Not Just the Tudors

How did a lowly orange seller become the most famous actress of her time and mistress of King Charles II? In 1660, King Charles II ruled that female stage roles must be played by women, leading to the rise of the 'Covent Garden Goddesses'. As a result, Nell Gwyn - born 375 years ago this month - went from being a humble orange seller to a celebrated actress and Charles II's most enduring and famou...

The famous saying "I think, therefore I am" was the cornerstone of the philosophy of Rene Descartes, who died 375 years ago this month at the age of 53. His groundbreaking ideas shaped Western thought and continue to influence our understanding of existence, knowledge and the nature of reality. Descartes' ground-breaking approach involved questioning all beliefs to determine those which are absolu...

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb delves into the dramatic story of the first European encounters with the indigenous people of Australia. She's joined by Professor Alistair Paterson who sheds light on the reported events of February 1606 when the Dutch unexpectedly stumbled upon the shores of Cape York Peninsula. Together, they'll examine the far-reaching consequences of this first contact and its impa...

For our final foray into the shadowy Renaissance world of the Borgia Dynasty, we explore the enigma that was Lucrezia Borgia, whose life navigating a perilous patriarchal landscape was enmeshed in scandals and power struggles.  Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and Distinguished Professor Diane Ghirardo dissect the myths and reveal the truths surrounding Lucrezia Borgia, from her role as a politica...

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb discusses the impact of the Little Ice Age, a period of significant cooling from the 15th to early 19th centuries that caused widespread famine, drought, and socio-economic upheaval across the Northern Hemisphere. She's joined by Professors Madeline Bassnett and Laurie Johnson who share insights from their joint research project on how England adapted to severe weather...

In June 1497, Juan - or Giovanni - Borgia, favoured son of Pope Alexander VI, was found brutally murdered in the River Tiber. Who committed this heinous crime? Suspects ranged from his ambitious brother Cesare to the Borgias' political enemies, the Orsini family. Despite an extensive investigation by the Pope, Giovanni's murder remains one of history's greatest cold cases. In the third episode of...

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb explores the lives of the cast of Tudor courtiers who appear in Wolf Hall , including Thomas Cromwell, Richard Rich, Thomas Howard and Eustace Chapuys. She's joined by Dr. Lauren Mackay to discuss their portrayal in Wolf Hall and what happened to them in real life after the demise of Cromwell. The episode reveals the intricate politics, personal loyalties and enduring i...

Cesare Borgia, one of history's most controversial figures, was known for his ruthless ambition and political cunning. From his dramatic rise to power through to his notorious military campaigns and the legends surrounding his alleged crimes and complex relationships, he inspired Machiavelli's The Prince and left a lasting mark on the Renaissance era. In the second of our special series on the Bor...

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb explores the dissolution of some 800 monasteries and nunneries by King Henry VIII, a campaign that dramatically reshaped England’s landscape and society.  Suzannah meets leading experts - Professor Alec Ryrie, James G.Clark and Professor Lucy Wooding - whose research has uncovered the massive transfer of property and power that left an indelible mark on England. Pr...

In the 15th and early 16th centuries, one Spanish family rose to exert its influence over Renaissance Italy - the Borgias. Deploying diplomacy, marriage alliances and military force to advance their interests, the Borgias’ meteoric ascent was accompanied by stories of incest, murder, and debauchery. But how true were the rumours?  All this month on Not Just the Tudors , Professor Suzanna...

Niccolo Machiavelli’s name has become synonymous with cunning, deceit and a lack of morality to achieve one's goals in politics or business. He was a pivotal figure of the Renaissance, who witnessed the turbulence of Medici rule, radical religious reform, and the dangerous politics of European courts. Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by the renowned political philosopher, historian and author...

Across the holiday season, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb has been diving deep into the captivating stories of the six wives of Henry VIII with three special double episodes. Immerse yourself in the rich and fascinating true stories of these incredible women who changed the monarchy - and England - forever. This time, we spotlight Katherine Howard, the girl queen wholly unprepared and unsuited f...

Celebrate the 350th anniversary of Sir Christopher Wren's masterworks with Professor Suzannah Lipscomb as she and Professor Adrian Tinniswood OBE dive deep into Wren's extraordinary journey from scientist to architectural legend. Discover the untold stories behind the creation of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the radical rebuilding post-Great Fire of London, and Wren’s groundbreaking role in founding the...

In this second special Christmas edition, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb offers another chance to hear the fascinating series from earlier this year in which she took an in-depth look into the six wives of Henry VIII, revealing the rich stories and incredible lives of these women who changed the monarchy - and England - forever. This time, Suzannah turns her attention to the sad, short queenships of...

In the first of three special Christmas editions, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb offers another chance to hear the series from earlier this year in which she took an in-depth look into the six wives of Henry VIII, revealing the rich stories and incredible lives of these women who changed the monarchy - and England - forever. For the next three editions, we’ve joined two of those episodes together in...

How did the Bible transform from a guarded manuscript read in secret to a book accessible to millions? Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Professor Bruce Gordon to uncover the revolutionary impact of Gutenberg's printing press and Erasmus's bold Greek New Testament, setting the stage for Martin Luther's game-changing German translation of the world's best-selling book. Presented by Professor...

Pirates weren’t just a menace on the high seas - they were a direct threat to Spain’s empire-building ambitions in the Pacific. Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Dr. Kristie Patricia Flannery to hear the untold story of how Spanish officials, Catholic missionaries, Indigenous Filipinos, and Chinese migrants joined forces to battle Chinese and Muslim pirates, as well as the British Navy duri...

In 1770, 14-year-old Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria arrived in France to marry Louis XVI. As Marie Antoinette, she became the ultimate diva of her time; rebelling against the the rigid protocols of court and crafting a unique visual identity; wearing men's clothing and sporting excessive elevated hair. How then did her adoring public turn on her and condemn her, leading to her execution? Pro...

Elizabeth I and Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur of Morocco shared a common goal of empire building, despite their cultural, political and religious differences. Their alliance resulted in the transformation of sugar from a luxury item to a widespread commodity and their little-known correspondence reveals a never-realised plan to conquer Spain together.  Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Dr. Sa...

**Warning: This episode contains explicit descriptions of sexual acts and the use of historic terminology that does not align with current usage** The first widespread discussion of sodomy in public discourse came in the aftermath of the so-called ‘Glorious Revolution’ that saw the Roman Catholic King James II deposed in favour of his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange. Alm...

Beginning with the reign of Emperor Akbar and continuing through to Shah Jahan, India's Mughal Empire enjoyed fabulous wealth and stable governance, resulting in remarkable artistic achievements, including the architectural marvel of the iconic Taj Mahal. Join Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and curator Dr. Susan Stronge at the V&A Museum in London as they delve into the opulent world of the great Mug...

**This episode contains brief descriptions of tortures** Between 1570 and 1630 there was intense persecution as thousands of people were accused of being witches in Lorraine, a small duchy on the borders of France and the Holy Roman Empire. Suspicion spread like a deadly virus through the villages and towns as neighbour turned on neighbour. Robin Briggs, Emeritus Fellow at All Souls College Oxford...

We probably think that the only artists working in the Tudor court were men, like Holbein and Hilliard. But new research is revealing that women were painting the Tudors too, and they were probably more active than we have previously suspected. Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by miniatures experts Emma Rutherford and Alan Derbyshire to discuss two of these artists - Susanna Horenbout and Lev...

Long before witch trials, magic was the domain of ‘cunning folk’ who were part of the fabric of medieval and early modern life. Their charms, filters and spells - for personal advancement, aiding fertility, predicting the future, even exacting revenge - offered people solutions to their problems.  Professor Suzannah Lipscomb finds out more from Dr. Tabitha Stanmore, whose research naviga...

Leonardo da Vinci was a man like no other. A restless visionary and polymath, his paintings are some of the best known of all works of art. To talk about Leonardo, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Ken Burns, the multi-award winning American filmmaker who has transformed the documentary into an art form. His latest film, made with Sarah Burns and David McMahon, explores in wonderful granula...