Bloody Mary

Dan Snow and historian Kate Williams reexamine the legacy of Mary I, England's first queen regnant. The episode challenges the 'Bloody Mary' moniker, asking whether her historical reputation as a tyrant is justified. Williams draws on her expertise in royal history to provide a more nuanced portrait of Mary's life, from her upbringing to her five-year reign. The discussion explores the political and religious turmoil of the era and how Mary's enemies shaped her enduring image. This episode offers a revisionist look that humanizes a much-maligned monarch.