Note sull'episodio
In 1555, London celebrated the birth of a prince.
Church bells rang. Te Deums were sung. Birth announcements were prepared.
Only… there was no baby.
Mary I didn’t just believe she was pregnant, she showed physical signs. But there was no baby.
In this video, I take a closer look at Mary I’s two mysterious pregnancies - in 1554–55 and again in 1557–58 - and explore what may really have happened.
Was it:
• A genuine but failed pregnancy?
• A phantom pregnancy (pseudocyesis) brought on by immense pressure to produce an heir?
• Or something medical - possibly a pituitary tumour, as suggested by Milo Keynes?
I examine the historical evidence, contemporary reports, Mary’s long-standing health issues, and the medical theories that may explain her symptoms: missed periods, milk secretion, abdominal swelling, headaches, failing eyesight, depression, and confusion in her final year.
If you haven’t yet watched my full Beginner’s Guide to Mary I, I recommend starting there for the wider context of her life and reign - https://youtu.be/P_HVywkSww0
If you enjoy thoughtful, evidence-based deep dives into Tudor lives and mysteries, don’t forget to subscribe.
#MaryI #BloodyMary #TudorHistory #PhantomPregnancy #Tudors #HenryVIII #ElizabethI #BritishHistory #WomenInHistory #HistoryExplained
Church bells rang. Te Deums were sung. Birth announcements were prepared.
Only… there was no baby.
Mary I didn’t just believe she was pregnant, she showed physical signs. But there was no baby.
In this video, I take a closer look at Mary I’s two mysterious pregnancies - in 1554–55 and again in 1557–58 - and explore what may really have happened.
Was it:
• A genuine but failed pregnancy?
• A phantom pregnancy (pseudocyesis) brought on by immense pressure to produce an heir?
• Or something medical - possibly a pituitary tumour, as suggested by Milo Keynes?
I examine the historical evidence, contemporary reports, Mary’s long-standing health issues, and the medical theories that may explain her symptoms: missed periods, milk secretion, abdominal swelling, headaches, failing eyesight, depression, and confusion in her final year.
If you haven’t yet watched my full Beginner’s Guide to Mary I, I recommend starting there for the wider context of her life and reign - https://youtu.be/P_HVywkSww0
If you enjoy thoughtful, evidence-based deep dives into Tudor lives and mysteries, don’t forget to subscribe.
#MaryI #BloodyMary #TudorHistory #PhantomPregnancy #Tudors #HenryVIII #ElizabethI #BritishHistory #WomenInHistory #HistoryExplained