Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

Tudor history podcasts from Claire Ridgway, author of ”On This Day in Tudor History” and many other bestselling Tudor books. Claire runs the Tudor Society, The Anne Boleyn Files and can be found on her website www.ClaireRidgway.com where she runs exclusive online historical events.
Episodes
Episodes



6 days ago
Tudor Wicked Women: Villains or Victims?
6 days ago
6 days ago
Tudor history is full of ‘wicked women’—but were they truly wicked, or simply women who refused to conform?
From Anne Boleyn, accused of adultery and treason, to Catherine Howard, condemned for her past, and Lettice Knollys, who dared to marry Robert Dudley, history has painted many Tudor women as villains. But was their greatest crime simply being outspoken, ambitious, or politically savvy in a world that feared powerful women?
Join me as I uncover the truth behind these so-called wicked women of the Tudor era. Were they villains—or victims of a world that refused to tolerate female power? Let me know what you think in the comments!
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more Tudor history deep dives!
#TudorHistory #WickedWomen #AnneBoleyn #CatherineHoward #LetticeKnollys #MaryQueenOfScots #HiddenHistories #TudorScandals #WomenInHistory #TudorQueens #TudorEngland



Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
A Power-hungry Schemer
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Anne Stanhope, Duchess of Somerset—ambitious, powerful, and controversial. History remembers her as arrogant and ruthless, but was she truly a villain, or simply a strong woman in a world that feared female power?
As the wife of Edward Seymour, Lord Protector of England, Anne was the highest-ranking woman in the country after the queen. She influenced religious reform, controlled vast lands, and had a reputation for defending her status fiercely—even clashing with Katherine Parr, Henry VIII’s widow. But when her husband was overthrown and executed, Anne lost everything.
Yet, she never gave up. Was she a power-hungry schemer or a woman unfairly vilified by history? Watch to find out!
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more Tudor history deep dives!
#TudorHistory #AnneStanhope #PowerfulWomen #TudorNobility #HiddenHistories #EdwardVI #KatherineParr #HistoryMakers #TudorScandals #RuthlessWomen #TudorCourt



Sunday Apr 13, 2025
Priest Harbourer Countess
Sunday Apr 13, 2025
Sunday Apr 13, 2025
On 13th April 1630, a remarkable woman passed away—Anne Howard, Countess of Arundel. She was no ordinary noblewoman. In a time when Catholicism was outlawed in England, she risked everything to protect priests and defy the authorities.
Who was this fearless countess, and why did she go to such great lengths for her faith? Watch to uncover the fascinating and daring story of Anne Howard, the Priest Harbourer Countess.
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more Tudor history deep dives!
#TudorHistory #AnneHoward #HiddenHistories #PriestHarbourer #CatholicResistance #ElizabethanEngland #TudorNobility #TudorScandals #HistoryMakers



Monday Apr 07, 2025
Fast Food Tudor Style
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Fast food isn’t just a modern invention—people in medieval and Tudor England were grabbing quick meals centuries before us! In cities like London and Bristol, many people didn’t have kitchens, so they relied on cookshops for hot, ready-to-eat food.
Street vendors, called hucksters, even had portable ovens to sell pies on the go—just like a modern food truck!
So, next time you grab a burger or a takeaway, remember—the Tudors had their own version of fast food!
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more Tudor history deep dives!
#TudorHistory #MedievalFood #FastFoodHistory #TudorFood #FoodHistory #MedievalLife #TudorLondon #HistoryLovers #Cookshops #TudorEngland #StreetFood



Saturday Apr 05, 2025
The Royals and Rebels Who Lost Their Freedom
Saturday Apr 05, 2025
Saturday Apr 05, 2025
Imagine being confined to your home with no hope of release. In Tudor times, house arrest wasn’t just an inconvenience; it was a political weapon used to control and punish powerful figures.
In this video, I explore some of the most famous cases of house arrest in the Tudor period, from queens and princesses to ambitious courtiers. Catherine of Aragon was banished from court and separated from her daughter, while young Princess Elizabeth (the future Elizabeth I) was held under strict watch at Woodstock Palace. The Grey sisters lost their freedom for secret marriages, and Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, learned the hard way that barging into the queen’s chambers uninvited was not a good idea!
Some prisoners of house arrest eventually regained their power, while others never escaped their confinement. But was house arrest a merciful alternative to prison—or just another way to ruin lives? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
#TudorHistory #HouseArrest #TudorScandals #CatherineOfAragon #ElizabethI #MaryQueenOfScots #TudorQueens #TudorCourt #HistoricalDrama #HistoryLovers #TudorPolitics



Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
Tudor Fools: The Courtiers Who Made Fatal Mistakes
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
It’s April Fools’ Day, and while I’ve already covered Tudor court jesters like Will Somer and Jane the Fool, today we’re talking about Tudor fools—people who made shockingly bad decisions that led to their downfall.
The Tudor court was full of ambitious, reckless, and sometimes downright foolish courtiers. Some miscalculated their power, others defied the monarch, and some just had terrible luck. Let’s look at some of the worst blunders in Tudor history!
People covered:
Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham
Thomas Culpeper & Francis Dereham
Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey
Thomas Seymour
Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex
Lady Katherine Grey & Lady Margaret Douglas
Catherine Howard & Jane Boleyn
Who do you think made the worst mistake? Were these courtiers fools, or just unlucky?
Thanks for listening, and see you in the next podcast!
Find out about Tudor Court Fools, William Somer and Jane the Fool, here - https://youtu.be/nyy_ZaBsqps
#TudorHistory #AprilFools #TudorFools #HistoryFails #TudorCourt #HenryVIII #ElizabethI #CatherineHoward #AnneBoleyn #RoyalDrama #HistoryLover #TudorMonarchy #HistoricalMistakes #16thCentury #TudorIntrigue #RoyalScandal



Saturday Mar 29, 2025
The Darker Side of Elizabeth I’s Reign: Was it Really a Golden Age?
Saturday Mar 29, 2025
Saturday Mar 29, 2025
Elizabeth I’s reign is often celebrated as a Golden Age—a time of exploration, cultural flourishing, and military victories. But was it truly golden for everyone?
Behind the glorious image of Gloriana, there was persecution, war, economic hardship, and brutal repression. In this video, we’ll uncover the darker side of Elizabeth I’s rule—the suffering, censorship, and struggles that are often left out of history books.
Key Topics Covered:
- Religious persecution
- Economic hardship
- War and suffering
- Censorship
- Women’s lives
- Corruption and political instability in Elizabeth’s later years
Elizabeth I is often remembered as one of England’s greatest monarchs—but history is rarely that simple. For many of her subjects, life was not golden—it was a struggle for survival.
What do you think? Did Elizabeth I’s reign deserve its Golden Age reputation, or have the struggles of ordinary people been glossed over? Enjoyed this deep dive into Tudor history?
Thanks for listening, and catch you in the next podcast!
#ElizabethI #TudorHistory #GoldenAge #Tudors #History #BritishHistory #RoyalHistory #TudorMonarchy #Witchcraft #Censorship #SpanishArmada #IrishHistory #16thCentury #HistoricalTruth #HistoryLover #HiddenHistory



Monday Mar 24, 2025
What Really Killed the Virgin Queen: The Death of Elizabeth I
Monday Mar 24, 2025
Monday Mar 24, 2025
On 24th March 1603, Queen Elizabeth I passed away at the age of 69—but what exactly caused her death?
Despite being one of history’s most documented monarchs, the exact cause of Elizabeth’s death remains a mystery. Historians and medical experts have proposed various theories, including:
- A deadly tooth abscess—Could an infection have turned septic?
- Lead poisoning—Did her makeup slowly poison her?
- Pneumonia—She suffered breathing difficulties and fever.
- Streptococcus infection—Could an untreated illness have taken her life?
- Psychogenic death—Did she literally give up on life?
Elizabeth’s final weeks were filled with grief, exhaustion, and refusal of medical treatment. Was she suffering from a fatal illness, or did loneliness and heartbreak cause her slow decline?
Join me as I explore the mysteries surrounding Elizabeth’s final days and discuss the most convincing theories.
What do you think killed Elizabeth I?
#ElizabethI #TudorHistory #TheVirginQueen #Mystery #TudorDynasty #HistoryLovers #RoyalHistory #16thCentury #WhatKilledElizabethI #BritishHistory #TudorMysteries

I'm historian Claire Ridgway
I'm the best-selling author of 13 history books and the founder of the TheAnneBoleynFiles.com, Elizabethfiles.com and The Tudor Society.
I help Tudor history lovers worldwide to gain access to experts and resources to discover the real stories behind myths and fiction, so that they grow in knowledge while connecting with like-minded people and indulging their passion for history.
I am a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. I was a contributor for the BBC docudrama The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family, and have been featured in BBC History Extra, USA Today, History of Royals Magazine, the Express, and Refinery 29, as well as on podcasts including Suzannah Lipscomb's Not Just the Tudors, Gareth Russell's Single Malt History, Natalie Grueninger's Talking Tudors, Hever Castle's Inside Hever, James Boulton's Queens of England, and many more.