What if Elizabeth I had married? – Almost History S2.E3 is available now!

Episode 3 of our new season of the ‘What If?’ podcast from All About History is available now – Subscribe today on your preferred podcast player

She became known as the Virgin Queen, swearing off ever taking a husband and declaring herself wed to England, but what if Elizabeth I had actually married? How might a marriage have impacted her prospects of remaining on the throne? Who were even the likeliest candidates for the role?

There has been no end of investigation and speculation about the romantic life of Elizabeth I. Her decision to remain single was hugely controversial and consequential in her time and she was under immense pressure to pick a partner. But would she seek alliances in Europe by picking a French or Spanish consort? Would she seek broader ties to the Holy Roman Empire through the Habsburgs? Was Ivan the Terrible really interested in her hand in marriage?

There are just so many possibilities and each one opens up a different path for the fate of a nation. To delve into all of these issues we caught up with Sophie Shorland, author of the new book, All The Queen’s Men: The Competition to Marry Elizabeth I. We chat about the men who circled Elizabeth, how the wrong choice could have jeopardised her throne and how she used the prospect of marriage as a bargaining chip to secure trade deals, alliances and more. You can listen to our conversation now in episode 3 of a new season Almost History: The What If Podcast from All About History.

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