The Return of the Tudors
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TL;DR
- The iconic image of Henry VIII with a turkey drumstick is a widely shared false memory; he is actually depicted holding gloves in his most famous portrait.
- Henry VIII was an active and intellectually serious man, whose later obesity and illness stemmed from a jousting injury, leading to excessive consumption of alcohol.
- Henry VIII is presented as the prototype of the modern tyrant, with his brand of nationalism and personalism resonating with contemporary political figures.
- His break from the Catholic Church was a nationalist move to assert England's independence from a 'transnational bureaucracy,' a concept still debated today.
- The article draws parallels between Henry's court, which saw enrichment through church assets, and modern political circles where policy benefits associates, with the public bearing the cost.
- Donald Trump is compared to Henry VIII, particularly in his use of religion for political support and his autocratic tendencies.