The Rest Is History – Ep. 616: Elizabeth I: The Fall of the Axe (Part 1)

Original Airdate: November 10, 2025
Hosts: Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook
Guest: Ian Mortimer

Overview

This episode marks the launch of a major series on Elizabeth I, focusing on the tumultuous early years of her life and the perilous court politics that shaped her. Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, joined by historian Ian Mortimer, set out to explore Elizabeth’s improbable path to the throne, the traumatic fall of Anne Boleyn, and the seismic shifts in English power, religion, and dynasty. With gripping storytelling and sharp analysis, they dissect the Tudor family saga and its wider religious and international context.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Myth and Legacy of Elizabeth I

• Gloriana and Elizabethan Image-Building
  • Elizabeth’s legacy as "Gloriana" is discussed, as shaped by Edmund Spenser’s Faerie Queene and later cultural depictions.
    • “This is a queen who's all about glory... that image still has power because of Elizabethan propaganda.” – Dominic Sandbrook [04:00]
    • Her victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588 remains foundational to English identity, likened to Trafalgar and the Battle of Britain.
  • Elizabeth’s dual legacy:
    • “I think she’s easily one of the most adept and most effective of England’s rulers. But there are those who say she was indecisive, even vindictive..." – Ian Mortimer [08:25]
  • She is not only admired but "kind of loved," uniquely among English monarchs.

2. Elizabeth’s Precarious Childhood and Upbringing

• Survival Against the Odds
  • Elizabeth’s early life is described as a nightmarish fairy tale:
    • “She’s three when mummy has her head chopped off by daddy... then a stepfather abuses her, then she’s menaced by a half-sister who locks her up in the Tower.” – Dominic Sandbrook [10:25]
  • These traumas forge her political acumen and wariness, vital for her future rule.
  • The Tudor context: her birth as a girl was a bitter disappointment despite elaborate preparations for a heir.
    • “There is no national rejoicing... it’s a crushing disappointment that the newborn heir is not a boy, it’s a girl.” – Dominic Sandbrook [13:00]

3. The Weight of Tudor Kingship and Need for a Male Heir

• Henry VIII’s Motivation and Character
  • Henry VIII: Athletic, charismatic, but deeply insecure due to the contested legitimacy of the Tudor line.
    • “The Tudors should not be there. They're usurpers. The Wars of the Roses may not feel over. There are others who think they shouldn't be on the throne.” – Ian Mortimer [18:56]
  • The dynasty’s survival hinges on a “spare” son; Henry obsesses over this, setting the whole marital drama in motion.

4. The Marital Saga: From Catherine of Aragon to Anne Boleyn

• Catherine of Aragon’s Failure to Produce a Male Heir
  • Despite being beloved and competent (“she wins at Flodden, rules as regent”), her inability to have a son is fatal.
    • “He spells it out: If I have a daughter, once she marries, her husband becomes her governor, and then he basically governs the realm.” – Dominic Sandbrook [21:51]
• Anne Boleyn’s Rise
  • Anne is unconventional: not a classic beauty, not royal or truly aristocratic, but brings “French glamour, intellectual sharpness, and evangelical ideas.”
    • “She’s a spiky, acerbic, really interesting personality. And she knows how to play Henry.” – Ian Mortimer [29:25]
  • She withholds sex until marriage, prompting Henry to break with Rome to get an annulment.
    • “She tells him, ‘I would rather lose my life than my honesty.’” – Dominic Sandbrook [30:08]

5. The English Reformation Unfolds

• Henry’s Great Matter and the Break with Rome
  • Political and theological maneuvering—especially via Thomas Cranmer—enables Henry to declare himself Supreme Head of the Church of England.
    • “Thomas Cranmer and his scholars managed to convince Henry that his power as King is superior to the Pope’s.” – Dominic Sandbrook [34:12]
  • Anne is crowned Queen June 1, 1533, while visibly pregnant.

6. The Birth of Elizabeth and the Fallout

• Elizabeth as Disappointment and Political Pawn
  • Henry’s initial bitter disappointment is soothed by hopes for a future son, but Elizabeth’s legitimacy is precarious from the start.
    • “She’s described as a splendid image of chastity, but also as somewhat big with child..." – Dominic Sandbrook [37:39]
  • Acts of Parliament declare Elizabeth heir, disinheriting Mary and making any challenge high treason.
    • “If you call anyone but Anne and Elizabeth Queen or Princess—targeting Mary—that is high treason.” – Ian Mortimer [45:15]
• Mary’s Humiliation
  • Anne, “viciously” jealous, engineers Mary’s demotion from Princess to “the Lady Mary” and reduces her household, inflicting exile and public humiliation.
    • “She’s sent only with two attendants and refuses to acknowledge her own bastardy. Anne takes away all her jewels—like confiscating her iPhone!” – Dominic Sandbrook [46:11]

7. Anne Boleyn’s Decline and Fall

• Anne’s Failures and Henry’s Wandering Eye
  • Miscarriages and an increasingly “shrewish” reputation doom Anne at court; Henry is drawn to Jane Seymour.
    • “Ominously for Anne, Henry's eye is starting to stray. By 1535, he's off to Wolf Hall to meet Jane Seymour’s parents.” – Dominic Sandbrook [52:03]
• The Final Catastrophe
  • Devastating miscarriage follows Henry’s jousting accident; Catherine of Aragon’s death removes a rival but fails to save Anne.
  • The infamous arrest:
    • “She gets a summons from the Council, accused of adultery... taken by barge to the Tower, never sees Elizabeth again.” – Ian Mortimer [59:25]
• The Show Trial and Execution
  • Convicted of adultery (with five men, including incest charges with her brother), a sentence of burning or beheading.
    • “She’s put on trial in the Tower, the first Queen of England to face such a thing. But historians don’t think any charges are true.” – Dominic Sandbrook [61:30]
  • Anne agrees to annulment (rendering Elizabeth illegitimate) in hope of mercy, but no pardon comes.
    • “The poorest subject the King hath justice... At this, Anne only laughs. Her laughter is very bitter.” – Ian Mortimer [59:57]
  • Execution by swordsman on May 19, 1536; Anne’s final words hope to secure kindness for Elizabeth.
    • “She says: I pray God save the King and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor more merciful prince was there never... she doesn’t believe it. But she hopes it will help Elizabeth.” – Dominic Sandbrook [63:33]

8. Aftermath and Elizabeth’s Precarious Status

• Henry Marries Jane Seymour
  • Jane delivers the much-desired son, Edward, in 1537 (Jane dies shortly after).
• Where Does That Leave Elizabeth?
  • Now declared a bastard, stripped of the title Princess, and tied forever to the memory of her “traitor” mother.
    • “Elizabeth is now the daughter of somebody who's been erased from the annals as a traitor, an adulteress, and a witch. Where will this lead?” – Ian Mortimer [67:43]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "She has this thrilling peroration: ‘I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king...’" – Dominic Sandbrook on Elizabeth at Tilbury [05:11]
• “She's not on the throne because everything went according to plan—her entire life is a hideous fairy tale.” – Dominic Sandbrook [10:25]
• "I think in part (Anne's cruelty to Mary) is jealousy of Mary’s lineage, but also because Mary refuses to play the game Henry wants.” – Dominic Sandbrook [46:41]
• “Shappuys, the imperial ambassador, describes Elizabeth’s ceremonial baptism. A herald at the church door proclaims her Princess of England.” – Dominic Sandbrook [44:41]
• “She’s accused of adultery with five men... then incest... conspiracy to kill her husband. None of it’s true. Henry wants her eliminated and goes to any lengths to do it.” – Dominic Sandbrook [61:30]
• “At her execution, Anne says, ‘I pray God save the King’... she doesn’t believe it, but she’s hoping it will encourage him to look more kindly on Elizabeth.” – Dominic Sandbrook [63:33]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Elizabeth’s image and the legacy of Gloriana: [03:14–08:25]
• Elizabeth’s traumatic upbringing: [10:25–13:00]
• The imperative for a male heir in Tudor politics: [18:56–21:51]
• Anne Boleyn’s rise and character: [25:03–30:37]
• The break with Rome / Reformation dynamics: [33:39–37:22]
• Birth of Elizabeth / Declaring heirs: [37:39–46:10]
• Mary's downfall and humiliation: [46:11–50:55]
• Anne Boleyn’s miscarriages and Henry’s affairs: [51:25–52:58]
• The fall of Anne Boleyn—trail, execution, and Elizabeth’s new status: [59:25–67:43]

Tone & Style

The episode blends erudition with wit and subtle irreverence, giving historical figures vivid personalities. The hosts’ banter is sharp yet respectful of the subject, making the complex Tudor story accessible and resonant even to non-specialists.

Summary

This enthralling first part traces the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn and the highly fraught context in which Elizabeth I was born and raised. From disappointment at her birth, through political machinations and brutal executions, the tale sets up Elizabeth’s ascent against the odds—a story of trauma, survival, and the forging of a legend. Tune into Part 2 to discover how the young Elizabeth navigates her perilous inheritance.