Not Just the Tudors

With six wives, Henry VIII must have had something going for him, right? Was he handsome? Charming? Intelligent? Just plain powerful? In this episode, the tables are turned on Professor Suzannah Lipscomb as she becomes the guest of Dr. Kate Lister on our sister podcast, Betwixt the Sheets. Together they discuss the vanity of Henry VIII, his sporting prowess, and his injuries. Listen to discover just how terrible this Tudor king smelt.MORE:Sex and the TudorsHenry VIII's Billionaire WardrobeHear more intimate stories that would make your history teacher blush, on Betwixt the Sheets: the History of Sex, Scandal and SocietyPresented by Dr. Kate Lister. Edited by Tim Arstall and Amy Haddow. The producers are Sophie Gee and 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second episode of our special Habsburg dynasty series, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by renowned historian Professor Geoffrey Parker to uncover the extraordinary life of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor—once hailed as the “Monarch of the World.”By the time he abdicated in 1556, Charles presided over the first truly global empire, stretching from the Netherlands and Spain to Austria, Naples, and the Americas, including Peru and the New World. As King of Spain, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, and Lord of the Netherlands, Charles' titles only hinted at the scale of his power.Yet behind the grandeur lay contradictions: a ruler torn between faith and politics, unity and fragmentation, ambition and exhaustion. Drawing on decades of research and thousands of surviving documents, Professor Parker paints a vivid portrait of Charles V’s reign—one that defined 16th-century Europe and shaped the course of world history.MORE:When Women Ruled the Low CountriesIsabel & Ferdinand: Renaissance Power CouplePresented 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Elizabeth Goldring, a Renaissance scholar, and Emma Rutherford, an expert on portrait miniatures, dive into a newly discovered painting that may unveil secrets of Shakespeare's intimate poetry. They explore the androgynous figure possibly representing Henry Wriothesley, Shakespeare's patron, suggesting a deeper connection to his sonnets. The discussion highlights gender roles in Elizabethan art and literature, unraveling themes of love and identity while challenging traditional perceptions of Shakespeare’s relationships and muse.

In this insightful discussion, Professor Martyn Rady, a leading expert on Central European history and author of *The Habsburgs*, delves into the incredible journey of the Habsburg dynasty from modest origins to imperial dominance. He explores their ingenious strategic marriages, which expanded their influence across Europe, and the darker impacts of inbreeding on their lineage. The conversation also highlights the Habsburgs' intricate governance strategies and their rivalry with the Ottoman Empire during a transformative period in history.

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.

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.

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

**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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.