The Tudor Chest Podcast

Dr James Taffe is a Tudor historian, who specialises in exploring the activities of those above and below stairs at this time in history, and so in this episode I chat to James all about the different aspects of service in the 16th century, from helping the monarch dress, to gatekeeping unwanted guests, and of course, exploring what was actually involved in that oh so glamorous sounding job of groom of the stool!

Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I, mother and daughter, both viewed as traitors for a time, Anne Boleyn lost her life, but Elizabeth got her liberty and went on to become perhaps England’s most iconic queen. Their relationship is one seldom explored, and yet both Anne and Elizabeth showed quiet signs of support for each other, even though mother and daughter were ripped apart following Anne’s execution. Today, Dr Sarah Morris joins me for an informal chat all about the relationship between mother and daughter, and we share some of our own feelings and opinions on these two mega stars of British history!

For many the greatest depiction of Anne Boleyn on screen came at the end of 1969, when Anne of the Thousand Days was released in cinemas across the world. An epic historical drama based on the life of Queen Anne Boleyn starring Genevieve Bujold in the titular role alongside Richard Burton, as King Henry VIII. In this weeks bonus episode I will be taking a look back on Anne of the Thousand Days, looking at how it was made, behind the scenes dramas and why, I believe, it retains such a beloved place in the hearts of Anne Boleyn devotees.

With Wolf Hall Series 2 having completed filming and hopefully on our screens soon, I thought the time would be right to explore the lives of two of the men who owed much of their success to Cromwell, but would eventually go on to turn against him, these men being Thomas Wriothesley and Richard Rich. Both would become infamous for their unscrupulous and frankly cruel behaviour, using whatever means possible to reach their goals, both famously turned the wheel of the rack when Anne Askew was subjected to torture, but who were these two men, what were their early lifes like, how did they come to Cromwells service and why are they viewed as such major Tudor villains?

There are two sketches by Hans Holbein which are said to depict Anne Boleyn. One is in the British Museum, while the other is in the royal collection. The latter sketch is the more controversial, as the sitter is in a state of undress, has what appears to be blonde hair and a decidedly full double chin, and yet, the inscription labelling the sketch as her, is believed to have been added by Sir John Cheke, a man who personally knew Anne Boleyn, or did he? In todays episode of the Tudor Chest podcast, I am chatting to Emma Demerath who recently graduated from John Cabot University in Massachusetts, with a degree in Art History. Emma has discovered holes in many of the conclusions historians have made in relation to this sketch, but moreover, has examined the imagery on its reverse, which may very well hold the key to identifying the actual sitter of the piece.

Dr Nikki Clark is a historian and lecturer at Chichester University. Sher joins me today for a fascinating discussion about Anne Boleyn’s household, from who made up Anne’s retinue, what roles they played, how these came about, and how things changed as Anne ascended through the court of King Henry VIII, before her momentous fall in May 1536. We discuss specific members of the court who served Anne, some of which are well known to us, like Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, while others are all but forgotten by history, but all played a role in serving the woman who the late Eric Ives described as the most influential queen consort in English history.

Dr Estelle Paranque is a historian and Associate Professor at Northeastern University London. She joins me today for a discussion all about her latest book, Thorns, Lust and Glory - The Betrayal of Anne Boleyn. In this book, we see that Anne’s destruction was not so entirely determined by the machinations of Thomas Cromwell, but in part owing to the huge shifts in European power politics at the time. It is this, which Estelle discusses, that tells us how much greater the storm around Anne Boleyn actually was, and that in the end, she was betrayed not only by her husband, but by people from across Europe who had once been firm and trusted allies.

Jacquetta of Luxembourg, known more commonly as Jacquetta Woodville was a prominent, though often overlooked, figure in the Wars of the Roses as the mother of the first Yorkist queen, Elizabeth Woodville. Jacquetta’s story is fascinating in its own right, and she would become a central player in the period we now call the wars of the roses. Soon however, Jacquetta would be fighting for her life, when accusations of witchcraft were levied against her by those who wished to oust her from a position of influence, but how did it come to this in the first place? What was Jacquetta’s early life like, and why is her story one all but overlooked by history?

Perhaps the most significant and infamous period from Anne Boleyn’s life is of course her execution. When people think Anne Boleyn, they invariably go straight to the fact that she had her head cut off on her husbands orders. As such, it is natural that Anne’s execution is a staple part of any on screen depiction of the queen. Be it in film or television, Anne Boleyn's final moments on the scaffold have been portrayed many 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? As we are in May and just days after the anniversary of Anne’s execution, in this weeks episode of the Tudor Chest podcast, I will look at 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.

On the 15th May 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn stood before a crowd of 2,000 spectators at the Tower of London, on trial for her life. Accused of adultery with five men, including her own brother, and plotting the death of the king, the charges could hardly have been more grave. To discuss what happened on this remarkable day in history, I am pleased to welcome historian, author and all round Anne Boleyn expert, Claire Ridgway onto the show. She joins me today to unpick what must surely be the most explosive court case ever held at the Tower of London, a case which would end with the queen of England suffering the ultimate punishment.