S1 E5: Traders and Traitors

*THIS IS HISTORY — THE TUDORS*

*Episode 5: Traders and Traitors*

An emperor loses a leg. England gets a headache.

In 1493, surgeons saw off the gangrenous leg of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III. It is a brutal, miraculous operation. The emperor survives, briefly. Then comes a funeral, a court gathering, and a diplomatic ripple that rolls all the way to Tudor England.

There, Henry VII has bigger problems than imperial orthopaedics. Pretender Perkin Warbeck attends Emperor Frederick’s funeral and is welcomed as England’s king-in-waiting. In the pews, Warbeck collects royal patrons, noble endorsements and invitations to Europe's most exclusive parties. 

Nothing attracts support quite like almost being king. 

Henry responds with spies, executions and a trade war. His economic weapon backfires, leaving English merchants furious and London in disorder. Markets wobble. Tempers fray. And somewhere across the sea, a fantasy is beginning to acquire ships.

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Don't forget to catch this week's bonus episode where Dan gets knee-deep into the remarkable amputation of Emperor Frederick III — a moment that went down in medical and artistic history. Plus, we get into the economy stupid: Dan gives a primer on how Henry VII’s ill-fated trade war really rankled English merchants. 

That’s all for you to discover on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Thisishistory

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Presented by Dan Jones 

Sound Design - Amber Devereux 

Producer - Alan Weedon

Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman

Junior Producer - Dulcie Whadcock 

Executive Producer - Louisa Field 

Executive Producer - Dan Jones

Production Manager - Ethan Sills 

Production Coordinator - Eric Ryan 

Head of Content - Chris Skinner 

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