This Week in YouTube February 2
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Hey friends, welcome to the Renaissance English History Podcast. This is the weekly highlight reel of videos that I have put out on YouTube. So in case you don't know, you can go over to YouTube and watch all my videos. The channel is History and Coffee, and you can just search for my name as well, Heather Tesco, History and Coffee, and you will get it. And you can subscribe there. Thank you to the many people who already subscribe. And then what I've started doing is

weekly highlight reels of some of the videos that have gone out on YouTube that would be of interest to the podcast listeners as well. So thanks for listening. And you can also, like I said, go over and join me on YouTube history and coffee and search for Heather. And there I am. So let's get right into it.

Today we are going to talk about queens who misbehaved through English history. So throughout English history, queens were expected to embody virtue, loyalty, and submission, but not every queen fit that mold. So we're going to talk about that. All right, so some queens defied the expectations of their time, becoming legendary for their boldness or their ambition or their scandalous behavior.

From rebellion to witchcraft accusations, these queens left their mark in ways that shocked their contemporaries and still captivate us today. So we're going to go over some of the stories of England's most famous misbehaving queens.

We're going to start with Eleanor of Aquitaine. She was no ordinary queen. First, she'd been married to Louis VII of France and later to Henry II of England, and she wielded extraordinary power as both a ruler and a cultural patron. But her ambition did not stop at her royal duties. Her most infamous act came during the Great Revolt of 1173-74 when she sided with her sons, Henry the Young King, Richard and

and Geoffrey in open rebellion against their father, King Henry II. Now, this wasn't just a family spat. Eleanor coordinated efforts to gather troops and secure alliances, making her a true political player in the uprising. The rebellion failed, of course it did, and Henry had Eleanor imprisoned, effectively removing her from public life for the next 16 years. Still,

Still, her story didn't end there. After Henry's death, she returned to the political stage. She helped to secure the throne for her son, Richard the Lionheart, and even acted as regent in his absence. When he was captured, she actually trekked across mountains. She was in her 60s at this point. And she trekked across mountains, the Italian Alps at one point, to secure his ransom. So she was an incredibly active woman who defied all kinds of expectations.

her defiance her resilience earned her a legacy as one of history's most formidable queens her actions may have been seen as misbehavior at the time but to-day they are celebrated as the work of a bold and determined leader if eleanor was bold isabella of france was downright ruthless she was married to edward the second of england

Her marriage was anything but harmonious. Edward's favoritism towards men like Pierce Gaveston and Hugh Dispenser left Isabella feeling sidelined and humiliated. But instead of just accepting her role in life, she took matters into her own hands.

In 1326, she allied with her lover, Roger Mortimer, and launched an invasion of England. Together, they forced Edward II to abdicate in favor of his young son, Edward III. Edward II was imprisoned, and though the official story claims he died of natural causes, rumors of murder, possibly on Isabella's orders, persist to this day.

For a time, Isabella and Mortimer ruled as England's regions, but their reign was short-lived. In 1330, their son Edward III seized full power, executed Mortimer, and placed his mother under house arrest. Still, Isabella's audacious actions left an indelible mark on English history. Her role in deposing a king cemented her reputation as a she-wolf of France,

a title both feared and admired. Then we have an accused witch, in our own time, Anne Boleyn. Her rise and fall remains one of the most infamous tales of Tudor England. As Henry's second wife, she played a central role in the English Reformation, pushing Henry to break with the Catholic Church in order to marry her. But her sharp tongue, political savvy, made her many enemies at court, and when Henry's affection began to wane, those enemies seized their chance.

Anne was accused of adultery, incest, and even witchcraft, an accusation that played on her enigmatic charm and the fearsome rumors that surrounded her.

Some claimed that she had bewitched Henry, with accounts of her sixth finger and other supposed marks of the devil adding fuel to the fire. While the charges were certainly fabricated, they were enough to seal her fate. In May of 1536, Anne was executed at the Tower of London, the first queen to be executed. Anne's misbehavior, as her critics have called it, stemmed from her refusal to conform to the submissive role expected of a queen. She was ambitious, outspoken, and politically engaged.

qualities that made her a target. But her legacy lives on not as a villain, but as a trailblazer who reshaped the course of English history and gave birth to the amazing Elizabeth I. Next, we're going to explore the story of a queen whose life was a whirlwind of scandal. So now, Mary, Queen of Scots, she lived a life filled with drama, scandal, and tragedy. A devout Catholic, cousin to Elizabeth I, she was a constant thorn in Elizabeth's side.

mary's misbehavior began with her tumultuous personal life her second husband lord darnley was murdered under mysterious circumstances and many suspected that mary had a hand in the plot her swift marriage to the earl of bothwell widely believed to be darnley's killer only fueled the scandal

her political actions were no less controversial after fleeing scotland mary sought refuge in england where she became the centre of numerous plots to overthrow elizabeth and restore catholicism to the english throne the most famous of these the babington plot sealed her fate caught conspiring to assassinate elizabeth mary was tried for treason and executed in fifteen eighty seven

despite her tragic end mary's legacy is a complicated one to some she was a victim of circumstances to others she was a reckless queen whose actions endangered two kingdoms either way she is one of history's most fascinating and controversial monarchs

fast forwarding to the georgian era queen caroline of brunswick was a royal rebel who openly defied her husband george the fourth their marriage was a disaster from the start george reportedly found caroline so repugnant that he drank heavily on their wedding night and vowed to never see her again the couple separated soon after the birth of their daughter charlotte and caroline spent years living abroad

when george became king in eighteen twenty caroline returned to england determined to claim her rightful place as queen consort her arrival caused a sensation and her behavior dressing flamboyantly hosting lavish parties flaunting her independence only added to the scandal george attempted to divorce her by accusing her of adultery in a high-profile trial but public opinion sided with caroline seeing her as a wronged woman standing up to a tyrannical husband

Though ultimately excluded from George's coronation, Caroline's defiance made her a symbol of resistance against the monarchy's excesses. Her story is a reminder that even in an era of rigid social norms, queens could find ways to challenge the system. So these stories of misbehaving queens remind us that history isn't just about the rule followers, it's also about the rebels and the plotters and the ones who dared to defy expectations.

Whether they were fighting for power, for love, or survival, these queens left an indelible mark on history.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are now boarding Group A. Please have your boarding passes ready to scan. If your phone is cracked, old, or was chewed up by your Chihuahua travel companion, please refrain from holding up the line. And instead, simply go to Verizon and trade in any phone in any condition from one of their top brands for the new Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus with Galaxy AI on Unlimited Ultimate and a watch or tab. Also on that. Service plan required for watch or tab. Trade in and additional terms apply. See Verizon.com for details.

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Today we are talking about the time when women got together to negotiate peace for all of Europe, because that was a thing that happened at one point, was called the ladies' peace. And it feels a little bit out of place in the 16th century, which was a world dominated by kings and popes and emperors.

But that, my friends, is what makes the ladies piece so remarkable. So that's what we're going to talk about. All right. So in 1529, Margaret of Austria and Louise of Savoy, two women of extraordinary intellect and determination, stepped into the diplomatic spotlight. They weren't just supporting players in the drama of European politics this time. Oh, no, they were the ones calling the shots.

They negotiated a treaty that momentarily paused the wars tearing apart Europe, showing the world that women could indeed handle power and diplomacy with a finesse often denied to them in history books. Today we are going to dive into the story of the ladies' peace and talk about the political chaos that brought these two women to the table, their motivations, and how they achieved what seemed impossible, peace, however fleeting, through diplomacy and grit.

To understand why the Lady's Peace was so groundbreaking, we need to first set the stage. The late 1520s were a time of near constant upheaval in Europe. Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, had just destroyed the French at the Battle of Pavia in 1525. Francis I of France was captured and dragged to Spain as a prisoner of war. Humiliated, he was forced to sign the Treaty of Madrid, a deal so unfair that it might have been written in Charles' favor alone.

France lost huge amounts of land, including territories in Italy, Flanders, and parts of northern France.

Unsurprisingly, France had no intention of ever sticking to the treaty. The moment he was back in France, he renounced the agreement, plunging Europe back into war and chaos. Meanwhile, Henry VIII of England, ever the opportunist, decided that Charles was becoming too powerful. Aligning with France was another calculated move, and not even the protests of his Spanish wife, Catherine of Aragon, could dissuade him.

Of course, Henry had his own problems at the time, namely trying to divorce his wife Catherine, so her opinions likely held very little weight.

As if this wasn't enough, Charles' mercenaries sacked Rome in 1527. I did a whole episode on the sack of Rome, capturing the Pope and further destabilizing the region. Then France retaliates by invading parts of Italy. With the threat of the Ottoman Empire looming in the background, Christendom is in a very precarious state. Someone needed to step in and broker some peace before the entire continent collapsed under its own chaos.

Enter the women, right? Sometimes you just need to get stuff done. You bring in a woman. Enter Margaret of Austria and Louise of Savoy, two women who understood power and diplomacy better than most men of their time.

Margaret was no stranger to negotiations as the aunt of Charles V and a seasoned regent for the Netherlands. I've done a whole episode on her too. She had spent years managing complex political situations. She was pragmatic, fiercely intelligent, and had a reputation for getting it done. Louise of Savoy, on the other hand, was motivated by something far more personal, her son.

As the mother of Francis I, she wanted to ensure his release from Spain and secure his position on the European stage. She also had a keen political mind and had acted as regent for France during her son's captivity, proving her ability to lead in his absence.

Margaret proposed the idea of the women brokering peace in a letter to Henry VIII in January 1529. She argued that the kings involved were too proud to make the first move towards reconciliation, but women, well, they could step in without appearing too weak. In her words, how easy for ladies to concur in some endeavors for warding off the general ruin of Christendom.

This wasn't just clever, this was a stroke of genius. By letting the women take the lead, the men could save face, and if the negotiations failed, the women could easily take the blame. Louise, too, saw the potential in this approach. She expressed her desire for peace, writing to Margaret's envoy, "...we must necessarily contend and argue, but I sincerely hope it will be without anger or ill will."

These women weren't just acting as proxies for their male relatives. They were asserting their own vision for Europe's future.

So July 1529, Margaret of Austria and Louise of Savoy met in the city of Cambrai, now in modern-day France. The stakes could not have been higher. Europe was watching as these two women undertook a task normally reserved for kings, diplomats, and generals. The logistical challenges alone were immense. Margaret faced warnings of possible threats against her safety, and with advisors urging her to travel with a large armed consort. Her response?

Pure Margaret. If any of her counselors and courtiers were afraid, they could just go home. She refused to bring an armed entourage, reasoning that even the smallest display of force might make her mission appear hostile. This was a work of peace, not war.

Louise of Savoy was accompanied by her daughter in a small retinue, also approached the negotiations with a practical resolve. Cambrai itself became a hub of activity with strict rules to maintain order. No one was allowed to carry arms and a curfew was put in place to prevent any disruptions. The women were intent on setting the tone for diplomacy, not conflict. The talks were intense. For three weeks, Margaret and Louise negotiated terms that would reshape the fragile peace in Europe.

Letters from their male counterparts poured in, often attempting to steer the direction of the discussions, but it was clear that Margaret and Louise were the ones in control.

their persistence took a toll and both women showed signs of stress as the weeks dragged on yet they remained resolute and by august first their efforts bore fruit margaret and louise attended vespers together a symbolic gesture of unity a few days later on august fifth they celebrated the successful conclusion of the peace talks with a public mass in the cathedral the sermon aptly titled blessed are the peacemakers showed the significance of their achievement

for a brief moment the wars that had ravaged europe were silenced the treaty that emerged from cambrai was undeniably favorable to charles francis had to make significant concessions including agreeing to a substantial ransom for his release and relinquishing claims to the territories in italy

Many suspected Margaret as Charles's aunt had skillfully navigated these negotiations to benefit her nephew. Louise, though, had succeeded in securing her son's freedom and preserving France's sovereignty, albeit at a cost. The peace, though fleeting, was a remarkable accomplishment. It proved that women could handle high-stakes diplomacy just as effectively, if not more so, than their male counterparts.

The mass in the cathedral was a public celebration of their achievements, also marked the beginning of the fragile truce. Within less than a year though, tensions would flare once more and Europe would return to its usual state of turmoil. While the ladies' piece didn't last, its impact showed the ability of women to step into these roles traditionally denied to them. Margaret of Austria and Louise of Savoy showed not only their diplomatic acumen but also their courage and their resolve in a male-dominated world.

They proved that peace could be achieved through dialogue, compromise, and empathy, qualities often overlooked in the power struggles of the 16th century. So for a brief moment in history, these women brought Europe together and their legacy continues to inspire. So there we go, my friend, a little bit about the ladies' piece 1529. Thanks so much for listening to this week's YouTube Highlights.

Remember, you can go over and subscribe. History and Coffee, Heather Tesco, you will find me there. And we'll be back again next week with more highlights from what went out on YouTube throughout the week. Thanks so much. Have a great week.

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