

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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 28, 2025 • 52min
The Rise of Isabel of Castile
**This episode contains sexually explicit language**In an age when powerful female rulers were few and far between, Isabel of Castile rose against the odds to become one of Europe's most formidable monarchs. Crowned ruler of a chaotic, divided kingdom in 1474, Isabel transformed Castile into a powerhouse and helped forge the foundation of modern Spain. But was she a visionary queen and unifier of a fractured land or a zealot whose decisions cast long shadows? Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Isabel's biographer Giles Tremlett to explore her rise to power and her forging of a strategic alliance with Ferdinand of Aragon.MORE:Christopher Columbushttps://open.spotify.com/episode/5irll7mMs6rpkFvQR3L5VRVelazquez & the Spanish Courthttps://open.spotify.com/episode/68UKq5ABg5mPJTAwk8vqLrPresented 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

4 snips
Jul 24, 2025 • 50min
Bonnie Prince Charlie & the Jacobite Rebellion
Join Professor Allan McInnes, a scholar of early modern history, as he delves into the complex saga of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite Rebellion. Discover the motivations behind this dramatic uprising and the pivotal events like the Glorious Revolution and the Battle of Culloden. McInnes reveals how unexpected factors, such as cattle disease, shaped key battles and explores the brutal reprisals against Highland clansmen. The discussion highlights the cultural ramifications of the rebellion and its lasting impact on Scottish identity.

Jul 21, 2025 • 58min
The Restoration Queen: Maria of Modena
**This episode contains discussions of miscarriage**When a teenage Catholic princess was sent from Italy to marry James II and reunite England with Rome, public scandal and political intrigue fuelled society. Maria of Modena defied all expectations.Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Dr. Breeze Barrington to uncover the hidden world of women at the Restoration Court, a network of female painters, poets, and maids of honour who reshaped the Stuart world. At its heart, Maria built a vibrant female-led court in Protestant England, demonstrating resilience against cruel gossip and societal pressures.Suzannah and Breeze celebrate how female friendships, creativity, and quiet resistance gave Maria strength in the face of relentless scrutiny, and left an indelible mark on history.MORE:Nell Gwynn: Actress and Royal Mistresshttps://open.spotify.com/episode/780pqRqcS8BCidbvHWRId7How to Live Like a Stuart Aristocrathttps://open.spotify.com/episode/0VEpSUUnO1jr8IvM5YNudDPresented 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.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

Jul 17, 2025 • 51min
When Women Ruled the Low Countries
Five generations of remarkable women - from Mary of Burgundy to Isabella Clara Eugenia - made an enduring impact on the Low Countries. By strategically navigating political alliances, personal losses, and wars, they shaped the destiny of the Netherlands and early modern European history.Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Dr. Natalie Donnell to delve into their fascinating stories, ranging from Mary of Burgundy's courageous rule to Margaret of Austria's diplomatic brilliance.Habsburg Inbreeding with Dr. Adam Rutherfordhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/3sQ4jrYtuwAFJUfBgbaAXYSeymour, Dudley & Parr Families: Forgotten Tudor Womenhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/4b4rxteStrSG70aImxBcPQ?autoplay=truePresented 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 podcast.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. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

Jul 14, 2025 • 47min
Nicholas Culpeper: Herbalist and Radical
The maverick herbalist who fought for medical freedom.We love a rebel with a cause here on Not Just The Tudors, and Nicholas Culpeper was just that.He defied the authoritarian College of Physicians in 17th Century; translating their exclusive texts into English and treating the common people with traditional herbal remedies.Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Benjamin Wooley to explore Culpeper's tumultuous early life, his radical political and astrological beliefs, and his enduring legacy in modern medicine. This defiant pioneer democratised healthcare amidst the chaos of plague, civil war, and social upheaval.MOREHow To Survive The Plaguehttps://open.spotify.com/episode/01e8GRcHkZuHjmUTvlIwRxPresented 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 podcast.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. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

Jul 10, 2025 • 48min
Mary Rose & the Battle of the Solent
Dominic Fontana, a seasoned geographer from the University of Portsmouth, joins the discussion to unravel the historical complexities of the Battle of the Solent. He explores the maritime tragedy of the Mary Rose, shedding light on the ship’s sinking amid a fierce French invasion. With 40 years of involvement in maritime archaeology, Dominic delves into the reasons for the sinking and the subsequent strategic shifts that altered military fortunes. Listeners will gain deep insights into Tudor naval tactics and the pivotal moments that shaped England's history.

Jul 7, 2025 • 40min
The Roma: Resistance & Survival
Professor Suzannah Lipscomb welcomes Dr. Madeline Potter to unravel the rich yet tumultuous history of the Roma people. From Tudor England, where the Egyptians Act sought to expel Roma under stereotypes of robbery and deceit through to the dark corridors of Eastern Europe to understand the centuries of enslavement in Romania, to how the Ottoman Empire treated the Roma with suspicion despite their shared Islamic faith.They discuss the allure and practicality of gold among Roma people, their cultural intersections with Irish travellers, and the survival techniques of Romani communities under oppressive regimes. A history packed with tales of adversity, culture, and survival that define the Roma legacy.MOREHow Tudor England Treated Outsidershttps://open.spotify.com/episode/6gzDwUohe2A4rAOKEeyZURThe Tragic Travels of Fynes Morysonhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/350PZX7AALbMNL4Qc2aS60Presented 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 podcast.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. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

Jul 3, 2025 • 50min
The Duchess of Malfi
A young widow stands against the expectations of her family. A woman striving for love and agency in a society which demands she claimed neither, she stands firm in the face of torture and even death.Unravel the gripping layers of John Webster’s 17th-century masterpiece The Duchess of Malfi, with Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and Dr. Will Tosh.The harrowing plot of the Duchess asserting her place in the world is all the more remarkable for being written by a man in the 1600s. Suzannah and Will explore why this tale of love, power, and betrayal remains a fixture on the stage, resonating across the centuries, and discuss the dramatic history of its performances, the transformative power of early modern theatre lighting, and the poignant representation of female agency.MORE:Going to the Theatrehttps://open.spotify.com/episode/7lbdfK2fbgxtXReriTyydMNormal Women with Philippa Gregoryhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/0b5aXZh1HLVhJxyTyQuf2yPresented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, 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 podcast.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. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

Jun 30, 2025 • 56min
Prelude to the English Civil War
What drives a nation to civil war? Why would a king turn on his own Parliament? Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Dr. Jonathan Healey to explore the chaotic and combustible months - and the men behind the rebellion - that hurled 17th-century England into one of the bloodiest periods in its history.MORE:Trial of Charles Ihttps://open.spotify.com/episode/2O5aoB5BP4QXjikwNdXJCsSuccession 1625: James I to Charles Ihttps://open.spotify.com/episode/6x7zJL9UK3lqHTC1ExgWnIPresented by Professor Susannah Lipscomb. audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.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

Jun 26, 2025 • 57min
Akbar, the Great Mughal
Historian Ira Mukhoty, author of 'Akbar, the Great Mogul,' shares insights on the remarkable reign of Akbar the Great. They discuss his journey from royal hostage to a powerful emperor known for military conquests and progressive religious policies. Topics include Akbar's innovative strategies during the battle for Chittor, his commitment to inclusivity, and the complex dynamics of his harem as a community of influential women. The conversation highlights Akbar's lasting legacy and the challenges faced by his successors in maintaining his vision.