Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

The Tragic Execution of James Fenn

On this day in Tudor history, 12th February 1584, Catholic priest James Fenn was brutally executed at Tyburn—his crime? Simply practising his faith.
 
Once a scholar, husband, and father, Fenn’s life took a dramatic turn when he refused to conform to Elizabeth I’s religious laws. Accused of treason in a shocking show trial, he was condemned to the horrific traitor’s death. But was he truly guilty—or just another victim of religious persecution?
 
Even in his final moments, as he blessed his weeping daughter, he remained defiant, choosing death over betrayal of his faith.
 
Who was James Fenn? Why was he targeted? And how did his story become one of the most heartbreaking executions of Elizabethan England?
 
#TudorHistory #OnThisDay #ElizabethI #CatholicMartyrs #Tyburn #ReligiousPersecution #HistoryMatters

Elizabeth of York – The Queen of Hearts

On this day in Tudor history, 11th February 1466, Elizabeth of York was born—a woman whose bloodline shaped the future of England. She was the daughter of a king, the sister of the Princes in the Tower, the wife of Henry VII, and the mother of Henry VIII. Yet, despite her importance, she is often overshadowed by the powerful men and women she was connected to.  
 
But Elizabeth wasn’t just a passive figure in their stories. She played a key role in uniting England, bringing an end to the Wars of the Roses, and founding the Tudor dynasty.  
 
- Did she really want to marry Richard III?  
- How did she go from being a Yorkist princess to the first Tudor queen?
- What was her influence on her son, Henry VIII, and the future of England?
 
Her life was full of political intrigue, uncertainty, and personal tragedy. But was she merely a pawn in a bigger game, or was she the true heart of the Tudor dynasty?  
 
Her tragic death on her own birthday left Henry VII devastated—he never remarried. But her legacy lived on through the Tudors and beyond.  
 
Discover the full story of Elizabeth of York—her survival, her power, and her influence. What do you think? Was Elizabeth a forgotten queen or the true foundation of the Tudors?
 
#TudorHistory #ElizabethOfYork #OnThisDay #TudorQueens #WarsOfTheRoses #TudorDynasty #RoyalHistory #HistoryMatters

The Tudor Earl Who Dabbled in Magic & Murder

On this day in Tudor history, 10th February 1564, Henry Neville, 5th Earl of Westmorland, died—but not before leaving behind a legacy of scandal, treason, and even magic!
 
- Gambling debts pushed him to desperate measures—he bought a magic ring that supposedly summoned angels to help him, but did it work? (Spoiler: No.)
- Then came the shocking accusations—plotting against his own wife and father!
- Imprisoned for conspiracy, robbery, and treason, yet somehow, he kept landing on his feet.
- Married three times, including a controversial match that raised eyebrows at court.
 
Was he a reckless schemer, a lucky survivor, or just a product of his time? His story sounds more like historical fiction than reality!
 
Listen now to uncover the full tale of magic, murder plots, and Tudor scandal!
 
#TudorHistory #OnThisDay #TudorScandal #HistoryMysteries #MagicAndMurder #GamblingNobleman

What If Henry VIII Had Accepted Mary as His Heir?

Would history have changed forever if Henry VIII had fully embraced Mary as his successor? Could England have had its first official ruling queen decades before Elizabeth I? And what if Mary had married James V of Scotland—would the Tudor and Stuart dynasties have united earlier?
 
In this week’s Sunday Q&A, I explore this fascinating alternate history! From dynastic politics to the religious struggles of the 16th century, we’ll unravel what actually happened, why Henry never truly saw Mary as his heir, and how history might have taken a different course.
 
- Would the English Civil War have happened at all?
- Could Mary have become a stronger, better-prepared queen?
- And was the world ready for a female monarch before Elizabeth I?
 
Let’s dive into the heir debate that could have changed everything!
 
#TudorHistory #MaryI #HenryVIII #WhatIfHistory #TudorDynasty #RoyalIntrigue #AlternateHistory

Henry VIII Banned Football

The Brutal Tudor Sport That Shocked Kings!
 
Think football is a rough game today? Tudor football was an entirely different beast—chaotic, lawless, and downright deadly. Henry VIII banned it in 1540, but he wasn’t the first! Monarchs before him had also tried to stop the game, but why?
 
This wasn’t the structured sport we know today. Picture entire villages battling it out, no rules, no referee, and injuries galore! Broken bones, bloody noses, even fatal accidents—Tudor football was more like a medieval battlefield than a pastime. And yet, the same Henry VIII who banned it had a pair of custom-made football boots!
 
But why did multiple kings fear the game so much? What does it have to do with archery, war, and even molehills? And is there anywhere you can still see medieval-style football played today?
 
Find out in today’s Saturday Trivia as we dive into the most dangerous sport in Tudor England! Do you think Henry VIII was right to ban it, or should people have been free to play?
 
#TudorHistory #HenryVIII #TudorSports #MedievalFootball #BannedByTheKing #HistoryTrivia #HistoricFootball

Mary, Queen of Scots' Final Night

On this day in Tudor history, 7th February 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots received the news she had been dreading—her execution warrant had arrived. By sunrise, she would face the executioner’s axe.
 
But how did she react? Did she break down in fear, or did she stand defiant in her final hours? What did she say? Who did she write to? And what preparations did she make for her death?
 
Today, we step inside Fotheringhay Castle and witness Mary’s last evening—the prayers, the farewells, and the queen who saw herself as a martyr for her faith.
 
#MaryQueenOfScots #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #ElizabethI #HistoricExecutions #RoyalScandal #TrueHistory

Pawn, Player, or Perfect Queen? Jane Seymour

She was the woman who replaced Anne Boleyn, the queen who finally gave Henry VIII a son, and the wife he never tired of. But was Jane Seymour truly the perfect Tudor queen—or just the perfect pawn?
 
- Was she a meek, obedient consort?
- Did she play the game and win?
- Or was she simply used by those around her?
 
Henry VIII’s courtship of Jane began while Anne Boleyn was still queen. But when did it really start? And how much did Jane truly know about the downfall of her predecessor?
 
Her story is one of quiet ambition, political manoeuvring, and, ultimately, tragic sacrifice.
 
What do you think—was Jane Seymour a pawn, a player, or Henry’s perfect queen? Listen now for the full story! 
 
#TudorHistory #JaneSeymour #HenryVIII #AnneBoleyn #TudorQueens #HistoryUncovered #OnThisDay

Mary Boleyn’s Legacy and How King Charles III Inherits Boleyn & Tudor Blood

Did you know that King Charles III is a descendant of Mary Boleyn, sister of Anne Boleyn? And that Prince William and Prince Harry have two Boleyn bloodlines?
 
But wait—how can that be when Elizabeth I, Anne Boleyn’s only child, died childless? The Tudor and Boleyn bloodlines didn’t end with her…
 
In this fascinating deep dive, I’ll unravel the real royal connections between Mary Boleyn, Henry VIII, the Tudors, and the modern royal family. From the Queen Mother’s link to Catherine Carey to Princess Diana’s descent from Henry Carey, and even a controversial theory suggesting that Henry VIII may have had more royal descendants than we think… this is history you won’t want to miss!
 
Want to see exactly how these royal bloodlines connect? Listen now to uncover the hidden ties between the Tudors, Boleyns, and today’s British monarchy!
 
#MaryBoleyn #TudorBloodline #RoyalFamily #BoleynDescendants #HenryVIII #TudorHistory #BritishMonarchy #HistoryMysteries #PrinceWilliam #PrinceHarry