Conor Byrne
@executedqueens.bsky.social
PhD student researching executed queens; author of books including biographies of Queen Katherine Howard and Lady Katherine Grey. Associate Fellow Royal Historical Society. 👑 Tudor historian 🌹 conorbyrnex.blogspot.co.uk
I am looking forward to presenting a paper for the Women’s Studies Group this Thursday about my research into images of the executions of British queens. This will be available to tune into online #queenship #tudors #earlymodern #beheading
November 1, 2025 at 12:50 PM
I am looking forward to presenting a paper for the Women’s Studies Group this Thursday about my research into images of the executions of British queens. This will be available to tune into online #queenship #tudors #earlymodern #beheading
My review of “The Afterlife of Mary, Queen of Scots”, edited by Steven Reid, is out in the Scottish Historical Review @scottishhistreview.bsky.social
September 27, 2025 at 10:29 PM
My review of “The Afterlife of Mary, Queen of Scots”, edited by Steven Reid, is out in the Scottish Historical Review @scottishhistreview.bsky.social
Immersed in the Popish Plot and the Exclusion Crisis. Can’t wait to submit my PhD thesis (hopefully soon)
September 20, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Immersed in the Popish Plot and the Exclusion Crisis. Can’t wait to submit my PhD thesis (hopefully soon)
On 5 September 1548, Katherine Parr, sixth wife of Henry VIII, died aged 36. Since then, her portraiture (images 1 and 2) has been manipulated as likenesses of her great-niece by marriage, the tragic Lady Jane Grey (image 3). This image has nothing to do with Jane sadly.
September 5, 2025 at 11:20 PM
On 5 September 1548, Katherine Parr, sixth wife of Henry VIII, died aged 36. Since then, her portraiture (images 1 and 2) has been manipulated as likenesses of her great-niece by marriage, the tragic Lady Jane Grey (image 3). This image has nothing to do with Jane sadly.
Was Mary Boleyn definitely older than her sister Anne? Not necessarily. Stuart historians suggested otherwise
September 1, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Was Mary Boleyn definitely older than her sister Anne? Not necessarily. Stuart historians suggested otherwise
Currently immersed in the Popish Plot and the Exclusion Crisis. The former was a fictitious conspiracy leading to numerous executions and apparently sought the assassinations of Charles II and his Catholic brother James, duke of York while the latter aimed to remove James from the succession
August 30, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Currently immersed in the Popish Plot and the Exclusion Crisis. The former was a fictitious conspiracy leading to numerous executions and apparently sought the assassinations of Charles II and his Catholic brother James, duke of York while the latter aimed to remove James from the succession
On 22 August 1485, Henry Tudor defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth. Henry’s victory inaugurated the rule of the Tudors. My doctorate focuses on the executions of Henry’s daughters-in-law Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard and great-granddaughters Jane Grey and Mary, Queen of Scots
August 22, 2025 at 6:21 PM
On 22 August 1485, Henry Tudor defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth. Henry’s victory inaugurated the rule of the Tudors. My doctorate focuses on the executions of Henry’s daughters-in-law Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard and great-granddaughters Jane Grey and Mary, Queen of Scots
As I’m coming closer to finishing my doctorate, never in my wildest dreams, as a child, did I think that my passion for Tudor history would allow me to pursue a doctorate focused on executed queens. I grew up reading about Queen Anne Boleyn, and I wrote biographies about Queen Katherine Howard. 🌹
August 16, 2025 at 1:15 AM
As I’m coming closer to finishing my doctorate, never in my wildest dreams, as a child, did I think that my passion for Tudor history would allow me to pursue a doctorate focused on executed queens. I grew up reading about Queen Anne Boleyn, and I wrote biographies about Queen Katherine Howard. 🌹
The penultimate chapter of my thesis has involved exhaustive research into these two fascinating monarchs, grandson and grandmother, both executed: In the 1650s, there were many links made - in Britain and in Europe - between Charles and Mary.
August 15, 2025 at 9:52 PM
The penultimate chapter of my thesis has involved exhaustive research into these two fascinating monarchs, grandson and grandmother, both executed: In the 1650s, there were many links made - in Britain and in Europe - between Charles and Mary.
I am about to publish an academic article about visual representations of executed queens, including Jane, and there are several that I’m really excited to share, printed across the Continent. These span multiple languages and national traditions, to provide a wider European perspective.
August 8, 2025 at 8:36 PM
I am about to publish an academic article about visual representations of executed queens, including Jane, and there are several that I’m really excited to share, printed across the Continent. These span multiple languages and national traditions, to provide a wider European perspective.
Lady Jane Grey is one of the central figures in my PhD thesis and has occupied much of my time, having written a biography of her sister Katherine. I am so interested in the mythology of Jane’s legend and I have to commend Dr J. Stephan Edwards for his work on Jane’s portraiture. 🧵
August 8, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Lady Jane Grey is one of the central figures in my PhD thesis and has occupied much of my time, having written a biography of her sister Katherine. I am so interested in the mythology of Jane’s legend and I have to commend Dr J. Stephan Edwards for his work on Jane’s portraiture. 🧵
This portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots narrates her tragic history in Latin and presents her as a Catholic martyr. I have an academic article coming out this year that discusses the Catholic iconography of portraits of Mary & themes of martyrdom, royalty & succession, which this image encapsulates
August 3, 2025 at 2:57 PM
This portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots narrates her tragic history in Latin and presents her as a Catholic martyr. I have an academic article coming out this year that discusses the Catholic iconography of portraits of Mary & themes of martyrdom, royalty & succession, which this image encapsulates
The current chapter of my doctoral thesis has involved these three monarchs and it’s been really fascinating! Very fitting as it’s the quartercentenary of the death of James VI of Scotland and I of England (middle), son of Mary, Queen of Scots (left) and father of Charles I (right).
August 1, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The current chapter of my doctoral thesis has involved these three monarchs and it’s been really fascinating! Very fitting as it’s the quartercentenary of the death of James VI of Scotland and I of England (middle), son of Mary, Queen of Scots (left) and father of Charles I (right).
Revisiting an article that I wrote some years ago: does this portrait depict (as traditionally, but provisionally… believed) Katherine Howard, or as recently suggested, her predecessor Anne of Cleves? Or another woman entirely? conorbyrnex.blogspot.com/2021/09/kath...
July 26, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Revisiting an article that I wrote some years ago: does this portrait depict (as traditionally, but provisionally… believed) Katherine Howard, or as recently suggested, her predecessor Anne of Cleves? Or another woman entirely? conorbyrnex.blogspot.com/2021/09/kath...
Helena Bonham Carter as Lady Jane Grey in the film “Lady Jane” (1986). I have recently written a piece about this which I am hoping to get published, either in an edited collection (originally the plan) or elsewhere.
July 4, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Helena Bonham Carter as Lady Jane Grey in the film “Lady Jane” (1986). I have recently written a piece about this which I am hoping to get published, either in an edited collection (originally the plan) or elsewhere.
My latest research has taken me into the fields of art history and visual culture. My new article explores early modern images of queens’ executions with a wide-ranging continental focus. This image isn’t early modern, but is probably the most famous artistic representation of Jane Grey’s execution.
June 27, 2025 at 9:34 PM
My latest research has taken me into the fields of art history and visual culture. My new article explores early modern images of queens’ executions with a wide-ranging continental focus. This image isn’t early modern, but is probably the most famous artistic representation of Jane Grey’s execution.
Yesterday I presented on some of my current research at the History Doctoral Symposium, it was great to have some feedback
June 13, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Yesterday I presented on some of my current research at the History Doctoral Symposium, it was great to have some feedback
It was truly wonderful to visit the beautiful Jeronimos Monastery while conferencing in Lisbon #royalstudies #queenship 🇵🇹
June 6, 2025 at 10:36 PM
It was truly wonderful to visit the beautiful Jeronimos Monastery while conferencing in Lisbon #royalstudies #queenship 🇵🇹
Some very interesting papers on day 2 of #KQ14 #royalstudies
June 4, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Some very interesting papers on day 2 of #KQ14 #royalstudies
Reposted by Conor Byrne
Next is a paper I have been looking forward to - @enortonhistory.bsky.social on Jane Seymour's political role as consort
#KQ14
#KQ14
June 4, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Next is a paper I have been looking forward to - @enortonhistory.bsky.social on Jane Seymour's political role as consort
#KQ14
#KQ14
Reposted by Conor Byrne
It’s always wonderful to see the variety in papers, covering different regions, eras, and types of queenship!
Our final paper in #KQ14 Session 1.10 Medieval Queenship was @executedqueens.bsky.social Conor Byrne “Isabella of France & the political dynamics of 14th century queenship”—we’ve had 3 fascinating queens in this panel, charting their agency from Galicia, León, Castile via Navarre/France to England
June 3, 2025 at 2:49 PM
It’s always wonderful to see the variety in papers, covering different regions, eras, and types of queenship!
Just a reminder that you can find my latest publications, news and other info at my website: conorbyrnex.blogspot.com
Conor Byrne Historian
I am a historian of late medieval and early modern English queenship and PhD candidate. I am the author of 4 books including "Katherine Howard: Henry VIII's Slandered Queen" and "Lady Katherine Grey: ...
conorbyrnex.blogspot.com
May 30, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Just a reminder that you can find my latest publications, news and other info at my website: conorbyrnex.blogspot.com
Is there more to say about Queen Katherine Howard? Yes. And in the midst of juggling a PhD and many other writing commitments, I want to share this research.
May 23, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Is there more to say about Queen Katherine Howard? Yes. And in the midst of juggling a PhD and many other writing commitments, I want to share this research.
I’ve spent a lot of time researching the Protestant martyrologist John Foxe’s “Actes and Monuments” but this kind of physical memorial to three particular individuals among the hundreds recounted in his account that were executed for their beliefs is poignant and reminds us never to forget them.
May 10, 2025 at 11:31 PM
I’ve spent a lot of time researching the Protestant martyrologist John Foxe’s “Actes and Monuments” but this kind of physical memorial to three particular individuals among the hundreds recounted in his account that were executed for their beliefs is poignant and reminds us never to forget them.