Who stabbed the famed playwright? And who planned it? We're stepping out of the sun and into the shadows on Not Just the Tudors, as Professor Suzannah Lipscomb investigates Tudor True Crime; a selection of history’s most notorious murders and murderers.

Today Suzannah is joined by Charles Nicholl to dig deeper into the mystery of the 1593 murder of the brilliant and controversial playwright Christopher Marlowe, who was stabbed to death in a house in Deptford. The official account stated it was a violent quarrel over the bill. But as Charles Nicholl explains, critical evidence about that fatal day points to Marlowe's shadowy political and espionage dealings.

MORE:

Dr Faustus: Pacts with the Devil >

Mysterious Murder of Juan Borgia >

Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. Edited and produced by Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All 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.

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**Contains examples of 'othering', including birth abnormalities, and the terms used to describe them historically**

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Dr. Surekha Davies to discuss how individuals and groups were often classified in the Early Modern period, and how ideas evolved around normality versus 'otherness' - or even 'monstrosity'. Suzannah and Surekha consider the influence of the four humors on human classification, the portrayal of different peoples in New World exploration, and the entrenchment of racism and sexism through legal and social frameworks. They also touch upon gender fluidity and intersexuality from various cultural perspectives, culminating in a rich discussion on how humans created their own concepts of 'monsters' amongst men.

MORE:

Unusual Births and Disability in 17th Century England

Making Babies in the 17th Century

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

All 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://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Professor Jan Clarke to explore the life, legend, and legacy of Jean-Baptiste Poquelin — better known as Molière. From his audacious rejection of bourgeois expectations to his controversial plays that rattled the Catholic Church and delighted the King, Molière’s story is as theatrical as his work. So what can be learned about gender, religion, power, and performance in Louis XIV’s France through Molière's comedies?

Together, Suzannah and Jan unravel the myth from the man and discover how Molière’s biting satire, his savvy court politics, and his deep understanding of human nature made him a foundational figure in French literature and European theatre.

MORE:

Louis XIV and his Mistresses

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2bvIaoji5oM65WbU5bFESw

Marie Antoinette

https://open.spotify.com/episode/69l3JrCvivIuKI5pmQLrYb

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

All 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://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

What if the tale of one night could change the way we view art forever?

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Dr. Noah Charney to explore the life and legacy of Giorgio Vasari, the man who redefined art as an intellectual pursuit and artists as divine geniuses. They delve into Vasari's influential work and how it shaped our understanding of the Renaissance, artistic genius, and the very structure of art history today.

From the tale of a fabricated murder among Renaissance artists to the lasting impact on museum curation and art education, Suzannah and Noah uncover how Vasari's blend of truth and myth continues to influence modern perceptions of creativity and value in art.

MORE:

Leonardo da Vinci with Ken Burns

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Fv8RTd6AWAmMQ7DKYRHcY

Michelangelo

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ocKCFinOdaCZYfBtHoMXn

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

All 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://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

**Contains historical language which may cause offence**

Between the early 1600s and late 1700s, thousands of British sailors, fishermen, merchants, and coastal villagers were captured and enslaved by North African pirates, known as Barbary Corsairs. Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and Professor Bernard Capp delve into the harrowing experiences of these captives, their treatment, and the broader implications on British society. Their exploration of the similarities and differences between Barbary and African slavery, reveal a nuanced and complex history filled with compelling stories of survival, escape, and unexpected turns.

MORE:

Women Pirates of the Caribbean

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0LC4MXJQZloEoYHkVb3WSL

Escaping Slavery in London

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0LC4MXJQZloEoYHkVb3WSL

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

All music used 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://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

From the establishment of a formidable double monarchy to the complex dynamics of the Spanish Inquisition, Isabel of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon were quite the Renaissance team.

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Giles Tremlett to discuss the complex dynamics of this unite couple. They explore the triumphs and tragedies that marked their reign, their relentless pursuit of religious unity, and the personal losses that shaped their legacy. Witness the dawn of Spain’s golden era and the inception of a global empire.

MORE:

Christopher Columbus

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5irll7mMs6rpkFvQR3L5VR

The Brutal Basque Witch Hunt

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6AGtHmagGVdd9J8pBEG5P4

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

All music used 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://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

**This episode contains sexually explicit language**

In an age when powerful female rulers were few and far between, Isabel of Castile rose against the odds to become one of Europe's most formidable monarchs. Crowned ruler of a chaotic, divided kingdom in 1474, Isabel transformed Castile into a powerhouse and helped forge the foundation of modern Spain. But was she a visionary queen and unifier of a fractured land or a zealot whose decisions cast long shadows? Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Isabel's biographer Giles Tremlett to explore her rise to power and her forging of a strategic alliance with Ferdinand of Aragon.

MORE:

Christopher Columbus

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5irll7mMs6rpkFvQR3L5VR

Velazquez & the Spanish Court

https://open.spotify.com/episode/68UKq5ABg5mPJTAwk8vqLr

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

All music used 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://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

What was the Jacobite cause, and why did it spark some of the most famous and devastating events in British history?

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and Professor Allan McInnes dive into the Jacobite rebellions, from the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the infamous Massacre at Glencoe, to the decisive Battle of Culloden in 1746. They discuss how Bonnie Prince Charlie rallied his Highland clansmen, only to face devastating reprisals. From the political and religious complexities of the era, the support from Louis XIV of France, to the unexpected factors like cattle disease that influenced key battles, plus the enduring symbolism of Bonnie Prince Charlie.

MORE:

The Glencoe Massacre

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3UvmUFsPlQQx4G3xTiWxG5?si=6lRJTidnSBaA9lsstJS-IA

Louis XIV and his Mistresses

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2bvIaoji5oM65WbU5bFESw

Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Max Wintle, 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

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://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on