Share

cover art for The Witch

Not Just the Tudors

The Witch

Ep. 372

Join Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and Professor Ronald Hutton as they explore the evolving definitions of witches, the global spread of witch beliefs, and their impact during the 16th and 17th century witch trials in Europe.


As part of our month-long series on witchcraft, we delve into the role of magic in different cultures, the forms persecution took and how anthropology, folklore, and history have shaped the modern understanding of witches.


Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast


Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign up HERE for 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘TUDORS’


You can take part in our listener survey here >

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 382. Marie Antoinette

    40:46||Ep. 382
    In 1770, 14-year-old Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria arrived in France to marry Louis XVI. As Marie Antoinette, she became the ultimate diva of her time; rebelling against the the rigid protocols of court and crafting a unique visual identity; wearing men's clothing and sporting excessive elevated hair. How then did her adoring public turn on her and condemn her, leading to her execution?Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Professor Caroline Weber to discuss the royal influencer who dressed like a royal mistress, and whose lavish attire cost her her life.Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.Theme music from All3Media. Other music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.More episodes on France in the Early Modern period:Louis XIV and his Mistresses >The House of Guise: Europe’s Most Murderous Dynasty >Francois I, King of France >Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MK
  • 381. Elizabeth I & the Sultan of Morocco

    43:09||Ep. 381
    Elizabeth I and Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur of Morocco shared a common goal of empire building, despite their cultural, political and religious differences. Their alliance resulted in the transformation of sugar from a luxury item to a widespread commodity and their little-known correspondence reveals a never-realised plan to conquer Spain together. Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Dr. Samia Errazzouki to delve into Morocco’s significant relationship with Tudor England and an often overlooked and unlikely alliance in the late 16th century.Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.Theme music from All3Media. Other music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MK
  • 380. William III & the Persecution of Sodomites

    32:18||Ep. 380
    **Warning: This episode contains explicit descriptions of sexual acts and the use of historic terminology that does not align with current usage**The first widespread discussion of sodomy in public discourse came in the aftermath of the so-called ‘Glorious Revolution’ that saw the Roman Catholic King James II deposed in favour of his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange.Almost immediately, English satirists began to spread explicit charges of sodomy against William - whose male 'favourites' were no secret - and alleging his desire for other men was the cause of the royal couple's infertility. Perhaps for the first time, satirical publications and pamphlets began circulating explicit accusations against William, becoming a catalyst for persecution.Professor Suzannah Lipscomb talks to historian Jack Beesley about his research into the early origins of homosexual identity and its subsequent discrimination in the court of William III.Related episodes:The Private Life of James VI & I: https://podfollow.com/not-just-the-tudors/episode/a406821154013f01e83da0fcd95f40878547caf5/viewSame-Sex Marriages in Renaissance Rome: https://podfollow.com/not-just-the-tudors/episode/708bce3dd88f4fd948c8beb606d131d9fc734576/viewPresented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.Theme music from All3Media. Other music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MK
  • 379. Majestic Mughals: From Akbar to Shah Jahan

    38:39||Ep. 379
    Beginning with the reign of Emperor Akbar and continuing through to Shah Jahan, India's Mughal Empire enjoyed fabulous wealth and stable governance, resulting in remarkable artistic achievements, including the architectural marvel of the iconic Taj Mahal.Join Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and curator Dr. Susan Stronge at the V&A Museum in London as they delve into the opulent world of the great Mughals during their golden age.Music from All3 Media Music.Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcastSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MK
  • 378. The Witches of Lorraine

    42:33||Ep. 378
    **This episode contains brief descriptions of tortures**Between 1570 and 1630 there was intense persecution as thousands of people were accused of being witches in Lorraine, a small duchy on the borders of France and the Holy Roman Empire. Suspicion spread like a deadly virus through the villages and towns as neighbour turned on neighbour.Robin Briggs, Emeritus Fellow at All Souls College Oxford, joins Professor Suzannah Lipscomb to delve into the richest surviving archive of witchcraft trials to be found in Europe. They discuss the thousands of confessions and persecutions detailed in the archive and what insights they provide into the social dynamics and cultural beliefs surrounding witchcraft in this small but notorious European duchy.Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcastSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here >
  • 377. The Women who Painted the Tudors

    41:56||Ep. 377
    We probably think that the only artists working in the Tudor court were men, like Holbein and Hilliard. But new research is revealing that women were painting the Tudors too, and they were probably more active than we have previously suspected.Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by miniatures experts Emma Rutherford and Alan Derbyshire to discuss two of these artists - Susanna Horenbout and Levina Teerlinc - and also finds out about a stunning new discovery of a portrait of a notorious Tudor Queen.Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, the audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.Music by Epidemic Sounds and All3 Media Music.Related episodes:A Tudor Mystery: https://podfollow.com/not-just-the-tudors/episode/5e47b2618a2d57498af383103e62be4af0afdca5/viewWho Painted Anne Dudley?: https://podfollow.com/not-just-the-tudors/episode/bcd6084fd52449f3e447223f778b32e9a4ea7f69/viewSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MK
  • 376. Practical Magic: Spells, Prayers & Cunning Folk

    33:59||Ep. 376
    Long before witch trials, magic was the domain of ‘cunning folk’ who were part of the fabric of medieval and early modern life. Their charms, filters and spells - for personal advancement, aiding fertility, predicting the future, even exacting revenge - offered people solutions to their problems. Professor Suzannah Lipscomb finds out more from Dr. Tabitha Stanmore, whose research navigates the social and political lives of these lesser known magical practitioners. All music from Epidemic SoundsPresented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcastRelated episodes:The Brutal Basque Witch Hunt: https://podfollow.com/not-just-the-tudors/episode/f0c212ec364450ef05ff7b8e4df7053fa3911d20/viewThe Witchfinder General: https://podfollow.com/not-just-the-tudors/episode/9c81545a7796bf29d5de9f0c9ff75c40169a9ed0/viewSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MK
  • 375. Leonardo da Vinci with Ken Burns

    39:26||Ep. 375
    Leonardo da Vinci was a man like no other. A restless visionary and polymath, his paintings are some of the best known of all works of art.To talk about Leonardo, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Ken Burns, the multi-award winning American filmmaker who has transformed the documentary into an art form. His latest film, made with Sarah Burns and David McMahon, explores in wonderful granular detail the singular genius of Leonardo da Vinci.Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith. Edited and produced by Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcastRelated episodes:Michelangelo >Lorenzo de' Medici, the Magnificent >Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here >
  • 374. Witchfinder General

    38:50||Ep. 374
    In the aftermath of the Civil War, a remote corner of Essex witnessed the most brutally devastating witch-hunt in English history. A dangerous maverick Matthew Hopkins, 'the Witchfinder General', hunted down vulnerable people across East Anglia, exploiting the anxiety and lawlessness of the times. Between 1645 and 1647, over 300 suspects were interrogated and tortured; a third of them were hanged.As our special series on witchcraft continues, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb finds out more about Hopkins and his accomplice John Stearne from historian and author Malcolm Gaskill.Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, the audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcastSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here >