Forget the Deathbed Myth: Tracy Borman on Elizabeth I, James VI, and The Stolen Crown

Did Elizabeth I actually name James VI of Scotland as her heir? Historian Dr. Tracy Borman joins me to talk about her new book, The Stolen Crown, and the newly uncovered evidence showing that the deathbed scene we’ve all heard was rewritten after the fact. We talk about the real contenders for the throne, the political panic around Elizabeth’s refusal to name an heir, Robert Cecil’s king-making, James’s shaky reputation in England, and why the 1603 succession was anything but inevitable.

Tracy Borman is Chief Historian for Historic Royal Palaces and the author of numerous Tudor histories. The Stolen Crown is out now. Order it on Amazon or your favorite bookstore!

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