He was Henry VIII’s closest friend, a fearless knight, and the only man daring enough to marry the king’s sister without permission. So how did Charles Brandon survive where so many others lost their heads? In this episode, we dive into his rise from obscurity to Duke of Suffolk, his role in Henry’s court, and the scandals that nearly cost him everything.

🎙️ Loyalty, ambition, and survival—this is the story of England’s ultimate Tudor power player.

🔥 NEW EPISODE – "The Spies Are Coming: Francis Walsingham & The Tudor Shadow War" 🔥

He wasn’t just a spymaster—he was England’s deadliest weapon. Francis Walsingham built a network of spies that exposed traitors, thwarted assassins, and stopped invasions before they began. From uncovering the Babington Plot that sealed Mary, Queen of Scots' fate, to misleading the Spanish Armada, Walsingham’s intelligence web kept Elizabeth I’s enemies one step behind—until the day he was gone.

But who really was the man behind the shadows? How did he intercept secret letters, crack coded messages, and manipulate foreign courts? And why did the man who saved England die broke and forgotten?

In this episode of The Lion & The Rose, we dive into the life and legacy of Tudor England’s spymaster-in-chief—and the deadly game of shadows he played.

🎙️ Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your history fix!

🔗 Support the podcast on Patreon & unlock exclusive content: [The Lion & The Rose] 📖 Join the discussion on Sunstack & get bonus history insights: [The Lion & The Rose]

🏰 "The Downfall of Buckingham" 🔪 Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, had everything: royal blood, immense wealth, and a grand vision for his legacy. But in the dangerous world of Henry VIII’s court, ambition was a double-edged sword.

In this episode, we uncover Stafford’s rise from privilege to peril, his bold defiance of Tudor law, and the whispers that sealed his fate. Why did Henry VIII turn on his cousin? Was Stafford guilty of treason—or a victim of paranoia?

🎙️ Dive into the intrigue, ambition, and betrayal that led to one of the most dramatic executions of the Tudor era. This is Part 1 of a two-part exploration into the life and legacy of Edward Stafford—and the deadly game of power in Tudor England.

⚔️ Keep your sword sharp and your history sharper.

🎶 Music in the Chaos: Power, Scandal, and Song in Henry VIII’s Court 🎶 Tudor England: a realm of power plays, scandal, and the constant march of ambition. But beneath the chaos of court intrigue and political betrayal, there was another story—a story of music.

In this episode of The Lion & The Rose, we journey into the heart of Henry VIII’s court to explore the lives of the composers and musicians who defined the Tudor soundscape. Thomas Tallis, the master of divine polyphony. Mark Smeaton, a gifted courtier whose music—and rumored indiscretions—landed him on the scaffold. William Cornysh, a poet-composer at the center of it all. And yes, even Henry himself, whose royal compositions reveal another side to England’s most infamous king.

This is history with a heartbeat. A tale of soaring melodies, deadly ambition, and a court where even music wasn’t safe from scandal. 🎵

🔗 Don’t forget to subscribe to The Lion & The Rose on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Keep your sword sharp and your history sharper! 🦁🌹