Henry VIII's Billionaire Wardrobe
Not Just the Tudors
History Hit
4.8 • 3.4K Ratings
🗓️ 28 August 2023
⏱️ 44 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Henry VIII was described as the 'best dressed sovereign in the world' by the Venetian ambassador Sebastian Giustinian. The Tudor King spent the equivalent of £2 million a year on clothes.
In this episode of Not Just the Tudors, first released in April 2021, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Professor Maria Hayward to get to grips with the sumptuous garments, the fabrics — and exaggerated codpieces — that made up Henry VIII’s wondrous wardrobe.
This episode was produced by Rob Weinberg.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The 8th Wanted to Stand Out from the Crowd |
| 0:08.7 | He wanted to look better than any other man, indeed any other monarch. |
| 0:13.7 | He spent 8,000 pounds a year on clothes. |
| 0:16.8 | That's the equivalent of more than 2 million pounds today. |
| 0:21.0 | Venetian Ambassador Sebastian Dostinian said of him, |
| 0:24.0 | He is the best-grace sovereign in the world. |
| 0:27.0 | His robes are the richest and most superb that can be imagined. |
| 0:30.6 | And he puts on new clothes every holy day. |
| 0:34.0 | I'm Cisanne Lipscomb and in this edition of Not Just The Tudors, |
| 0:38.0 | I'm delving into Henry VIII's wardrobe with Professor Maria Haywood. |
| 0:43.0 | To find out more about doublets and hoes, stocks and gowns |
| 0:46.0 | and that all important symbol of rarity, the codpiece. |
| 0:50.0 | Really, if there's anything you want to know about clothing in the 16th century, |
| 0:59.0 | Professor Haywood is your woman. |
| 1:01.0 | Maria has written books including Dress at the Court of Henry VIII, |
| 1:05.0 | Richard Parallel, Clothing and the Law, has done work on the Inventory of Henry VIII from 1547. |
| 1:11.0 | And your latest book is Stuart Starr, Monarchy Dress and the Scottish Mayor Leigh. |
| 1:16.0 | So, Professor Haywood knows everything there is to know about what people wore |
| 1:21.0 | and this fascinating insight into clothing and fabrics and cuts and the significance of these things |
| 1:28.0 | is what we're going to be delving into today. |
| 1:30.0 | And we're going to be thinking about Henry VIII, |
| 1:33.0 | described as the best dress sovereign in the world. |
... |
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