How did a girl declared illegitimate, imprisoned in the Tower of London and surrounded by scandal, suspicion and execution grow up to become one of England’s most famous monarchs? In this episode, Anna and Artie explore the extraordinary early life of Elizabeth I - long before the Armada, the Virgin Queen and the legend.
From the execution of her mother Anne Boleyn and the instability of Henry VIII’s court, to the disturbing Thomas Seymour scandal and Elizabeth’s terrifying imprisonment under her half-sister Mary I, we ask how these experiences shaped the woman who would eventually take the throne.
We look at Elizabeth’s remarkable education, her mastery of image and reputation, her complicated relationship with marriage and gender, and the political survival skills she developed while still a teenager.
Was Elizabeth naturally destined for greatness? Or was the great queen forged by a childhood in which one wrong move could have cost her everything?
This episode is also available to watch as a video on YouTube.
The Ministry of History offers more than just podcast episodes! Check out our blog for engaging historical insights, access transcripts of episodes, subscribe to our newsletter for updates and early access to posts, and explore our digital content. Planning a trip to Berlin? You can even book a history tour with Artie himself! To find all this, simply head to our website. You can also follow us on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
Artwork by Leila Mead. Check out her website and follow her on Instagram.
","author_name":"Ministry of History"}