The Tudor Chest Podcast

Women who Ruled the World, 5,000 Years of Female Monarchy with Dr Elizabeth Norton

This week, I am thrilled to welcome Dr Elizabeth Norton back to the podcast for the third time as we dive into the stories behind her upcoming book, Women who Ruled the World, 5000 Years of Female Monarchy. In this book, as you can probably guess, Dr Norton looks at female rule over the past five millennia, from Cleopatra of Egypt to Empress Wu of China, Catherine the Great to Elizabeth II, this book has it all - political pawns, fighters, murderers, victims, but all of them have something in common, they dared to rule, often in a world where the very notion was deemed impossible .

The Life of Lord Guildford Dudley, the First Male Tudor consort.

Born the fourth son of the mighty John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, Guildford Dudley was a member of the nobility, but being the fourth son, was by no means deemed particularly significant, that is, until his marriage to the girl who would go on to become England’s shortest reigning monarch, so who was Guildford Dudley, what was his early life like and is there any truth in the theory that he and Jane Grey hated each other?

Anne Boleyn and a tale of two portraits with Karen L Davies

Anne Boleyn portraiture remains a fascinating but highly contentious subject! We are blind as to what Anne Boleyn truly, beyond all doubt looked like, due to a lack of confirmed contemporary portraits of her, but there is a sketch in the royal collection, drawn by Hans Holbein which for many historians is categorically Anne. I have always struggled to accept this conclusion and so I am thrilled that todays guest, Karen L Davies not only agrees, but has produced a mountain of extremely compelling evidence to back it up. In the process, she has also landed on a theory surrounding a sketch long suggested to portray Amalia of Cleves, that it could, in fact be the face of Anne Boleyn all along! So sit back and listen in as Karen dismantles much that has been said by historians, hopefully kickstarting a reassessment of Anne’s image.

Sceptred Isle, A New History of the Fourteenth Century, Part 2, with Helen Carr

Helen Carr joins me again today to discuss the rest of her most recent book, Sceptred Isle. Today we discuss the reigns of Kings Edward III and Richard II, from Edward’s early reign in which he was bullied by his mothers domineering lover to becoming viewed as the greatest Plantagenet king, through to his feckless grandson, Richard II, who all but destroyed trust in the monarch to such a degree that he was forced from the throne, acting as a pre-cursor to the momentous drama that would engulf England in the next century, a period known to us all as the wars of the roses

Anne Boleyn the Musical with Roxana Silbert and Rebecca Night

Historalia are changing the game when it comes to putting on large history themed musicals, hosting them in the grounds of historic buildings closely tied to the subjects of their plays. There latest and very first British musical is just around the corner and its all about everyones favourite Tudor MVP, Anne Boleyn! Anne Boleyn the Musical will take place in a specially designed theatre in the grounds of the stunning Hever Castle, Anne’s iconic childhood home. To discuss the musical with me, I am thrilled to welcome its director, Roxana Silbert and writer Rebecca night onto the show!

The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn with Helene Harrison

From portraits to plays, films to fables, Anne Boleyn is a Tudor poster girl, easily the most studied, the most followed and the most divisive of the six wives of King Henry VIII. Her creation as an icon of history has built over time, both from those who knew her personally and ever since. To discuss how Anne’s image has been created, I am very pleased to welcome back Helene Harrison onto the podcast. Helene’s latest book, the many faces of Anne Boleyn acts as the basis for our conversation, so sit back and listen in as we discuss the many facets of this endlessly fascinating queen, Anne Boleyn.

Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford with Julia Fox

Almost from the moment her head was severed from her body, Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford has been an easy scape goat for all of the drama surrounding the downfall of her husband George, sister in law Anne and the teenage queen she was executed alongside, Katheryn Howard. In reality, there is basically nothing to support the long held belief that Jane actively plotted against the family she had married into. To discuss this fascinating woman with me, I am thrilled to welcome Julia Fox onto the podcast for the first time. Julia joins me today to discuss Janes story, the truth of her role in May 1536, what on earth she was thinking when aiding in Katheryn Howard's adultery and what her actual legacy should be.

Sceptred Isle, A New History of the Fourteenth Century, Part 1, with Helen Carr

England in the fourteenth century would go through some of the most turbulent in royal history! To discuss it all, I am thrilled to welcome historian and author Helen Carr onto the podcast for the first time. Helen’s latest book, Sceptred Isle, A New History of the Fourteenth Century is the backbone for our conversation, a conversation which today focuses on King Edward II - was he actually in love with male favourites, was he to blame for all that befell his people, and did he really die from a red hot poker up where you really don't want one - well keep listening to find out!

Mary Tudor, Queen of France with Amy McElroy

Henry VIII had six wives, but he also had two sisters, and these sisters seldom get the attention they deserve. The younger was Princess Mary, the youngest child of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York to reach adulthood. Mary was famed for her beauty but also the scandal caused by her second marriage to Charles Brandon, a marriage from which Lady Jane Grey traced her direct descent. To discuss Mary and her story with me today, I am pleased to welcome Amy McElroy onto the podcast for the first time. We discuss Mary’s early life, her short-lived marriage to the French king, whether there is any truth in the theory that Mary introduced the French hood into England, plus much more!

Vile, the redemption of Jane Boleyn with Laura Crow

Jane Boleyn is easily one of the most vilified yet fascinating figures from tudor history. She has been, to my mind, unfairly maligned, repeatedly treated as a pantomime villain who destroyed her husband and sister-in-law. This week I welcome Laura Crow onto the podcast to discuss her play, Vile, the possible redemption of Jane Boleyn with me. In this upcoming, audacious and to use the official tagline “rude and radical" reimagining of Jane’s story, Laura discusses the otherness of Jane and her equally maligned husband George Boleyn, examining how queer identity, ableism and mental illness have all shaped the reputations of these two figures.