Today, I am joined by award-winning historical fiction author Roja Gaston to discuss her novel on Margaret of Austria — daughter of Maximilian I, aunt to Charles V, and one of Renaissance Europe’s most powerful women.

Together, they explore Margaret’s remarkable life: her early betrothal to the French king, her marriages to Juan of Spain and Philibert of Savoy, her role as regent of the Burgundian Habsburg Netherlands, and her lasting legacy as a political force, diplomat, patron, and survivor. They also discuss Margaret’s connection to Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, her famous motto — “Fortune, misfortune fortifies one” — and how her resilience shaped both her life and Gaston’s novel.

Rozsa's books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0084F8MJE?ccs_id=61d489f4-cc9e-4a8d-9045-e387281792c7

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Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Rozsa Gaston

Today, we decided to return to the same topic as before and we discuss moments in history that we would like to travel back to and experience. There are a few times things got a bit goofy during this one, so if you're opposed to laughter - skip this one.

What times would you like to travel back to? What do you think of OUR choices?

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Co-Hosts:

Rebecca Larson

Amy McElroy

Edward IV's reign began with spectacular victories, but it was nearly undone by betrayal.

In Part 1 of our series, Matt Lewis joins me to explore Edward's rise to the throne following the Battle of Towton, his consolidation of power, and the growing rift with Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick - the Kingmaker. We discuss Edward's secret marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, the political fallout that followed, Warwick's rebellion, and the dramatic events that forced Edward into exile.

Join us as we uncover how one of England's greatest warrior kings went from triumph to the brink of losing everything. In Part 2, we'll follow Edward's return to reclaim his crown and the rest of his remarkable reign.

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Support the podcast on Patreon and receive COMMERCIAL-FREE episodes, EARLY ACCESS, and EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty

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Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Matt Lewis

For generations, the story of the Wars of the Roses has largely been told through a Yorkist lens. But what if we've been looking at the rivalry between Richard, Duke of York, and Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, all wrong?

In this fascinating conversation, Dr. Michael Jones presents the Lancastrian case, challenging some of the most deeply rooted assumptions about the conflict that divided medieval England. Was Somerset really the corrupt, incompetent favorite of Henry VI, or was he a gifted commander and loyal servant of the Crown? Was York motivated by a desire to save the kingdom, or by personal ambition and an obsession with bringing down his rival?

Together, we explore the origins of one of England's greatest political feuds, from the Calais campaign of 1436 through the loss of Normandy and the First Battle of St. Albans. Along the way, we also reconsider Henry VI himself - not as a weak and easily manipulated king, but as an intelligent, principled ruler whose vision for peace has often been overshadowed by centuries of hostile tradition.

Whether you agree with Dr. Jones's conclusions or not, this episode offers a compelling alternative perspective on the men, motives, and decisions that led England into the Wars of the Roses - and invites us to question just how much of history has been shaped by the victors who wrote it.

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Support the podcast on Patreon and receive COMMERCIAL-FREE episodes, EARLY ACCESS, and EXCLUSIVE content! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty

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Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Dr. Michael Jones

Matt Lewis returns to continue our journey through the reign of Henry VI - and things are about to fall apart.

Picking up in 1450, we explore the events that plunged England into the Wars of the Roses. Was Richard, Duke of York, really determined to take the throne, or has history misunderstood his intentions? Time and again, York had opportunities to overthrow Henry VI, yet repeatedly stopped short. So why did the kingdom descend into civil war anyway?

We discuss Henry's catastrophic political indecision, his unwavering trust in Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, his mental collapse in 1453, the First Battle of St Albans, the ill-fated Love Day, the dramatic Act of Accord, and the death of Richard of York at Wakefield. Along the way, we examine the choices - and failures - that shaped one of the most turbulent periods in English history.

We also tackle one of the biggest questions surrounding Henry VI: what really happened in the Tower of London in May 1471? Was the deposed king murdered, or did he simply succumb to grief and illness after the destruction of his Lancastrian cause?

Join us as we conclude the story of Henry VI - a king whose inability to choose a side may have changed the course of English history forever.

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Support the podcast on Patreon and get COMMERCIAL-FREE episodes, EARLY ACCESS, and EXCLUSIVE content! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty

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Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Matt Lewis

The wonderful Dr. Michael Jones returns to the podcast to take a fresh look at the remarkable life of Margaret Beaufort. Together, we explore how her turbulent childhood shaped the woman she would become - from growing up without ever knowing her father to the lasting impact his early death had on her life. We also dive into her relationship with her mother, and of course, we couldn't talk about Margaret without discussing her famous bond with her son, the future Henry VII.

Along the way, Mike challenged a few assumptions I had about Margaret, and there were more than a couple of moments that genuinely surprised me. I have a feeling you'll be just as fascinated by what he has to say.

*I was unable to add photos of the church and home in Samford Peverell, but I'll post them to social media AFTER the episode has been published.

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Support the podcast on Patreon and receive COMMERCIAL-FREE episodes, EARLY ACCESS, and EXCLUSIVE content! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty

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Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Dr. Michael K. Jones

Today, we decided to return to the same topic as last week and we discuss moments in history that we would like to travel back to and experience. There are a few times things got a bit goofy during this one, so if you're opposed to laughter - skip this one.

What times would you like to travel back to? What do you think of OUR choices?

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Co-Hosts:

Rebecca Larson

Amy McElroy

Henry VI inherited the throne as an infant and would become one of England's most controversial kings. In this episode, Matt Lewis joins me to explore the first half of Henry's reign, from the triumphs inherited from Henry V to the mounting crises that would eventually tear the kingdom apart.

Together, we discuss Henry's upbringing, his deeply pious personality, the influence of powerful nobles, the loss of England's French territories, the rise of factional politics at court, and the growing unrest that culminated in Jack Cade's Rebellion in 1450.

Was Henry VI simply a victim of circumstances beyond his control, or did his own shortcomings help create the conditions for disaster? Join us as we trace the early reign of the king who would preside over the end of England's French empire and the beginning of one of the most turbulent periods in English history.

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Host:
Rebecca Larson

Guest:
Matt Lewis

Dr. Lacey Bonar Hull returns for part two of our conversation on women's networks during the Wars of the Roses. This time, we turn our attention to two of the most influential women of the fifteenth century: Elizabeth Woodville and Margaret Beaufort.

How did these women navigate one of the most turbulent periods in English history? What role did family connections, female alliances, and political survival play in shaping the future of the English crown?

We explore Elizabeth Woodville's relationship with her mother, Jaquetta of Luxembourg, and how that bond may have helped prepare her to survive repeated political upheavals. We also examine Margaret Beaufort's often-misunderstood ambitions, separating later Tudor mythology from what the contemporary evidence actually tells us.

Along the way, we discuss the mysterious events of 1483, including a possible plot to rescue the Princes in the Tower, the challenges of interpreting Richard III's actions, and the communication networks that may have connected Elizabeth Woodville and Margaret Beaufort long before their famous alliance.

Most importantly, we look at how these two women ultimately worked together to secure the marriage of Henry Tudor and Elizabeth of York—an alliance that helped bring the Wars of the Roses to an end and laid the foundations for the Tudor dynasty.

Join us as we separate fact from fiction, challenge long-held assumptions, and uncover the remarkable political agency of women whose influence has too often been overlooked by history.

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Lacey's Substack: https://thehistoriansdesk.substack.com/

Support the podcast on Patreon and get commercial-free episodes, early access, and exclusive content! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty--Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Dr. Lacey Bonar Hull

Ever wished you could step into a time machine and witness history with your own eyes? In this special episode, Amy and Rebecca leave the archives behind and dive into the historical moments they would most love to experience firsthand.

From royal celebrations and mysterious disappearances to secret weddings, political intrigue, and pivotal turning points, we reveal our dream destinations in the past - and why these events continue to fascinate us. Along the way, the conversation takes a few unexpected (and hilarious) detours, proving that even historians can't resist having a little fun.

So, if you've ever wondered what it would be like to stand in the crowd at a Tudor celebration, uncover one of history's greatest mysteries, or simply observe a world long gone, this episode is for you.

And we want to hear from you: If you could travel back in time, where - and when - would you go?

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Support the podcast on Patreon and receive COMMERCIAL-FREE episode, EARLY ACCESS, and EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty

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Join other history enthusiasts for the upcoming EVENT on imagery of Mary Boleyn with Sylvia Barbara Soberton. Learn more here: https://maryboleyn.eventbrite.com

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Co-Hosts:
Rebecca Larson
Amy McElroy

*Matt has the week off, so I invited Mike back to discuss someone who may or may not come up in my next conversation with Matt on Henry VI.

For generations, Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, has been remembered as one of the defeated leaders of the Lancastrian cause at the Battle of Tewkesbury. But does history tell the whole story?

In this episode, I welcome back historian Dr. Michael Jones to take a fresh look at one of the most controversial figures of the Wars of the Roses. Together, we trace Beaufort's remarkable journey from the embattled Beaufort family, through years of exile in Burgundy, to his final stand in 1471.

Drawing on evidence from European archives, Dr. Jones argues that Beaufort was far more than a doomed Lancastrian commander. He was a respected military leader, a close companion of Charles the Bold, and a man whose unwavering loyalty and commitment to the chivalric code set him apart in an age of shifting allegiances and political betrayals.

Was Edmund Beaufort truly the reckless commander portrayed by later Yorkist accounts? Or has one of Lancaster's most capable and honorable champions been unfairly judged by history?

Join us as we explore loyalty, exile, warfare, and the dramatic final chapter of the Beaufort family's role in the Wars of the Roses.

"The Beauforts get a hard deal." Dr. Michael Jones makes the case for why it's time to take another look.

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Mike's Thesis/Dissertation he mentioned: https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/34504530/507865.pdf

Information on the Tewkesbury Festival he will be speaking at on 11 July at 7:30pm: https://www.johnmooremuseum.org/events/tewkesbury-1471-a-vindication-of-edmund-beaufort-duke-of-somerset/

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Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Dr. Michael K. Jones