Tudors Dynasty & Beyond

What if Henry VIII had died while campaigning in France? This episode started with what felt like an obvious answer—but quickly turned into a far more complicated and fascinating conversation about succession. We explore the unexpected paths history could have taken, and trust us: this one went places we didn’t anticipate. -- There's still time to sign up for the Identifying Holbein Portraits...

In this episode of Dr. Emma & Me , we explore one of history’s most iconic mother - daughter pairings: Anne Boleyn and her daughter, Elizabeth I. Elizabeth was still a toddler when her mother was executed, yet Anne’s influence lingered in powerful and surprising ways. From shared experiences of danger, scrutiny, and survival to the shaping of identity under a Tudor court that rarely forgave, w...

In this episode, we step into the glittering yet deeply unstable world of the Restoration court through the life of Mary of Modena - a woman whose destiny could not have been further from her original hopes. Mary had envisioned a quiet life devoted to the Church. Instead, she was thrust onto the European stage and into a political marriage with James II , brother and heir to Charles II . As a youn...

In the autumn of 1562, England held its breath. Queen Elizabeth I lay gravely ill with smallpox, her life uncertain, her kingdom unprepared for what might come next. But what if she hadn’t survived? In this episode, we explore one of the most chilling “what ifs” in English history. With no named heir, a fragile religious settlement, and rival claims waiting in the wings, Elizabeth’s death could ha...

Two queens. Two foreign brides. Two marriages to Henry VIII—yet wildly different legacies. In this episode of Parallel Lives , Dr. Emma and I place Anna of Cleves and Katherine of Aragon side by side to explore what it really meant to arrive in England as a teenage bride, shaped by continental courts, dynastic expectations, and political pressure far beyond their control. We look at their early li...

Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich, rose from relatively modest beginnings to become one of the most powerful - and controversial - figures of the Tudor age. A skilled lawyer and political operator, Rich prospered under Henry VIII and Edward VI, playing a key role in the Dissolution of the Monasteries and benefiting enormously from the redistribution of church lands. He is perhaps best remembered for hi...

We know him best as the father of Edward IV and Richard III, and as the husband of Cecily Neville. But in October 1460, everything changed. The Act of Accord named Richard, Duke of York, heir to the throne of Henry VI. Just two months later, he was dead - killed at the Battle of Wakefield. In this episode, Amy and I step into the counterfactual and ask: what if Richard had survived? What would Eng...

One ruled one of the most powerful empires of the seventeenth century. The other shaped how that power would be seen - then and now. In this episode of Parallel Lives , we explore the intertwined lives of Philip IV of Spain and Diego Velázquez , king and court painter, patron and artist, subject and storyteller. Philip’s reign was marked by political strain, military decline, and a deep personal d...

Why are we still so obsessed with the Tudors after five centuries? In this week’s Tuesday Historian Chat, I’m joined by historian and author Elizabeth Goff to explore the women, myths, and memories that continue to define Tudor history. From Penelope Devereux and Katherine Parr to the Grey sisters, we talk about which Tudor women stand out - and which have had their reputations unfairly flattened...

What if Elizabeth I had never signed Mary, Queen of Scots’ death warrant? On this episode of Off the Record , we dive into the political chaos, succession drama, and international consequences of keeping England’s most dangerous prisoner alive—and whether mercy would have been far more dangerous than execution. -- Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Amy McElroy

In this episode of Parallel Tinders , we’re putting England’s most famous sisters side-by-side - Mary I and Elizabeth I - to explore how two women raised in the same dynasty could become such wildly different queens. From Mary’s deep devotion and desire for a traditional marriage, to Elizabeth’s sharp independence and preference for loyal companionship over a crown-sharing husband, we break down t...

In this episode, I’m joined by historian Annie Whitehead to explore the women of the Anglo-Saxon world and the many ways they shaped early medieval England. We talk about education, influence, queenship, and legacy — and how women navigated power in a world that didn’t always preserve their voices. We also discuss how history has remembered these women: who becomes celebrated, who is criticized, a...

What if Lady Jane Grey had outwitted Mary Tudor and stayed Queen of England? In this Off the Record episode, we follow the most fascinating “what if” in Tudor history: a world where Jane’s reign doesn’t end after nine days - but becomes the start of something far bigger (and far more dangerous). Together we unpack what would have needed to change for Jane to keep the crown, why Mary’s victory depe...

In this episode of Parallel Lives , Dr. Emma and Rebecca explore the lives of two remarkable women who turned learning into influence. Christine de Pizan became one of Europe’s first professional female writers, using her words to challenge the misogyny of her age and defend women’s intelligence. Meanwhile in Spain, Beatriz Galindo —known as La Latina —rose as a celebrated humanist at the court of...

Anne of Cleves has long been reduced to a single moment: the “failed” marriage to Henry VIII. But what if that version of her story is incomplete? In this episode, I’m joined by author Dr . James Taffe , whose book Accounting for Anne: The Tudor Queen Who Could Have Been uses Anne’s own surviving household accounts to reconstruct the queenship history usually skips over. Together, we explore what...

In this episode of Off the Record , we’re stepping into one of history’s most fascinating rabbit holes: the heirs who should have changed everything… but died too soon. What if Arthur Tudor had survived - and become king? Would Henry VIII ever have worn the crown… or married Katherine of Aragon? Would England have avoided the seismic religious and political upheaval that followed? Then we go even...

Dr. Emma is back, and we’re returning to Historical Tinder to swipe through the love life of Henry VIII. From mistresses and wives to potential brides who almost made the cut, we break down Henry’s matches, missteps, and marital strategy—one swipe at a time. -- Hosts: Rebecca Larson Dr. Emma Cahill Marron

In this episode, I’m joined by historian and author Susan Abernethy to discuss her new book on the women who helped build — and ultimately transform — the Burgundian state. We explore the powerful wives, daughters, and female relatives of the Valois dukes of Burgundy who ruled as regents, managed territories, negotiated marriages and treaties, raised taxes, and exercised real political authority a...

Welcome to the very first episode of Off the Record ! Join Amy McElroy and Rebecca Larson as they dive into one of history’s biggest “what ifs”: what if Anne Boleyn had never married Henry VIII? Who might she have married instead - or would she have agreed to become Henry’s mistress? In this episode, they explore her options, share their thoughts, and enjoy a relaxed, off-the-record conversation a...

Swipe right or swipe left? 👀 In this episode of Historical Tinder , Rebecca is joined by Dr. Peter Stiffell , stepping in for Dr. Emma, to ask one tantalizing question: what if Mary I had married her longtime confidant and cousin Reginald Pole instead of Philip of Spain? Was this the ultimate Catholic power couple waiting to happen—or a relationship better left in letters and late-night council c...

When a listener asked for an episode on humanists, I couldn’t have asked for better timing. Amy McElroy has just written a book on Erasmus and is now deep into another on humanist educators in England—so honestly, who better to teach us about these men? Please check out Amy McElroy's books on Amazon! Stay tuned for the next Dr. Emma & Me and an announcement I make regarding my Sunday episo...

What happens when you change just one moment in history—and let the consequences unfold? In today’s episode, we explore how a single altered decision can change everything . From political ripple effects to personal power shifts, this is a deep dive into historical “what-ifs” and why they matter. We cover a range of topics, and I’ve included timestamps below if you’d like to jump around—fair warni...

Today, I’m joined by the wonderful Sharon Bennett Connolly to explore the first earls of Surrey—though that isn’t the name they would have recognized. To their contemporaries, they were the earls of Warenne. From the aftermath of the Norman Conquest to the reign of Edward III, the Warenne family’s story is packed with the drama, ambition, and intrigue we’ve come to expect from England’s most power...

ALL NEW EPISODES COMING THIS TUESDAY (DEC 23 & 25TH)! The Great Fire destroyed much of the great city of London. In this episode we uncover the tinderbox conditions that led to the blaze, explore the dramatic events of those fateful days. This was originally posted November 2022 for Patreon patrons only - it is now opened it to the public.--Always commercial FREE for ⁠patrons⁠! https://patreon...

This is a replay episode from a bit earlier this year. Due to unforeseen circumstances we were unable to record a new episode this week. In addition, I've been getting requests for information on Eleanor of Castile - so here it is! ✨ In today’s Parallel Lives episode, Dr. Emma and I dive into the lives of two extraordinary women—Eleanor of Aquitaine and her daughter, Eleanor of Castile. A pow...