Royal Road Trip: Tudor Summer Progresses (ep 70)

The Tudor court was always on the move. Basic hygiene required
that the court remain in any one palace for just a few weeks
before moving out so everything could be cleaned. Think of no
indoor plumbing or running water. After a few weeks, it was time
to move.

During the spring and summer, those moves went beyond London into
other parts of the country. This was for practical reasons in
some ways—plague and other illnesses often came during these
months, and London was crowded and therefore dangerous. Getting
out of the city made good sense to avoid contagion.

But beyond the need for cleaning and the advantage of avoiding
disease, the most important motive for spring and summer
progresses was to see and be seen. It was important for the
monarch to visit worrisome areas of the country. That way, the
highest figures in the government could identify areas where
trouble was brewing and make a preemptive strike to settle things
down. In addition, the physical presence of majesty could be
enough to convince would-be rebels to think twice (or more!)
about causing trouble. The size of the household and presence of
guards and knights was a visual reminder of the power of the
monarch. 

Early progresses of the first and final Tudor monarchs give us
some great insight into the potential power of the royal
progress.


History shows us what's possible.