Six Queens: Recent Episodes
Kate and Cally
Kate and Cally are two friends who met in an Early Modern History MA program. Now they have a podcast, where they discuss their love and admiration for the six queens who married Henry VIII. We put the queens back into their own narratives, debunk myths, and explore life for a sixteenth-century English queen.
Over the centuries, Katherine Howard has gained a reputation for having relationships before her queenship. What were the nature of these relationships? How did her flirtations get out of hand? And how did her mistakes threaten to follow her once she arrived at the Tudor court?
Kate and Cally take on the difficult task of discussing the origin story of Katherine's reign: what happened during her early teenage years, how she caught the eye of an aging king, and the traces of the real Katherine we can see underneath all the drama.
Listeners should be aware that this episode contains mature themes that may be unsettling. Part 1 contains a discussion of sexual assault. If you would like to avoid this discussion, which begins at the 11:58 time mark, you can skip ahead to Part 2 at 22:40.
Even though we imagine royal weddings as huge, glittering affairs, five of our six queens married Henry in small private ceremonies. Why? What are the backstories behind every wedding? What got each queen down the aisle? What sorts of vows did they have to make? And why are some more scandalous than others?
In this episode, Kate and Cally are inviting you to the weddings of Katharine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Katherine Howard, and Katherine Parr.
On New Years Day 1540, Anne of Cleves met her future husband for the first time...and we all know that Henry VIII wasn't pleased. What went wrong? How did the expectations of courtly love affect Henry's judgement of Anne? And is there any way to know Anne's thoughts and feelings on the matter?
In this episode, Kate and Cally try to determine how history (and Henry) have misjudged the embarassing events that led up to Anne and Henry's wedding.
Once again, we would like to apologize for the compromised audio quality of this episode.
After the death of Jane Seymour in 1537, Henry VIII spent two years searching for his fourth wife and queen. What can this search tell us about Henry's personal preferences? How did his less-than-stellar reputation preceed him? What were his advisors telling him to do? And what women became the objects of his affections?
In this episode, Kate and Cally discuss the personal and political situations that brought Anne of Cleves onto the world stage.
How did Anne Boleyn's experiences abroad shape her? What did she learn from the refined, worldy, and sometimes dangerous court of France? How did her European education make her stand out at the English court, for better or worse?
Kate and Cally discuss Anne's teenage years in Europe and how a young, precocious girl might have been influenced by humanist thinking, religious reform, early forms of "feminism," art and music, and sexual politics.
Please note that this episode contains some mature themes.
How did Katharine of Aragon spend her earliest years in England? What were the ramifications of her widowhood? And how did financial, political, and social problems help to shape her identity?
In this episode, Kate and Cally cover Katharine's final crawl to the throne of England: a white wedding, tragic death, social instability, arguing kings, and the young woman caught up in the middle of it all.
We would like to apologize for the compromised audio quality of this episode.
What did it take to get a future queen to England? How important were marriage alliances to European politics? Was it hard for young women to leave their homes and step into their new roles? And what happens when it doesn’t go smoothly?
Kate and Cally follow the journeys of Katharine of Aragon and Anne of Cleves to England: the negotiations, travel, pageantry, and personalities.
When and where did our queens come into the world? What were their circumstances at birth? Who was born to be a queen and whose birthdays weren't even recorded?
The natural place to begin Series Three, "Origins," is a discussion of our queens' earliest years!
Kate and Cally return to discuss what they've been watching all summer: the new series "Becoming Elizabeth" on STARZ. The drama depicts the teenage years of the future Queen Elizabeth I as she navigates the politics of the Tudor court. Our sixth queen, Katherine Parr, makes a rare screen appearance, and the legacies of other queens continue to influence the lives of their surviving children.
What was good? What was...well, icky? Did the writers and actors do justice to our queens and the period in which they lived? And most importantly, what did Kate and Cally think of the COSTUMES?
How were our queens remembered within the faiths they championed? Do we still remember their religious achievements today, or have they been neglected within popular imagination and culture?
In the Series 2 finale, Kate and Cally discuss the religious legacies (and potential martyrdoms) of Katharine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Katherine Parr, all considered heroes of their faiths in the aftermath of the English Reformation.
Viewers should be aware that this episode contains a brief graphic description of human remains that some may find disturbing.
What happened during the respective regencies of Katharine of Aragon and Katherine Parr? How did their times as Queens Regent shape Tudor history? And how did they embrace the traditionally masculine world of politics and war?
In a quick break from talking about the English Reformation, Kate and Cally are turning their attention to war: specifically, the two French campaigns of Henry VIII's reign, when he left his wives in charge of England.
Listeners should be aware that this episode contains a brief mention of violence and human remains that some may find disturbing.
How were English Reformers inserting their theological ideas into the new Church of England? What are the origins of the Church's most important foundational texts? And how did Katherine Parr's contributions threaten her queenship and her life?
Kate and Cally explore the "intellectual Reformation" in England: the publication of the Bible in English, the pros and cons (for Henry) of accessible religion, and Katherine Parr's risky career as a published author.
How did the English Reformation spark the "Pilgrimage of Grace," the largest popular uprising of Henry VIII's reign? How did the violence and dissent shape the lives of two of our queens?
Kate and Cally break down the causes of the 1536/1537 rebellion to see what it can tell us about the personal politics of Katherine Parr and Jane Seymour.
What happened during the early years of the English Reformation? How did Anne Boleyn use Reformation politics to solidify her queenship and further her own religious beliefs?
The English Reformation continues with the introduction of two major cultural changes: the creation of the Church of England and the dissolution of the monasteries. Kate and Cally unpack these events and discuss how Anne Boleyn's "meddling" contributed to her downfall.
We all know the story of "the King's Great Matter," Henry VIII's divorce from Katharine of Aragon, but what was Henry's actual case for divorce? How was the "Great Matter" influenced by politics, in England and abroad? And how has the case affected our modern perception of Katharine?
Kate and Cally are joined by a special guest as they investigate Henry's 1529 "divorce court" at the Blackfriars, London.
Listeners should be aware that this episode contains mature themes and some references to sensitive topics, such as miscarriage.
What was the Reformation all about? How did the English Reformation differ from the Reformation in Europe? And how do our six queens fit into it?
The first episode of Series 2 introduces the most dramatic cultural and political event of the sixteenth century and examines its impact on Europe, England, and the Tudor court.
When did our six queens receive their holiday gifts? How did the complicated politics and romance of the Tudor court influence the gifts they did (or didn't) receive?
To celebrate the holiday season, Kate and Cally take you to one of the most important days in the Tudors' Christmas celebration, New Years Day, to discuss the importance of gift-giving at court.
Where are our six queens buried? And what do their burial sites say about their lives and legacies?
For their first Halloween special, Kate and Cally discuss the "final spaces" occupied by our queens and share some suitably spooky stories for the holiday.
Listeners should be aware that the episode includes descriptions of human remains that some may find disturbing.
Where did our queens spend time away from Henry, before and after their marriages? Did they have spaces where they could truly be themselves and live their own lives?
Kate and Cally explore two family homes and three "post-Henry" residences, where queens lived away from the pressures of court and marriage.
What were the ceremonial spaces of Tudor England, where queens experienced the highest and lowest points of their lives? How are those ceremonies influenced by public and private spaces?
Kate and Cally travel to two London landmarks, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London, to discuss coronations and executions.
What was so important about the physical spaces at court? How can we see the queens' influence on the spaces and the architecture?
To kick off their first series, "Spaces," Kate and Cally take you on a tour of one of the most recognizable buildings from the Tudor era: Hampton Court Palace.
What is a Queen Consort? What does she do? And how does the role apply to our six queens?
Kate and Cally discuss the boxes that our queens must check to become "successful" consorts.
Listeners should be aware that this episode contains discussions of sensitive topics, such as miscarriage.
How did our queens brand themselves? What do their mottos and badges say about them and their types of queenship?
In this episode, Kate and Cally hand over the reins to the queens themselves, letting them make their own introductions.
What is interesting about the six Tudor queens? What attracts us to them, makes us want to study them? And how will we address them on this podcast?
In this episode, Kate and Cally will introduce themselves (your hosts) and the queens (your subject), letting you in on the secret of how this all got started.