The Tudor Chest Podcast

What was life really like for women in the Middle Ages? From princesses and queens, to noblewomen all the way down to peasants, their lives were shaped by work, family, faith, law and the communities around them. But how much do we actually know about their experiences, and what can medieval sources tell us about the choices, challenges and opportunities they faced? Well to discuss just that, I am thrilled to welcome back Dr Catherine Hanley, onto the podcast, for a discussion based around her book, The Family Lives of Medieval Women. Together, we’ll look beyond the stereotypes of the “medieval woman” and discover the remarkable variety of women’s lives during this period.

What if Henry VIII’s two most famous wives had put aside their differences and joined forces against the man who destroyed both their lives? Imagine Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn — two women who, in real life, became bitter rivals — forming the most unlikely alliance in Tudor history. Well to answer that question, I am joined by author Jillian Laine, whose novel Henry Tudor Must Die brings Catherine and Anne together in an entirely new version of the Tudor story — one where the wives aren't simply victims of Henry's reign, but the architects of his downfall. So sharpen your knives, keep your head down, and prepare for a very different take on the story we know so well.

Among Henry VIII’s many significant ministers and members of his inner circle, William Paget is woefully overlooked. In many ways the successor to Thomas Cromwell, he was instrumental in defining the last years of King Henry VIII’s life, playing a fundamental role in the destruction of the Earl of Surrey and in establishing how Henrys planned succession would take shape. To discuss Paget with me, I am pleased to welcome historian Dr Andrew Johnston onto the podcast for the first time. His book, The Kings Secretary, William Paget and the Last Years of the Reign of Henry VIII acts as the basis for our conversation, so stay tuned, to find out the story behind the man who became central to the final days of England's most notorious king

What if almost everything we think we know about Jane Seymour is far from true? In her fascinating new book, Jane Seymour: Patronage, Material Culture and Image Making, Dr Elizabeth Norton takes a fresh look at the woman behind the familiar portrait — and in doing so, completely upturns some of the long-held assumptions about Jane. From Jane's age, to her passion for fashion, her intense political astuteness and even examples of public discontent from the common people of England, about her replacing Anne Boleyn as queen, yes, you heard that correct, so stay tuned, to find out more.

Desiderius Erasmus was one of the greatest intellectuals of the Renaissance—a brilliant scholar, prolific writer and tireless traveller whose ideas shaped the course of European history. Living at a time of immense religious and political change, he became famous across the continent for his humanist learning, his bestselling works and his calls for reform within the Church, while carefully avoiding the more radical path taken by Martin Luther. His remarkable life brought him into contact with kings, popes and some of the greatest minds of the age, including the young Henry VIII. To explore the life, travels, influence and enduring legacy of this extraordinary man, I'm delighted to be joined today by historian Amy McElroy, whose recent book, Desiderius Erasmus: The Folly or Far Sightedness of Renaissance Europe's Greatest Mind acts as the basis for our conversation

With house of the dragon season 3 nearing its conclusion, I thought the time was right to explore the real life story behind it! Following the death of King Henry I in 1135, a disputed succession plunged the kingdom into nearly two decades of civil war, shifting alliances, and bitter rivalry between King Stephen and the Empress Matilda. It was a conflict that tested loyalties, reshaped castles and kingdoms, and left contemporaries believing that "Christ and his saints were asleep." To guide me through this remarkable era, I'm delighted to welcome back historian, author, and broadcaster Matt Lewis. Together we'll explore the personalities behind the struggle, separate fact from legend, and discover how this extraordinary conflict paved the way for the rise of the Plantagenets. So, whether you're a medieval history enthusiast or simply love a gripping story of power, betrayal, and survival, stay tuned to find out all about The Anarchy!

In 1503, Princess Margaret Tudor journeyed from the comfort of her family home in London up to Scotland where she would be married to a man twice her age, King James IV. Her progress stopped at many key sites in northern England and into Scotland, and so Sarah Morris and I, my co-director on our tour company Simply Tudor Tours, decided to introduce a brand new tour, retracing that very trip, so join Sarah and I as we walk through the route Margaret took, the places she visited, and what people joining the tour can expect to experience, from the magical cathedrals of York and Durham to the windswept ruins of Linlithgow Palace, and also experience a private ghost hunt at Britain's most haunted keep, Chillingham Castle.

Few monarchs in English history have been as carefully constructed through art as Queen Elizabeth I. More than four centuries after her death in 1603, her image remains instantly recognisable: the elaborately embroidered gowns glittering with pearls and precious stones, the flame-red hair crowned with jewels, the unnaturally smooth white complexion, and the unwavering gaze that projects confidence, intelligence and absolute authority. These portraits have become so familiar that they often appear to present Elizabeth exactly as she looked. In reality, they reveal far less about the queen's physical appearance than they do about how she wished to be perceived, so how was she perceived?

Perhaps naively, or maybe through blissful ignorance, many take it for granted that English expansion into the Americas during the 16th century ensured that a great deal of English culture then influenced how the Americas developed, but what if this idea were flipped? When one digs deep, is there plenty of evidence to suggest that in fact, the Americas also changed England in return, from changes in import, to language, and a rise in foreign visits to the court of Elizabeth I, there is much more to this story than one would initially think, and so to discuss this very subject, I am pleased to welcome historian Dr Lauren Working onto the podcast for the first time, her recent book, A Golden World acts as the basis for our conversation, so settle in, to find out about how the Americas transformed the world of Elizabeth I and her court.

Hello, it’s Adam here from the Tudor Chest. This weeks episode is going to be a bit different, as this week, prepare to get to know me a bit better as I discuss my life, my love of history and of course, some of my opinions......

Easily one of the most fascinating and complex relationships in Tudor history is that between the daughters of King Henry VIII, Mary and Elizabeth. Bound by blood yet divided by religion, politics, and circumstance, the two half-sisters navigated rivalry, suspicion, and survival in a turbulent age. To discuss their relationship with me, I am pleased to welcome back historian Dr Peter Stiffell, who will examine how their relationship evolved from childhood through to Mary's reign and Elizabeth's eventual accession to the throne. Together, we'll uncover the personal dynamics, political pressures, and historical consequences that shaped the lives of England's first two reigning queens.

Today, I'm delighted to be joined by one of Britain's most acclaimed historians, indeed I would say she’s my biggest guest yet, Professor Kate Williams. A bestselling author, broadcaster, and expert on royal history, Kate has spent years bringing the lives of monarchs to vivid life for readers and audiences alike. Her latest book, Regina, A New History of Women and Power takes us on a fascinating journey through the stories of history's female rulers—women who wielded power in worlds often designed to deny it to them. In this conversation, we'll discuss the lives of these remarkable queens, the myths and misconceptions that surround them, and what their stories can tell us about leadership, power, and the place of women in history.

She was a queen, a political player, and one of the most controversial women of the Wars of the Roses. Admired by some and mistrusted by others, Elizabeth Woodville became a central figure in a royal dynasty marked by ambition, intrigue, and conflict. Her story touches on questions of power, family, survival, and the enduring mystery surrounding the Princes in the Tower. To help me untangle the myths from the historical reality, I'm joined by historian Dr Lacey Bonar-Hull, to shed new light on medieval queenship and the complex legacy of Elizabeth Woodville. Together, we'll examine the woman behind the legend and her lasting impact on English history.

From the chaos of the Norman Conquest to the power struggles of the Plantagenets, the princesses of medieval England lived lives shaped by politics, ambition, and survival. In this episode, I am pleased to welcome historian Sharon Bennett Connolly onto the podcast for the first time, as we explore the women born into royal households between 1066 and the reign of King John: daughters promised in marriage treaties, sisters caught in dynastic rivalries, and queens-in-waiting whose influence stretched across Europe.

Anne Boleyn's final moments on the scaffold have been portrayed countless times, but do any of these depictions actually show the execution in an accurate light? Do any get it completely right, and which are way off the mark? Is the actress playing Anne wearing the clothing described in the contemporary sources, does the speech from the scaffold match what we know she said? Is the manner of death accurately portrayed? Well this week, I ask that very question, as I examine what actually happened on that momentous day, and then examine the many depictions of the most famous moment from Anne Boleyn's life, and ascertain whether any actually portray it as it happened on the faithful day, the 19th May 1536.

Tudor artefacts are sadly very rare, which is why new discoveries are always so exciting! Recently, a chair came to light which very likely belonged, or more accurately, was created for, Anne Boleyn. Historian Sandra Vasoli has been really involved in the discovery of this chair, working alongside Paul Fitzsimmons to piece together its story. Sandi joins me today to discuss what they have discovered, what the theories are around why this item was created, and fascinatingly, what it can tell us about the role Anne Boleyn played during her time serving at the French royal court.

A sketch of a woman, erroneously identified as Amalia of Cleves, could, according to todays guests, actually be a contemporary sketch of Anne Boleyn, while another sketch, long believed to be Anne, may in fact be another Boleyn altogether. Historian Karen L Davies and Professor Hassan Ugail of Bradford University have co-authored a paper which applies technology to helping identify these sitters, so join them and I as we discuss the fascinating work they’ve been conducting, are we finally seeing the true face of Anne Boleyn?

Robert Cecil, the younger but highly prodigious son of William Cecil, chief advisor to Elizabeth I, was one of the most complex but intriguing figures of the late 16th and early 17th century. Bookish, awkward and at times rather cold, he was nonetheless a supremely skilled politician who would play a huge role in the succession from the world of the Tudors to the Stuarts. To discuss Robert Cecil with me, I am pleased to welcome author Richard Woulfe onto the podcast for the first time. Richard’s book, Master Secretary, Robert Cecil, A Life in Fiction, is as the name suggests, a piece of historical fiction, but the discussion today is all about the real man himself, so settle in to discover all about the man who all but placed the crown of England on the head of a Scotsman

I think we’d all love for Anne Boleyn to have been given the chance to get her revenge on King Henry VIII, which is why I was really excited to read The Beheading Game, the delightfully bonkers new piece of historical fiction in which Anne Boleyn wakes up in that famous arrow chest, her head resting at her waist. What follows is a journey in which Anne manages to reattach her head, before going out on a journey of both self discovery and, of course, cold hard revenge. To discuss the story with me, I am pleased to welcome the books author, Rebecca Leeman onto the podcast for the first time. Join Rebecca and I as we discuss how she developed her ideas, the creative choices she made for Anne’s character, what ancient legends inspired the story plus much more!

She is known around the world as the Other Boleyn Girl, but what do we really know about the sister of Anne Boleyn? Characterised as either a dull, less educated version of Anne or a whore who slept her way through much of the French court, in reality what we do know of Mary’s story paints an entirely different woman. To discuss her with me, I am pleased to welcome back historian Sylvia Barbara Soberton onto the podcast for a discussion on her upcoming book, Mary Boleyn, the Queens Slandered Sister.