Tudors Dynasty & Beyond

From lavish costumes and dramatic romances to wildly inaccurate timelines and completely unhinged plot twists, historical television gives us plenty to talk about. In this episode of Off the Record , we dive into some of our favorite historical TV series and discuss what they get right, what they get terribly wrong, and the moments that leave historians everywhere screaming at their screens. From...

I'm joined once again by the brilliant historian Matt Lewis to hear the end of the story of Edward II, and then we move onto his son Edward III. As with all of these stories there are so many twists and turns - I'm not sure if I like Edward III or not after this chat...what do you think about him? -- Support this podcast over on Patreon! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty -- Host: Rebecca L...

Mary Boleyn - the “great whore” of Tudor history…or the victim of a bad translation? In this episode, we dig into one of the most misunderstood women of the Tudor court and start peeling back the layers of myth that have followed her for centuries. Was Mary really the scandalous figure history made her out to be, or has her reputation been shaped by misread words and repeated assumptions? We take...

Edward II has often been remembered as a king who simply didn’t fit the role he inherited. In this episode, we trace his reign from the shadow of his formidable father, Edward I of England, through the controversies that defined his rule - his favoritism, his relationships, and his uneasy connection with the nobility. Why did his choices spark such intense opposition? And how did a king lose contr...

In this episode, I’m joined by historian Sharon Bennett Connolly to explore the life of Katherine Swynford - her relationship with John of Gaunt, the scandal that shook the royal court, and how her legacy would shape the future of the English throne. -- Sharon's Website: https://historytheinterestingbits.com/author/sharonbennettconnolly/ Sharon's Upcoming Events: https://historytheinterest...

What if Henry Tudor never made it out of England? What if Bosworth had gone differently? And how much of what we think we know about Henry VII is actually wrong? In this Off the Record episode, we're joined by historian Nathen Amin to dig into the myths, misconceptions, and fascinating “what ifs” surrounding England’s first Tudor king. From his years in exile with Jasper Tudor to the pivotal m...

Was Edward I of England a brilliant reformer—or a ruthless tyrant? In this episode, we dig into the life and reign of one of England’s most formidable kings. From legal reforms and the shaping of Parliament to his brutal campaigns in Wales and Scotland, Edward’s legacy is anything but simple. We explore the man behind the crown—his ambition, his grief after the death of Eleanor of Castile, and the...

In this episode, I’m joined by Sophie Bacchus-Waterman to challenge everything you think you know about Elizabeth Boleyn. If you’ve ever wondered whether Elizabeth Boleyn has been unfairly judged, this conversation will make you rethink everything. -- Sophie's book: Blackwells Amazon (US) Sophie's Social Media: Instagram Bluesky Sophie's Substack -- BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: SPECIAL EVENT on M...

Welcome back to Off the Record ! Today, Amy and I dive into women “behaving badly”…or at least, that’s how history chose to remember them. And yes—we’re fully aware that women were judged by a very different standard than men. From alleged husband-murdering, to sharp-tongued insults, to a mother refusing her son the money he demanded, and even a woman boldly owning an affair (and naming her son af...

What do you do when your father is one of the worst kings in English history? This week, I’m joined by Matt Lewis to unpack the life of Henry III of England—a king who inherited chaos, uncertainty, and a seriously damaged crown after the disastrous reign of King John of England. We explore how Henry came to the throne as a child, what it meant to grow up in the shadow of his father’s failures, and...

After exploring the husbands of Mary, Queen of Scots, Mary I of England, and Mary II of England, we now arrive at the final Stuart queen—Queen Anne—and the often-overlooked man at her side: Prince George of Denmark. In this overview episode of The Queen’s Husband , Dr. Linda Porter and I take a closer look at George—frequently dismissed as dull or insignificant—and ask whether that reputation is t...

What does bad behavior really look like in Tudor England? In this episode, we take a sharp look at the men who pushed ambition, ego, and survival just a little too far. Charles Brandon turns marriage into strategy, Thomas Seymour spirals after the death of Henry VIII, and John Dudley plays the game for his own gain. Add in Francis Bryan—who needed papal absolution—and Edmund Howard with his questi...

What happens to the daughters of a king after everything falls apart? In this episode, we step into the turbulent aftermath of 1066 and follow the extraordinary—and often overlooked—lives of Gunhild of Wessex and Gytha of Wessex, daughters of Harold Godwinson—the last Anglo-Saxon king of England. Their stories are anything but quiet. One becomes a royal nun… who doesn’t quite stay that way. The ot...

This week, I’m joined by historian Dr. Steven Veerapen for a deep dive into one of history’s most fascinating—and controversial—figures: Mary, Queen of Scots. Was Mary a reckless romantic… or a ruler navigating an impossible political landscape? Together, we unravel the layers of her story—her queenship, her marriages, the scandal of Darnley’s murder, and the shadow of Bothwell. We also tackle the...

What makes a marriage work - especially in a world where love was often optional and politics were everything? In this episode of Off the Record , Amy and I dive into the messy, fascinating world of marriage in Tudor England - where alliances could build dynasties… or completely destroy them. We’re looking beyond Henry VIII’s famously disastrous relationships (don’t worry, he gets enough attention...

My brother from another mother, Matt Lewis, is back—and we’re continuing the story of the children of Henry II of England (and Eleanor of Aquitaine). But since King John was…well…such an idiot, we decided to start with his sisters to make things far more enjoyable 😂 And honestly? These women were incredible—sharp, capable, and miles ahead of their brothers. I think you’ll feel the same once you h...

Edward Seymour is often remembered as the powerful Lord Protector who ruled during the minority of Edward VI—but what about the women behind him? In this episode, we’re turning the spotlight onto the wives of Edward Seymour—and trust me, their stories are anything but quiet. From his first marriage to Catherine Fillol, surrounded by whispers of scandal and betrayal, to his formidable second wife,...

In this episode, we spin off from our recent discussion on who was truly safe under Henry VII - and turn the spotlight on Thomas More. What if he had made a different choice? Instead of staying, what if he had fled into exile? Where would he have gone - and would he have taken his family with him? And perhaps most importantly… how would history remember him if he hadn’t died on the scaffold? We ex...

As a king, having “an heir and a spare” is ideal—but Henry II of England may have taken things a bit too far with four ambitious sons: Henry the Young King, Richard I of England, Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany, and John, King of England. Join Matthew Lewis and me for a lively and unfiltered conversation about the unbelievable—and often chaotic—stories of the sons of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry I...

What did people in medieval England really understand about mental health? In this episode, I’m joined by Michèle Schindler, author of Mental Health in Late Mediaeval England , to explore a subject that is often misunderstood—and oversimplified. From the famous collapse of Henry VI to lesser-known noble case studies, we move chapter by chapter through her research to uncover how mental illness was...

In this episode of Off the Record , Amy and I dive into the grim realities of execution under Henry VIII. From Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, to Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, Lord Dacre, and others, we explore the stories behind their downfalls. Ambition, loyalty, and suspicion collide in a series of fates that reveal just how dangerous life at the Tudor court could be—each ending as tra...

In this episode, we go beyond the fairytale image to uncover the real expectations placed on royal daughters. Princesses were far more than ornaments of the court - they were political assets, diplomatic bridges, and the key to securing dynastic futures. As daughters, they forged alliances. As wives, they strengthened kingdoms. As mothers, they ensured survival. But what happened when they stepped...

Today I’m joined again (Part Two) by historian and friend Sylvia Barbara Soberton to dig into some of the most famous - and widely repeated - myths about the six wives (Anne of Cleves, Katheryn Howard, and Kateryn Parr) of Henry VIII. From long-standing misconceptions to stories that have taken on a life of their own, we start unpacking what’s fact and what’s fiction. Miss Part One? Watch HERE! --...

It's time for another historical WHAT IF, and today we are looking at Henry VII and what if he had remarried after the death of Elizabeth of York in 1503. This was an interesting topic to discuss, especially when we get to the end and talk about what would happen if he had children by his new wife. We ask YOU some questions at the end and we want to hear what you think! -- There are still seat...

In this episode of Rebecca & Friends , I’m joined by historian and author Matt Lewis to explore one of the most powerful—and complicated—couples of the Middle Ages: Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine . Their marriage in 1152 created an empire that stretched from England to the Pyrenees, but ruling that empire was anything but simple. Together we dig into the personalities behind the power. Was...