Curated playlist
Chancellors of the University of Cambridge
- John Dudley, 1st Duke of NorthumberlandJohn Dudley's "wicked Duke" label was largely built because Queen Mary needed a villain.
- Stephen GardinerTudor bishop Stephen Gardiner died saying, "I have erred like Peter, but I have not wept like Peter."
- Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of SomersetA king's marriage to his sister made Edward Seymour ruler of England. He governed for a nine-year-old king.
- William Cecil, 1st Baron BurghleyWilliam Cecil signed a document barring Elizabeth from the throne, then served her as chief adviser.
- Prince Philip, Duke of EdinburghPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born on a dining room table. The date was the 10th of June 1921, and the place was Mon Repos, a villa on the Greek island of Corfu. Before he turned two, he was carried out of Greece in a fruit box. He…
- Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and GothaPrince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha never wore a crown, yet the clerk of the Privy Council, Charles Greville, once wrote of him: "He is King to all intents and purposes." Albert was the husband of Queen Victoria, and Greville's line…
- Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of EssexOne account says the Earl of Essex walked in on Queen Elizabeth not yet properly wigged or gowned.
- Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of SalisburyDying Queen Elizabeth I scolded Robert Cecil for telling her she must go to bed. She called him "little man" in 1603.
- Thomas CromwellHenry VIII beheaded Thomas Cromwell, then called him his most faithful servant.
- John FisherBishop John Fisher kept a human skull beside his plate at every meal. Henry VIII later had him beheaded in 1535.
- Reginald PoleReginald Pole ended up two votes short of becoming pope. The English cardinal held 26 of 28 votes needed in 1549-1550.