Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

The Brutality Beyond Hanging, Drawing & Quartering

Think hanging, drawing and quartering was as bad as it got? Think again.
 
In this chilling follow-up, we dive into some of the lesser-known but equally gruesome methods of execution used during the Tudor period. From boiling people alive to crushing them slowly under immense weight, the Tudors certainly knew how to make a statement.
 
Join me as I explore these brutal punishments and the stories behind them. Some were designed to instil fear, others to send a clear political or religious message—but all are harrowing reminders of a darker side to Tudor justice.
 
Which of these punishments do you find the most disturbing? Share your thoughts in the comments!
 
#TudorHistory #TudorExecutions #AnneBoleynFiles #DarkHistory #HistoryUncovered #GruesomeHistory #MedievalPunishments #TudorCrimeAndPunishment #HistoryYouDidntKnow #ExecutionMethods

The Full Traitor’s Death – Hanging, Drawing & Quartering

The Tudors were infamous for their brutal punishments, but none were more terrifying than the full traitor’s death—hanging, drawing, and quartering. Reserved for those guilty of high treason, this gruesome execution was designed not just to punish but to serve as a chilling warning to all.
 
But what did it actually involve? Step by horrifying step, I’ll take you through the brutal process—from being dragged through the streets to the unimaginable suffering of disembowelment, and finally, the gruesome fate of the traitor’s body. This is not for the faint-hearted!
 
- Who suffered this terrifying fate?
- Why was it carried out in such a public spectacle?
- And what made this punishment so feared in the Tudor era?
 
Stay tuned until the end—because this is just the beginning. In Part 2, I’ll be covering other brutal execution methods, including beheading, boiling alive, and pressing to death.
 
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#TudorHistory #HangingDrawingQuartering #BrutalExecutions #DarkHistory #Tudors #HistoryLovers #MedievalPunishments #GruesomeHistory #Treason #AnneBoleynFiles

Burnt for His Beliefs

The Execution of George van Parris under Edward VI
 
The reign of Edward VI is often seen as a time of Protestant reform, but it was also a period of religious persecution. On 24th or 25th April 1551, George van Parris was burned at the stake—not for being Catholic, but for holding radical Protestant beliefs.
 
A Flemish surgeon living in London, van Parris was condemned for Arianism, the belief that Jesus was created by God rather than being divine. His case was debated by some of the most powerful reformers of the time, including Archbishop Cranmer and Bishop Ridley. Even King Edward VI recorded his execution in his journal.
 
His story is one of forgotten Tudor executions, showing that even in a Protestant England, straying too far from accepted doctrine could cost you your life. Was this execution justified, or a step too far? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
 
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#TudorHistory #EdwardVI #ReligiousPersecution #GeorgeVanParris #Heretic #TudorExecutions #Cranmer #Ridley #TudorEngland #History

Tudor Wicked Women: Villains or Victims?

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!
 
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#TudorHistory #WickedWomen #AnneBoleyn #CatherineHoward #LetticeKnollys #MaryQueenOfScots #HiddenHistories #TudorScandals #WomenInHistory #TudorQueens #TudorEngland

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