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Royal progresses or royal entries through the city of London were common during the Tudor period. These progresses were part of the magnificent display of royal power that came to be synonymous with Tudor kings and queens. Throughout much of English history, London has been the centre through which successive monarchs progressed as they took their place on the throne either by inherited right or by force. In the case of the Tudors, it was the first step on their way to legitimizing their accession process. This process involved progressing through London from the Tower of London, followed by the coronation procession at Westminster and then ending with the calling of
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Royal progresses or royal entries through the city of London were common during the Tudor period. These progresses were part of the magnificent display of royal power that came to be synonymous with Tudor kings and queens. Throughout much of English history, London has been the centre through which successive monarchs progressed as they took their place on the throne either by inherited right or by force. In the case of the Tudors, it was the first step on their way to legitimizing their accession process. This process involved progressing through London from the Tower of London, followed by the coronation procession at Westminster and then ending with the calling of
London was chosen as the site to display royal power because its political supremacy sprang less from economic power than from the presence of royal residences, the lawcourts, government offices and the town houses of the great
(Williams 9). Royal progresses occurred for the benefit not just of the monarchs but also of the subjects they ruled and the citizens of London. The first royal progress or
A key note to discuss here is the difference between a royal progress and a royal procession. A royal progress usually saw the monarch and his or her retinue travel from one place to another. This could be to places throughout the kingdom or between the royal palaces within London. A royal procession was a more formalized movement from one location to another significant location usually a ceremonial location. A royal procession involved very specific ordering of the political ranks. The two are often intertwined and are not mutually exclusive: a royal progress could turn into a royal procession upon entry to a civic centre. With the Tudors, royal progresses contained extravagant displays of royal riches, pageantry, magnificence and grandeur.
The Tudors used royal progresses through the city of London to celebrate and highlight significant events. The first Tudor royal progress into London occurred in rapid preparations for an official welcome
and a proclamation by the Mayor, entered in the Journals of the
ordered that the city be cleansed of vagabundes and idill people
(Anglo 9). This proclamation demonstrates that the leaders of the city of London wanted to make it fit for the new triumphant king.
Also during the ceremony of his creation as Prince of Wales
. He arrived from the south as he was coming from the ancient city of Winchester. But the greatest spectacle and most famous royal progress was that of
opened with an extraordinary burst of spectacular entertainments—disguisings, maskings, plays, dances, tilts, tourneys, and foot combats
(Anglo 108). It is interesting to note that there is very little evidence that provides details of
After the break from Rome and with the proper reinforcements in place, disapproval of his subjects
(Erikson 156). However, the account of Then at three o’clock, the Queen’s Grace came to her barge: and incontinent [immediately] all the citizens with that goodly company set forth towards London in good array
(Arber 11-13).
When set out on the traditional ride, from the Tower to Westminster, through the city of London. The royal procession made its way through Mark Lane to Fenchurch Street where it was entertained by
. The manner in which dyvers singing men and children synging and playing on the regales
Here two children greeted the King in conventional terms: he was the
(Anglo 283). This demonstrates the position within the process that the citizens of London and subjects of England had in welcoming and receiving their new monarch.
In ceremoniously told that
. Three days later, she made her progress by river to the Tower (Plowden).
It was nine days later in belles rynging thrugh London, and bone-fyres, and tabuls in evere strett
. There was more rejoicing on
hierarchical superior
place that they rode through London
(qtd. in Samson 763).the queen of the right hande, and the king of the left
The last great Tudor royal progress or royal entry into the city of London was that of the rising of a brilliant Sun to cheer the National chilled with the horror of more than inquisitorial cruelty, when the sight of Princess, whose accession forebode such a joyful change, must have had the same effect on every feeling heart as on that of the ancient citizen in Cheapside, who shed tears of joy.
It is clear from the exploration of royal progresses and processions into London by the Tudors, that the history between the two was intimate and served to enhance the splendor and prestige of both. One could not function or be discussed without the other.