Tudors Dynasty & Beyond

In this episode, I’m joined by historian and author Sharon Bennett Connolly to explore the fascinating lives of the women featured in her new book, Princesses of the Early Middle Ages - with a special focus on the often-overlooked illegitimate daughters of Henry I of England.
We dive into the life of Sybilla of Normandy and her marriage to Alexander I of Scotland, discuss Matilda of Normandy and her politically important union with the Duke of Brittany, and uncover the dramatic and tragic story of Juliana - the daughter who famously turned against her own father and attempted to kill the king.
From royal marriages and dynastic politics to rebellion, family tension, and heartbreak, this episode shines a light on the remarkable daughters of Henry I and the roles they played in shaping the medieval world.
Order Princesses of the Early Middle Ages from Blackwells: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Princesses-of-the-Early-Middle-Ages-by-Sharon-Bennett-Connolly/9781399091022
Sharon's Website: https://historytheinterestingbits.com/
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Sharon Bennett Connolly

From lavish costumes and dramatic romances to wildly inaccurate timelines and completely unhinged plot twists, historical television gives us plenty to talk about. In this episode of Off the Record, we dive into some of our favorite historical TV series and discuss what they get right, what they get terribly wrong, and the moments that leave historians everywhere screaming at their screens. From brilliant casting and unforgettable storytelling to scenes so ridiculous they deserve an award of their own, nothing is off limits in this chat about the best — and worst — of historical television.
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Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Amy McElroy

I'm joined once again by the brilliant historian Matt Lewis to hear the end of the story of Edward II, and then we move onto his son Edward III. As with all of these stories there are so many twists and turns - I'm not sure if I like Edward III or not after this chat...what do you think about him?
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Support this podcast over on Patreon! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Matthew Lewis

Mary Boleyn - the “great whore” of Tudor history…or the victim of a bad translation?
In this episode, we dig into one of the most misunderstood women of the Tudor court and start peeling back the layers of myth that have followed her for centuries. Was Mary really the scandalous figure history made her out to be, or has her reputation been shaped by misread words and repeated assumptions?
We take a closer look at the infamous mistranslation that helped cement her notoriety, and ask a deceptively simple question: was it actually Mary - or Anne Boleyn - who served Margaret of Austria?
From there, we explore Mary’s place within the powerful Boleyn family, her relationships, and what those dynamics might really have looked like behind the scenes. And then there’s the mystery that raises more questions than answers - why did Mary remain a widow for so long before secretly marrying William Stafford? Was it love, necessity…or something else entirely?
This is Mary Boleyn as you’ve rarely heard her - complicated, sidelined, and long overdue a second look.
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Get from Blackwell's (even US residents) now: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Mary-Boleyn-by-Sylvia-Barbara-Soberton/9781837051014
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DON'T MISS OUT!!
SPECIAL EVENT on May 9th with Dr. Steven Veerapon on the medical history of Henry VIII. All the information can be found here: https://henrythetyrant.eventbrite.com--
Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Sylvia Barbara Soberton

Edward II has often been remembered as a king who simply didn’t fit the role he inherited. In this episode, we trace his reign from the shadow of his formidable father, Edward I of England, through the controversies that defined his rule - his favoritism, his relationships, and his uneasy connection with the nobility. Why did his choices spark such intense opposition? And how did a king lose control of his own kingdom? As we follow Edward II’s story to his deposition, something unexpected emerges: a king increasingly aware of his own failures - offering, perhaps, a quiet kind of redemption at the very end.
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Listen to Matt on Gone Medieval!
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BIG ANNOUNCEMENT:
SPECIAL EVENT on May 9th with Dr. Steven Veerapon on the medical history of Henry VIII. All the information can be found here: https://henrythetyrant.eventbrite.com
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Matthew Lewis