Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

Who was Anne Boleyn REALLY?

Who was Anne Boleyn...really? In this fast, source-based overview I cover her debated birth year, French education, rise to queenship, real influence on religion and politics, the 1536 downfall, and the biggest myths to bin (no, not a sixth finger). Perfect for newcomers and Tudor die-hards.What you’ll learn    • How Mechelen & France shaped her polish and politics    • What Anne actually did as queen: patronage, reform, image    • The 1536 crisis: miscarriage, factions, the trial of the five men    • Myths vs reality: portraits, “witchcraft,” birth year    • Legacy, places to visit, and what we still don’t know
    • My take on Anne Boleyn's fall
 
Further reading (starter list)    • Eric Ives, The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn
    • Claire Ridgway, The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown
    • G. W. Bernard, Anne Boleyn: Fatal Attractions    • Retha M. Warnicke, The Rise and Fall of Anne Boleyn   Watch next: 
Anne’s Fall playlist (step-by-step from April–May 1536) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLepqWJ7TpkrIov3Augf3dy9QDBFL1yViKAnne Boleyn and the Boleyns playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLepqWJ7TpkrLjVti06aNo1KLQg9Cn64FR

Mary Tudor’s Hidden Influence + How Tudors Learned - Claire Ridgway Interviews Amy McElroy

Join me for a lively deep-dive with historian and author Amy McElroy—whose books include Educating the Tudors and Women’s Lives in the Tudor Era, with Mary Tudor, Queen of France out next and a new project on Desiderius Erasmus underway. We talk Tudor education, women’s real power at home and court, Mary Tudor’s overlooked influence, and why Erasmus matters.In this interview, we explore:
How Amy fell in love with history and turned blogging into books
Educating the Tudors: what (and how) children learned—across class and gender
Women’s Lives in the Tudor Era: daughters, wives, mothers, widows—how much agency did they really have?
Mary Tudor, Queen of France: the sister who shaped a dynasty—beyond the shadow of Henry VIII
Erasmus: Europe’s sharpest mind—visionary or misunderstood?
Research wins, writing routines, audience Qs, and a quick-fire Tudor round
About my guest:Amy McElroy is the author of Educating the Tudors (2023), Women’s Lives in the Tudor Era (2024), and Mary Tudor, Queen of France (2025), with Desiderius Erasmus: The Folly or Far Sightedness of Renaissance Europe's Greatest Mind (2026) forthcoming. She co-hosts The Tudor Notebook on Substack and has appeared on several podcasts.
Links:Amy’s books & Substack — https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Amy-McElroy/author/B0BBSK2SDQ, https://www.amazon.com/stores/Amy-McElroy/author/B0BBSK2SDQ, https://amymcelroy.substack.com/My December online event The Other Tudors: The Forgotten Figures Who Shaped a Dynasty — Launching soon at https://claireridgway.com/ - keep an eye out!Subscribe for more Tudor interviews & deep divesSay hello in the comments:Which part of Mary Tudor’s story deserves its own episode? And what’s your take on Erasmus?

Could You Really Get Away with Murder at Henry VIII's Court? - Tudor True Crime

In April 1532, Sir William Pennington was cut down on the very edge of Westminster sanctuary—and his killers walked away with a manslaughter verdict, a £1,000 pardon, and glittering careers. In this Tudor true-crime deep dive, I unpack the fight, the politics, and the legal loopholes that made it possible.What’s inside:
The argument and fight, from Westminster Hall to the sanctuary precinct
How sanctuary should have worked—and how it was bent
The official indictment vs. Carlo Capello’s explosive diplomatic report
Cromwell’s intervention and the price of a royal pardon
Holbein’s 1537 portrait: the scar carried from the fight
What this case tells us about power, patronage, and Tudor justice
Sources & further reading:
Shannon McSheffrey, “The Slaying of Sir William Pennington: Legal Narrative and the Late Medieval English Archive" - https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/flor/article/view/21566/25053
Venetian ambassador Carlo Capello’s report, Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 4, 1527-1533, 761 - https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol4/pp331-334
Hans Holbein: preparatory sketch & portrait of Richard Southwell (1537) - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Hans_Holbein_d._J._060.jpg and https://www.rct.uk/collection/912242/sir-richard-southwell-15023-1564
If you enjoy Tudor true crime & deep dives into the records, please like, subscribe, and ring the bell. 
Tell me in the comments: Was this justice, or a cover for court politics?#TudorHistory #TrueCrime #HenryVIII #ThomasCromwell #AnneBoleyn #Westminster #Sanctuary #Holbein #RichardSouthwell #SirWilliamPennington

From Paston Letters to Power

On this day in Tudor history, 4 September 1550, Sir Thomas Paston, a gentleman of the privy chamber under Henry VIII and Edward VI, died. If the name Paston rings a bell, it should: the Paston Letters gave us one of the richest pictures of late-medieval/early-Tudor gentry life. But Thomas Paston wasn’t just part of a famous family, he carved out his own path at the heart of power.In this video, I trace his journey from younger son to royal insider:
Gentleman of the privy chamber (daily access to the king)
Keeper of the armoury at Greenwich (1541)
Steward & constable of Castle Rising (1542)
French campaign with Henry VIII and knighthood after Boulogne (1545)
Local authority & Parliament: steward of estates, MP for Norfolk, J.P.
Crisis manager: helped quell Kett’s Rebellion (1549)
Family life: marriage to Agnes Leigh; heir Henry (aged 4 at Thomas’s death), with Agnes pregnant with Edward
If you enjoy these “On This Day” spotlights, please like, subscribe, and ring the bell. Want Tudor extras? Consider joining my YouTube channel as a channel member for exclusive talks, resources, and my monthly magazine.
#TudorHistory #PastonLetters #HenryVIII #EdwardVI #Norfolk #KettsRebellion #OnThisDay #AnneBoleynFiles #HistoryYouTube

From Prison to Power to Poison? The Rise and Fall of Edward Courtenay

On this day in Tudor history, 3rd September 1553, Edward Courtenay was created Earl of Devon by Queen Mary I.It was a stunning reversal of fortune for a man who had spent 15 years imprisoned in the Tower of London after his father, the Marquess of Exeter, was executed for treason.In this podcast, I trace the extraordinary life of Edward Courtenay:
His royal blood as a great-grandson of King Edward IV
His childhood imprisonment and forgotten years in the Tower
His dazzling restoration under Mary I — knighted, cheered by Londoners, even carrying the sword of state at Mary’s coronation
Hopes that he might marry Mary (or even Elizabeth) instead of Philip of Spain
His entanglement in Wyatt’s Rebellion and return to prison
Exile abroad and rumours of conspiracies, assassination plots… and finally poison
His sudden death in Padua in 1556, aged just thirty
Courtenay’s story is one of royal promise turned to tragedy — a man hailed as “the flower of English nobility,” yet destined to be remembered as a prisoner, pawn, and victim of Tudor politics.Do you think Edward Courtenay could ever have been a successful husband for Mary or Elizabeth? Share your thoughts in the comments!If you enjoyed this dive into Tudor history, please like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss a new episode.For even more Tudor treasures — including exclusive talks, printable resources, Zoom chats, and my monthly digital magazine The Privy Chronicle — consider joining my YouTube as a channel member.#TudorHistory #MaryI #WyattsRebellion #EdwardCourtenay #AnneBoleynFiles 

Priest, Diplomat, Powerbroker: The Life of Archbishop Thomas Savage

On 2nd or 3rd September 1507, Thomas Savage, Archbishop of York, died at Cawood Castle in Yorkshire.Savage wasn’t just a churchman — he was one of Henry VII’s most trusted servants, a skilled diplomat, and a powerful royal official in the turbulent north of England.In this video, I uncover his remarkable story:- His family connections to the influential Stanley clan- His education at Oxford, Bologna, and Padua- His rise from royal chaplain in 1485 to Archbishop of York in 1501- His role in negotiating Prince Arthur’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon- His escort of Princess Margaret Tudor to Scotland for her historic marriage to James IV- His dangerous rivalry with the Earl of Northumberland- And his final years at Cawood Castle, with his body buried in York Minster and his heart laid to rest in MacclesfieldThough not a household name today, Thomas Savage played a vital role in Tudor politics and diplomacy, and his career reminds us how powerful churchmen could be in shaping both the kingdom and the dynasty.Had you heard of Archbishop Thomas Savage before? Let me know in the comments!If you enjoyed this deep dive into Tudor history, please give the podcast a like, subscribe, and ring the bell so you never miss my next episode.Want even more Tudor treasures? Join my channel as a member to access exclusive posts, behind-the-scenes content, printable resources, Zoom discussions, and my monthly digital magazine The Privy Chronicle.#TudorHistory #HenryVII #ArchbishopOfYork #AnneBoleynFiles

Not Just a Lord Mayor’s Wife: Dorcas Martin’s Story

On 1st September 1599, Dorcas Martin — translator, bookseller, Puritan, and wife of Sir Richard Martin, twice Lord Mayor of London — was laid to rest at All Hallows, Tottenham.Though she lived much of her life in her husband’s shadow, Dorcas carved out a place of her own in Elizabethan London. She acted as a bookseller during the fierce “pulpit wars” between Puritan preacher Thomas Cartwright and John Whitgift, and her translations of prayers and psalms appeared in "The Monument of Matrones" (1582) — the very first anthology of women’s writing published in England.In this podcast, I explore the life of Dorcas Martin:- Her family and marriage to Sir Richard Martin, Master of the Mint and Lord Mayor.- Her bold role in circulating controversial Puritan texts.- Her translations and inclusion among the first printed voices of English women.- Her enduring legacy, remembered in epitaphs and dedications.Dorcas may not have been a queen or martyr, but her voice shaped Elizabethan religious culture. It’s time to remember her.
If you enjoy stories of overlooked Tudor women, don’t forget to subscribe and hit the so you don’t miss future episodes. And thank you to my channel members for supporting my work — you make podcasts like this possible!#TudorHistory #Elizabethan #WomensHistory #Puritans #OnThisDay

What If Arthur Tudor Had Lived? | Interview with Leah Toole, Author of The Rose and The Pomegranate

What if Prince Arthur, Henry VIII’s elder brother, had survived?In this special interview, I sit down with novelist Leah Toole to talk about her fascinating book "The Rose and The Pomegranate" — an alternative history novel that asks one of Tudor history’s biggest “what ifs.”In Leah’s world, Arthur Tudor doesn’t die in 1502 — and the ripple effects are enormous. Katherine of Aragon’s destiny changes, Henry VIII’s life takes a very different course, and familiar figures like the Boleyns, Wolsey, and Cromwell walk entirely new paths.In this conversation we explore:- Why Arthur Tudor and this “what if”?- How Leah balanced historical accuracy with imagination.- Arthur and Katherine’s marriage — and how it might have unfolded.- A reimagined Henry VIII without the six wives we know so well.- Which events Leah chose to keep… and which to reshape.- How a single turning point could have reshaped England, Europe, and the Church.It’s a thoughtful, imaginative, and meticulously researched take on Tudor history that fans won’t want to miss!"The Rose and The Pomegranate" is available now:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rose-Pomegranate-Leah-Toole/dp/173857783X/
https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Pomegranate-Leah-Toole/dp/173857783X/What Tudor “what if” would YOU most like to see explored? Tell us in the comments!More of my interviews: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLepqWJ7TpkrJ4vaP25436VYCw9ZB76J3J