

Not Just the Tudors
History Hit
Professor Suzannah Lipscomb talks about everything from the Aztecs to witches, Velázquez to Shakespeare, Mughal India to the Mayflower. Not, in other words, just the Tudors, but most definitely also the Tudors.Each episode Suzannah is joined by historians and experts to reveal incredible stories about one of the most fascinating periods in history, new releases every Wednesday and Sunday.A podcast by History Hit, the world's best history channel and creators of award-winning podcasts Dan Snow's History Hit, The Ancients, and Betwixt the Sheets.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.
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Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 4, 2025 • 41min
Oliver Cromwell v. Charles I
In this engaging discussion, historian Ted Vallance unpacks the tumultuous clash between King Charles I and Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil Wars. He explores the unprecedented trial and execution of Charles, emphasizing the collapse of the divine right of kings. Vallance vividly recounts the pivotal battles that led to this historic moment and the radical shift toward parliamentary governance. The conversation highlights the lasting significance of these events in shaping modern democratic ideals, making history resonate with today’s audience.

13 snips
Sep 1, 2025 • 44min
The English Civil War
Historian Jonathan Healy shares fascinating insights into the English Civil War, shedding light on the financial and political machinations of King Charles I's reign. He discusses the complex interplay of religious and political tensions that ignited conflict across England, Scotland, and Ireland. Key events like the power struggles with Parliament and the pivotal battles at Edge Hill and Marston Moor showcase how these confrontations reshaped the monarchy. Healy also explores the emergence of the New Model Army and its significant political implications.

Aug 28, 2025 • 39min
Tudor True Crime: Europe's Most Murderous Dynasty
The rich and powerful Guise family was one of the most treacherous and bloodthirsty in sixteenth-century France. They whipped up religious bigotry, overthrowing the king. They ruled Scotland for nearly 20 years through Mary Queen of Scots, plotting to invade England and overthrow Elizabeth I. And they unleashed the bloody Wars of Religion, playing a crucial role in the murder of 4,000 Protestants in the infamous Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre.In this final episode for Not Just the Tudors' Tudor True Crime month, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb talks to Professor Stuart Carroll - author of Martyrs and Murderers: The Guise Family and the Making of Europe - about this cultivated, charismatic and violent dynasty.MORE:Catherine d'Medici: Serpent Queen >Mary Queen of Scots' Lost Letters Decoded >Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. Edited by Stuart Beckwith and produced by Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcastSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on
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Aug 25, 2025 • 46min
Tudor True Crime: Murder in the Stuart Court
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.

Aug 21, 2025 • 41min
Tudor True Crime: Murder of Amy Dudley
**WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of suicide**On 6 September 1560, Amy Robsart Dudley died after falling down a staircase at Cumnor Place in Oxfordshire. But did she fall? Was she pushed? Or did she throw herself down the stairs? These questions exercised Tudor courtiers and foreign ambassadors at the time. The truth mattered because Amy was the wife of Queen Elizabeth I’s leading courtier and very close friend, Robert Dudley, and his wife’s death could clear the way for Elizabeth to marry Dudley. But in practice, the circumstances of Amy’s death precluded any possibility of a royal marriage. In this second episode of our Tudor True Crime Month on Not Just the Tudors, first released in February 2023, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb talks to Dr. Joanne Paul to discuss what really happened - was it an accident, suicide or murder?MORE:The House of Dudley >Robert Dudley: Elizabeth I's Forbidden Love >Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. Edited and produced by Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcastSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on
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Aug 18, 2025 • 51min
Tudor True Crime: Murder of Christopher Marlowe
Who stabbed the famed playwright? And who planned it? We're stepping out of the sun and into the shadows on Not Just the Tudors, as Professor Suzannah Lipscomb investigates Tudor True Crime; a selection of history’s most notorious murders and murderers.Today Suzannah is joined by Charles Nicholl to dig deeper into the mystery of the 1593 murder of the brilliant and controversial playwright Christopher Marlowe, who was stabbed to death in a house in Deptford. The official account stated it was a violent quarrel over the bill. But as Charles Nicholl explains, critical evidence about that fatal day points to Marlowe's shadowy political and espionage dealings.MORE:Dr Faustus: Pacts with the Devil >Mysterious Murder of Juan Borgia >Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. Edited and produced by Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcastSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on
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Aug 14, 2025 • 42min
Othered: Race, Gender & Human 'Monsters'
Dr. Surekha Davies, a historian specializing in science and ideas, offers a fascinating exploration of 'otherness' in the Early Modern period. She and Professor Suzannah Lipscomb discuss how societal perceptions of monstrosity evolved, highlighting historical cases and the influence of the four humors. The conversation delves into the entrenchment of racism and sexism through legal frameworks, gender fluidity, and intersexuality, all while unpacking how cultures defined their own 'monsters.' Prepare for a deep dive into history's most intriguing identities.

Aug 11, 2025 • 50min
Molière: Satire, Scandal & the Stage
Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Professor Jan Clarke to explore the life, legend, and legacy of Jean-Baptiste Poquelin — better known as Molière. From his audacious rejection of bourgeois expectations to his controversial plays that rattled the Catholic Church and delighted the King, Molière’s story is as theatrical as his work. So what can be learned about gender, religion, power, and performance in Louis XIV’s France through Molière's comedies?Together, Suzannah and Jan unravel the myth from the man and discover how Molière’s biting satire, his savvy court politics, and his deep understanding of human nature made him a foundational figure in French literature and European theatre.MORE:Louis XIV and his Mistresseshttps://open.spotify.com/episode/2bvIaoji5oM65WbU5bFESwMarie Antoinettehttps://open.spotify.com/episode/69l3JrCvivIuKI5pmQLrYbPresented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Max Wintle, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcastSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on
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14 snips
Aug 7, 2025 • 1h 4min
Vasari: Inventor of Artistic Genius
Dr. Noah Charney, an American art historian and novelist known for his insights into art crime, joins Professor Suzannah Lipscomb to explore Giorgio Vasari, the man who redefined artistic genius. They discuss how Vasari's blend of truth and myth shaped our understanding of Renaissance art and the notion of the solitary artist. From tales of rivalry among artists to the evolution of art from craft to celebrated genius, they uncover Vasari's lasting influence on art history, museum practices, and the very concept of creativity itself.

Aug 4, 2025 • 45min
British Barbary Slaves
**Contains historical language which may cause offence**Between the early 1600s and late 1700s, thousands of British sailors, fishermen, merchants, and coastal villagers were captured and enslaved by North African pirates, known as Barbary Corsairs. Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and Professor Bernard Capp delve into the harrowing experiences of these captives, their treatment, and the broader implications on British society. Their exploration of the similarities and differences between Barbary and African slavery, reveal a nuanced and complex history filled with compelling stories of survival, escape, and unexpected turns.MORE:Women Pirates of the Caribbeanhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/0LC4MXJQZloEoYHkVb3WSLEscaping Slavery in Londonhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/0LC4MXJQZloEoYHkVb3WSLPresented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Max Wintle, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcastSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on
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