Tudors Dynasty & Beyond

When we think of Tudor education, names like Erasmus and Roger Ascham often come to mind. But they weren't the only men shaping the minds of England's future kings, queens, and nobles. In this episode, we continue our exploration of Tudor tutors by turning our attention to three fascinating figures: Bernard André, the blind poet and historian who served Henry VII; Giles Duwes, the French l...

Matt Lewis is back and I have a little fun with him at the beginning of the episode. This time, Matt teaches us all about Henry V and his ongoing quest for power and greatness. I could not help but mention how Henry VIII (nearly a century later) tries to emulate his idol, but fails miserably. When people think of Henry V, they usually think of Agincourt. But there was far more to this king than on...

The Black Prince is one of the most famous figures of the Middle Ages - but how much do we really know about the man behind the legend? In this episode, I'm joined by historian Dr. Michael Jones to explore the life and career of Edward of Woodstock, better known as the Black Prince. From his remarkable military successes at Crécy and Poitiers to his role in the Hundred Years' War, we follo...

John Skelton is one of the most fascinating figures of the Tudor age - and somehow, one of the most overlooked. Poet, scholar, tutor to the future Henry VIII, and professional troublemaker, Skelton spent his life using words to entertain, provoke, and occasionally land himself in serious trouble. In this episode, Amy McElroy joins me to explore the life and career of a man who was praised by schol...

Finally, Matt Lewis took the hint and didn't show up today! Just kidding - he was busy this week but will be back next week to chat about Henry V with me. Today, my medieval fill-in guest is Sharon Bennett Connolly who is here to discuss the daughters of King Stephen with me... I hope you enjoy! Episode on Gunhild and Gytha: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/rebecca-larson/episodes/The-...

What happens when we stop looking at medieval queens as isolated figures and start looking at the women around them? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Lacey Bonar Hull to explore the powerful networks of women that shaped politics, influence, and survival in fifteenth-century England. Our conversation focuses on three remarkable women: Jacquetta of Luxembourg, Margaret of Anjou, and Cecily Ne...

John Cheke is often remembered as one of the greatest scholars of Tudor England, but his story is about far more than books and learning. In this episode, I'm joined by Amy McElroy as both co-host and guest as we explore the remarkable life of Sir John Cheke. From his rise as a brilliant humanist scholar and the first Regius Professor of Greek at Cambridge, to his role as tutor to the future E...

Well… here it is. What did you think about the show open this week? Let me know in the comments! This week, Matt Lewis and I turn our attention to Henry IV — and there is a lot to unpack. We discuss the death of Richard II, the conspiracy theories that claimed he survived, the visit of an emperor to England, the kidnapping of the Scottish king, and so much more! As always, the conversation takes p...

In this second to last episode of our The Queen’s Husband series, I’m joined once again by the wonderful Dr. Linda Porter as we turn our attention to one of the most famous royal consorts in history - Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. So much of Prince Albert’s reputation has been shaped by the image of the devoted husband standing faithfully beside Queen Victoria, but who was he really? Lin...

Yeah, you read that right, we are on Part Three (and the last for now) on historical TV series. This episode we look at one of my favorites - House of the Dragon, and one of Amy's favorites - Game of Thrones. If you haven't watched either consider this your spoiler alert. If you watched one episode and turned it off...consider this my pitch to convince you to watch! If you don't think...

Richard II’s story is honestly one of the wildest royal rises and falls in English history, and in this episode I’m joined once again by Matt Lewis to untangle the life of the king who seemed determined to make everyone around him uncomfortable. We look at Richard becoming king as a child after the death of his grandfather, Edward III, and how surviving the Peasants' Revolt at just fourteen ye...

She has sold over 30 million copies of her books worldwide, and she is likely the most recognizable name in historical fiction. Today, I’m sharing the interview I recorded with not only Philippa Gregory, but also Sylvia Barbara Soberton - all thanks to History Press for arranging this for us. Together, Sylvia and Philippa explore the story of Mary Boleyn and discuss how each of them researched and...

Here we are again, yet another Sunday chatting about historical TV series... Let's be honest, there are so many to discuss that we could do this forever, but today I have to find out if Amy watched My Lady Jane. After that we briefly talk about Reign before getting into some of our favorites - The Last Kingdom, Vikings, and more! -- Support the podcast over on Patreon and get commercial-free e...

In the second half of Edward III’s reign, he begins to shift into something far more complicated. Joined once again by Matt Lewis, we follow Edward through the first couple of decades of the Hundred Years’ War, his complicated relationship with France, and the astonishing story of the French king John II of France, whose son escaped English captivity - forcing John himself to voluntarily return to...

In this episode, I’m joined by historian and author Sharon Bennett Connolly to explore the fascinating lives of the women featured in her new book, Princesses of the Early Middle Ages - with a special focus on the often-overlooked illegitimate daughters of Henry I of England. We dive into the life of Sybilla of Normandy and her marriage to Alexander I of Scotland, discuss Matilda of Normandy and h...

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...