A guide to the key names in the Edward VI podcast episode:
The Royal Family
Edward VI – the King!
Mary – Edward’s oldest sister, who earns his wrath by sticking to her Catholic faith.
Elizabeth – Edward’s second oldest sister.
Catherine Parr – Henry VIII’s six wife and Edward’s mother-in-law, but Edward’s only maternal figure.
Lady Jane Grey – Edward’s cousin, who has very little to do with anything until Edward starts writing his will.
The Dead (featured in previous episodes but relevant to this one too!)
Henry VIII – Edward’s father, who moved Heaven and earth to get a son.
Jane Seymour – Edward’s mother and Henry VIII’s third wife, who died just 12 days after giving birth to Edward.
Charles Brandon (Duke of Suffolk) – Henry VIII’s best friend and grandfather of Lady Jane Grey.
Mary Tudor – Henry VIII’s younger sister and wife of Charles Brandon, so giving Lady Jane Grey her royal blood.
Chief Ministers
Edward Seymour/Earl Hertford/Duke of Somerset – Edward’s oldest uncle and the Lord Protector
Thomas Seymour/Lord Sudley – Edward’s second uncle, whose rivalry with Somerset caused faction at court.
John Dudley/Earl Warwick/Duke of Northumberland – Came to be the dominant figure at court (though never Protector)
Thomas Cranmer – Archbishop of Canterbury who pushed through radical Protestant reforms
Stephen Cardiner – Bishop of Winchester and a Catholic, who was imprisoned for his troubles
Thomas Wriothesley – a conservative figure who failed to take control at court
Foreign Rivals
Mary Queen of Scots – only a toddler, but at one stage betrothed to Edward, leading to Somerset invading Scotland.
Henri II – the King of France
Charles V – the Holy Roman Emperor and the King of Spain (also the cousin of Edward’s sister, Mary)
Rex Factor 