Tudors were just as good at spinning...

POLITICAL spin was just as prevalent in Henry VIII era as it is today, according to Portsmouth University geographer

In a new documentary to be screened on the History Channel this month, professionals will claim that the real sinking of Portsmouth's Mary Rose ship was hushed up by the Tudor King in a clear case of old fashioned spin.

Geographer Dr Dominic Fontana is one of a team of experts whose theory on the sinking of the Mary Rose will be showcased on the channel.

According to the historians, the Tudor King Henry claimed the Mary Rose sank because of a gust of wind because he did not want his Navy to be deemed incompitent in sea battle.

Dr Fontana said: “It was hit by French gunfire and despite valiant efforts being made by her crew she capsized just one mile from Southsea Castle from where King Henry VIII was watching the battle.

He said those onshore would not have known anything about flooding in the hull caused by a French hit on the ship and it would have appeared as though she had been caught by a freak gust of wind and blown over.

Dr Fontana added: "They would have seen what looked like a fully intact Mary Rose suddenly sink. The French damage to the hull would have been relatively slight but it was a fatal wound.”

Bookmark/Search this post with:

delicious | digg | reddit | newsvine | furl | google | yahoo | technorati | icerocket