Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

Step back into a world of intrigue, passion, and ruthless ambition — welcome to Tudor England. Join historian and bestselling author Claire Ridgway as she uncovers the riveting stories of the Tudor dynasty. From the scandalous love affairs of King Henry VIII to the tragic fall of Anne Boleyn, the fierce reign of Elizabeth I, and the lesser-known secrets of Tudor court life, this podcast brings history to life in vivid detail. Hear dramatic tales of betrayal, execution, forbidden love, and political manoeuvring that shaped England forever. Discover daily Tudor history with fascinating “On This Day” episodes — unique insights you won’t find in typical history books. Get behind-the-scenes stories from Claire’s own research trips to historic sites like the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Hever Castle, and more. Enjoy interviews with top historians and experts in Tudor studies, plus lively Q&A sessions tackling listeners’ burning Tudor questions. 🖋 Who is Claire Ridgway? Claire is the author of the bestselling On This Day in Tudor History series and numerous other Tudor books loved by readers around the world. She founded The Tudor Society, connecting enthusiasts with experts through live online events, and runs the hugely popular history websites The Anne Boleyn Files and www.ClaireRidgway.com. Her mission: to uncover the human stories behind the crown — the hopes, fears, and triumphs of not only kings and queens but also the courtiers, rebels, and ordinary people who lived under the Tudor rose. What can you expect? - Gripping accounts of famous events like the Field of Cloth of Gold, the Dissolution of the Monasteries, or the Babington Plot. - Intimate portraits of Tudor figures: Anne Boleyn’s charm and downfall, Thomas Cromwell’s rise and brutal fall, Elizabeth I’s cunning survival. - Dark mysteries and unsolved deaths — who really killed Amy Robsart? Was Katherine Howard truly guilty? - Special episodes on Tudor fashion, food, medicine, and the day-to-day lives of Tudor men and women. Join thousands of Tudor fans worldwide Never miss an episode — subscribe now and become part of a global community that can’t get enough of Tudor drama. Explore more with Claire’s books, free resources, and live historical events at www.ClaireRidgway.com. Ready to travel back 500 years? Press play and let the adventure begin.
Step back into a world of intrigue, passion, and ruthless ambition — welcome to Tudor England. Join historian and bestselling author Claire Ridgway as she uncovers the riveting stories of the Tudor dynasty. From the scandalous love affairs of King Henry VIII to the tragic fall of Anne Boleyn, the fierce reign of Elizabeth I, and the lesser-known secrets of Tudor court life, this podcast brings history to life in vivid detail. Hear dramatic tales of betrayal, execution, forbidden love, and political manoeuvring that shaped England forever. Discover daily Tudor history with fascinating “On This Day” episodes — unique insights you won’t find in typical history books. Get behind-the-scenes stories from Claire’s own research trips to historic sites like the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Hever Castle, and more. Enjoy interviews with top historians and experts in Tudor studies, plus lively Q&A sessions tackling listeners’ burning Tudor questions. 🖋 Who is Claire Ridgway? Claire is the author of the bestselling On This Day in Tudor History series and numerous other Tudor books loved by readers around the world. She founded The Tudor Society, connecting enthusiasts with experts through live online events, and runs the hugely popular history websites The Anne Boleyn Files and www.ClaireRidgway.com. Her mission: to uncover the human stories behind the crown — the hopes, fears, and triumphs of not only kings and queens but also the courtiers, rebels, and ordinary people who lived under the Tudor rose. What can you expect? - Gripping accounts of famous events like the Field of Cloth of Gold, the Dissolution of the Monasteries, or the Babington Plot. - Intimate portraits of Tudor figures: Anne Boleyn’s charm and downfall, Thomas Cromwell’s rise and brutal fall, Elizabeth I’s cunning survival. - Dark mysteries and unsolved deaths — who really killed Amy Robsart? Was Katherine Howard truly guilty? - Special episodes on Tudor fashion, food, medicine, and the day-to-day lives of Tudor men and women. Join thousands of Tudor fans worldwide Never miss an episode — subscribe now and become part of a global community that can’t get enough of Tudor drama. Explore more with Claire’s books, free resources, and live historical events at www.ClaireRidgway.com. Ready to travel back 500 years? Press play and let the adventure begin.
Episodes
Episodes



Thursday May 06, 2021
6 May - The end of the Beaufort male line
Thursday May 06, 2021
Thursday May 06, 2021
On this day in Tudor history, 6th May 1471, Edmund Beaufort was executed at Tewkesbury following the Lancastrian defeat at the Battle of Tewkesbury during the Wars of the Roses.
How did he come to be executed when he was in sanctuary, and why was this the end of the Beaufort line? What did this mean for the Lancastrians? You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:https://youtu.be/-Pl-vG-GgKY
Find out in this #TudorHistoryShorts from historian Claire Ridgway.



Wednesday May 05, 2021
Did Thomas Culpeper have a brother called Thomas and was Catherine Howard pregnant?
Wednesday May 05, 2021
Wednesday May 05, 2021
Thank you so much to Sarah from the UK for her questions regarding Thomas Culpeper's brothers and sisters, and whether he really had a brother called Thomas Culpeper. Sarah also asked whether Catherine Howard had got pregnant before her marriage and whether she got pregnant during her marriage to Henry VIII. Could she even have been pregnant on the scaffold?
Historian Claire Ridgway, who did start a book on Catherine Howard's fall, answers Sarah's questions and tells us a bit more about the two Thomas Culpepers, as well as rumours of Catherine's pregnancy in 1541. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/G1r3TtNebi8
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Claire RidgwayHistorian and author, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Societywww.theanneboleynfiles.comwww.tudorsociety.com
www.elizabethfiles.comhttps://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFileshttp://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/https://twitter.com/thetudorsocietyhttps://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/



Wednesday May 05, 2021
5 May - Henry Sidney
Wednesday May 05, 2021
Wednesday May 05, 2021
On this day in Tudor history, 5th May 1586, courtier Sir Henry Sidney died.
Find out more about Sidney, his offices and family, and where his body and heart were buried, in this #TudorHistoryShorts from historian Claire Ridgway.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/37uNbnzQT7o
Find out about heart burial in this video - https://youtu.be/3781cs081V0



Tuesday May 04, 2021
4 May - Bess of Hardwick
Tuesday May 04, 2021
Tuesday May 04, 2021
Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury, who has gone down in history as Bess of Hardwick, was buried on this day in 1608. Find out a bit more about this fascinating Tudor lady in this #TudorHistoryShorts from Claire Ridgway.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/X49cwGJVagU
You can find out even more about Bess in this video - https://youtu.be/zCehMXaVkqs



Monday May 03, 2021
3 May - Cecily Neville, the Rose of Raby
Monday May 03, 2021
Monday May 03, 2021
On this day in history, 3rd May 1415, a woman who was the matriarch of the House of York and mother of two kings, was born. Her name was Cecily Neville.
Find out about this Duchess of York, and how she is linked to royalty and the Tudors, in this #TudorHistoryShorts video from Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:https://youtu.be/k6M0SPP4xWU



Sunday May 02, 2021
25 Interesting Facts about Catherine Howard
Sunday May 02, 2021
Sunday May 02, 2021
Catherine Howard was King Henry VIII's fifth wife. She was married to the king for less than two years, and was executed on 13th February 1542 after being found guilty of treason by attainder.
We know her as the queen that did cheat on Henry VIII, but there is far more to her than that.
Hear 25 interesting facts about Catherine in this talk from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:https://youtu.be/oZk7qtjg474
Book recommendation: Young and Fair and Damned by Gareth Russell, an excellent biography of Catherine Howard.



Sunday May 02, 2021
2 May - Queen Anne Boleyn is arrested
Sunday May 02, 2021
Sunday May 02, 2021
On this day in Tudor history, 2nd May 1536, in the reign of King Henry VIII, the king's second wife, Anne Boleyn, was arrested. What happened on that day? What was she told? Where was she taken?
Find out in this #TudorHistoryShorts video. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/2yabQth6dNg
For a more detailed explanation, see https://youtu.be/ZJuAjJYzpcc



Saturday May 01, 2021
1 May - May Day
Saturday May 01, 2021
Saturday May 01, 2021
Today is May Day - Happy May Day! Did the Tudors celebrate May Day? If so, what did they do?
Find out in this #TudorHistoryShorts video from Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/jOm6RXS0EMY

I'm historian Claire Ridgway
I'm the best-selling author of 13 history books and the founder of the TheAnneBoleynFiles.com, Elizabethfiles.com and The Tudor Society.
I help Tudor history lovers worldwide to gain access to experts and resources to discover the real stories behind myths and fiction, so that they grow in knowledge while connecting with like-minded people and indulging their passion for history.
I am a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. I was a contributor for the BBC docudrama The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family, and have been featured in BBC History Extra, USA Today, History of Royals Magazine, the Express, and Refinery 29, as well as on podcasts including Suzannah Lipscomb's Not Just the Tudors, Gareth Russell's Single Malt History, Natalie Grueninger's Talking Tudors, Hever Castle's Inside Hever, James Boulton's Queens of England, and many more.









