Renaissance English History Podcast: A Show About the Tudors

Taylor Swift's new album references “the fate of Ophelia”, but who was Ophelia, and why does her story still matter? In this episode, we look at Shakespeare's tragic heroine, her fate in Hamlet, and what her story shows us about women's lives in Elizabethan England. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rosamund Clifford (“Fair Rosamund”) was Henry II's mistress, remembered more in legend than in fact. This episode traces her real story, the myths of labyrinths and poison that grew after her death, and how the Tudors revived her as a tragic heroine in chronicles, poems, and ballads. From Holinshed to Samuel Daniel, and from her Godstow tomb to Elizabethan nostalgia, Rosamund became one of England's most enduring romantic legends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imperial ambassador Eustace Chapuys spent nearly two decades at Henry VIII's court, recording the gossip, arguments, and scandals that defined the Tudor age. Fiercely loyal to Catherine of Aragon and Princess Mary, and famously hostile to Anne Boleyn, his letters give us some of the most vivid snapshots of Henry's reign.Plus, a Tudorcon recap (the first of what will be many, I'm sure!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Parr family rose from Kendal gentry to the heart of the Tudor court, producing Henry VIII's last queen, Catherine Parr. This episode follows their story from northern service and Wars of the Roses loyalties to Catherine's queenship, William Parr's turbulent career, and Anne Parr's link to the powerful Herbert-Sidney circle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tudor England was full of dangers, and some deaths were downright bizarre. From accidents with oxen and brewing vats to poisoned mushrooms and infamous executions, these unusual stories reveal the strange and unpredictable side of Tudor life.Order or preorder the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Ways-Die-Tudor-Ages/dp/1036108732/Tudorcon From Home tickets here: https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before he became Henry VIII's chief minister, Thomas Cromwell spent nearly twenty years in obscurity. From fighting as a mercenary in Italy to working for a Florentine banker and trading in Antwerp, these mysterious “lost years” shaped the man who would one day change England forever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1598, Shakespeare's company secretly dismantled their old playhouse, The Theater, and carried the timbers across the Thames to build the Globe. This minicast tells the story of the midnight heist that gave us the most famous stage in history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1598, playwright Ben Jonson (rival and friend of Shakespeare) faced actor Gabriel Spencer in a duel at Hoxton Fields. Spencer was killed, and Jonson landed in prison, facing execution for murder. He escaped the noose through a loophole in Tudor law known as benefit of clergy and walked free, branded but alive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tudors get all the glory, but no family in England gambled more than the Seymours. They went from quiet country gentry to the heart of Henry VIII's court, a move that gave them a Queen, a King, and a spectacular downfall. But what happens to a family when two of its greatest members are executed for treason? In this episode, we follow the Seymours from their humble start, through their ruthless ambition and tragic fall, to their incredible survival into the modern day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Her grandmother was beheaded. Her father was executed. Her uncle exiled. But while so many of her relatives fell to Tudor paranoia, Katherine Pole not only survived; she built a dynasty. In this episode, we'll tell the forgotten story of the woman whose royal blood put her in mortal danger, but whose quiet wisdom and shrewd alliances helped her outlast the Tudor purge and secure her family's legacy.Tudorcon From Home is coming up! https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A queen's death changes everything. When Marie of Guise, the powerful mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, died in 1560, it sparked rumors of poisoning. But was it a conspiracy or a convenient twist of fate? Let's talk about how this single event led to a historic treaty and set the stage for one of history's most epic rivalries: Elizabeth vs. Mary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You know the name, but do you know the full story? Katherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII, is famous for her tragic end. But the real story is in her chaotic beginnings. Today we look at her unconventional upbringing, the shocking secrets of her youth, and how the "Rose Without a Thorn" was set up for failure long before she ever met the King. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tudors weren't just political power players, they were also deeply superstitious. In this video, we look at the strangest beliefs of the era: strange births seen as divine warnings, everyday superstitions like “bless you” and knocking on wood, ghost lore and sin-eaters, witchcraft paranoia, and medical cures involving beetles, fox fat, and even buttered frogs. Tudor life was fascinating, frightening, and sometimes very funny. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Playwright Rosamond Graves joins me to talk about her new play Three Queens, premiering at the Gamut Theatre in Harrisburg, PA. The play imagines Mary I, Elizabeth I, and Lady Jane Grey meeting on the eve of Jane's execution, exploring power, survival, and how history remembers these women.Go see the play if you're local to Central PA: https://www.paonstage.com/shows/2025/harrisburg/three-queens Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we trace the scandalous yet enduring relationship between John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford, from mistress and governess to Duchess of Lancaster. Their children, the Beauforts, carried the stain of illegitimacy but became central to English politics, and through Margaret Beaufort, their bloodline gave rise to the Tudor dynasty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Forget modern self-help books: the Tudors had their own guides for living well. In this episode, we look at advice from Thomas More, Erasmus, Roger Ascham, William Harrison, and John Dee. From moderation and kindness to simple faith and the pursuit of knowledge, their lessons still resonate today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Tudor England, time was shifting from the rhythms of the sun and church bells to the tick of mechanical clocks. This episode explores how the Tudors measured their days, from sundials and cathedral clocks to Anne Boleyn's gilt-bronze timepiece and Henry VIII's spectacular astronomical clock at Hampton Court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1511, Henry VIII's son, Henry Duke of Cornwall, lived to adulthood. As King Henry IX, he married into the Spanish Netherlands and led England into a Catholic Golden Age: no Anne Boleyn, no Elizabeth I, and no English Civil War. Here's how history might have looked if the first Tudor prince had survived. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's autumn, and the spider webs are everywhere. But in Tudor England, spiders weren't just pests. They carried layers of meaning: omens of luck, remedies for illness, and even ties to witchcraft. In this minicast, we'll look at how Tudors thought about spiders, their place in folklore and medicine, and why these creepy crawlies are still tied to Halloween today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another one from the Members Only vault from a few years ago. Meet Anne Herbert, sister of Catherine Parr, who played her own important role in Tudor history. Serving multiple queens, becoming chief lady-in-waiting to her sister, and marrying into the powerful Herbert family, Anne stood at the heart of court life. A devoted supporter of the Reformed faith, she corresponded with leading scholars and helped shape the religious and political shifts of her time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Howard family rose from Bosworth's ashes to become one of the most powerful dynasties of Tudor England, producing queens, poets, and traitors. In this episode, we trace their rise at Flodden, their heights under Anne and Catherine Howard, their dramatic falls under Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, and their survival into the Stuart age. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry VIII's final will was meant to control the Tudor succession, but it left a legacy of confusion. Signed with a dry stamp instead of Henry's own hand, the will cut out the Stuart line. Yet James VI of Scotland inherited the English crown anyway. Today we'll explore what the will said, why it was controversial, and how it shaped the future of England.Tudorcon From Home tickets: https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On September 7, 1533, Anne Boleyn delivered her first child, a daughter named Elizabeth. Henry VIII had planned for a son, but instead England welcomed the girl who would one day be its most famous queen. Today we look at Anne's confinement at Greenwich, the shock of Elizabeth's birth, and the dazzling christening that followed, where politics and family rivalries played out in full display. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did coffee change England forever? In this episode, we trace the rise of coffee houses from Oxford's first shop in 1650 to London's bustling Cornhill, where pamphlets, politics, and newspapers were brewed alongside the coffee. We'll see why Charles II tried to ban them, how the Women's Petition Against Coffee mocked them, and how Lloyd's Coffee House gave birth to one of the world's great financial institutions. Coffee houses weren't just about caffeine. They were the birthplace of England's public sphere. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When did people first start eating out in England, and how did the Reformation play a role? This episode traces the rise of taverns, cook shops, and ordinaries in medieval and Tudor England, from the first tablecloths in Westminster to the explosion of alehouses after the monasteries closed. Discover how eating out shifted from charity to commerce, and why it mattered for more than just food. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The countess who raised a poet: Susan Bertie helped shape Aemilia Lanyer while dodging royal side-eye and surviving two widowhoods. Quick story, big ripples. Born in 1554 to Katherine Willoughby and Richard Bertie, Susan Bertie's childhood began in Marian exile and continued in a Protestant household at Grimsthorpe under Miles Coverdale. At sixteen she married Reginald Grey, recognized as Earl of Kent in 1572; widowed in 1573, she later married soldier Sir John Wingfield, lived in the Low Countries, and returned after his death at Cadiz in 1596. Remembered as Aemilia Lanyer's “Mistress of my youth,” Susan's quiet patronage shaped an early woman poet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Grey family turns up again and again in late medieval and Tudor history, from Elizabeth Woodville's first marriage, to Lady Jane Grey's nine-day reign, to her sisters' scandals under Elizabeth I. In this episode, we trace the story of the Greys across the centuries, exploring how one family rose from Bedfordshire gentry to the very edge of the throne, only to find that being “almost royal” was as dangerous as it was powerful. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some Tudor women ignored duty and married scandalously - choices that shocked their families, infuriated kings, and sometimes changed history. In this episode, we'll look at Katherine of Valois and Owen Tudor, Katherine Willoughby and Richard Bertie, Katherine Parr and Thomas Seymour, Cecily of York and Thomas Kyme, plus Mary Tudor, Lady Mary Grey, and Margaret Tudor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Going back through the archives... let's discuss John Perrot. Was he Henry VIII's son? Who knows. But he definitely was a pretty ruthless character in Ireland, and he had a surprising downfall. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jane Seymour is often remembered as Henry VIII's one true love, the wife who gave him a son and the queen he chose to be buried beside. But was she really unique, or was her legacy shaped by timing and myth? In this chat, we explore Henry's love life, Jane's brief reign, and how her early death made her the “perfect” wife in history's eyes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Archaeologist AJ Dair joins me to talk about Henry VIII through the lens of psychology and mental health. We discuss his upbringing, the impact of his jousting accident, and how shifting relationships reveal deeper layers of his mind.Tudorcon From Home tickets at https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we turn from the famous princes in the Tower to their lesser-known sisters... the daughters of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. From Elizabeth of York, the Tudor queen who united two warring houses, to Cecily's scandalous second marriage, Anne's unhappy union with the Howards, Catherine's children who would one day alarm Henry VIII, Bridget's quiet life in a convent, and Mary's early death, these women shaped the Yorkist legacy in very different ways.Tudorcon From Home tickets at https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not every Tudor marriage ended in disaster. In this episode, we look at the rare good guys of Tudor England: from William Cecil's partnership with Mildred Cooke to Thomas More educating his daughters, Gilbert Talbot's affectionate letters, and Philip Sidney's romantic poetry. Even in the sixteenth century, some women didn't have to settle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, outlasted Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I. a feat few could match in Tudor England. In this episode, we trace how he survived plots, imprisonment, and shifting regimes to die in power instead of on the scaffold. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: The Disturbing Fate of Katherine Parr's Body; Tudor Body Image - How the Tudors Saw Weight Gain & Loss. Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grammy-nominated lutenist Ronn McFarlane and Richmond guitarist Andrew McEvoy join me ahead of their Tudorcon2025 concert to talk Tudor music, the surprising ties between rock, folk, and the lute, and why court musicians were sometimes accused of being spies. I could have chatted with them for hours - this was such a fun conversation. Check out Ronn McFarlane's website at https://ronnmcfarlane.com/Andrew McEvoy at https://www.youtube.com/@andrewmcevoy7332Tudorcon tickets at https://www.englandcast.com/Tudorcon or streaming tix at https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode explores the forgotten women of the Yorkist dynasty - the sisters of Edward IV and Richard III. Anne of York, Elizabeth of York (Duchess of Suffolk), and Margaret of York (Duchess of Burgundy) each lived through the turbulence of the Wars of the Roses and the rise of the Tudors, but their fates were far from simple. From disastrous marriages and confiscated inheritances to sons who defied the Tudors and foreign alliances that reshaped Europe, their stories reveal how dynastic bloodlines continued to haunt Henry VII and Henry VIII long after Bosworth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lady Dorothy Jocelyn isn't a household name, but her life sheds light on what it meant to be a Tudor courtier. From serving queens like Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard to supplying garments for Catherine Parr, she moved between ceremony, politics, and business in a world that rarely remembered women's contributions. This episode was originally released as a members-only minicast in 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1568, Mary, Queen of Scots escaped her island prison at Lochleven Castle with the help of loyal supporters. Within days she was leading an army, but defeat at Langside forced her to flee into England where her freedom ended for good. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: Did the Tudors Fear Friday the 13th; Why Edward IV's Marriage to Elizabeth Woodville Shocked the English Court. Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tudor England… and Florida? In this episode, I chat with Misty Biruk about the surprising Elizabethan connections to the American Southeast; from Protestant forts near Jacksonville to the legend of a Welsh prince in Alabama. It's a side of Tudor history you've probably never heard before.Grab your Tudorcon From Home ticket at https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome to enjoy all our Tudorcon talks live from anywhere in the world! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paris, August 1572: the bells ring before dawn, and by nightfall thousands of Huguenots are dead. The St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre shocked Europe, hardened Elizabethan England's view of Catholic powers, and left Francis Walsingham with scars and convictions that would shape his career.Tudorcon From Home tickets: https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Cliffords ruled northern England for 500 years through loyalty, lawsuits, and superior castle-building skills. From the legendary "Shepherd Lord" who hid in the Lake District for 24 years to Lady Anne Clifford, who fought a 40-year legal battle to inherit four castles and rebuilt them all to prove her point. When neighbors joined rebellions, the Cliffords chose the crown, and it paid off spectacularly.Tudorcon from Home reservations: https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHomeUse code EARLYBIRD to join the Privy Council Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mary I's household wasn't just filled with courtiers... it was a circle of allies who had stood by her through years of disgrace, danger, and political uncertainty. In this episode, we meet the women who served England's first queen regnant: fools, noblewomen, governesses, and lifelong companions whose loyalty came at a cost.Tudorcon From Home tickets: https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: The Mob That Hunted Anne Boleyn, Margaret Clifford - The Tudor Heiress Who Was Too Close to the Throne? Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From jilting one fiancée for her aunt's fortune, to pocketing a ring from Margaret of Austria, to arranging marriage to an eight-year-old heiress, Henry VIII's best friend had a talent for mixing romance with ambition. This is the story of the gambles he took before his most dangerous move: secretly marrying the king's sister.Tudorcon From Home tickets: https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They were royal... sort of. From John of Gaunt's scandalous affair to Margaret Beaufort's political genius, the Beaufort family shaped the Wars of the Roses and put the Tudors on the throne, despite being banned from it themselves.In this episode, we follow their rise, fall, and unexpected revival - all the way to the present-day Dukes of Beaufort.Tudorcon tickets at https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

hey sailed to France as children with Mary, Queen of Scots, four noble girls, all named Mary.Mary Beaton, Seton, Fleming, and Livingston became her closest companions, and they stayed with her through marriages, murders, imprisonment, and rebellion.This is the story of the Four Marys, the women behind the Queen.Englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome for your Tudorcon From Home tickets, and to join the Privy Council! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're looking at a royal scandal you've probably never heard of: in 1419, Joan of Navarre - the Dowager Queen and stepmother to Henry V - was arrested for witchcraft. Not because she was guilty, but because the king needed cash. In this video, we dug into why Henry turned on her, what the accusation actually meant, and how Joan ended up imprisoned in luxury… with silk gowns and nineteen grooms.Remember Tudorcon from Home tickets - get yours early and join the Privy Council! https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome for all the details. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week:What Happened to Anne Boleyn's Mother?; Did Henry VIII Ever Regret the Executions of Anne Boleyn, Cromwell, or Thomas More? Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I chat with Tudorcon speaker Kendra Drown Pitts about the complex legacy of Mary I. We cover her dramatic rise to power, her marriage to Philip of Spain, the phantom pregnancies, Wyatt's Rebellion, and yes—the burnings. But we also explore Mary as a human: shaped by trauma, driven by duty, and desperate for love and legacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.