Not Just the Tudors Tudor True Crime: Murder in the Stuart Court
Aug 25, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Professor Alastair Bellany, a historian at Rutgers, delves into the tumultuous and scandalous murder of Thomas Overbury within the Tower of London. He reveals how personal rivalries and political intrigue under King James I ignited a media frenzy that threatened the monarchy. The conversation explores the rise of underground media, shifting public perception, and the ramifications of this affair on the Stuart court's political landscape, including the dramatic ascent of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham.
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Friendship Fueled Overbury's Rise
- Thomas Overbury rose at court through friendship with Robert Carr after meeting in Edinburgh and joining Carr's circle when James became king.
- Overbury's access and influence stemmed from that friendship rather than independent aristocratic standing.
Falling Out Led To The Tower
- Overbury opposed Carr's affair with Frances Howard and offended the king, leading to his imprisonment in the Tower in April 1613.
- Carr initially could have secured Overbury's release but instead used the situation to further his own agenda.
Poisoning Frame Used To Build The Case
- The prosecution linked Frances Howard and her circle to poisoning via staged gifts and a lethal enema delivered by a bribed apothecary's apprentice.
- The case combined direct testimony and reconstruction of illicit networks rather than modern forensic proof.
