top of page

ON THIS DAY - 12 October 1537

thedudleywomen
On This Day (12 Oct) in 1537, the future King Edward VI was born at Hampton Court Palace, the only child of Jane Seymour, and her husband Henry VIII.

'Edward VI as a Child, probably 1538'; Hans Holbein the Younger © National Gallery of Art
'Edward VI as a Child, probably 1538'; Hans Holbein the Younger © National Gallery of Art
Henry VIII had yearned for a legitimate son to continue his father's 'Tudor' legacy throughout his reign, and had gone to extreme lengths in his pursuit: his break from Rome and the creation of the 'Church of England', his subsequent annulment of his 20+ year marriage to Catherine of Aragon, his marriage to Anne Boleyn (which was later deemed invalid prior to her execution), and courtship of one of Anne's ladies-in-waiting, Jane Seymour.
'Henry VII (1457–1509), Queen Elizabeth (of York) (1466–1503), Henry VIII (1491–1547), Queen Jane Seymour (1509–1537), and Edward VI (1537–1553), as Prince of Wales (adapted from Hans Holbein the younger)'; Remee van Leemput, 1669 © National Trust Images
'Henry VII (1457–1509), Queen Elizabeth (of York) (1466–1503), Henry VIII (1491–1547), Queen Jane Seymour (1509–1537), and Edward VI (1537–1553), as Prince of Wales (adapted from Hans Holbein the younger)'; Remee van Leemput, 1669 © National Trust Images
Henry VIII had proposed to Jane on 20 May 1536, the day after Anne's execution, with the couple swiftly married at Whitehall Palace 10 days later on 30 May 1536. Within the year, Jane was pregnant, with the news being announced to the Privy Council in Apr 1537. News of the pregnancy was positively greeted by many, with Te Deums being sang and bonfires being lit, and a special mass being held in celebration at St Paul's Cathedral. However, original plans for a summer coronation were delayed until after Oct, after the birth of her child.

Plague was prevalent in London during the late summer of 1537, and concerned regarding the safety of his Queen and unborn child, Henry restricted the amount of people visiting Hampton Court Palace, where Jane had chosen to enter her confinement on 16 Sep, himself moving to Esher Palace, Surrey.
'View of Hampton Court Palace from the South'; Anthonis van den Wijngaerde, c.1558-61 © Ashmolean Museum Oxford
'View of Hampton Court Palace from the South'; Anthonis van den Wijngaerde, c.1558-61 © Ashmolean Museum Oxford
On the afternoon 09 Oct 1537, Jane entered into labour; once pains began, Henry VIII sent royal heralds into London to announce the news. However, the labour process was long and arduous, and by 11 Oct, there was no sign of the child. Due to concerns regarding this prolonged childbirth process, and the risks to mother and baby, a solemn procession with prayers was held in London - a 2 mile march west from St Paul's Cathedral to Westminster Abbey - headed by the Lord Mayor.

'Jane Seymour'; Unknown Artist, c.1545 © Society of Antiquaries of London
'Jane Seymour'; Unknown Artist, c.1545 © Society of Antiquaries of London
The labour process would last for a total of 30 hours, and ended at 2 in the morning, when she delivered her baby: a boy. He was named Edward, born on St Edward's Eve, and automatically appointed as 'Duke of Cornwall' on his birth. On hearing the news of Edward's birth, Henry immediately rode from Esher to Hampton Court, from where he sent out instructions to spread out his good news throughout the country.

Prince Edward was not the only baby born at Hampton Court Palace that day: Jane's sister-in-law, Anne Stanhope, the wife of her brother Edward, Viscount Beauchamp, also gave birth to their first child, a son also called Edward. This Seymour cousin was known by the honorary title 'Viscount Beauchamp of Hache' on his father's elevation to Earldom of Hertford on 15 Sep 1537; however, he did not survive infancy, dying in 1539.
(L-R) Anne Stanhope (1497?–1587), Duchess of Somerset (after a portrait in the manner of Bernaert van Orley) Artist: Thomas Youngman Gooderson (active 1846–1868) © National Trust Images  Portrait of a Gentleman (said to be Sir Edward Seymour, afterwards Duke of Somerset) Artist: François Clouet (c.1515–1572) (follower of) © Weston Park
(L-R) Anne Stanhope (1497?–1587), Duchess of Somerset (after a portrait in the manner of Bernaert van Orley) Artist: Thomas Youngman Gooderson (active 1846–1868) © National Trust Images Portrait of a Gentleman (said to be Sir Edward Seymour, afterwards Duke of Somerset) Artist: François Clouet (c.1515–1572) (follower of) © Weston Park

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page