of the time, I remain shocked that Henry survived so long. His immune system must have been absolutely fierce for him to fight back for so long. My mother and I am immunocompromized due to Lupus, so she doesn't have that going for her. Hopefully a healthy understanding of germ theory can make the difference.

[@sandranorman5469]

Amara Jordan Bless you 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@connie7128]

What I love most about this type of investigation is the delving into science! We don't do enough of that anymore, and I think that focusing our brains and our interest into a scientific direction is always a positive. I learned new things watching this today - things I want to learn more about. Love your channel!

[@RED-lh4vq]

I have been binge watching your channel this last week. I consider myself an amateur history lover , and really enjoy your content !

[@SL-yt7qq]

Same, finished Tudors AGAIN and did some KZbin research; this popped up in my recommendations and I was pleasantly surprised!

[@finolaomurchu8217]

Yes me as well Regina, binging on the history vids.

[@FreyaCatherineMusic]

Same! I've been chain watching these videos for the past few days, enjoying them immensely!

[@SunflowerSpotlight]

S L I really want a show about Elizabeth's reign, maybe showing some of France, Spain, and even Scotland. There's just so much interesting history there.

[@SL-yt7qq]

@@SunflowerSpotlight that would be awesome! Have you watched the great on hulu. It's about kat the great and although it's the furthest thing from accurate, it's really fun to watch!

[@petunijadu]

I'm so happy KZbin recommended me your channel. Finally. I don't understand why it didn't happen sooner. Something right happen in the algorithm.

[@Myke_OBrien]

You’re a breath of fresh air. You make the past come alive. I think that we can safely say that Richard III was a hunchback, based on the somewhat recent discovery of his remains.

[@katiehettinger7857]

Thanks for another thought provoking video, looking at the symptoms and possible diagnoses gives empathy for historical figures and another dimension to their choices and behavior.

[@jenluv]

Yay! I'm so happy for you and your channel! New subscriber here. I've watched at least 10 of your videos this week. They are fabulous! People will definitely understand if you don't respond to everyone, especially as your channel grows. Congratulations, Dr. Kat!

[@ReadingthePast]

Thank you so much, Jen! I hope you and yours are staying safe and sane with everything going on at the moment 🌟

[@sophroniel]

Omg Jen loves history too!!!! Ahhhh

[@shadowphoenix8962]

Excuse an off subject question. When my ancesters came to Massachusetts,they spelled our namewith an a,as you do.Did any of your family "cross the pond" back in the 1600's. My daughter looks into the history.Robert Merchant.

[@cinemaocd1752]

I never thought I'd see Jen Luvs Reviews here, but this is so cool.

[@audreyadams7258]

New subscriber, and love all things history

[@emi7916]

the cheery music and "Henry the VIII's syphilis" on the screen made me crack up in the intro, even if it wasn't meant to be funny lol

[@theanesumusiyiwa]

Sadistic lol

[@EP-yd7vz]

Me too! And I love to think we are mocking that monster Henry VIII!

[@B-MoreCity]

I'm dead!!😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@rochelleb973]

Lolol, right

[@lushanobodenstein6653]

Same lol 😂

[@RussiaIsARiddle778]

Thank you for your Sterling work in these videos. I enjoy them immensely and wish to congratulate you on your hundred thousand plus subscribers. I’m glad you’re getting the recognition you deserve. ❤️ From a US history teacher. 🇺🇸🇦🇺🇬🇧

[@rosemarywhite7026]

I just found your channel! I love it! Thank you so very much, Dr. Kat. As a history teacher of 43 years, I am quite literally, in my glory. What a delight you are.🥰

[@Moore2Lifepantrylovinprepper]

when listening to biography or historical stories, who tells it and how it's told are important as the topic. I could listen to you for hours, you're so wonderful at this.

[@marciasagadore2158]

I would guess the brain injuries from his jousting would have caused frontal-lobe damage, resulting in his complete personality change.

[@fleetskipper1810]

Very similar to the closed head trauma suffered by so many professional football players. He was unconscious for two hours after being knocked off his horse in full body armor. Even short periods of unconsciousness are symptomatic of serious brain injury.

[@amylh322]

Are there historical documents that say his personality changed?

[@lagatita1623]

Or maybe he just didnt like people saying " no" to him??

[@mangot589]

But it wasn’t. He was already a despot. Even not having the same opinion as him could easily lead to the block. And considering he was positive he was ALWAYS right, all HIS ideas were the only ones…..he had plenty of people executed before for basically no reason long before his accident.

[@mangot589]

@@lagatita1623 Correct. And he even made it treason (read the block) to even THINK he wasn’t right. Not sure how he knew what people were thinking, but he did. And so, off 🪓

[@TaaLeesa]

Love your channel, it's so interesting. You literally take apart history and slowly place it back together in a way I understand and always asking questions or opening a healthy discussion. 💕

[@erinmachinspicer1048]

I minored in History when I was an undergrad and I’m really enjoying rediscovering my love of the past. Thank you!

[@JessStone-hl8ed]

Henry's jostling accident didn't help his demeanor. However, he had already executed several close friends from flimsy evidence. I think he suffered from bipolar disorder & narcissistic personality disorder as well as diabetes type 2. I'm an RN.

[@GreatGreebo]

Jess Stone I think it was straight up Narcissistic personality disorder. Nobody told this man NO or countered his ever increasing sense of self importance. There isn’t any mention of deep, brooding depression or the crazy, manic behaviors that usually gets documented for a Bi-Polar disease. Just my 2 cents. I completely agree that Type 2 diabetes was an issue and that it caused a LOT of his health issues. I have seen a myriad of symptoms with chronic type 2 people that closely mirror Henry VIII’s recorded symptoms

[@nancybeveridgetaylor3256]

Retired psychiatric technician/nurse who worked in maximum security forensic psychiatric facilities here. I agree with the Narcissistic Personality Disorder, perhaps Borderline PD as well, but the wide emotional swings could be due to his AXIS II PD'S as well as his type II Diabetes. He also could have had reaction to his chronic infections and inflammation. Just my 2 cents.

[@SunflowerSpotlight]

My brother has a master's in clinical psychology, and he agrees about the psychiatric diagnoses based on available evidence of Henry's behaviors. Although he may have been a sociopath, based on an apparent lack of empathy, based on the amount of close relationships Henry enjoyed, he believes it's more likely the traumatic brain injury resulted in those mood changes, which weren't helped at all by the underlying co-morbid psychiatric conditions. Also, thank you for what you do. My dad's a doctor, my grandmother was a nurse, my grandfather on the other side was a doctor. They all agree you're rhe backbone of the medical system. Stay safe.

[@JudgeJulieLit]

@Oona Craig Who called it "the French disease."

[@janetlieb2507]

Psychopath. Reptilian

[@AnnMarieKing]

Hello, Dr. Kat ... thanks for the new video. Henry VIII is so fascinating ... one never tires of exploring his life experiences, exploits and indiscretions. Type 2 diabetes is probably the key co-morbidity for his illnesses later in life.

[@JeanieD]

Ann-Marie King , I agree with you about type 2 diabetes. It happened to my ex-husband, who was actually kind of similar in temperament and habits to Henry VIII (big ego, big appetites, athletic activities, had multiple wives and affairs, only legitimate children were girls, etc.). He ended up hospitalized with an infection that threatened his life and he had to get his blood sugar under control before an abscess in his groin would heal. I learned a lot about metabolic syndrome as a result, and I see Henry’s lifestyle and medical issues as aligned with that diagnosis.

[@eveefoster3697]

Dr. Kat I've always wonder if Henry was a diabetic due to his ulcers not healing. The other illness you covered were very interesting and thought provoking.

[@femke6313]

I love this woman like she is a friend i have never met but appreciate her sooooo much

[@amycooper9107]

I love the way you explain everything, so clear, concise and engaging!

[@dianapatterson1559]

I have only just discovered you. May I say how delighted I am to hear an intelligent analysis examining debate about historical issues. Bless you, and long may you prosper.

[@ninaanwamane8967]

I only found your channel yesterday and have watched at least 20 videos, educational and highly addictive 🙈

[@melaniegorny5457]

LOVE this channel, came across it last night, excellent! Well researched and presented beautifully! Keep up the fab work!

[@teresakoslosky3053]

I love English history! My mother introduced The six wives of Henry the V111 on PBS many years ago and I have been totally into British history ever sense.Thank you for your research and your insights!

[@clairelouise4063]

dr kat, i spent 3 years in the 1970s struggling to remember dates and speeches and clauses for my history o level. it felt like death by a thousand cuts. you have made this so interesting i am enthralled. i still have my o'level excersize book. went back through it. it covered most of you points, but in a rigamortis inducing way. you really should be put on the gcse corriculum as you make everything so absorbable. thank you. it is sites like yours that are making me enjoy lockdown, cos i wouldnt normally never have time to watch. i really appreciate you and your approach

[@nancybunin508]

Finishing "The MIrror and the Light" so appreciate all the historical background.

[@katejohnstone9262]

Me too! I’d love to hear Dr Kat’s thoughts on the accuracy of the series and the amount of influence Cromwell held.

[@merprincesspacifica]

I quite enjoy how clear, concise, and researched your videos are. It’s refreshing. Thank you!

[@AlaskaBeary413]

I’m sooooo glad I stumbled upon this channel! You are awesome in soooo many ways!! Factual, yet entertaining videos/docs, I haven’t already seen, are hard to come by. And I’ve absolutely won the lottery, to hear you speak about my favorite period and people!!Your voice is soothing as well. Also...I love the into/ending music too!! 🥰😘

[@MOONFIREmagess]

I love history, Dark Ages, Medieval...i love this channel! Thanks for feeding my obsession and making life so much more interesting with some historical escapism!😁

[@NASAgeekKat]

I am loving this channel. I am working on my degree in history and I found this channel on accident and I have enjoyed it the past few days. I want to bring up Henry's migraines by looking at my husband's issues. My husband has a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) from his military service. He suffers headaches from this which result in him becoming short tempered. Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries can result in changes to the brain resulting in headaches. It is possible that the lance to the head resulted in a mild TBI. When the horse fell on him it took that mild TBI and turned it into a Moderate TBI. Moderate TBI can bring about all of those things that you mentioned in the video. However, as we have been told by doctors the effects of repeated TBIs compound and can result in more severe symptoms. The TBI can also result in low or even increased libido, it depends on the individual and where the injury is in the brain. Changes in behavior and mental health are also a part of a TBI. This is something I have witnessed first hand. From how an individual changes as a result of multiple TBIs. Now we have treatment to assist individuals with TBI and we are able to locate where in the brain the injury is and how that may effect the individual. I believe that a TBI is a very plausible diagnosis for his behavioral changes. I believe there were also many other health issues that Henry had. Some of them could have ties to a TBI as impulse control with food can happen (I have to limit the amount of food in the house because my husband has an impulse control with food as a result of his TBI). Diabetes and syphilis could be issues he suffered from while they are their own illesses they could have started with his TBI and the impulse control issues and behavioral changes that occurred after it. I spend a lot of time educating myself on TBIs as my husband has one and we spend a lot of time in doctors offices and therapies as a result of it. I can see Henry suffering from TBIs as the start of his health issues. But that is what I observe from my own personal experience.

[@kathleenem9207]

Kathryn Schottl While this might be a rational explanation for some people’s actions, it doesn’t explain his egotism and behaviors previous to the fall. He was needlessly cruel to Catherine of Aragon and daughter, Mary, when she wouldn’t agree to an annulment. I believe the reasons he didn’t have her killed was because she was born a princess of Spain and her nephew became pope. Killing a royal princess and anointed queen ( although that didn’t stop him with anointed but non-royal Anne Boleyn ,) it was certainly not a healthy precedent to set as a king. Even Elizabeth I avoided killing Mary of Scotland , keeping her imprisoned for years, until Mary participated in treason that could be proven. Thank you for the information on TBI. It certainly could have contributed to actions after his fall.

[@ReadingthePast]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, this additional context is very useful and certainly adds to my conviction that head injury played a major role in Henry's story. I also want to thank your husband for his service and hope he has, or finds, a way to manage his headaches.

[@marywest2896]

thank you for your husband's service to your country, I'm in the U.S. and every service person no matter what country that helps to keep us safe, I thank you. I also thank YOU, due to your husband's heroic service, you, your family and his lives have changed forever. And it sounds more complicated since his return. Your way of stepping up and learning all you can to help the man you love is even more heroic to me....you are a hero to me. God Bless you and your family. and again, thank you. service to ones country is truly a lifetime service.

[@neilbuckley1613]

@@kathleenem9207 I think genetics may also play a part. Henry resembled his maternal grand father, King Edward IV, physically in appearance. Edward was known to quite ruthlessly dispose of opponents, e.g. his brother the Duke of Clarence, so Henry may have inherited that aspect of his character.

[@neilbuckley1613]

In support of this look how the 18 year old Henry had Empson & Dudley executed [who had been loyal if unpopular servants to his father ] to gain popularity.

[@nancybradford8514]

Every day I binge watch/listen to you! I have learned so much and I have so many questions , but for now thank you for your channel, Fergus, Ontario, Canada loves you

[@jaycorwin1625]

This is the second time I"ve watched this one. It's as interesting and fresh as the first time. I love your narrations, how you present your research and how you bring it to life. Great job.

[@annaselbdritt7916]

Oh my god, I subscribed yesterday and I'm almost certain you were at 10k then, and now this jump! Congratulations!! Also your shirt is giving me optical illusion couture, love it

[@lesleyplage-rohrman5945]

What a wonderful delight I happened upon DR.Kat , she is a joy to listen to and I didn't think I would ever find a bigger history geek than I. As far as I am concerned she can't make enough videos, wish they were longer anyways hope all is well with everyone across the pond stay healthy and stay safe

[@kimberlypatton9634]

Ditto!

[@dawnfalvey6766]

Lesley plage-rohrman same here. I love Dr Kat. I just discovered her channel last week and been binge watching ever since.

[@Daerenaidia]

having concusion syndrome myself after a head injury: the hit to the head at the jost could certainly case the mood and "mirgrane" (trama induced migraine); the chronic infection could also case the headache and mood; weeping legs can also be sign of liver failure

[@starlightglazer9181]

I'm new to your channel and I LOVE IT! I'm a history lover and you do a wonderful job & I hope you continue to do these videos. Thank you!

[@MotherOfFerrets75]

Yay so happy you popped up in my feed! I love Tudor/Elizabethan history and was thrilled to see another channel covering both major and non-major people. I also watch Claire Ridgeway on her channel The Anne Boylen Files. Claire, like you, is a fountain of knowledge. So happy to have you feed my curiosity. Thank you for your time and work in producing these videos. 😊😊😊❤❤❤

[@Liz66bee]

Me too - I'm subbed to Claire as well! Yes Clair Rigeway & Dr Kat are different (Dr Kat covers all historical eras, while Clair is the Tudor expert) but both channels are wonderful. Dr Kat might need some pet cameos though! ;-)

[@angelasmith5174]

Love Dr Kat and Claire also.Like you folks, I am subscribed to both. Excellent channels both!

[@ChristChickAutistic]

Same here, I am subscribed to Claire and Dr. Kat.

[@Jasper-rp1hy]

TheTassledHip 13 David Starkey is brilliant as well.

[@marilgoodly3125]

Thank you for aiding my understanding of so many historical figures that have influenced their counties and all the world. I appreciate your attention to precise detail and exploration of varied points of view.

[@indiciaobscure]

This is a really nice channel. It feels like a nice, warm, informative chat, and I can see why people would be drawn to it during quarantine. I hope you find a career hosting documentaries because your voice and presentation style are very appealing!

[@darrellhendrix5502]

Thank you so much for sharing your ovious passion for history. I particularly appreciate the fact that you avoid presenting conclusions that are not backed up by extensive research and are presented in as non biased as I believe as possible. I hope that your channel continues to grow and help the rest of us have a deeper understanding of hostory.

[@katherineshields4025]

Hi Dr. Kat, I found your channel earlier this week and being a huge history buff I'm absolutely loving it. I watched your video about Grace O'Malley yesterday. I have always thought she was a very interesting character. Anne Bonny and Mary Read are also very unique, maybe sometime you could do a video about them. The local library is closed during this unprecedented time and I was panicking. But since finding this channel I'm still able to get my history needs met. Thank you so much!

[@allthingsfairy]

First off, I’m loving your channel! Great content!!! My grandmother had scarlet fever, and almost didn’t live. My great aunts and great uncles swore her personality changed in many ways, some of them negative. Something did change in her mind and it wasn’t of her choosing. I do believe that Henry had a marked personality change, but I am hesitant to believe it was due solely to a medical condition, only because that would relieve him of some, if not much of the blame for his negative behaviors. Many times, when looking at historical figures and even modern figures who’ve done horrific things, we tend to want to find a reason why. It may calm us to believe that people aren’t just horrible without reason or cause. But in our search for a cause, let’s be careful that we don’t allow it to take the place of an excuse. I tend to believe Henry VIII was a narcissist, and when things are going well for narcissists, they can be wonderful folks to be around! Generous, kind, good listeners even and loyal! Until things aren’t going well for them. And it is like a switch is flipped. Health problems, family or money issues, stress, losing a position of power, even aging can make a narcissist show his or her true face. It is not how we behave and treat others in times of ease that shows our true character, but how we behave and treat others in adversity. He had health problems, to be sure, but he also seemed very self centered, selfish and immature, even for his time, and even for a king! I don’t believe any of the issues would have prevented him from maintaining his integrity, mental facilities and basic kindness.

[@fleetskipper1810]

I have great experience of narcissism because there’s a narcissist in my close family. You’re correct in what you say about Henry. When things are going well for narcissists, they can be fun to be around and quite charming. If things go bad, they panic and start throwing blame. This is what Henry did for most of his life. Narcissism is a personality disorder that stems from childhood. The young narcissist fails to develop the capacity for empathy. He’s also very insecure. So when things go wrong, he cannot consult his inner self for guidance . He’s incapable of real growth or maturity. Perceived adversity become panic-inducing and lead to all kinds of undesirable behaviors toward other people. If you pair narcissism with chronic health problems, the poor behavior increases exponentially. Sick people are seldom much fun to be around, and sick narcissists are hell to be around. Combine that with the infallibility conferred on kings-it explains all the murdered wives, ministers, counselors, to wit, the pile of bodies that grew around him as his life progressed.

[@agent458]

A very high fever often accompanies scarlet fever, and can cause brain damage. And if there were seizures with that high fever, there might have been oxygen deprivation for a period of time. That, also, can cause “personality changes” in a person - irritability, paranoia and/or grandiose thinking, short temper and/or explosive outbursts with very little tolerance for delayed gratification. People looked perfectly normal - but weren’t, and there wasn’t any reliable way to assess or diagnose them.

[@AnitaAnneLloyd]

Love you dr. Kat! Your knowledge and love for history are astounding. I LOVE all you say!

[@princesslisamarie7860]

I’m 50 seconds into the video and already I love you and subscribed. What a beautiful introduction! I love history especially British history especially Tudor history. I am so excited! On with the show!

[@1978Tbk]

I’m thoroughly enjoying every video you’ve posted. Thank you for the incredible details. History brought alive!😊

[@j4eyes1]

I found your channel by accident. Having said that I watch at least one or two episodes each day.. love history, the episodes I have watched have been wonderful and very interesting and informative. Your series has reawakened, not that my interest has ever waned to disinterest. Thank you

[@verastanding]

What a brilliant channel Dr Kat! I remember seeing the movie "Anne of A Thousand Days" when I was a very little child. It's wonderful getting the inside stories on the lives of these people, and you make it so easy. :)

[@callwyse]

I love the history of Great Britain, and particularly the Tudors! Delighted to have found this channel, and looking forward to the content. Thank you.

[@rachellemiller6543]

I love your voice. You are extremely captivating when talking about my favorite period - The Tudor Dynasty. Imagine being a fly on the wall during his Reign. Well done! I'm definitely subscribing!

[@andreadodson2817]

I’ve found your channel recently, too, and love it. I love hearing about potential diagnoses as the quote from Worsley is accurate, but it doesn’t change what they did, how they acted.

[@kimleebold7822]

I love this channel. It always Interests me and keeps me informed about the past. I love history! And this channel is one of the many reasons why.

[@erikaannabosnyak9307]

Just recently discovered your channel and I love it! I ama uni student major in art history and 17th century reenactor. I just love everything. You are professional yet explaining so well. As a former nurse and a daughter of someone who had multiple head injury, I can confirm that behavioral changes, migraine or at least frequent headaches can easily happen afterwards. Also as someone living with chronic conditions, anxiety and depression, mood changes are a part of daily life and it makes us irritated and sometimes apathetic. If we pair it with a hm..not so pleasant personality, it can be very hard for the ppl around. So yes, I think his behaviour could be partly down to physical illnesses.

[@jerrismith9337]

Your videos started popping up in my feed a few days ago and I’m so glad they did. I enjoy British royal history And your voice is incredibly calming. I could listen to you read the instruction manual for a vacuum cleaner and be mesmerized 😊.

[@TheLeannaMay]

Dr Kat, you and your channel are an absolute pleasure! Your videos are clear, concise and most of all enjoyable. Thank you so much. I appreciate the hard work you put into these videos.

[@timothyturner5885]

Long time subscriber here..... your wisdom, research and insight are always a joy to watch .. glad others are finding you!

[@laurapreston348]

I am thrilled to be part of this walk and studying history! Thank you for all of your work!

[@ohmeowzer1]

I have a master's degree degree in nursing and a bachelor degree in history..i live in the USA and love this channel

[@micheleophir1202]

I just love your channel. I love history and you have a wonderful approach. I've read a lot of Phillipa Gregory and from there I've gone to history. Well done and please keep going.

[@charlabishop9066]

I love this channel!! I absolutely love tutorials about the tutors!! I have books and things of that nature and have done my own studies. Thank you for the great content!

[@amandacpicini]

Your channel is my favorite history channel!! I’m a history major and I love love love how you explain things, you keep it intriguing & keep my interested!

[@ecvfamilytube]

Oooo I’m the first one here!! I just want to say I really like your videos. I usually listen at night before bed, I just love how you explain and tell these interesting historical tales and your take on them. Keep up the good work and love from California ❤️

[@jasonmack2569]

Must be a California thing. I do the same thing. I find Dr Kat very relaxing

[@businessfinancecoach]

HOLY CRAP - Your channel exploded - I've never seen that happen so fast! You deserve it!

[@mountaingirl6479]

I think you did an outstanding job of presenting the info clearing and fairly. I appreciate your high ethical standard! It was very interesting and I learned quite a bit.

[@alexandrapodd8648]

I could listen to you talk forever! Your videos are so interesting, and the way you talk is so relaxing. The effort you put into your content really shows, I’m so pleased I found your videos!

[@gggirl881]

You are so informative yet soothing! As a College History Major, I wish all my professors were as smart and kind as You!❤️ ,