Mercenaries, Migration and the Crew of the <i>Mary Rose</i>

This article reconsiders the presence of foreigners in crew Henry VIII's ship Mary Rose light recent archaeological investigations human remains from wreck. Through an interdisciplinary analysis drawing on investigation, artefacts found board and historical documents, this study investigates context for ship, considering how why these men came to be English warship during mid-Tudor period. Although media coverage extrapolated research image a multicultural England, argues that challenge narrative Henrician England as ethnically homogenous should also considered alongside military contexts. In particular, by framing source material within both short-term military-based longer-term patterns migration, points importance factors, wider picture and, intersection between them. Furthermore, it demonstrates Tudor relied foreign soldiers, trade, labour skills. By placing scientific enquiries into their contexts, more complete can formed – one acknowledges role strangers transnational relationships defence maintenance realm.