Exploring Elizabethan History - exactly what it says on the tin! Specific focus on Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley. Run by MA University of Kent alumna. All views my own. See where else you can find me here: exploringelizabethanhistory.linkhttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3m2tbq54u3c2oIt’s been a while!! Work has reached fever pitch right now so I’m still just trying to keep my head above water, but I’ve really missed engaging with history, so here’s a new Bitesized Source.10 Oct 2025 08:44 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2tbq54u3c2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lus6euo76s2uPart of the reason I made a last-minute decision to visit Kenilworth Castle last week was because I saw that a new art installation had been installed in the Great Hall as part of the events to commemorate the 450th anniversary of Elizabeth I’s visit to the castle in 1575.25 Jul 2025 13:40 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lus6euo76s2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3ltbwiy52lc2sYesterday, I finally got to catch the annual Medieval Pageant Parade in Canterbury! It was delightful fun, but this moment in particular was actually pretty awe-inspiring 🤩 One can only wonder just how much drumming this Cathedral has seen in this existence.06 Jul 2025 09:11 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3ltbwiy52lc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lt5ttuh6ck24A while ago, I shared my personal rankings of portrayals of Elizabeth I on screen - at last, here is Robert’s version! The one I’ve put as my least favourite may be an unpopular opinion 🫣 Check it out on my blog and let me know what you think!04 Jul 2025 18:13 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lt5ttuh6ck24https://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lrses2bgcs22Back again with another guest episode on a podcast! This time I was invited on a relatively new podcast called Historically Confused, hosted by the fantastic Chris Simpson.17 Jun 2025 11:19 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lrses2bgcs22https://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lrivg5ckl227Check out today’s bitesized source on my blog where I posit whether it might have been possible for Robert and Elizabeth to communicate in the rare instance their time at court during Mary’s reign might have overlapped.13 Jun 2025 16:50 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lrivg5ckl227https://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lqfsjghqhk2wBy the reign of Edward VI, the last time England had experienced a public and lavish royal wedding was that of Prince Arthur to Catherine of Aragon at Old St Paul’s Cathedral in November 1501.30 May 2025 17:55 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqfsjghqhk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lpjf5zmrts2hFor my first bite-sized source, I wanted to share this excerpt from John Foxe’s “Acts and Monuments” which details the kindness shown to Elizabeth by John Williams when she was en route from the Tower to Woodstock to be out under house arrest.19 May 2025 10:41 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpjf5zmrts2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lpegsj6b5s22Trying something new! Been feeling a bit disconnected from the history world because so much of my time is eaten up by work and editing my book. So I’ve decided I’m going to start sharing short source excerpts with a little blurb contsining my thoughts on it. Bite-sized Sources! 😄17 May 2025 11:27 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpegsj6b5s22https://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lmz3ebvqh22bI posted about this on my instagram, but I got myself a physical copy of BBC’s The Virgin Queen because it seems to have been removed from all streaming services, and I am so stinkin happy right now - long live physical media!17 Apr 2025 12:13 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmz3ebvqh22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3ll2kncujqc2nHave you ever heard people claim that Elizabeth I was a “man’s woman? That she never had positive relationships with other women and was constantly jealous of them? That she flew into a rage whenever any of them dared to get married?23 Mar 2025 15:29 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3ll2kncujqc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lk45ujhbmc2hTo celebrate my birthday today, I’ve decided to share a little sneak peek into my upcoming book, White Bear Red Rose, including some character art done by the incomparable @hmn.andreea and some cheeky dialogue that inspired it.11 Mar 2025 13:20 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lk45ujhbmc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3ljildz64ls2wI’m really sorry to be sharing this news, but I promise it’s for the best! After speaking to my editor in January, it’s become clear to me that my novel needs a lot more work before it’s ready to be published. The good news is, I’m now armed with a solid outline so I’m feeling more confident!03 Mar 2025 18:28 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljildz64ls2whttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3li2l2n7uxs25And here is podcast number two! I was invited back onto Talking Tudors by the wonderful @onthetudortrail.bsky.social, a privilege I was honoured to have. This time round, we’re discussing Robert and Elizabeth post-1560, focusing on their later years. An era that I think deserves more attention.13 Feb 2025 11:21 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3li2l2n7uxs25https://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lhwjiukfwc2vFor those who are keen on podcasts, have I got a treat for you – I’ve recorded for two different ones over the past two weeks! The first was on The Tudor HerSTORY with the lovely Jessica Faulkner, where I got to chat about one of my favourite topics ever: Kenilworth 157511 Feb 2025 20:42 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhwjiukfwc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lfhzgyxu2c2hI've got exciting news: I now have Settled Status in the UK! 🇬🇧 Twelve more months and I can get citizenship! Check out my website if you’d like to read my reflections on this milestone but otherwise, thank you so much to all who helped me make this place home ❤️11 Jan 2025 15:27 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfhzgyxu2c2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lf6hzribxs2aGot some new followers from Threads, I presume - hello! This really feels like we’re all scrambling to a new safe house after the zombies broke through the last one 😭07 Jan 2025 20:22 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lf6hzribxs2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3leyz2mzx2k2pBit late to the party with this one, but I hope 2025 has been treating everybody kindly so far! I’ve just made a new post on by blog all about my aims and goals for this year as well as an update on my book, White Bear Red Rose. Bit of a milestone has been passed!05 Jan 2025 16:10 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3leyz2mzx2k2phttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3ldlx3lfj422aDoes anyone have any tips for what they do to overcome writer’s block? Specifically when you’re in that “I can’t write it if it won’t be perfect the first time” paradox? 😭18 Dec 2024 18:05 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldlx3lfj422ahttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lco5wqzlak2yStill neck deep in edits for my book at the moment so todays blog post is a bit more on the frivolous side - ranking my favourite (and least favourite) portrayals of Elizabeth I on screen! https://exploringelizabethanhistory.com/2024/12/06/10-portrayals-of-elizabeth-i-ranked/#more-155706 Dec 2024 21:48 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lco5wqzlak2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lcdtayljts26I don’t have a dog in this particular fight as I don’t study the 15th century, but all I’ll say is that if we one day conclusively prove that Richard III was behind the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower…I can’t say I’ll be terribly shocked.02 Dec 2024 19:10 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcdtayljts26https://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lcd445vqak26Is there literally anything more joy-inducing than getting a message from someone saying they love your history articles and that they were inspired to read more history because of you 🥹 This is what it’s all about, I can’t stop smiling!02 Dec 2024 12:16 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcd445vqak26https://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lc6j233en226Does anyone have a go-to writing album? Mine is Chappell Roan’s “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” even though it does NOT match the vibe of what I write at all lol. Maybe I Pavlov’d myself, but whenever I hear her music I get into the writing mood now.30 Nov 2024 16:24 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lc6j233en226https://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lbzlxzbchk2oHistorical musing of the day: neither the Earl of Essex nor the Earl of Leicester deserved the historical legacies and reputations they received, but for opposite reasons.28 Nov 2024 17:33 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbzlxzbchk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lbsdggswf22zOut of sheer, morbid curiosity, I took a peak at how things on the former bird app are and…ugh. Yikes, even.25 Nov 2024 20:12 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbsdggswf22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lboxg7a7rk2wMan, is there anything like the intense rush of dopamine you get when things click into place in your story and you’re SO excited to write it? 🤩24 Nov 2024 11:59 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lboxg7a7rk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lbcbgarhis2uThe Elizabeth films with Cate Blanchett! I was also a bit obsessed with my dad’s Age of Empires games lol [contains quote post or other embedded content]19 Nov 2024 10:53 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbcbgarhis2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lbb43233g52sI really want to rewatch Wolf Hall series one before I start on series two - where is it hosted these days?18 Nov 2024 23:45 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbb43233g52shttps://bsky.app/profile/elizabethanhistory.bsky.social/post/3lbb2wxwinf2sGreat start pack for Tudor enthusiasts! [contains quote post or other embedded content]18 Nov 2024 23:25 +0000at://did:plc:ebd7gnu3t44c627ixzynt23t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbb2wxwinf2s