618. Elizabeth I: The Shadow of the Tower (Part 3)

In this episode of "The Rest Is History," Dominic Sandbrook and Tom delve into the complex relationship between Mary Tudor (Bloody Mary) and her half-sister Elizabeth, exploring their similarities and differences, particularly regarding religion and foreign policy. They discuss Mary's rise to power, her marriage to Philip of Spain, and the resulting political and religious tensions in England, including Wyatt's Rebellion and Elizabeth's imprisonment in the Tower of London. The hosts also re-evaluate Mary's reign, questioning the traditional "Bloody Mary" narrative and examining her efforts to restore Catholicism, her foreign policy decisions, and the state of England as she approached her death, setting the stage for Elizabeth's ascension to the throne.