10 Major Mistakes in 'the Tudors' ...

The Tudors is a historical fiction television series about the life and reign of King Henry VIII of England. While the show was popular among viewers, it has been criticized for its numerous historical inaccuracies.

The show's chronology was particularly problematic. In some cases, characters were portrayed as being too young or too old. For example, Jonathan Rhys Meyer was significantly younger than the character he was playing, making it impossible for him to have an adult daughter. Additionally, events were often portrayed in the wrong order, with some events happening before they should have.

Other inaccuracies included the depiction of Henry VIII's courtiers. The show portrayed most of them as being loyal to the king, when in reality, many of them were more concerned with their own interests. Also, the show depicted the court as being more lavish than it actually was.

The show also failed to accurately portray the religious beliefs of the time. It showed Henry VIII as a devout Catholic, when in reality, he was more interested in political power than religion. Additionally, the show portrayed the Protestant Reformation as being more influential than it actually was.

The Tudors was a popular television series that aired from 2007 to 2010 and was based on the reign of King Henry VIII of England. The series was praised for its historical accuracy and its portrayal of the Tudor court. However, there were some inaccuracies in the series that have been pointed out by historians and viewers alike. One of these inaccuracies was the casting of Natalie Dormer as Anne Boleyn.

Anne Boleyn was the second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Queen Elizabeth I. She was known for her dark eyes, which were a stark contrast to her fair skin and blond hair. This was considered highly desirable at the time and was a feature that was used to attract potential suitors. However, Natalie Dormer has blue eyes, which is a major mistake in the series.

In addition to Dormer's eyes, there were other inaccuracies in the series that have been pointed out. For example, Anne's sister Mary was portrayed as a young woman in her twenties when she was actually in her forties. Additionally, the series was criticized for its depiction of Anne's execution, which was not historically accurate.

The choice of Jonathan Rhys Meyer sparked controversies among history buffs for his too-youthful portrayal of a ruler who reigned for nearly four decades. Henry VIII transformed considerably over his tenure, evolving from a chiseled, athletic youth into a portly monarch. This radical physical transformation reflects the tumultuous changes in his reign, including his numerous marriages and the establishment of the Church of England. Yet, the series opted for a consistent image, sidestepping the opportunity to depict the King's dramatic aging process and its impact on his rule and health.

In the historical record, Mary wed Louis XII of France and later Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, while Margaret married James IV of Scotland, thereby initiating an important dynastic link. The Tudors sidesteps this lineage, simplifying the narrative but erasing a significant aspect of the Tudor dynasty's connections across Europe. This decision also neglects the complex web of alliances and bloodlines that profoundly influenced the era's political landscape. Consequently, some pivotal historical reverberations, such as the eventual Union of the Crowns, are not set into their proper context.

In the historical drama, The Tudors, creative liberties are taken with Henry VIII’s romantic pursuits, but the suggestion that he would return to Anne of Cleves's bed chambers is particularly perplexing. Not only was their marriage annulled due to a lack of consummation, spurred by Henry's distaste for Anne's appearance, but Anne had also received a generous settlement and the title of the King's sister for her compliance. The idea that she would have an intimate encounter with Henry after the annulment contradicts the mutually beneficial arrangement that allowed her to live independently, a freedom she seemed to cherish.

In the show, a malicious twist paints Mary as a venomous bride, which dramatically diverges from historical accounts. Mary of France was known to be a grieving widow, rather than a scheming femme fatale. Depicting her in this light not only unfairly maligns her reputation but also distorts the complex dynamics of political alliances and royal marriages of the time. By resorting to such fabrications, the series undermines the intricacies of Tudor history in favor of sensationalism.

Katherine Howard's portrayal in the show adds to a number of historical inaccuracies that fans have been quick to point out. In reality, the Queen's final moments were likely far more stoic and aligned with the customs of the time. These on-screen embellishments serve more to dramatize the event than to educate viewers on the true sobriety of Tudor-era executions. The show's creative liberties often overshadow the factual dignity and solemnity that characterized such grave proceedings.