Tudors Dynasty & Beyond

John Cheke is often remembered as one of the greatest scholars of Tudor England, but his story is about far more than books and learning.
In this episode, I'm joined by Amy McElroy as both co-host and guest as we explore the remarkable life of Sir John Cheke. From his rise as a brilliant humanist scholar and the first Regius Professor of Greek at Cambridge, to his role as tutor to the future Edward VI, Cheke found himself at the very heart of Tudor power.
But the Tudor court could be a dangerous place. We follow Cheke's journey from trusted advisor and royal servant to exile, imprisonment, and ultimately the Tower of London. Along the way, we discuss his influence on education, religion, and politics, as well as his support for Lady Jane Grey and the devastating consequences that followed.
How did one of the most respected minds of the Tudor age become a prisoner of the crown? Join us as we uncover the fascinating rise and fall of Sir John Cheke.
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest/Host: Amy McElroy

Well… here it is. What did you think about the show open this week? Let me know in the comments!
This week, Matt Lewis and I turn our attention to Henry IV — and there is a lot to unpack. We discuss the death of Richard II, the conspiracy theories that claimed he survived, the visit of an emperor to England, the kidnapping of the Scottish king, and so much more!
As always, the conversation takes plenty of unexpected turns along the way.
And at the very end, I ask Matt to rank Henry IV on a scale of 1–10. You’ll want to stick around to hear his answer.
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Support the podcast on Patreon and get commercial-free episodes, early access, and exclusive content! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Matt Lewis

In this second to last episode of our The Queen’s Husband series, I’m joined once again by the wonderful Dr. Linda Porter as we turn our attention to one of the most famous royal consorts in history - Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
So much of Prince Albert’s reputation has been shaped by the image of the devoted husband standing faithfully beside Queen Victoria, but who was he really? Linda explores Albert’s early life in Germany, his marriage to Victoria, and the enormous influence he had on the monarchy, politics, culture, and family life in nineteenth-century Britain.
From royal romance to political partnership, this episode takes a closer look at the man behind the title of “Prince Consort.”
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Support the podcast on Patreon and get commercial-free episodes, early access, and exclusive content! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Dr. Linda Porter

Yeah, you read that right, we are on Part Three (and the last for now) on historical TV series. This episode we look at one of my favorites - House of the Dragon, and one of Amy's favorites - Game of Thrones. If you haven't watched either consider this your spoiler alert. If you watched one episode and turned it off...consider this my pitch to convince you to watch!
If you don't think dragons are cool (I'm not sure why you wouldn't), you might after you hear me gush about them. I cannot wait for season three of House of the Dragon which is out in June.
Enjoy, and I hope to hear your feedback and answer to our questions for you!
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Support the show on Patreon and get commercial-free episode, early access, and much more!! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty
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Hosts:
Rebecca Larson
Amy McElroy

Richard II’s story is honestly one of the wildest royal rises and falls in English history, and in this episode I’m joined once again by Matt Lewis to untangle the life of the king who seemed determined to make everyone around him uncomfortable.
We look at Richard becoming king as a child after the death of his grandfather, Edward III, and how surviving the Peasants' Revolt at just fourteen years old may have completely shaped the way he viewed kingship, rebellion, and power for the rest of his life.
Richard wasn’t your typical medieval warrior king. He loved ceremony, art, and royal pageantry, and seemed to believe that kings should be treated as something almost sacred. The problem? England’s nobles very much disagreed. Matt and I talk about Richard’s favorites, his growing paranoia, revenge against the nobles who humiliated him, and how things spiraled so badly that he eventually lost his crown to his own cousin, Henry IV of England.
Was Richard II a tyrant? A misunderstood visionary? A traumatized child king who never learned to trust anyone? Honestly…by the end of this conversation, I’m still not entirely sure what to think about him. Other than I don't like him.
Link to the Wilton Diptych: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/english-or-french-the-wilton-diptych
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Matt Lewis