Not Just the Tudors: Elizabeth I's Succession Crisis
Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Prof. Suzannah Lipscomb
Guest: Prof. Tracy Borman, OBE
Main Theme:
A fresh examination of Elizabeth I’s succession crisis, informed by newly uncovered evidence, revealing the Tudor-to-Stuart transition as fraught, uncertain, and carefully stage-managed.
Overview
In this episode, Prof. Suzannah Lipscomb and historian Prof. Tracy Borman discuss the tumultuous, intrigue-ridden years preceding and following the death of Queen Elizabeth I. Drawing from Borman's new book The Stolen Crown and significant recent research, they reveal the elaborate politics and secrecy behind Elizabeth’s refusal to name an heir, the claims and fates of her possible successors, and how history was rewritten after her death to legitimise James VI of Scotland’s accession as James I of England.
Main Discussion Points & Insights
1. Historical Background: England and Scotland’s Complex Relationship
- Tense history: England and Scotland were adversaries for centuries, with moments of peace (the Treaty of Perpetual Peace) quickly dissolving (04:16).
- Dynastic marriages: Henry VII attempted to unite the two via his daughter Margaret’s marriage to James IV of Scotland; their descendants, notably Mary, Queen of Scots and James VI, would eventually lay claim to the English crown.
2. Succession Uncertainty and New Evidence
- The myth of an inevitable transition: Recent British Library research revealed heavy edits in William Camden’s Annals (the principal early account of Elizabeth’s death and succession), showing Elizabeth never named James as heir—contrary to accepted history (05:56).
- Manipulation of the record: James had Camden’s work altered to present his succession as the late Queen's will.
- Quote: “Camden had put words in the dead Queen’s mouth … she never said that.” (Tracy Borman, 07:28)
3. Elizabeth’s Refusal to Name an Heir
- Motivations: To avoid the dangers seen in her sister Mary’s reign, Elizabeth believed naming an heir would create a rival and spark rebellion (08:58).
- Quote: “If I name an heir, I create a rival.” (Tracy Borman, 09:12)
- Political impact: Her silence fuelled decades of anxiety, political intrigue, and literary debate.
- The 1562 smallpox scare: After nearly dying, the question of succession became immediate and urgent, but Elizabeth still declined to decide (10:16).
4. The Field of Claimants to the Throne
- Many contenders: Up to fifteen individuals had plausible claims at any time, mostly through descent from Henry VII’s daughters, Margaret and Mary (12:41).
- Strongest claimants: Mary, Queen of Scots (and her son, James VI), the Greys (descendants of Mary Tudor), Plantagenet claimants, and even a Spanish princess (13:30).
5. Mary, Queen of Scots: The Critical Rival
- Relationship defined by mutual threat: Mary claimed the English crown from the start of Elizabeth’s reign.
- Plots and danger: Elizabeth’s government, led by spymaster Walsingham, foiled numerous Catholic plots to install Mary.
- Babington Plot: Provided the crucial evidence for Mary’s execution, which Elizabeth hesitated to order for political and moral reasons (14:44–18:48).
- Quote: “Elizabeth also flinched from putting an anointed queen to death. It was creating rather a dangerous precedent.” (Tracy Borman, 18:48)
- Aftermath: Despite the execution, Elizabeth maintained correspondence with James, Mary’s son.
6. James VI of Scotland: Ambition, Correspondence, and the Valentine Thomas Affair
- Long campaign: James persistently sought Elizabeth’s recognition as heir, becoming less subtle over time (21:42).
- Valentine Thomas incident: A man claimed James hired him to assassinate Elizabeth; James’s panicked response ironically made him look more suspicious, later prompting Camden to rewrite the account (21:45–25:46).
- Quote: “[James] massively shot himself in the foot with this protesting too much.” (Tracy Borman, 24:38)
7. The Final Decade: New Claimants and Public Anxiety
- New claimants arose: With time, some contenders died off, and James’s position strengthened further with the birth of his son, Henry (26:13).
- Arbella Stuart: A compelling but tragic figure, raised to believe she might be Queen, but proved naive and disastrous in her attempts (27:54).
- Anxiety and debate: Proliferation of pamphlets and literature debating the succession—even while Elizabeth made such discussion treason (29:00).
8. Societal Fears and Cecil as ‘Kingmaker’
- Public mood: While evidence is scant, anti-Scottish sentiment and fear of instability led Robert Cecil to secure ports and cities in anticipation of trouble (30:35).
- Behind-the-scenes politicking: James cultivated Cecil, and their secret correspondence (using code names and agents) smoothed the way for James’s accession (32:57).
- Quote: “We could talk about Warwick the Kingmaker … perhaps Cecil the Kingmaker we should start talking about.” (Tracy Borman, 35:02)
9. James I’s Accession: Early Tensions and Stuart-Tudor Culture Clash
- Speedy succession, but unrest: Riots occurred in some towns. James did not follow Elizabeth’s PR advice, lacked her personal touch, and quickly fell out with Parliament (35:43).
- Quote: “To say there was a culture clash between the Stuarts and Tudors would be an understatement.” (Tracy Borman, 36:18)
- Failed Union policy: English Parliament and public rejected his proposed union with Scotland, widening the divide.
10. The Gunpowder Plot and Its Ramifications
- Serious threat: The plot, nearly successful, demonstrated the precariousness of James’s position and fierce resistance to a Scottish king (39:13–41:21).
- Quote: “Guy Fawkes was only discovered at midnight on the 4th of November … so it was a very close run thing.” (Tracy Borman, 41:01)
11. How History Was Rewritten
- Camden’s Annals doctored: James ensured the narrative of his succession was sanitized, concealing the contest and the absence of Elizabeth’s endorsement (41:21).
- Enduring impact: These fabrications contributed to rapid dynastic decline; within a generation, the Stuarts were destroyed by civil war—a reversal of Tudor stability (44:00).
- Quote: “Within a generation you go from the glory … of the Tudors to the destruction of the Stuarts. It all happens so rapidly.” (Tracy Borman, 44:20)
12. Tantalizing 'What Ifs' and the ‘Stolen’ Crown
- Alternative history: Legally, Elizabeth’s successor should perhaps have been Edward Seymour, son of Catherine Grey, not James.
- Borman’s thesis: The crown was, in effect, ‘stolen’—with Elizabeth complicit by her silence and Cecil manipulating events (44:54).
- Quote: “If it was stolen, Elizabeth was at least complicit in the theft.” (Tracy Borman, 44:54)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “If I name an heir, I create a rival.” — Tracy Borman (09:12)
- “She never said that … Camden had put words in the dead Queen’s mouth.” — Tracy Borman (07:28)
- “This crown is not likely to fall to the ground for want of heads to wear it.” — Quoted by Tracy Borman (12:44)
- “Such a tragic figure … [Arbella Stewart] would have been a car crash as queen, but it would have been so entertaining.” — Tracy Borman (27:54)
- “To say there was a culture clash between the Stuarts and Tudors would be an understatement.” — Tracy Borman (36:18)
- “Within a generation you go from the glory … of the Tudors to the destruction of the Stuarts.” — Tracy Borman (44:20)
- “If it was stolen, Elizabeth was at least complicit in the theft.” — Tracy Borman (44:54)
Segment Timeline
| Timestamp | Segment | Content | |------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:09 | Opening & overview | Suzannah introduces the theme; outlines the myth vs. reality | | 03:45 | Guest introduction | Suzannah welcomes Tracy Borman; context for the succession crisis | | 04:16 | Anglo-Scottish relations | Centuries of rivalry, dynastic marriages | | 05:56 | New findings in Camden’s Annals | Manipulated history and why it mattered | | 08:58 | Elizabeth’s refusal to name an heir | Her reasoning and the political fallout | | 10:16 | The smallpox crisis and political panic | The 1562 scare as watershed moment | | 12:41 | The field of claimants | Who could have been king or queen after Elizabeth | | 14:44 | Mary, Queen of Scots as rival | Plots, execution, and relations with James VI | | 18:48 | Why Elizabeth delayed executing Mary | Moral, political, and evidentiary reasons | | 21:42 | James’s campaign and the Valentine Thomas plot| Letters and intrigue; James’s ambition and impatience | | 26:13 | The contentious final decade | New claimants, Arbella Stuart, public debate | | 30:35 | Attitudes of ordinary people & Cecil’s role | Public mood and Cecil as succession architect | | 32:57 | James’s secret dealings with Cecil | Correspondence, planning for smooth accession | | 35:43 | James’s early reign, culture clash | Riots, public disapproval, and the failure of his union agenda | | 39:13 | The Gunpowder Plot | How close it came to success and its impact | | 41:21 | The legacy of doctored history | Camden, Elizabeth’s advice ignored, and the Stuart downfall | | 44:00 | Alternative successors and ‘what if?’ | Edward Seymour’s claim and the road not taken | | 44:54 | The meaning of the ‘stolen crown’ | Why the title, and Elizabeth’s complicity |
Conclusion
This episode reframes the succession from Elizabeth I to James I as a tense, contested, and highly orchestrated affair—far from the smooth transition often presented. New research exposes how the narrative was shaped after the fact, the role of powerful courtiers like Cecil, the dangers Elizabeth faced by refusing to name an heir, and the profound consequences for the monarchy. The idea of the ‘stolen crown’ challenges listeners to reconsider both the fragility of the Tudor legacy and the origins of Britain’s later political traumas.
Recommended Further Listening/Reading
- Interview with Helena Rutovska and Callum Cockburn (on Camden’s Annals)
- Tracy Borman, The Stolen Crown
- Explore published correspondence of James VI & Elizabeth I
This summary was prepared to provide a rich, detailed understanding of the episode’s content—perfect for both new listeners and history enthusiasts seeking insights on Tudor-Stuart England’s most turbulent succession.