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.
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 🇵🇹
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.
Truly fascinating today in Salisbury, discovering that three Protestant martyrs were burned at the stake in Mary I’s reign here. I had never heard of these martyrs but a memorial plaque like this is so important. A 🧵
May 10, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Truly fascinating today in Salisbury, discovering that three Protestant martyrs were burned at the stake in Mary I’s reign here. I had never heard of these martyrs but a memorial plaque like this is so important. A 🧵
I’m excited to share that my current research in progress has been accepted for publication in a journal - I look forward to sharing more in due course #queenship #visualculture
May 9, 2025 at 8:37 AM
I’m excited to share that my current research in progress has been accepted for publication in a journal - I look forward to sharing more in due course #queenship #visualculture
This beautiful image, taken from Jean Fouquet’s “Grandes Chroniques de France”, shows Isabella of France, wife of Edward II, returning to England with her son (the future Edward III) to launch her bid to remove her husband’s hated favourites, the Despensers, from power.
April 30, 2025 at 7:25 AM
This beautiful image, taken from Jean Fouquet’s “Grandes Chroniques de France”, shows Isabella of France, wife of Edward II, returning to England with her son (the future Edward III) to launch her bid to remove her husband’s hated favourites, the Despensers, from power.
This 1795 engraving, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, creatively depicts the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. It was commissioned by Robert Bowyer for his 1806 edition of David Hume’s “The History of England”. I am researching visual depictions of executions alongside my PhD.
April 25, 2025 at 9:29 PM
This 1795 engraving, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, creatively depicts the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. It was commissioned by Robert Bowyer for his 1806 edition of David Hume’s “The History of England”. I am researching visual depictions of executions alongside my PhD.
Today involved spending some time with some fascinating sources about Lady Jane Grey and it’s made me excited about the scope of this PhD chapter. The Streatham Portrait, shown here, may not present Jane: it may have been based on a portrait of Katherine Parr, sixth wife of Henry VIII.
April 4, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Today involved spending some time with some fascinating sources about Lady Jane Grey and it’s made me excited about the scope of this PhD chapter. The Streatham Portrait, shown here, may not present Jane: it may have been based on a portrait of Katherine Parr, sixth wife of Henry VIII.
I’ve been working on my chapter about Katherine Grey and the succession for a forthcoming volume and with it being the 400th anniversary of James I’s death this week, it does seem fitting to reflect on what might have been if Elizabeth I had followed her father’s wishes.
March 28, 2025 at 11:40 PM
I’ve been working on my chapter about Katherine Grey and the succession for a forthcoming volume and with it being the 400th anniversary of James I’s death this week, it does seem fitting to reflect on what might have been if Elizabeth I had followed her father’s wishes.
Today marks the quatercentenary of the death of James VI of Scotland and I of England at Theobalds House, aged 58. Mary, Queen of Scots is a central figure in my doctoral research and the ways in which James interacted with his mother’s controversial memory and legacy are an important part of this.
March 27, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Today marks the quatercentenary of the death of James VI of Scotland and I of England at Theobalds House, aged 58. Mary, Queen of Scots is a central figure in my doctoral research and the ways in which James interacted with his mother’s controversial memory and legacy are an important part of this.