Vile, the redemption of Jane Boleyn with Laura Crow
Jane Boleyn is easily one of the most vilified yet fascinating figures from tudor history. She has been, to my mind, unfairly maligned, repeatedly treated as a pantomime villain who destroyed her husband and sister-in-law. This week I welcome Laura Crow onto the podcast to discuss her play, Vile, the possible redemption of Jane Boleyn with me. In this upcoming, audacious and to use the official tagline “rude and radical" reimagining of Jane’s story, Laura discusses the otherness of Jane and her equally maligned husband George Boleyn, examining how queer identity, ableism and mental illness have all shaped the reputations of these two figures.
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49:32
Son of Prophecy, The Rise of Henry Tudor with Nathen Amin
We all know that in 1485 King Henry VII successfully snatched the throne from king Richard III, but what do we know of henrys ancestry? How did the Tudor name come to be in the first place? Well to discuss all of this, I am pleased to welcome historian Nathen Amin onto the podcast for the first time, to discuss his book, Son of Prophecy, the Rise of Henry Tudor with me. From Henry's 6 x great-grandfather who presented his prince with three severed heads as a present, to Henry Tudors grandfather Owen Tudor nibbling the cheek of Catherine of Valois, all of this and much more will be covered, so settle in and get one hell of a lesson in Welsh and Tudor history!
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1:16:11
The Reign of Mary, Queen of Scots with Dr Anna Turnham
When we think about Mary, Queen of Scots, I think it’s fair to say that we tend to think of a woman whose reign in Scotland was nothing but a disaster. A queen who couldn’t find a decent husband, had no real authority and ended her life on an executioners scaffold in England. Well, while aspects of this assessment may in part be true, there has to be more to the story. To discuss this fascinating woman with me, I am pleased to welcome historian Dr Anna Turnham onto the podcast. We discuss Mary's earliest days to her time in France, her return to Scotland, the disasters with Darnley and Bothwell and of course her abdication, but we also discuss the positives, what did Mary do well? Where did she actually succeed in her queenship? Well to find out, carry on listening…
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51:47
The Chequers Ring with Professor Susan Doran
Very few personal items of the Tudor monarchs survive to this day, but one that does, and is exceptionally special, is known as the chequers ring. A tiny and stunning pearl, diamond and ruby covered ring which hides a secret, for it opens up to reveal two tiny faces on the inside, one of Elizabeth I and another of another woman, who is very likely to be Anne Boleyn. To discuss this remarkable survivor from Tudor England, I am thrilled to welcome a true legend in the world of history and academia, Professor Susan Doran, onto the podcast. We discuss the rings provenance, the symbolism of the jewels and of course, debate the evidence to support our joint belief that the ring does indeed show images of Anne and Elizabeth - Mother and Daughter.
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48:40
Bonus Episode - The Arrest of Queen Anne Boleyn
On the 2nd of May 1536 Anne Boleyn, queen of England, was summoned to present herself before her husbands small council at Greenwich Palace. Presenting herself, the queen was told that she was arrested on charges of adultery and high treason and was to accompany the men by barge along the river Thames to the tower of London. Anne’s downfall, and those loyal to her, was shockingly fast and carried out with staggeringly swift efficiency. Despite her shock, Anne agreed to join the men, not knowing that within two weeks, she would be dead.
The Tudor Chest Podcast is a brand new podcast series from the popular Instagram and blog - The Tudor Chest. Episodes will feature historian and author, Adam Pennington, creator of the Tudor Chest Platform, as well as guest appearances by notable historians and fellow authors. Episodes will be released weekly, with a focus not solely on Tudor history, but also the Plantagenets and current royal family news.
UK