Marrying Out in the Sixteenth Century

Abstract

Despite overwhelming social pressure, several well-born widows in Tudor Britain chose to marry well below themselves in terms of rank on their subsequent marriages. Their reasons for taking these decisions, which could be both socially and politically disastrous, are varied. For some it was as simple as romantic inclination, while others reached out for help to available and loyal men in times of acute personal crisis. Understanding these marriages and the circumstances surrounding these noble women’s decisions opens a window onto the nature of female agency in Tudor Britain.