Tudors Dynasty & Beyond

RedTop Media / Rebecca Larson

Welcome to Tudors Dynasty & Beyond, the podcast where history comes alive through stories of royalty, rebellion, and resilience. Hosted by independent researcher Rebecca Larson, each episode dives into the Tudors and beyond—Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Katherine of Aragon, forgotten queens, rebels, and adventurers. Enjoy Sunday storytelling (or interviews), engaging historian chats, and the popular Thursday series Dr. Emma & Me, with Dr. Emma Cahill Marron. Discover love, power, intrigue, and survival in early modern England and across Europe.

  1. 2 days ago

    The Spanish Travels of Katherine of Aragon

    Long before Katherine of Aragon sailed for England, she had already traveled across kingdoms, witnessed conquest, encountered new cultures, and experienced life at the heart of an itinerant royal court. In this episode, Rebecca is joined by Dr. Emma to retrace Katherine’s formative journeys through Spain—from her birth in Alcalá de Henares to Granada, Barcelona, Medina del Campo, Laredo, and finally La Coruña, where she departed for England in 1501. Together, they challenge the familiar image of Katherine as an isolated princess and reveal a very different childhood: one spent on the road as a “nomad princess,” surrounded by royal ceremony, political negotiation, and the practical administration of her parents’ expanding monarchy. Katherine witnessed the surrender of Granada, experienced the extraordinary surroundings of the Alhambra, and was present in Barcelona when Christopher Columbus returned with reports and objects from across the Atlantic. The conversation also explores Katherine’s surprising connections to the Americas and considers how the architecture and decorative traditions she encountered in Spain may later have influenced Tudor England. Before she became Henry VIII’s queen, Katherine of Aragon had already been shaped by a childhood of movement, spectacle, cultural exchange, and political power. -- 💛 Love the show? Join me on Patreon for early, commercial-free episodes, exclusive history content, and more—all while helping Tudors Dynasty & Beyond continue to grow. Join the court: https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty --Co-Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Dr. Emma Cahill Marron

    The Spanish Travels of Katherine of Aragon

  2. 4 days ago

    Dressed to Rule: How Elizabeth I Fashioned Power

    Queen Elizabeth I understood that clothing was never simply decorative—it was a powerful political tool. In this episode, Rebecca Larson speaks with Sylvia Barbara Soberton, author of Dressed to Impress: Queen Elizabeth I and the Art of Fashioning Power, about how Elizabeth used gowns, jewelry, color, and carefully constructed imagery to communicate legitimacy, authority, purity, and royal magnificence. They explore Elizabeth’s evolving style, from the restrained clothing of her youth to the spectacular wardrobe of the Virgin Queen. Sylvia also challenges some of the most persistent myths surrounding Elizabeth I, including claims that she covered her face with toxic white lead makeup and wore a steel breastplate during her famous speech at Tilbury. The conversation also examines Elizabeth’s relationships with Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, and Catherine Howard; the possible meaning of the Chequers Ring; Tudor sumptuary laws; the symbolism of the Rainbow Portrait; and what happened to Elizabeth’s enormous wardrobe after her death. Discover how Elizabeth I fashioned not only her appearance but one of the most recognizable royal identities in history. You can also find Sylvia on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/cw/SylviaBSo/posts Find book on Amazon -- Join me and other history fans over on MY Patreon page, not only with you get COMMERCIAL-FREE episodes, but you'll also receive EXCLUSIVE CONTENT, and EARLY ACCESS! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty -- Host: Rebecca Larson Guest: Sylvia Barbara Soberton

    Dressed to Rule: How Elizabeth I Fashioned Power

  3. 6 days ago

    The Yorkist Who Survived Henry VIII

    Rebecca and Amy explore the remarkable life of Reginald Pole—a Yorkist survivor who went from Henry VIII’s favored scholar to one of the king’s most outspoken opponents. They discuss Pole’s education in Oxford and Padua, his rejection of the royal supremacy, and the devastating consequences his resistance had for the family he left behind in England. After years of exile, Pole returned under Mary I as her trusted confidant and the last Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury. His extraordinary story came to an end on November 17, 1558—just hours after Mary’s own death. -- Join the conversation over on Patreon! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty and you'll also get COMMERCIAL-FREE episodes over there! Join us! -- Co-Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Amy McElroy

    The Yorkist Who Survived Henry VIII

  4. 10 Sept

    England's Version of Dance of the Dragon

    What does House of the Dragon have in common with some of the bloodiest succession struggles in medieval history? Historian Matt Lewis joins Rebecca Larson to explore the real history woven into the world of Westeros—from Empress Matilda’s battle for the English throne during the Anarchy to the rivalries and shifting loyalties of the Wars of the Roses. They discuss female succession, disputed heirs, illegitimacy, sibling rivalry, propaganda, and the importance of controlling the capital. They also examine dragons as symbols of royal authority, the uneasy relationship between church and state, and the devastating human cost when the quarrels of powerful families spill into the streets. Westeros may be fictional, but its politics are unmistakably medieval. -- Join our group of history lovers over on Patreon! Over there you will also receive COMMERCIAL-FREE episodes, EARLY ACCESS, and EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty -- Host: Rebecca Larson Guest: Matthew Lewis

    England's Version of Dance of the Dragon

  5. 8 Sept

    Anne of Cleves: What the Sources Really Say

    Was the marriage between Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves truly doomed from the beginning - or has hindsight distorted the story? Dr. Valerie Schutte joins me to challenge the familiar narrative of Henry’s immediate disgust and Anne’s disastrous failure as queen. We examine what the sources reveal when read chronologically, from their first meeting at Rochester and the couple’s communication difficulties to the questionable testimony used to secure their annulment. We also explore Anne’s religious identity, her status as the king’s “beloved sister,” and the remarkable relationship she maintained with Henry and his children long after the marriage ended. ⁠Buy - Anne of Cleves: The Historical and Cultural Legacy of a Queen-- Join our history community over on Patreon! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty -- Host: Rebecca Larson Guest: Dr. Valerie Schutte

    Anne of Cleves: What the Sources Really Say

  6. 6 Sept

    Would You Rather? Medieval & Tudor History Edition

    Would you rather marry Henry VIII or spend five years in the Tower? Serve Katherine of Aragon during her downfall or Anne Boleyn during her rise? Discover the true identity of Perkin Warbeck or finally learn what happened to the Princes in the Tower? In this episode of Off the Record, Rebecca and Amy face a series of impossible medieval and Tudor choices involving royal marriages, dangerous courts, enduring mysteries and unforgettable historical events. From choosing between York and Lancaster to deciding whether they would rather serve Cardinal Wolsey or Thomas Cromwell, they reveal which risks they would take—and which historical figures they would trust with their lives. -- Join our growing group of history fans over on Patreon and you'll also receive COMMERCIAL-FREE episodes, EARLY ACCESS, and EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty -- Co-Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Amy McElroy

    Would You Rather? Medieval & Tudor History Edition

  7. 3 Sept

    Medieval Kings: The Questions We Never Asked

    In the finale of the Medieval Kings series, Rebecca and Matt answer listener questions, challenge medieval monarchs with some very modern dilemmas, and revisit a few of history’s most persistent mysteries. Who would survive a siege, win Survivor, or make the worst podcast guest? Join us for one final round of crowns, controversy, and medieval kings chaos! -- Join our growing community of history lovers over on Patreon https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty -- Host: Rebecca Larson Guest: Matt Lewis

    Medieval Kings: The Questions We Never Asked

  8. 1 Sept

    Searching for Anne Boleyn: Facial Recognition, Secret Codes, and the Tower Letter

    What if some of the greatest mysteries surrounding Anne Boleyn have been hiding in plain sight? In this episode, Rebecca is joined by researcher Karen L. Davis to explore three fascinating and interconnected areas of her work: the use of facial-recognition technology to investigate Anne Boleyn’s portraiture, a concealed cipher within Henry VIII’s love letters, and new evidence concerning the authenticity of the disputed Tower Letter. Karen explains why the famous Windsor sketch labelled Anna Boleyn Queen may not be as securely identified as generations have assumed—and how scientific comparison of Holbein’s preparatory drawings, Anne’s relatives, and portraits of Elizabeth I could help bring us closer to her true appearance. The conversation also turns to an enigmatic sequence of letters and numbers hidden in one of Henry’s letters to Anne, as well as the biblical and reformist language that may connect Anne’s correspondence, John Skip’s controversial sermon, and the letter reportedly written from the Tower in May 1536. From broken provenance and mistaken portrait labels to Queen Esther, secret messages, and scholarly resistance, this episode asks what might emerge when inherited assumptions are tested using new technology, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a fresh examination of the surviving evidence. Karen’s findings are awaiting peer-reviewed publication, but they may open remarkable new avenues in the search for the real Anne Boleyn. -- Join the growing crowd of history fans over on my Patreon page - https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty -- Host: Rebecca Larson Guest: Karen L. Davies

    Searching for Anne Boleyn: Facial Recognition, Secret Codes, and the Tower Letter
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Hosts & Guests

Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to Tudors Dynasty & Beyond, the podcast where history comes alive through stories of royalty, rebellion, and resilience. Hosted by independent researcher Rebecca Larson, each episode dives into the Tudors and beyond—Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Katherine of Aragon, forgotten queens, rebels, and adventurers. Enjoy Sunday storytelling (or interviews), engaging historian chats, and the popular Thursday series Dr. Emma & Me, with Dr. Emma Cahill Marron. Discover love, power, intrigue, and survival in early modern England and across Europe.

Information

  • Creator
    RedTop Media / Rebecca Larson
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    707
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © RedTop Media / Rebecca Larson
  • Show Website
    Tudors Dynasty & Beyond

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