Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

A Power-hungry Schemer

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!
 
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#TudorHistory #AnneStanhope #PowerfulWomen #TudorNobility #HiddenHistories #EdwardVI #KatherineParr #HistoryMakers #TudorScandals #RuthlessWomen #TudorCourt

Priest Harbourer Countess

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.
 
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#TudorHistory #AnneHoward #HiddenHistories #PriestHarbourer #CatholicResistance #ElizabethanEngland #TudorNobility #TudorScandals #HistoryMakers

Fast Food Tudor Style

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! 
 
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#TudorHistory #MedievalFood #FastFoodHistory #TudorFood #FoodHistory #MedievalLife #TudorLondon #HistoryLovers #Cookshops #TudorEngland #StreetFood
 

The Royals and Rebels Who Lost Their Freedom

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

Tudor Fools: The Courtiers Who Made Fatal Mistakes

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

The Darker Side of Elizabeth I’s Reign: Was it Really a Golden Age?

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

What Really Killed the Virgin Queen: The Death of Elizabeth I

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

Tudor Beards: A Hair-Raising History!

Beards in Tudor England weren’t just about fashion—they were symbols of masculinity, power, and even political loyalty! From Henry VIII’s beard rivalry with Francis I to Elizabeth I’s courtiers dyeing their beards red in her honor, facial hair was serious business.
 
Did you know that some Tudor men believed beards were proof of virility? Or that pulling another man’s beard was an insult worthy of a duel? And while it’s often claimed Henry VIII introduced a beard tax, the truth is more complicated!
 
Join me as we explore the wild, whiskered world of Tudor beards! Discover the 15 beard styles that dominated the era, the dangerous dyes courtiers used to match Elizabeth I’s hair, and how beards even played a role in religious identity during the Reformation.
 
Would you have rocked a Tudor beard? Let me know in the comments!
 
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#TudorHistory #HenryVIII #ElizabethI #AnneBoleyn #TudorBeards #HistoryLovers #HistoricalFashion #16thCentury #TudorStyle #BritishHistory #BeardHistory #RoyalHistory