Katy's Corner: Gertrude & Edward Courtenay

This week, we're diving into a very niche Tudor rabbit hole with Gertrude Blount Courtenay, Marchioness of Exeter, and her son Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon. Gertrude had it all: a prestigious marriage, powerful friends, royal connections, and a front-row seat to the Tudor court. Unfortunately, being related to Henry VIII was not always the flex you'd think it would be.

When the Courtenay family gets caught up in one of Henry VIII's alleged treason conspiracies, Gertrude loses her husband, her fortune, and her freedom. Meanwhile, her young son Edward spends nearly 15 years imprisoned in the Tower of London, only to emerge as one of England's most eligible bachelors and a potential husband for Queen Mary I.

We've got Plantagenet bloodlines, religious drama, suspicious conspiracies, royal matchmaking, a rebellion, and even rumors of assassination. Through it all, Gertrude proves to be one of the Tudor court's most determined survivors.