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Renaissance English History Podcast: A Show About the Tudors
Heir Anxiety in Renaissance Europe
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Henry VIII is infamous for his obsessive quest for a male heir—but he was far from the only Renaissance monarch haunted by fertility struggles. Across Europe, kings faced intense pressure to produce sons, especially in France, where Salic law strictly required male succession. From Louis XII’s desperate annulment and Anne of Brittany’s heartbreaking losses, to Catherine de' Medici’s decade-long battle with infertility, this episode explores how fertility issues shaped royal marriages, alliances, and even wars. Discover how these intimate struggles in royal bedchambers changed the political landscape of Europe forever.
https://www.englandcast.com/springbreak2025 for information on the Spring Break adventure.
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This Week in YouTube April 27
27:15|We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: Heather Reacts Episode 3 - Wolf Hall Portrayal of Margaret Douglas, Thomas Howard, and Cromwell; Jane sticks up for the rebels. Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast
Episode 288: Bessie Blount and Henry Fitzroy
20:55|This week, let's talk about two people who played very important roles in the life and court of Henry VIII: Bessie Blount, who gave Henry his first surviving son, and that son, Henry Fitzroy. Neither would live beyond the reign of Henry, so their impact was limited, but they still are incredibly important characters that deserve an episode. Thanks as always for your support, friend.
Episode 287: Mary Boleyn
18:40|
This Week in YouTube April 13
18:35|We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: The Wolf Hall Recap: Henry VIII vs. Mary; Cardinal Wolsey’s Daughter, Dorothea. Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast
Episode 286: Tudor Justice
27:50|In this episode, we’ll talk about justice in Tudor England—laws, courts, prisons, and lawyers. We’ll look at how the legal system was structured, who ended up in prison (and why), and what punishments looked like. From the Inns of Court to Newgate Gaol, it’s a look at how Tudor justice really worked.
This week in YouTube April 6
21:54|We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: Tudor Surgery; The Murder of Archbishop Bainbridge. Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast
Episode 285: Lettice Knollys
20:46|Let's talk about Lettice Knollys, who dared to marry a man who was seriously off limits.
The great codpiece crisis of 1534
09:17|From my YouTube chanel today... Let's explore a really bad, and somewhat outrageous, fashion moment in Henry's reign... the great Codpiece Scandal of 1534, when people got really creative with codpieces.
This Week in YouTube March 30
18:20|We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: The Tudor Women Who Traveled; Did Margaret Beaufort Kill the Princes in the Tower. Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast