April 26 - Shakespeare and the plague

Описание: William Shakespeare: The Bard's Baptism in Tudor Stratford 🎭

Join me as I delve into the momentous day of William Shakespeare's baptism on the 26th of April 1564 at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon.

The exact date of Shakespeare's birth remains a mystery, but tradition marks his birthday on the 23rd of April, with baptisms typically occurring shortly after birth during this era.

Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare was baptised, also serves as his final resting place. Visitors can view copies of his baptism and death entries in the parish records and pay respects at his grave, adorned with a bust erected in 1623 by his widow Anne and loved ones.

Shakespeare's early years were marked by peril, as the plague ravaged Stratford-upon-Avon in July 1564. The devastating epidemic claimed over 200 lives in the parish, yet Shakespeare's family emerged unscathed, a stroke of fortune amid tragedy.

Explore the history of the plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which spread through air, direct contact, contaminated food, and infected fleas. Symptoms included necrosis, lymph node swelling, fever, and delirium, with pneumonic plague proving particularly deadly.

The Black Death, a bubonic plague epidemic in the 14th century, decimated Europe's population, while England faced recurrent outbreaks throughout subsequent centuries. The 1665-1666 London plague notably claimed a quarter of the city's residents.

Join me as I commemorate Shakespeare's baptism, reflecting on the turbulent times that shaped the Bard's early life and the enduring legacy of his literary genius.

#WilliamShakespeare #HolyTrinityChurch #StratfordUponAvon #TudorHistory #Bard 🎭


Also on this day in Tudor history, 26th April 1540, Catherine Carey, daughter of Mary Boleyn and niece of the late Queen Anne Boleyn, married Francis Knollys.

It is not known whether the marriage was a love match, but it appears to have been a very happy and successful marriage, and resulted in 14 children. You can find out more about them in last year’s video -    • April 26 - The marriage of Catherine Carey...  

And on this day in 1536, in the lead up to Anne Boleyn's fall, Queen Anne Boleyn met with her chaplain, Matthew Parker. The words that she spoke to him that day had such an impact on him that they stayed with him for the rest of his life. Find out more about this in the video on 26th April 1536 -    • April 26 - Anne Boleyn and Matthew Parker'...  

You can find Claire at:
https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
https://www.tudorsociety.com
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