Anne Boleyn vs. Catherine Howard: The Cousin Queens’ Falls Compared

Henry VIII executed two of his six wives—two young women from the same powerful family, both elevated to queenship and both brutally cut down. But while their fates were the same, their downfalls couldn’t have been more different.
 
 Anne Boleyn’s fall was a calculated, political execution—fast, ruthless, and built on lies.
 Catherine Howard’s fall was a slow-motion disaster, the result of a real investigation that dragged on for months before the axe fell.
 
Why were their fates so different?
 
In this podcast, we’ll compare Anne and Catherine’s falls, expose the truth behind their downfalls, and reveal the real villain of these tragic stories.
 
Thank you to Bianca Brooke for inspiring this discussion!
 
What do you think? Was Henry VIII a victim of betrayal, or was he the true villain? Subscribe for more deep dives into Tudor history!
 
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Thomas Boleyn: The Man, The Myths, The Truth

Thomas Boleyn has long been painted as a ruthless social climber who exploited his daughters for power and wealth. But does history support this image, or have we been misled by fiction?
 
On the anniversary of his death in 1539, let’s uncover the real Thomas Boleyn—the diplomat, scholar, and trusted courtier of two Tudor kings. His rise at court had nothing to do with his daughters; in fact, he was already a key political figure before Anne and Mary ever entered Henry VIII’s orbit.
 
In this video, I’ll explore the facts behind the myths, including his diplomatic achievements, patronage of learning, and role in the Tudor court. Was he truly the villain history has made him out to be, or is it time to rethink his legacy?
 
Watch now to discover the truth about Thomas Boleyn! Has history been unfair to Thomas Boleyn?
 
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The Medici Pope Who Ignited the Reformation

On March 11, 1513, Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici became Pope Leo X, a ruler who would shape the Renaissance papacy with grandeur, patronage, and controversy. A lover of art and luxury, Leo transformed Rome into a cultural powerhouse, supporting artists like Raphael. But his extravagant spending led him to promote the sale of indulgences—a move that angered a certain monk named Martin Luther and helped ignite the Protestant Reformation.
How did Leo X’s decisions change history? Did he see the Reformation coming, or was he too focused on wealth and power? And what was his ironic connection to Henry VIII?
Join me as we unravel the fascinating legacy of Pope Leo X—one of the most influential and controversial popes in history? What do you think of Leo X?
Subscribe for more Tudor & Renaissance history.
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The Tudor Survivor Who Bent Like Willow

William Paulet and how he served FOUR monarchs & kept his head
In Tudor England, where one wrong move could mean the Tower, how did one man manage to serve four monarchs and die peacefully in his 90s? William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester, had a secret: adapt or die.
From the reign of Henry VIII to Elizabeth I, Paulet mastered the art of political survival. He wasn’t a radical reformer or a man of unshakable principle—he was something far more valuable: flexible. He knew when to bend, when to switch allegiances, and when to make himself indispensable.
Today, I'm exploring how Paulet rose from humble beginnings to become Lord Treasurer under four rulers, outlasting rivals and avoiding the deadly fate of men like Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, and John Dudley. Was he a brilliant politician, or just lucky? Let’s find out.
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What If Catherine of Aragon Had Gone to a Nunnery?

What if Catherine of Aragon had stepped aside and entered a nunnery? Could it have saved her daughter Mary’s legitimacy? Would Anne Boleyn have had a son? And most importantly—would England have remained Catholic?
 
In this video, we explore a fascinating Tudor ‘What If’—how history might have changed if Catherine had accepted Henry VIII’s demands. Would the Reformation still have happened? Would Henry have still married six wives? And what about the dissolution of the monasteries?
 
Thank you to Charliebeth for this thought-provoking question! 
 
#TudorHistory #CatherineOfAragon #HenryVIII #AnneBoleyn #WhatIfHistory #AlternateHistory #EnglishReformation #RoyalHistory #16thCentury #HistoryDebate 

Henry VIII’s Loyal but Ruthless Servant

On 6th March 1547, Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton and former Lord Chancellor to Henry VIII, suffered a dramatic fall from power, losing the Great Seal of his Lord Chancellorship. But was this really about his overreach, or was it part of a larger power struggle?
 
Wriothesley had been one of Henry VIII’s most trusted advisors. He played a key role in major Tudor events, including Catherine Howard’s downfall, Anne Askew’s trial, and Henry VIII’s final days. Yet, his opposition to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, sealed his fate.
 
Join me as I explore the life, power, and downfall of this controversial Tudor figure.
 
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Tracking Henry VIII’s Weight Gain… Through His Armour

Did you know we can measure Henry VIII’s expanding waistline just by looking at his armour?
As a young king, Henry was tall, athletic, and an expert jouster, but by the end of his life, he had ballooned in size, struggling with mobility, illness, and royal excess. And thanks to his custom-made suits of armour, we can track just how much he grew!
From a trim 34-inch waist in his prime to a staggering 54 inches in his later years, his changing shape tells a fascinating story about his lifestyle, injuries, and health decline. But was it just his 1536 jousting accident that caused his extreme weight gain? Or was it the lavish Tudor feasting, lack of exercise, and sheer indulgence of being king?
Let’s dive into the numbers and see how Henry VIII quite literally grew into his larger-than-life reputation! What do you think caused Henry’s transformation? 
#TudorHistory #HenryVIII #RoyalHealth #TudorTrivia #HistoryMysteries #OnThisDay

The Tragic Falls of Catherine Howard & Jane Boleyn

On this day in Tudor history, 13th February 1542, Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s young queen, met her brutal end. But was she truly guilty of treason? And why did Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, share her fate?
 
- A scandalous past, forbidden meetings, and the wrath of a dangerous king—Catherine’s downfall was swift and brutal.
- Jane Boleyn, a woman forever tied to the fall of Anne Boleyn, found herself entangled in yet another deadly royal drama.
 
Were these women victims, conspirators, or something in between?
 
Join me as I unravel the gripping final days of Catherine Howard and Jane Boleyn, and uncover the truth behind their tragic executions.
 
 
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