The Stolen Crown

By: Tracy Borman

Narrated by: Tracy Borman

“Compelling and brilliant—don’t miss it!” —Alison Weir

From the acclaimed royal historian, the dramatic and untold story of the lie about the controversial succession that ended the Tudor era and changed the course of British history.

In the long and dramatic annals of British history, no transition from one monarch to another has been as fraught and consequential as that which ended the Tudor dynasty and launched the Stuart in March 1603. At her death, Elizabeth I had reigned for forty-four turbulent years, facing many threats, whether external from Spain or internal from her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots. But no danger was greater than the uncertainty over who would succeed her, which only intensified as her reign lengthened. Her unwillingness to marry or name a successor gave rise to fierce rivalry between blood claimants to the throne—Mary and her son, James VI of Scotland, Arbella Stuart, Lady Katherine Grey, Henry Hastings, and more—which threatened to destabilize the monarchy.

As acclaimed Tudor historian Tracy Borman reveals in The Stolen Crown, according to Elizabeth’s earliest biographer, William Camden, in his history of her reign, on her deathbed the queen indicated James was her chosen heir, and indeed he did become king soon after she died. That endorsement has been accepted as fact for more than four centuries. However, recent analysis of Camden’s original manuscript shows key passages were pasted over and rewritten to burnish James’s legacy. The newly uncovered pages make clear not only that Elizabeth’s naming of James never happened, but that James, uncertain he would ever gain the British throne, was even suspected of sending an assassin to London to kill the queen. Had all this been known at the time, the English people—bitter enemies with Scotland for centuries—might well not have accepted James as their king, with unimagined ramifications.

Inspired by the revelations over Camden’s manuscript, Borman sheds rare new light on Elizabeth’s historic reign, chronicling it through the lens of the various claimants who, over decades, sought the throne of the only English monarch not to make provision for her successor. The consequences were immense. Not only did James upend Elizabeth’s glittering court, but the illegitimacy of his claim to the throne, which Camden suppressed, found full expression in the catastrophic reign of James’ son and successor, Charles I. His execution in 1649 shocked the world and destroyed the monarchy fewer than fifty years after Elizabeth died, changing the course of British and world history.

Critic reviews

"Historian Tracy Borman’s research and narration offer a riveting account of the battle for succession following the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Borman narrates her careful investigation of the events leading to the end of the Tudor dynasty and the rise of the Stuarts. Borman sounds like a favorite professor. Her voice is well modulated, and her pace makes the history easy to follow—no matter how little the listener knows of the period. Elizabeth’s unwillingness to name a successor caused concern for Britain’s future. The accepted version suggests that on her deathbed she named James as her chosen heir. But Borman’s research uncovers evidence that this never happened. In fascinating detail, Borman lays out the facts found in official letters, revisionist hearsay, and intelligent speculation."

So fascinating

This was a fascinating look into the succession issue that plagued the Tudor queen for her entire reign. Elizabeth was such a master of statecraft and dancing the political dance of the day that her male counterparts often blundered through. She was a truly brilliant monarch.

Tracy Borman does it again

This book is a wonderful review of the succession saga that dominated Queen Elizabeth’s reign! Tracy Borman, a sterling royal historian, yet again brings the story of the the greatest Tudor monarch to life in this real-life game of thrones. I highly recommend for any Elizabethan fanatics who can’t get enough of the Virgin Queen, her life, and times, as well as those of the variety of hangers-on anxious to succeed her throughout her 45 years on England’s throne.

Excellent

Very well researched and enjoyable book. New facts about a remarkable and famous Queen?

History comes alive

There is no peer of the author when it comes to British history. The detailed account of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and the Scottish successor James is both informative and entertaining.

Fantastic Read!

I’ve been a researcher of Tudor history since my undergraduate degree, and as such have read a significant amount of books and sources on Elizabeth I. This publication is an absolute gem, and stands out among the many on this topic in the presentation of material, new insights, and the way in which Elizabeth was humanized and her inner thoughts revealed when it comes to the line of succession. This is an excellent source on the Elizabethan period.