Dragons, Masques & Royal Revelry

Dragons that spat fire.Masked dancers sweeping through palace halls.Henry VIII himself turning up in disguise…Welcome to Tudor Twelfth Night, the most spectacular, theatrical, and joyfully chaotic night of the entire Christmas season.I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and for Day 8 of my Tudor Christmas Advent series, we’re stepping into the dazzling world of masques, mumming, disguisings, pageantry and revelry at the Tudor court.You’ll discover:- What Tudor “disguisings” really were
-  How mumming evolved into masked processions of luck and mischief- Why the morris dance became a Tudor Christmas favourite- The Italian-style masque Henry VIII introduced - How Edward VI’s court staged elaborate moral allegories, mock battles, and a banquet of 120 dishes- And how Twelfth Night became the grand, magnificent finale of ChristmastideFrom wild pageant carts to torchlit dances… from Robin Hood characters to allegorical triumphs… Twelfth Night was where Tudor magnificence reached its peak.Thank you for joining me for today’s Advent instalment!If you’re enjoying the series, please like, subscribe, and ring the bell so you don’t miss the next festive deep dive.
 
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A Beginner’s Guide to Edward VI: The Boy-king Who Tried to Save the Reformation

Who was Edward VI?To many, he’s the pale, serious boy in a fur-trimmed coat, a footnote between Henry VIII and Mary I.But in reality, Edward’s short reign reshaped England dramatically.In A Beginner’s Guide to Edward VI, I explore:- His sheltered childhood and intense education- The power struggle between Edward Seymour and John Dudley- The sweeping Protestant reforms that changed England’s religious identity- The rebellions that shook the kingdom- Edward’s final illness, and his disastrous “Devise for the Succession”- How his decisions paved the way for the Lady Jane Grey crisisEdward VI ruled for just six years… yet his policies, beliefs, and fears set England on a path that would shape three Tudor reigns after him.If you enjoy this guide, please like, subscribe, and ring the bell for daily Tudor history!#EdwardVI #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #ClaireRidgway #HistoryYouTube #Tudors #HenryVIII #LadyJaneGrey #EnglishReformation #HistoryNerd #BritishHistory #HistoryDocumentary

A Tudor Scholar’s Balancing Act

On this day in Tudor history, 4th November 1551, theologian, royal chaplain, and scholar John Redman, the first Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, died of consumption.Redman was one of Tudor England’s most brilliant and balanced minds, a man who sought to reconcile faith, scholarship, and conscience in an age of division.Serving both Henry VIII and Edward VI, he defended traditional Catholic ideas while embracing elements of reform, earning respect from both sides of the religious divide.In this video, I explore the remarkable life of John Redman - from his early days at Oxford and Cambridge to his roles as Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity, royal chaplain, and architect of Tudor theology.Discover how he helped shape the Edwardian Prayer Book, advised the crown on religion, and tried to hold England’s faith together during one of its most turbulent transformations.On This Day in Tudor History brings forgotten Tudor figures back to life. Subscribe and ring the bell for daily stories from the world of Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and the people who shaped their age.#TudorHistory #JohnRedman #TrinityCollege #Cambridge #Reformation #HenryVIII #EdwardVI #OnThisDay #ClaireRidgway #AnneBoleynFiles

Did Henry VIII Really Sacrifice Jane Seymour? The Truth Behind the Caesarean Myth

When Queen Jane Seymour gave birth to Prince Edward on 12th October 1537, and sadly died on 24th October. From celebrations to tragedy in just 12 days.For centuries, a dark rumour has followed this story: that Henry VIII ordered surgeons to cut Jane open to deliver their son, sacrificing his queen for an heir.It’s a tale that fits Henry’s reputation for ruthlessness perfectly… but did it ever happen?In this episode, I dive into the real Tudor evidence — from Nicholas Sander’s anti-Henry propaganda to 17th-century historians and historic ballads — to uncover how this myth was born and why it still persists today.We’ll look at what the contemporary sources actually say, how the story evolved, and why it just can't be true.
 
If you enjoy uncovering myths, scandals, and true stories from Tudor history, please like, subscribe, and ring the bell, it really helps more people find the channel. And if you missed my podcast, Jane Seymour’s Death – A Deep Dive into the Causes, watch that next for the full medical picture - https://youtu.be/S6pFV6l6Vxg
 
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The Man Who Survived Them All: Sir John Gage and the Tudor Thrones

On this day in Tudor history, 28 October 1479, a man was born who would rise to the highest offices of state, and somehow survive the reigns of four Tudor monarchs.I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and today I’m talking about Sir John Gage: soldier, administrator, and courtier to Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I.Gage’s life was a masterclass in cautious loyalty.He held the keys to the Tower of London, helped dissolve the monasteries, investigated conspiracies, and stood at the heart of Tudor power through decades of religious and political upheaval.But what was he really: a man of faith and duty, or a shrewd survivor in a dangerous age?Join me as we explore the extraordinary life of Sir John Gage, the Tudor who managed to keep his head while those around him lost theirs.
Tell me in the comments:Was Gage’s careful loyalty wisdom… or opportunism?#OnThisDay #TudorHistory #SirJohnGage #TowerofLondon #HenryVIII #MaryI #EdwardVI #HenryVII #Tudors #TudorCourt#TheAnneBoleynFiles

The Tragic Fall of John Dudley

On this day in Tudor history, 21 October 1554, John Dudley, 2nd Earl of Warwick, died at Penshurst in Kent, just days after being released from the Tower of London.The son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, and brother of Robert Dudley and Guildford Dudley, Warwick was born to power and promise. Knight of the Bath, Master of the Horse, and one of Edward VI’s glittering young courtiers, his rise seemed assured.But the failed attempt to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne destroyed the family’s fortunes. Imprisoned, condemned for treason, and stripped of his titles, Warwick’s freedom came too late. He died in quiet disgrace at his brother-in-law Henry Sidney’s home, aged only in his twenties.I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and today we remember the overshadowed John Dudley, Earl of Warwick.#TudorHistory #OnThisDay #Dudley #LadyJaneGrey #EdwardVI #MaryI #PenshurstPlace #TudorTragedy #JohnDudley #TowerofLondon

"I'll do it my way!"

On 13 October 1549, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, the man who had ruled England as Lord Protector for young Edward VI, lost it all.By the next day, he was in the Tower.
How did the most powerful man in Tudor England fall so fast?
In this episode, I uncover the character flaws, bad decisions, and political missteps that doomed Somerset’s rule.He was a soldier, reformer, and visionary, but also proud, volatile, and deaf to counsel.
Discover:- The letter that warned Somerset he was heading for disaster- How anger and obstinacy turned allies into enemies- Why his leadership failed both at home and abroad- And how ambition finally led him to the scaffold in 1552
Was Somerset a well-meaning reformer crushed by politics, or an arrogant ruler who couldn’t share power?Tell me what you think in the comments.
#TudorHistory #EdwardSeymour #DukeOfSomerset #EdwardVI #HenryVIII #Reformation #TudorDrama #OnThisDay #HistoryTok #BritishHistory

Did Edward VI Really Kill His Falcon

Did England’s boy-king really tear his pet falcon to pieces?In 1551, a foreign ambassador claimed that thirteen-year-old Edward VI, Henry VIII’s only son, plucked and ripped apart his own falcon, saying he was that bird “whom everyone plucked.”Some at court swore it happened. Others called it lies.Was this a violent outburst, a misunderstood symbol of royal power, or pure Tudor gossip?
Join me,  historian Claire Ridgway, as I unpack the evidence, the politics behind it, and what this strange rumour reveals about the young king determined to rule, not be ruled.Listen to the end and decide for yourself: was Edward’s falcon moment real, or a tale that flew out of control?
 
#TudorHistory #EdwardVI #HenryVIII #TudorMystery #BritishHistory #TudorEngland #ClaireRidgway #Reformation #OnThisDay #RoyalHistory #TrueCrimeHistory #TudorDynasty