Not Just the Tudors From Succession to Codpieces: Your Tudor Questions Answered
Dec 18, 2025
Join historians Alec Ryrie and Maria Hayward as they dive into the captivating world of the Tudors. Ryrie explores how religion was communicated during this turbulent time, revealing the subtle art of oaths and the underground culture of skepticism. Hayward brings a fashionable flair, discussing the social significance of Tudor knitting and the evolution of the iconic codpiece, from practical wear to a symbol of masculinity. Their insights shed light on the era’s intricacies, blending history with unexpected topics!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Victorian Calendars Shaped Tudor History
- Victorian scholars compiled and calendared Tudor state papers but their summaries involved selective choices that shaped narratives.
- Suzannah Lipscomb warns the printed calendars are a starting point, not a faithful transcript of originals.
Bergenroth's Hazardous Archival Work
- Gustav Bergenroth lived an extraordinary life from Berlin barricades to California gold rush before becoming an archive scholar.
- He worked in the Simancas archives under harsh conditions and died of typhus after producing key state paper calendars.
Victorian Stereotypes Warped Tudor Women
- Victorian moral frameworks forced Tudor women into polarised stereotypes like pious Catherine or promiscuous Catherine Howard.
- Lipscomb says 19th-century art and writing still influence modern perceptions of Tudor women.