Tudors Dynasty & Beyond

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--
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Dr. Valerie Schutte

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.
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Co-Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Amy McElroy

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!
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Matt Lewis

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.
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Karen L. Davies

Arthur Plantagenet survived the fall of the Yorkists and served four kings—but his loyalty could not save him from the suspicions of Henry VIII’s court.
In this episode, Rebecca and Amy explore the remarkable life of Edward IV’s illegitimate son: half-brother to Elizabeth of York, uncle to Henry VIII, military commander, Knight of the Garter, and Lord Deputy of Calais. His illegitimacy may have protected him from the fate suffered by other Plantagenets, allowing him to become a trusted Tudor servant whom Henry reportedly called “the gentlest heart living.”
But Arthur was a loyal and trusting man in a world that rewarded suspicion and political calculation. Isolated in Calais, burdened by administrative failures, and endangered by the religious sympathies of those around him, he was eventually drawn into an alleged Catholic conspiracy despite the lack of evidence against him.
From Yorkist survivor to prisoner in the Tower, discover the tragic and often overlooked story of Arthur Plantagenet, Viscount Lisle—and how the news of his freedom came just too late.
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Sarah-Beth Watkins book - ⁠Arthur Plantagenet: Henry VIII's Illegitimate Uncle⁠--
Join the fun on Patreon! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty
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Co-Hosts:
Rebecca Larson
Amy McElroy