Mary Tudor, Duchess of Suffolk - cause of death?

I read (I think in the Henry's sisters book) that Mary never completely recovered from the sweating sickness which she had after Eleanor was born. She didn't show up at court much after the mid 1520s - so it wasn't just Anne Boleyn. By the early 1530s she was largely incapacitated. I suppose it could have been cancer, in combination with general infirmity. Her corpse was found to be remarkably preserved when her coffin was opened in the 19th century - still with her long red hair.

Anyone know what sweating sickness involves (aside from sweating, obviously)?

You are welcome Kimberly.  There is a bit more to tell on this story, and I hopefully will post it for all to read tonight or tomorrow.  Highly reccomend this book to all.

Thanks for that Michael. I have that book too but was far too lazy to type all that out.   It's an OK book, I think, but a little . . . I don't know, drab, or something, because I found it hard to get into. Possibly just me. I found all the Scottish politics in it re Margaret a bit tedious, and wished that Margaret Douglas and the Brandon girls got more mentions.

Anyone know what sweating sickness involves (aside from sweating, obviously)?

First breaking out in a heavy sweat, victims of the sweating sickness then develop a high fever and infected rash. Soon after, most will be dead.

Her corpse was found to be remarkably preserved when her coffin was opened in the 19th century - still with her long red hair.
 

Sounds eerie! Why did they open her coffin in the 19th century? I wonder if it is one of those urban legends though... about her being very well preserved. They often say this about various historical figures, but most of the time it is an exaggeration...

Sounds eerie! Why did they open her coffin in the 19th century? I wonder if it is one of those urban legends though... about her being very well preserved. They often say this about various historical figures, but most of the time it is an exaggeration...

Yes there are a lot of these tales - it probably means she was well preserved qua 300 year old corpse!

They were renovating the church she was buried in, and thought they would have a look.

Thanks for that Michael. I have that book too but was far too lazy to type all that out.   It's an OK book, I think, but a little . . . I don't know, drab, or something, because I found it hard to get into. Possibly just me. I found all the Scottish politics in it re Margaret a bit tedious, and wished that Margaret Douglas and the Brandon girls got more mentions.

I agree with Prince_Lieven about this book -  though it's along time since I've read it. I think I read it standing up at the library! It needs redoing!

The Scottish politics is quite interesting actually (eg Lady
Glamis!) but the author of this book didn't really make it come alive. It makes Mary's life as Duchess of Suffolk and Margaret's life post-Flodden sound quite dreary, but maybe that's my fault for just skimming through!

Yes there are a lot of these tales - it probably means she was well preserved qua 300 year old corpse!

They were renovating the church she was buried in, and thought they would have a look.

The same was said about katherine Parr. They found her coffin amongst a pile of rubble and than built a beautiful chapel for her to "rest" in. She also was remarkably well preserved with beautiful, flowing reddish hair

The same was said about katherine Parr. They found her coffin amongst a pile of rubble and than built a beautiful chapel for her to "rest" in. She also was remarkably well preserved with beautiful, flowing reddish hair

The same thing was said about Grand Duchess Elizabeth of Russia, although her corpse wasn't nearly as old as that... I am very skeptical when I read something like this... But I am a skeptical person in general so it doesn't mean anything.

I suppose hair could be preserved for a long time, however I am not so sure if it would still look "beautiful" after 300 years of being dead    .

The same was said about katherine Parr. They found her coffin amongst a pile of rubble and than built a beautiful chapel for her to "rest" in. She also was remarkably well preserved with beautiful, flowing reddish hair

Yep, it was also said of James II - a group of Sans culottes during the revolution opened his coffin to find his body perfectly preserved, and it was on show until George IV heard about it and had it buried.

Back to topic, I'm glad you agree with me Bell! I also think that Henry, though obviously a large player in his sister's lives, somewhat over shadows them at times in the book.

Back to topic, I'm glad you agree with me Bell! I also think that Henry, though obviously a large player in his sister's lives, somewhat over shadows them at times in the book.

Wait a minute, the book is not the topic, the topic is what was Mary Duchess of Suffolk's cause of death  .

Wait a minute, the book is not the topic, the topic is what was Mary Duchess of Suffolk's cause of death  .

Hmph. I tell you, you try to make a lively contribution and this is the thanks you get! Well!  

Wait a minute, the book is not the topic, the topic is what was Mary Duchess of Suffolk's cause of death  .

....and our only source of information so far is this solitary book! Are there any other books on Mary's Suffolk period?

Hmph. I tell you, you try to make a lively contribution and this is the thanks you get! Well!  

....and our only source of information so far is this solitary book! Are there any other books on Mary's Suffolk period?

Yes, that's what I was trying to figure out too!

The only other Mary books I know are historical novels, and they're not good since they mayn't be historically accurate. :-/

Yes there are a lot of these tales - it probably means she was well preserved qua 300 year old corpse!

They were renovating the church she was buried in, and thought they would have a look.

During the reign of QV, the coffin of Charles I was opened, and he was preserved perfectly.  I believe Bertie was present at the opening of this casket, and the neck had a bandage around it, and within minutes the corpse blackened, it is probably due to being sealed in a lead coffin, airtight, and the enbalming products they used.