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How did queens use portraiture to not only capture likeness, but to demonstrate political power? What can portraits tell us about the queens they represent?
Kate and Cally will discuss the importance of portraiture in understanding the political motives and legacies of our queens, especially Katherine Parr, whose surviving output is unique and impressive. Follow along by clicking these links and seeing the art for yourself: Katherine Parr by Master John (ca. 1545), National Portrait Gallery ; Katherine Parr by Lucas or Margaret Horenbout (ca. 1544), Sudeley Castle
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"Dynastic portraits," showing the royal family in group scenarios, are some of the most fascinating portraits of the Tudor era. What do they tell us about the politics of the monarchs who commissioned them? How do they seek to create certain narratives and, in some cases, rewrite history? And even if they're not depicted, how did our queens influence the art?
Kate and Cally will discuss four paintings that show Tudor propaganda at its finest: The Family of Henry VII with St. George and the Dragon; the "Whitehall Mural"; The Family of Henry VIII; and The Allegory of the Tudor Succession. Click on the links to follow along and view these paintings as they're discussed!
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How did our six queens use feminine ideals to create their public images? How did they define their personas and politics within society's patriarchal standards for women? And what happened when they failed to meet those standards?
In this episode, Kate and Cally discuss three important female archetypes and how our queens were defined by often unattainable expectations.
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How did the Tudors launch one of the best marketing campaigns in English royal history? What were the political strategies behind choosing a royal symbol? How did our queens choose their symbols, managing to stress their individual assets while also contributing to dynastic legacy?
Kate and Cally break down the politics and symbolism behind some of the best-known Tudor symbols, including the famous Tudor Rose, to illustrate the importance of selling yourself as a queen.
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Our six queens married into the Tudor Dynasty, one of the most well-known royal families in history. How did the Tudors become so famous? How did they cultivate such a lasting image for themselves? And how did our queens contribute to this dynastic success?
In this Series 6 premiere, Kate and Cally introduce you to the image-building, political consciousness, and paranoia that created the Tudor Dynasty, and the ways in which our queens were expected to contribute to the royal "brand."
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Series 5 has come to an end, so Kate and Cally are on Instagram Live chatting all things Court: what we've learned, favorite episodes, series highlights, and audience questions. You'll also get a preview of the upcoming Series 6, plus the projects happening in the "off season."
Partially-edited recording of a live broadcast streamed 2 March 2025.
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How did queens use art to further their politics? What hidden meanings lurk behind every portrait of Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Katherine Parr? How did foreign brides, like Katherine of Aragon, use art to display their global power and connections? Why was patronage of artists so important at the Tudor court?
To conclude our Court season, Kate and Cally are speaking with art historian Dr. Emma Cahill Marron about the many ways in which image, power, and queenship are irrevocably linked.
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In the twenty-first century, we all acknowledge the drama of having six queens at a court, but how did the Tudor court react to it all? Did any of our queens ever have to confront her predecessor or replacement? What courtly etiquette existed to make such a confrontation as civil as possible?
For a little New Year's treat, Kate and Cally are exploring one of the most awkward encounters ever at the Tudor court: New Year 1541, when Anne of Cleves returned to court after her annulment. How did she and Katherine Howard navigate the difficult task of saving face, making nice, delivering their political messages, and having a happy new year?
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The Mirror and the Light, based on the novel by Hilary Mantel, is the sequel series to 2015's BBC drama Wolf Hall. Kate and Cally have waited ten years for their favorite period drama to return and, so far, it has not disappointed! Join us as we unpack all the Tudor politics, courtly drama, and on-screen depictions of five of our six queens.
In this last installment, Kate and Cally are discussing the show's final two episodes, which detail the drama surrounding Anne of Cleves's marriage and Thomas Cromwell's subsequent downfall. How did the portrayal of marriage negotiations help us to understand Anne's situation a little better? Did the show do Anne justice? Was Katherine Howard's brief appearance as interesting as it could have been? And did the show's final scene, the execution of Thomas Cromwell, live up to expectations?
Listeners should note that the second half of the episode contains some mild descriptions of violence.
A note to some viewers: while this drama is currently airing in the UK, it is not available in many other countries worldwide. If you don't want spoilers, it's probably best to avoid this episode!
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The Mirror and the Light, based on the novel by Hilary Mantel, is the sequel series to 2015's BBC drama Wolf Hall. Kate and Cally have waited ten years for their favorite period drama to return and, so far, it has not disappointed! Join us as we unpack all the Tudor politics, courtly drama, and on-screen depictions of five of our six queens.
Kate and Cally watched the first few episodes and are excited to talk about the show's depiction of Jane Seymour, a queen not often seen on screen. How does this version of Jane compare to her previous, often brief and lackluster, drama appearances? How do the writers and actors portray Jane's transformation from courtier to queen to politician?
A note to some viewers: while this drama is currently airing in the UK, it is not available in many other countries worldwide. If you don't want spoilers, it's probably best to avoid this episode!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Mirror and the Light, based on the novel by Hilary Mantel, is the sequel series to 2015's BBC drama Wolf Hall. Kate and Cally have waited ten years for their favorite period drama to return and, so far, it has not disappointed! Join us as we unpack all the Tudor politics, courtly drama, and on-screen depictions of five of our six queens.
In this installment, Kate and Cally react to the premiere episode of Mirror and the Light, discuss the "franchise's" impact on Tudor drama, and consider the legacies of the two queens whose deaths haunt this episode. How did the portrayal of Princess Mary affect our views of her mother, Katherine of Aragon? How did the main character, Thomas Cromwell, emotionally react to the aftermath of Anne Boleyn's execution?
A note to some viewers: while this drama is currently airing in the UK, it is not available in many other countries worldwide. If you don't want to spoilers, it's probably best to avoid this episode!
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It's an entire film about the life of Katherine Parr and it's finally here! Kate and Cally, joined by special guest Bonnie from The Queen Katherine Parr Society, are reviewing Firebrand (2023), which finally hit international cinemas this month. The film gives an intimate and harrowing look at Katherine's queenship and the Tudor court in the final years of Henry VIII's reign.
What was it like to see Katherine on the big screen? Did the filmmakers do her justice? How was the danger of Katherine's world portrayed, including her volatile relationship with Henry? And as for the film's shocking conclusion: is complete historical accuracy necessary in a major film like this, or should we just be happy that Katherine is getting her big moment in the spotlight?
LISTENERS SHOULD NOTE that Firebrand contains themes of domestic abuse, torture, and political violence, all of which are mentioned in our review. Additionally, if you haven't seen the film and want to avoid any spoilers, please avoid Part 2 of the episode!
SUBSCRIBE to Six Queens on Substack to get extra features for this episode, read Kate's review of the film from her first screening in June, access community discussions, and more!
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Come celebrate the third anniversary of Six Queens Podcast! Kate and Cally host a chat on Instagram Live, reflecting on how far the show has come in three years and answering audience questions.
Partially-edited recording of a live broadcast streamed 14 September 2024.
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How did our queens use clothing and jewelry to shape their public personas? What did their fashion choices say about their political agendas? How was the Tudor court influenced by the style of a queen? And what can we learn about our queens through the jewelry collection that they all shared?
In perhaps our most fun episode yet, Kate and Cally are discussing the fashion and jewelry of our six queens: the expensive fabrics and gems that denote their queenly status, the political messages hidden beneath headdresses and brooches, and the differences in styles throughout their six queenships.
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What did our six queens do for fun at the Tudor court? How did popular pastimes like dancing, singing, playing instruments, playing sports, jousting, and hunting allow courtiers to show off their political savvy? How is entertainment often tied to danger, excitement, and violence? And which came first, the fun or the politics?!
In this episode, Kate and Cally will introduce you to a variety of Tudor pastimes that really show how vibrant and dangerous the court of Henry VIII was.
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We can't discuss the Tudor court without mentioning the performance of "courtly love" amongst the men, women, kings and queens. What was it? What were the rules? Why was it such a fun game for courtiers to play? And what happened when people, especially our queens, took everything too far?
Kate and Cally are discussing how these odd, messy games of love contributed to the unique culture of the Tudor court...and the downfalls of two of our queens.
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"Honourable Mentions" is a series that honours the lives of Tudor women who knew, aided, and impacted the lives of our six queens. To help us learn more about the lives of ladies-in-waiting at the Tudor court, Kate and Cally are doing a deep dive on one of the court's most notorious women: Jane Parker Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford. Lady-in-waiting to five of our six queens, Anne Boleyn's sister-in-law, and keeper of secrets...until it cost her her life.
What do we actually know about Jane's life? How did royal service shape her life? Does she deserve her scandalous reputation? And how does historiography shape our perceptions of historical figures?
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We apologize for technical issues with our audio on this episode!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Kate and Cally are going on a who's-who tour of the Tudor court. In this episode, they’re discussing all the people who, behind the scenes, did the work to make our queens’ lives possible: the household staff.
How was a Tudor queen’s household organized? What was the social hierarchy like? Did the “everyday people” at court gain any political power or advantages? How do we know about their lives at all? And what examples of diversity, even in small amounts, can we see on display at court?
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