Tudors Dynasty & Beyond

Amy's was on vacation and I am running out of topic ideas for this week so I decided to revisit one of our most popular episodes.
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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Support the podcast on Patreon and get COMMERCIAL-FREE episodes, EARLY ACCESS, and EXCLUSIVE CONTENT https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty
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Co-Hosts: Rebecca Larson & Amy McElroy

Edward IV's dramatic return to the throne in 1471 brought an end to the Lancastrian challenge - but not to the dangers facing England.
In this episode, Matt Lewis and I explore the second half of Edward IV's reign, beginning with the decisive victory at Tewkesbury and the deaths of Henry VI and his son, Edward of Westminster. We examine the fate of Margaret of Anjou, the controversial execution of George, Duke of Clarence, Edward's diplomatic gamble with France, and the growing tensions that threatened the stability he had worked so hard to achieve.
By the time Edward died unexpectedly in 1483 at just forty years old, he left behind a twelve-year-old heir, an uncertain political future, and a kingdom on the brink of another succession crisis. It was a reign that ended not with triumph, but with the seeds of one of England's greatest royal mysteries.
Matt's Wars of the Roses book on Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Wars-Roses-Players-Struggle-Supremacy/dp/1445660237/encoding=UTF8&pdrd_w=XfKTp&content-id=amzn1.sym.f8e88413-4697-42ea-9bf7-b28eb886330d&pf_rd_p=f8e88413-4697-42ea-9bf7-b28eb886330d&pf_rd_r=132-7377516-1645627&pd_rd_wg=GwWFA&pd_rd_r=ebce769c-c434-4402-883d-bdc6fee0d0ed
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Matthew Lewis

Today, I am joined by award-winning historical fiction author Roja Gaston to discuss her novel on Margaret of Austria — daughter of Maximilian I, aunt to Charles V, and one of Renaissance Europe’s most powerful women.
Together, they explore Margaret’s remarkable life: her early betrothal to the French king, her marriages to Juan of Spain and Philibert of Savoy, her role as regent of the Burgundian Habsburg Netherlands, and her lasting legacy as a political force, diplomat, patron, and survivor. They also discuss Margaret’s connection to Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, her famous motto — “Fortune, misfortune fortifies one” — and how her resilience shaped both her life and Gaston’s novel.
Rozsa's books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0084F8MJE?ccs_id=61d489f4-cc9e-4a8d-9045-e387281792c7
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Rozsa Gaston

Today, we decided to return to the same topic as before and we discuss moments in history that we would like to travel back to and experience. There are a few times things got a bit goofy during this one, so if you're opposed to laughter - skip this one.
What times would you like to travel back to? What do you think of OUR choices?
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Co-Hosts:
Rebecca Larson
Amy McElroy

Edward IV's reign began with spectacular victories, but it was nearly undone by betrayal.
In Part 1 of our series, Matt Lewis joins me to explore Edward's rise to the throne following the Battle of Towton, his consolidation of power, and the growing rift with Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick - the Kingmaker. We discuss Edward's secret marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, the political fallout that followed, Warwick's rebellion, and the dramatic events that forced Edward into exile.
Join us as we uncover how one of England's greatest warrior kings went from triumph to the brink of losing everything. In Part 2, we'll follow Edward's return to reclaim his crown and the rest of his remarkable reign.
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Support the podcast on Patreon and receive COMMERCIAL-FREE episodes, EARLY ACCESS, and EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Matt Lewis