The execution of six martyrs—three Catholics and three Protestants—on the same day, was unprecedented in Henry VIII's England. What led to this transformative event?

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb explores the fascinating and tumultuous period of the 1530s and 1540s under Henry VIII, examining the religious, political, and personal motivations behind the seeming contradictions of Henry VIII's reformation efforts.

Henry VIII's break with Rome so he could divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn is well-known - but what did the King himself actually believe? As "Defender of the Faith", which faith was he defending? Did England go from being Roman Catholic to Protestant overnight?

With contributions from experts including Dr. Lucy Wooding, Prof. Alec Ryrie, Mathew Lyons and Dr. John Cooper, Suzannah uncovers how the Reformation in England was shaped by Henry's complex and evolving beliefs, the influence of key figures like Thomas Cromwell, and the dramatic changes enforced by royal proclamations, from the dissolution of monasteries to the regulation of Bible access.

More on the death of Henry VIII:

https://shows.acast.com/not-just-the-tudors/episodes/the-death-of-henry-viii

Dissolution of the Monasteries:

https://shows.acast.com/not-just-the-tudors/episodes/dissolution-of-the-monasteries

Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, the producer and audio editor is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, including Suzannah Lipscomb's ground-breaking new series A World Torn Apart: The Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on