What happened to Jane Seymour from Wolf Hall? Historical life explained

What happened to Jane Seymour from Wolf Hall? Historical life explained

As a cinephile with a penchant for historical dramas and a soft spot for tales of royal intrigue, I must say that the story of Jane Seymour, as depicted in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, is one that truly resonates. Her life, filled with triumphs and tribulations, offers a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of power, love, and loss during the Tudor era.


Six centuries later, the spouses of King Henry VIII continue to captivate the country, and among them, Jane Seymour stands out as especially significant because she granted the king his most cherished desire.

In the role played by Damian Lewis in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, Henry was deeply focused on fathering a son, believing this would solidify his family’s power over the English throne.

Following both Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn failing to produce a son for him, a letdown that led to Anne’s tragic end, there was an expectation on Jane (portrayed by Kate Phillips) to deliver success in a situation where her predecessors had come up short.

Notably, she carried out the deed, yet unfortunately, she didn’t live long enough to witness her son ascend the throne as king. Her premature demise is believed to have momentarily softened her ruthless spouse’s changeable feelings.

In this book, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, here’s a summary of the events that transpire regarding the character, Jane Seymour, who is among the historical figures portrayed.

What happened to Jane Seymour from Wolf Hall?

What happened to Jane Seymour from Wolf Hall? Historical life explained

Jane Seymour died shortly after giving birth to her son, Edward.

To this very day, there remains ongoing debate about the specific reason for her passing. Some contemporary medical professionals speculate that she might have contracted puerperal fever, or what is also known as “childbed fever” – an infection caused by bacteria in the female reproductive system.

Among the signs of the ailment is shivering, which could account for Jane’s documented experience of being extremely cold in the days preceding her demise (as referenced by HistoryExtra), paraphrased.

Instead, historian Alison Weir proposes, following discussions with medical experts, that an alternate theory might be that Jane suffered from a pulmonary embolism (a condition where there’s a blood clot in the lungs).

Among King Henry VIII’s six queens, it was only Jane Seymour who was given a regal burial. Later, when Henry VIII passed away, he chose to be laid to rest beside her at Windsor, where they now share a final resting place.

But does that signify that Jane was an especially loved partner to the notorious bully?

How did King Henry VIII react to Jane Seymour’s death?

What happened to Jane Seymour from Wolf Hall? Historical life explained

King Henry VIII was deeply troubled by Jane Seymour’s passing.

In her last moments, the monarch was often seen near Jane’s bedside, an unusual occurrence given his deep-rooted dread of illness. Remarkably, the Duke of Norfolk (portrayed by Timothy Spall) penned that he felt profound sadness during this time.

When Jane finally lost her struggle with illness, it’s said that King Henry VIII secluded himself in mourning, choosing not to attend any meetings, not even with his most trusted counselors and friends.

It appears that there’s support indicating Jane may not have held the unique position in Henry’s affections as some romantics might have speculated.

Before she became pregnant, it was noted that the king had expressed little admiration for her beauty compared to other ladies in the royal court.

At the same time, he sternly criticized Jane for voicing her deep worry about the closing of the monasteries, hinting at a potential outcome for her similar to that of Anne Boleyn.

To sum up, it wasn’t until nearly 18 months following Jane’s demise that the king seriously pondered potential spouses for his fourth marriage, and it was only then, worth noting, that he didn’t initiate formal talks with Anne of Cleves until such a long time later.

In my view as a cinephile, the rocky marriages I had with Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard might have cast a long shadow over my later life, especially as health issues started to take a toll on me physically in those years.

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2024-11-25 20:33