Tudors Dynasty & Beyond

What if Lady Jane Grey had outwitted Mary Tudor and stayed Queen of England?
In this Off the Record episode, we follow the most fascinating “what if” in Tudor history: a world where Jane’s reign doesn’t end after nine days - but becomes the start of something far bigger (and far more dangerous). Together we unpack what would have needed to change for Jane to keep the crown, why Mary’s victory depended as much on politics as it did legitimacy, and how quickly England could have transformed under a fiercely Protestant queen.
We also dig into one of the most important questions behind Jane’s claim: Edward VI’s Devise for the Succession. Was Parliament even in session when Edward began drafting it - and did he actually have time to legalize it before his death? The answer might surprise you… and it changes how we understand just how fragile Jane’s crown truly was.
A coup, a crisis of legitimacy, and a teenage queen at the center of a kingdom on the edge - this is Tudor alternate history at its most dramatic.
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Medieval True Crime with Matt Lewis: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1978296660566?aff=oddtdtcreator. It's all online, and you have 60 days to watch at your own pace!
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Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Amy McElroy

In this episode of Parallel Lives, Dr. Emma and Rebecca explore the lives of two remarkable women who turned learning into influence.
Christine de Pizan became one of Europe’s first professional female writers, using her words to challenge the misogyny of her age and defend women’s intelligence. Meanwhile in Spain, Beatriz Galindo—known as La Latina—rose as a celebrated humanist at the court of Queen Isabella I, proving that education could be power.
Along the way, we dive into a fascinating portrait mystery—one that may be Elizabeth I rather than the sitter we’ve long been told it could be—and we also revisit a major Tudor assumption: was Kateryn Parr truly the first published Tudor queen consort… or is that title more complicated than we think?
CHECK OUT OUR MERCH! https://tudors-dynasty-podcast-merch.creator-spring.com/listing/historical-nicknames-tee
JOIN THE UPCOMING COURSE - Medieval True Crime with Matt Lewis: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1978296660566?aff=oddtdtcreator. It's all online, and you havve 60 days to watch at your own pace!
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Hosted by: Rebecca Larson & Dr. Emma Cahill Marron

Anne of Cleves has long been reduced to a single moment: the “failed” marriage to Henry VIII. But what if that version of her story is incomplete?
In this episode, I’m joined by author Dr. James Taffe, whose book Accounting for Anne: The Tudor Queen Who Could Have Been uses Anne’s own surviving household accounts to reconstruct the queenship history usually skips over. Together, we explore what these records reveal about Anne’s daily life, her household, her spending, her relationships at court—and the hidden evidence of a woman doing far more than simply surviving.
If you’ve ever felt like Anne of Cleves deserved a second look… this is the episode for you.
Accounting for Anne is available on Amazon! Amazon-US
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Please consider joining our upcoming online course with the amazing historian Matthew Lewis over on Eventbrite. These classes are pre-recorded and you can watch at your convenience. Learn more, here: Eventbrite
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Dr. James Taffe

In this episode of Off the Record, we’re stepping into one of history’s most fascinating rabbit holes: the heirs who should have changed everything… but died too soon.
What if Arthur Tudor had survived - and become king? Would Henry VIII ever have worn the crown… or married Katherine of Aragon? Would England have avoided the seismic religious and political upheaval that followed?
Then we go even deeper into the tragedy of succession: Henry, Duke of Cornwall, the long-awaited son of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon - gone before he could even grow into his destiny. What might his survival have meant for the Tudor dynasty, for Mary and Elizabeth, and for the future of the English throne?
And finally, we explore the ultimate wildcard: Henry Fitzroy, Henry VIII’s acknowledged (and beloved) illegitimate son. If Fitzroy had lived - could he have been legitimized? Would Henry have pushed him forward as heir?
Join us for a bold, speculative conversation full of twists, consequences, and alternate timelines as we ask the question Tudor history never lets us forget: what happens when the future dies?
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Historical Nicknames Merch
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New course alert! Medieval True Crime with Matt Lewis is officially on sale. Pre-recorded lessons, watch at your own pace, and a LIVE Q&A finale. Don’t miss it - tickets available now!
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Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Amy McElroy

Dr. Emma is back, and we’re returning to Historical Tinder to swipe through the love life of Henry VIII. From mistresses and wives to potential brides who almost made the cut, we break down Henry’s matches, missteps, and marital strategy—one swipe at a time.
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Hosts:
Rebecca Larson
Dr. Emma Cahill Marron