logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2023
33m 25s

The Hidden Life of Henry VIII's Fool (Wi...

iHeartPodcasts and Grim & Mild
About this episode

William Somer (or Will Summers), Henry VIII's fool, became known to history as a famous wit, the man who spoke truth to power and advocated for the common people. But in reality, the man's life was more nuanced, and far sadder. Dana speaks with historian Peter K. Andersson about his new book, FOOL: In Search of Henry VIII's Closest Man about the man who was arguably Henry VIII's longest-term relationship.

Support Noble Blood:

Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon

— Merch!

— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
Husbands of the Scottish Queen
<p>Lord Darnley, the husband of Mary Queen of Scots, was murdered under mysterious circumstances. How Mary reacted, and what happened next, would lead to her undoing.</p> <p><strong>Support Noble Blood:</strong></p> <p>&mdash;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.patreon.com/noblebloodtales ... Show More
45m 39s
Nov 18
Sing Me a Song of a Lad That Is Gone
<p>After the Battle of Culloden, the Bonnie Prince Charlie needed to escape to safety. His salvation would come in the form of a young woman named Flora MacDonald, who would become an indelible piece of romantic Scottish history.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Support Noble B ... Show More
30m 1s
Nov 15
How a Texas Grocery Store Ended the Cold War [Very Special Episodes]
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">In 1989, Boris Yeltsin walked into a Houston supermarket &mdash; and walked out ready to end an empire. What he saw in Texas that day would shake the foundations of the Soviet Union. Decades later, it also made a pretty great musical.&nbsp;</p> <p data-p ... Show More
43m 53s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2021
Henry VIII's Break with Rome
King Henry VIII was deeply religious and started out as a staunch supporter of the Pope and the Roman Catholic church. But everything changed when Henry's need to produce a male successor led to his wanting to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn. In this first of an ... Show More
30m 34s
Nov 2023
Henry VIII: What You Really Need to Know
<p>The truth about Henry VIII may surprise you.&nbsp;This second episode of <em>Not Just the Tudors' </em>Tudor Dynasty mini-series provides you, in a nutshell, with everything you really need to know about Henry: his upbringing as a second son, his marriage to Catherine of Arago ... Show More
47m 10s
Dec 2022
Richard III vs Henry VII
<p>We all think we know the story of Richard III and Henry VII, or do we? Richard III is often portrayed as a child-murdering usurper whose reign was brought to a bloody end by Henry VII at the Battle of Bosworth. It was a grudge match to decide who would become King of England, ... Show More
35m 43s
Apr 2023
Six wives | 1. Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon’s 23-year-long marriage to King Henry VIII witnessed many twists and turns – triumph, tragedy, and, ultimately, betrayal. In episode one of our new series on the dramatic marital history of England’s most notorious monarch, Ellie Cawthorne is joined by Dr Nico ... Show More
56m 17s
Jun 2024
Sex Life of Henry VIII
<p>When we think of Henry VIII we think of a big, blood thirsty tyrant.</p><br><p>But was there more to this caricature of a king then we give him credit for? Joining Kate today to help us get to know this man better is the fantastic Tracy Borman, author of <a href="https://www.h ... Show More
46m 21s
May 2024
Henry VIII's Sister, Margaret Queen of Scots
<p>Margaret Tudor - daughter of King Henry VII, sister to Henry VIII - was married at 13 to James IV of Scotland, learning the skills of statecraft that would enable her to survive his early death and to construct a powerful position in Scotland.&nbsp;</p><br><p>In this episode o ... Show More
41m 16s
May 2024
Henry VIII's Mother & Grandmothers
Henry VIII’s is infamous for his relationships with women. The domineering King took 6 wives during his 36 years on the throne. And he disposed of them with as much scandal as he wooed them – Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived. But three other women had an imp ... Show More
28m 28s
May 2023
Alexander The Great's Sex Life
<p><em>This episode contains references and words of a sexual nature.</em></p><br><p>Did Alexander the Great and the Queen of the Amazons really have sex for 13 days solid? What do we know about his male lovers? And how did his sex life stand up to that of his dad’s?</p><br><p>To ... Show More
44m 56s
Dec 2021
The Origins of Life on Earth
<p>Today we’re going back to the beginning – no Romans, Celts, Egyptians or Macedonians in sight. We’re going much further back, covering billions of years of prehistory as we look at the emergence of life on Earth. From the rise of the earliest microscopic membranes to the arriv ... Show More
1h 24m
Nov 2022
Alexander the Great: Man and Myth
<p>Alexander the Great is one of the most famous figures from history. Legends and fantastical versions of his life were told almost immediately upon his death, often merging fact with fiction. Through his interaction, both good and bad, with so many different empires and societi ... Show More
46m 18s