3rd February 2017
A 16th century Tudor Rose pendant has been discovered at a building site in Moscow. This rose was adopted as an emblem by Henry VII when he married Elizabeth of York in 1486 and ended the Cousins’ War, merging the warring houses of York and Lancaster. It combines the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster in a symbol of unity and peace after many years of conflict.
This pendant has been dated by archaeologists to 1590, when Elizabeth I was on the throne. It is interesting to see an item like this found in Russia, but perhaps it’s not so surprising when you consider that it’s been found on the site of what was the first English trading office in Moscow. What makes the location even more notable was that it was the first official residence of any Western power in the Russian capital. This trading and ambassadorial office was established in the 1550s at a time when the Russian Tsar Ivan IV – more commonly known as Ivan the Terrible – was keen to encourage trade. It has been suggested that he proposed marriage to Elizabeth and was rejected, causing relations to suffer between the two countries. However, trade continued and this English office in Russia remained until 1649.
It is always exciting to hear of new discoveries like this, particularly when they are found in unexpected places.