Tudor Times is the online repository for all things Tudor and Stewart (1485–1625)

25th April 1507 is the first recorded use of the name ‘America’ on a map. The map was created by the German cartographer, Martin Waldseemuller (also known in typical Humanist fashion by the Latinised form ‘Hylacomylus’). He based his 'Univeralis Cosmographia' on the accounts of Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci ('Americus Vesputi' in Latin), whence he derived the name ‘America’, on the basis that as Europa and Asia had been named for mythical women, so the new lands should be named for their explorer.

The map was produced both as a globe, and as a 12 panel wall-map (pictured) now in the US Library of Congress.

On 24th April 1558 the wedding of Francois, Dauphin of France to Mary, Queen of Scots, took place in the grand cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. Mary had been brought to France in 1548 at the age of 5 in contemplation of this match, which was preferred at that time in Scotland to the alternative on offer – marriage to Edward VI of England. Mary and Francois had been brought up together and were very attached to each other, although their characters were very different – he quiet and studious, she boisterous and fun-loving. He was fourteen, and she fifteen. In July 1559, they became King and Queen of France, as well as Scotland, but Francois died in December 1560 in excruciating pain from some sort of infection that began in his ear. Mary nursed him devotedly.

On 23rd April 1506, with much ceremony, Philip, Duke of Burgundy and titular King of Castile, was installed as a Knight of the Garter at the Chapel of St George, Windsor (pictured). Philip, and his wife, Queen Juana of Castile, had been shipwrecked en route between Burgundy and Castile, and had been obliged to enjoy Henry VII’s hospitality for an extended period whilst Henry turned their visit to his advantage. Philip was a keen participant in tourneys and other chivalric displays, and was no doubt delighted to receive the Garter.