Tudors Dynasty & Beyond

Hans Holbein painted some of the most familiar faces of the Tudor court. But what did he think of the people sitting for him—and could a portrait reveal more than its subject intended?
I’m joined by bestselling author Wendy Holden to discuss The Queen’s Painter, her historical novel that places Holbein at the center of a plot to avenge Anne Boleyn. We talk about his imagined alliance with Thomas Wyatt, Henry VIII’s search for a fourth wife, and the portraits of Christina of Denmark and Anne of Cleves that helped inspire the story. Wendy also shares her intriguing interpretation of The Ambassadors and explains why she wanted to look beyond Holbein’s genius to the man who had to make his way through a dangerous court.
After this conversation, you may find yourself looking at those familiar Tudor portraits a little differently.
A free article I wrote about it: https://bit.ly/4z3bk2t
https://www.wendyholden.net/
Buy The Queen's Painter on Blackwells (free shipping)
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Wendy Holden

Who would you want at your side in a Tudor court—and who would make you regret walking through the door?
In this episode of Off the Record, Amy and Rebecca hand out superlatives to some of history’s most memorable figures. There are strong opinions, a few difficult choices, and plenty of reasons to argue with us. Listen in, then tell us who you would have picked.
We can't wait to hear your answers!
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Co-Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Amy McElroy

Rebecca and historian Matthew Lewis launch a new series exploring the Norman kings, beginning with the man who changed England forever: William the Conqueror.
Born the illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy, William survived a childhood filled with violence, betrayal and political uncertainty. Those early experiences helped shape the ruthless ruler who would eventually cross the Channel and claim the English throne.
Rebecca and Matt follow William from his rise in Normandy and his complicated relationship with Harold Godwinson to the disputed oath that helped ignite the succession crisis of 1066. They examine the Battle of Hastings, William’s chaotic Christmas Day coronation and the brutal methods he used to secure his new kingdom—including castle building, the destruction of the Anglo-Saxon elite and the devastating Harrying of the North.
Was William a brilliant military leader, a calculating propagandist or simply a conqueror willing to destroy anyone who stood in his way?
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Matt Lewis

Philippa Langley became internationally known for leading the search that discovered the remains of King Richard III beneath a Leicester car park. Now she is challenging another of history’s most enduring mysteries: what really happened to the Princes in the Tower?
Philippa joins Rebecca to discuss her remarkable search for Richard III, the evidence that led to the excavation of Greyfriars, and what the king’s remains revealed about the man behind Shakespeare’s infamous portrayal. She also shares the findings of the Missing Princes Project, a ten-year international investigation involving more than 350 researchers.
Could Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, have survived into the reign of Henry VII? Philippa explains the archival discoveries supporting her controversial argument that the Yorkist claimants known as Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck were actually the missing princes. The conversation also examines Elizabeth Woodville’s actions, the destruction of records under Henry VII, and why Philippa believes the bones preserved at Westminster Abbey should undergo modern scientific testing.
This is a fascinating examination of Richard III, the Princes in the Tower, and the evidence that could transform one of the greatest mysteries in British history.
https://www.philippalangley.co.uk/bookshelf.html
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Join other history buffs on Patreon for early access, commercial-free episodes, exclusive bonus content, live discussions, and more. Your support helps keep independent history content coming—and brings you even closer to the stories and people of the past. Join us at Patreon.com/TudorsDynasty.--Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Philippa Langley

What would you choose: marry King John or Richard II? Follow Richard the Lionheart or Edward I into battle? Support Matilda or Stephen? Witness Bosworth or Hastings? And if you could solve one historical mystery, would you rather interview the people involved—or secretly watch the whole thing unfold?
This week on Off the Record, Amy and Rebecca are playing Would You Rather: Medieval Edition, and some of these choices are much harder than they sound.
From questionable royal husbands and medieval battlefields to the Anarchy, the Wars of the Roses, Cecily Neville’s household, and a day wandering the streets of medieval London, Amy and Rebecca debate where they’d go, whom they’d trust, and which moments in history they’d most like to witness firsthand.
Along the way, the conversation takes an unexpected turn into Rebecca’s research for her upcoming book on Thomas Seymour, including how historians piece together conflicting evidence, the frustrations of Tudor handwriting, and what happens when the surviving sources don’t quite tell the story historians have long assumed they do.
It’s medieval history with no script, plenty of opinions, and some surprisingly difficult choices.
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Co-Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Amy McElroy