The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

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   Number 1: Anne Boleyn Was Queen for 3 Years - What Did She Actually Do?

   We spend so much time talking about Anne Boleyn's extraordinary rise and her dramatic fall that we often skip over the bit in between, but what was Anne actually like as Queen of England? Anne was Henry VIII's queen for just three years, but during that short time she acted as an intercessor, supported scholars and universities, promoted religious reform, gave to the poor, patronised artists and used her access to Henry VIII to help people who appealed to her. In this instalment of my Anne Boleyn documentary series, I'm looking at Anne "the queen in her own right". What was expected of a Tudor queen consort? How much influence could Anne really exercise? How did she use patronage, her household and her position close to the king? And what can surviving objects such as her famous "Most Happy" medal, crowned falcon badge, jewellery and books tell us about the way Anne presented herself as queen? I'll also look at Anne's religious and charitable activities, her patronage of scholars and reformers, her role as intercessor, her pregnancies and the all-important expectation that she would provide Henry VIII with a male heir. Join me as we explore an often overlooked part of Anne Boleyn's story: the years when she wasn't Henry VIII's prospective bride or his condemned wife, but Queen of England.

   August 24, 2026·35min
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   Number 2: Henry VIII Expected a Prince… But Anne Boleyn Gave Birth to Elizabeth I

   England waited anxiously for the birth of Anne Boleyn’s child in 1533. Henry VIII had broken with Rome, overturned his kingdom, and married Anne believing she would finally give him the son and heir he desperately wanted. Astrologers predicted a prince, celebrations were prepared, a letter announcing the birth of a male heir had even been drafted in advance, but behind the splendour of Greenwich Palace lay the terrifying reality of Tudor childbirth. In this video, I explore Anne Boleyn’s confinement, the ritual of “taking her chamber”, Tudor beliefs and superstitions surrounding labour, the dangers faced by women in childbirth, and the dramatic birth of the future Elizabeth I. Discover: - The strange rituals of Tudor childbirth - Anne Boleyn’s lavish lying-in chamber - Tudor beliefs about labour and protection - The dangers royal women faced in childbirth - Henry VIII’s reaction to the birth - The magnificent christening of Princess Elizabeth - Anne Boleyn as a mother - The lasting influence Anne may have had on Elizabeth’s future #AnneBoleyn, #ElizabethI, #HenryVIII, #TudorHistory, #Tudors, #History, #BritishHistory, #RoyalHistory, #HistoryTube, #HistoryTok, #WomenInHistory, #EnglishHistory, #TudorEngland, #QueensOfEngland, #MedievalHistory

   May 26, 2026·26min
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   Number 3: The Gossip, the Murmuring, the Speed: Henry VIII and Jane Seymour in 1536

   On 20th May 1536, just one day after Anne Boleyn’s execution, Henry VIII became formally betrothed to Jane Seymour. Even by Tudor standards, many saw the speed of the relationship as shocking and unseemly. In this off-the-cuff video, I explore the gossip and murmuring at court following Anne’s fall, ask why Henry was in such a desperate hurry, and consider whether fears of pregnancy may have played a role. I also reflect on what the atmosphere at court must have been like after the sudden destruction of the Boleyn faction — Anne gone, George Boleyn dead, courtiers executed, and two men still imprisoned in the Tower. How did people react? What did they really think? And what did this sudden betrothal reveal about Henry VIII? #HenryVIII #JaneSeymour #AnneBoleyn #TudorHistory #Tudors #OnThisDay #History

   May 20, 2026·9min
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   Number 4: The Wars of the Roses Explained | The Civil War That Created the Tudors

   Kings were overthrown, noble families destroyed, princes vanished, and England descended into decades of civil war. In this Beginner’s Guide to the Wars of the Roses, I explore the dynastic conflict between the rival houses of Lancaster and York, a struggle that would bring down the Plantagenets and pave the way for the Tudor dynasty. From the weak reign of Henry VI and the rise of Richard, Duke of York, to the battles of St Albans, Towton, Barnet, and Tewkesbury, this video untangles the complex family rivalries, political tensions, betrayals, and battles that shaped fifteenth-century England. We’ll also explore: - Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou - Richard Neville “the Kingmaker” - Edward IV and the Woodvilles - The Princes in the Tower - Richard III’s rise to power - Henry Tudor’s claim to the throne Whether you’re completely new to the Wars of the Roses or looking for a clear overview before diving deeper into Tudor history, my hope is that this guide will help you understand one of the most dramatic periods in English history. #WarsoftheRoses #RichardIII #HenryVI #EdwardIV #TudorHistory #Plantagenets #HistoryDocumentary

   April 30, 2026·24min
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   Number 5: A Viewer Told Me to Cover Up - Anne Boleyn Had the PERFECT Response

   A viewer recently emailed me with some well-meaning professional advice: she found my bare arms, flushed skin and tattoos distracting from my history content, and suggested that I might consider wearing a blouse or even a turtleneck when filming. There was just one rather wonderful irony...The two visible tattoos she suggested I cover up are both connected to Anne Boleyn - and one of them seemed to provide the perfect response from nearly 500 years ago:"Ainsi sera, groigne qui groigne." Or, as I like to translate it: "Let them grumble. That's the way it's going to be." In this video, I'm exploring the fascinating history behind Anne Boleyn's defiant motto, why she had it embroidered on her servants' livery during Henry VIII's Great Matter, and its possible connection to the court of Margaret of Austria. I'm also sharing the very personal reason I had those words tattooed on me in 2021, after years of allowing online criticism to affect my confidence. And the viewer's email raised another interesting question: are women still judged differently from men when it comes to appearance and professionalism? Can bare shoulders or tattoos really distract from someone's expertise? And would we react in the same way to a male historian? I'd love to know what you think in the comments.And as for whether I'll be filming my videos in a turtleneck from now on...Ainsi sera, groigne qui groigne.Let them grumble! #AnneBoleyn #TudorHistory #Tudors #HenryVIII #History

   September 22, 2026·13min
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