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.
Episodes
Episodes



Monday Feb 22, 2021
Monday Feb 22, 2021
In the first part of This Week in Tudor history for the week beginning 22nd February, historian and author Claire Ridgway talks about a translator killed by a broken leg, the lavish funeral of Elizabeth of York, and an earl who rose in the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I, but who was implicated in a murder in his final days.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/N2Iq_TO5ySE
22nd February 1571, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I - The death of translator John Bury after breaking his leg in a fall from his horse.
23rd February 1503, in the reign of King Henry VII - The lavish funeral of Elizabeth of York, queen consort of Henry VII and mother of Henry VIII, at Westminster Abbey. It cost £3,000!
24th February 1540, in the reign of King Henry VIII - The birth of Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton, a man who went through periods of disfavour in Elizabeth I's reign, and was imprisoned five times, but who rose in favour at the end of her reign and into James I's reign, but who, in his final days, was implicated in a murder.
Other videos on these dates in Tudor history:
February 22 - Marie de Guise, who avoided marrying Henry VIII! - https://youtu.be/_T0YqQX_-XM
February 22 - Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII lose their baby boy - https://youtu.be/uk3mpMrm_ak
February 23 - Job Throckmorton, a colourful and lucky character - https://youtu.be/URAyKk4Qodw
February 23 - What happened to Henry Grey's head? - https://youtu.be/xkyb5qTHSBU
February 24 - Katherine Howard, Elizabeth I's good friend - https://youtu.be/qvwXYt0kYos
February 24 - The Birth of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor - https://youtu.be/-QVYrBtojOs



Friday Feb 19, 2021
Did Anne Stanhope, Edward Seymour's wife, really have scandalous affairs?
Friday Feb 19, 2021
Friday Feb 19, 2021
In this edition of Tudor Fan Q&A, historian and author Claire Ridgway answers a question about a character featured in Showtime's "The Tudors" series.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:https://youtu.be/ex2q9kL-2Nc
Colleen, from California, wanted to know whether Anne Seymour (née Stanhope), wife of Edward Seymour, really had scandalous affairs with Sir Francis Bryan and her own brother-in-law, Thomas Seymour, and if Thomas really fathered one of her sons. Claire looks at the Anne Seymour of the series compared to the Anne of the contemporary sources, and shares the truth about this maligned duchess.



Thursday Feb 18, 2021
Thursday Feb 18, 2021
In this second part of “This week in Tudor history” for week beginning 15th February, historian Claire Ridgway tells us how the death of a French duke led to an awful massacre, and how the imprisoned Margaret Douglas heard of her son's murder, as well as introducing us to a countess who served all six of Henry VIII’s wives and who was close to his daughter Mary, and a noblewoman who managed to give birth twice while imprisoned in the Tower of London.
18th February 1563 - Francis, Duke of Guise, was wounded by a Huguenot assassin at the Siege of Orléans. He died a few days later and his death was a factor in the 1572 St Bartholomew's Day Massacre.
19th February 1567 - An imprisoned Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox, is informed of the murder of her son, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, King Consort of Scotland as the husband of Mary, Queen of Scots.
20th February 1552 - Anne Herbert, Countess of Pembroke and sister of the late Queen Catherine Parr, dies at Baynard's Castle. She was buried at Old St Paul's Cathedral in a lavish funeral.
21st February 1568 - Death of Lady Katherine Seymour (née Grey), Countess of Hertford, and sister of the late Lady Jane Grey, or Queen Jane. Katherine was under house arrest at the time for marrying Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, without Queen Elizabeth I's permission.
St Bartholomew's Day Massacre - https://youtu.be/1DmTMXr0TcQ
Edward Seymour, the Serial Secret Husband - https://youtu.be/lYBsHD2kMw4Lady Mary Grey - https://youtu.be/amBA9_Ifjno
Other Tudor events for these dates:
February 18 - Happy Birthday Queen Mary I - https://youtu.be/67X8uA_k2cM
February 18 - The Ridolfi Plot against Elizabeth I - https://youtu.be/_7WjajdaFRw
February 19 - King Edward VI's Coronation Procession - https://youtu.be/UwabU2pySns
February 19 - The Rose Theatre, an Elizabethan playhouse - https://youtu.be/l-Xh1-cUads
February 20 - King Edward VI's Coronation - https://youtu.be/OZubBZP3-B4
February 20 - The hanging of Lady Hungerford - https://youtu.be/EjFZCHtXyfc
February 21 - The Execution of St Robert Southwell - https://youtu.be/i-lJgaY975Q
February 21 - Ambrose Dudley, Earl of Warwick - https://youtu.be/VWSw1uwMvq8



Monday Feb 15, 2021
Monday Feb 15, 2021
In this first part of This Week in Tudor history for week beginning 15th February, Claire is going to tell you about the last monk to become Archbishop of Canterbury; the man who wrote one of the most important documents of the Protestant Reformation, and an earl who wept when he had to imprison Princess Elizabeth, the future Elizabeth I.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/2ws9gUi9Kbo
15th February 1503, in the reign of King Henry VII - The death of Henry Deane, the last monk to become Archbishop of Canterbury.
16th February 1497, in the reign of King Henry VII - The birth of famous Protestant Reformer and writer of the Augsburg Confession, Philipp Melancthon, at Bretten in Germany.
17th February 1557, in the reign of Queen Mary I - The death of Henry Radcliffe, 2nd Earl of Sussex, a man who was loyal to Mary I but who wept when he had to take her half-sister, Elizabeth, to the Tower.
James William Richard’s 19th century biography "Philip Melanchthon, the Protestant preceptor of Germany, 1497-1560" - https://archive.org/details/philipmelanchtho00richuoft
Other Tudor events for these dates:
February 15 - Dastardly Deeds in Tudor England - https://youtu.be/1NF_7RdLFDg
February 15 - Galileo, the Father of Modern Science - https://youtu.be/Ba0Wa_bR7EE
February 16 - Sir William Stanley is executed - https://youtu.be/S1myYUnze7o
February 16 - The burial of King Henry VIII at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle - https://youtu.be/eKeNITPiQAk
February 17 - Love at first sight for Mary, Queen of Scots? - https://youtu.be/dsuimqJz_sI
February 17 - Edward Seymour is made Duke of Somerset - https://youtu.be/teSMa93EF6E



Thursday Feb 11, 2021
Thursday Feb 11, 2021
In this second part of This Week in Tudor History for the week beginning 8th February, historian Claire Ridgway talks about two parliamentary acts that allowed a king to execute his wife and to execute people showing signs of madness; a miscarriage of justice which led to a priest being executed in Elizabeth I’s reign; an Elizabethan astrologer who was ridiculed after his prophecies didn't come true, and a man known as William Waste-all.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/9WrA3ivcjCU
11th February 1542 - King Henry VIII gave his assent "in absentia" to an act of attainder against his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, and her lady-in-waiting, Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford. A bill allowing people showing signs of lunacy was also passed, an awful thing, but the king was determined to take revenge.
12th February 1584, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I - The executions of five Catholic priests by hanging, drawing and quartering at Tyburn. One of them, James Fenn, suffered a huge miscarriage of justice, being accused of plotting in Rome when he was actually in England, in prison, at the time!
13th February 1564, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I - Astrologer and physician John Harvey was baptised at Saffron Walden in Essex. Harvey ended up being ridiculed with his brother, Richard, after their prophecies of apocalyptic events didn't come true.
14th February 1492, in the reign of King Henry VII - Death of William Berkeley, Marquis of Berkeley, a man who took part in the last English battle fought between private armies of feudal magnates, but who was nicknamed William Waste All by the family historian.
Teasel's Tudor Trivia video on Valentine's Day can be found at https://youtu.be/iSl4Zk7htSc
Videos on other Tudor events for 11-14th February:
February 11 - The birth and death of Elizabeth of York - https://youtu.be/FIeJtsYCvcU
February 11 - Success for George Boleyn - https://youtu.be/m9Gs3tvgCWo
February 12 - The executions of Lady Jane Grey and Lord Guildford Dudley - https://youtu.be/qf7up1CHfJAFebruary 12 - Blanche Parry, a mother figure to Elizabeth I - https://youtu.be/eaB9piZbhxs
February 13 - Bess of Hardwick - https://youtu.be/zCehMXaVkqs
February 13 - The Executions of Catherine Howard and Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford - https://youtu.be/4nGL47QKe4k
February 14 - Being a royal favourite doesn't save you - https://youtu.be/5A5CSKvzbhE
February 14 - A dog licks up the king's blood - https://youtu.be/jg-97Zi5ZLs



Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Did Charles Brandon have a French mistress? - Tudor Fan Q&A
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
In this edition of "Fan Questions", questions asked by her YouTube viewers, historian Claire Ridgway answers a question about Showtime's "The Tudors" series.
Annette from Michigan, US, wanted to know about a storyline concerning Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, in Season 4 of The Tudors. Did Charles Brandon really have a French mistress whom he took back to England?
Find out the answer to this question, and whether Suffolk was really estranged from his wife, Catherine Willoughby, at this time, in this talk.
March 22 - Catherine Brandon (Catherine Willoughby), Duchess of Suffolk, a woman with spirit! - https://youtu.be/dVz3KEzvYso
September 7 - Charles Brandon marries Catherine Willoughby - https://youtu.be/uabimBawgsI
July 14 - The Brandon boys are no more - https://youtu.be/oSNvXjyiFDY
March 3 - A secret marriage for Mary Tudor and Charles Brandon? - https://youtu.be/yPlUHeSNi40
May 13 - Mary Tudor and Charles Brandon get married again! - https://youtu.be/-8Anes65T9A



Monday Feb 08, 2021
Monday Feb 08, 2021
In this first part of "This Week in Tudor History", historian Claire Ridgway introduces a chap named John, one of the many johns in his family, who turned down a title; explains why Lady Jane Grey's execution was postponed and what happened, and introduced an earl who appears to have been a bit of a Tudor bad boy.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/Rz6quwsuFAw
8th February 1545, in the reign of King Henry VIII - Death of courtier and soldier Sir John Arundell of Lanherne, or John Arundell III, a man who turned down a barony from King Henry VIII. Find out why.
9th February 1554 - Queen Mary I postpones Lady Jane Grey's scheduled execution and gives her a three-day reprieve. Her execution had already been postponed from 7th February, and in December 1553 it had appeared that Jane would be given mercy. What happened between December 1553 and February 1554? Why did Mary finally sign Jane's death warrant and then why did she give her a reprieve? Find out!
10th February 1564, in Queen Elizabeth I's reign - Death of Henry Neville, 5th Earl of Westmorland. Neville served King Henry VIII as a soldier, swapped sides in the succession crisis of 1553, and appears to have been a bit of a Tudor bad boy, being involved in dastardly plots against his own family. He had a magic ring though!
Other events for 8th, 9th and 10th February:
February 8 - The Execution of Mary Queen of Scots - https://youtu.be/sd3hP9Qb8Yk
February 8 - The Queen's favourite rebels - https://youtu.be/dhxFDUnxQig
February 9 - An awful end for a bishop - https://youtu.be/dE_mtQMSHVA
February 9 - Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, is taken to the Tower - https://youtu.be/53HVn-dfMyk
February 10 - Catherine Howard goes to the Tower - https://youtu.be/jYbD8-Qua-sFebruary 10 - The murder of Lord Darnley - https://youtu.be/jYbD8-Qua-s
Sir John Arundell's memorial brass, which depicts him in full armour, can be seen at https://www.pinterest.es/pin/342344009155130091/
Executions of Lord Guildford Dudley and Lady Jane Grey - https://youtu.be/qf7up1CHfJA



Friday Feb 05, 2021
Which colours did Anne Boleyn like?
Friday Feb 05, 2021
Friday Feb 05, 2021
In this edition of her series on "Questions about Anne Boleyn", Claire Ridgway, author of "The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown" considers which colours Anne Boleyn liked.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:https://youtu.be/AhfdKtqKxBQ
It's impossible to say what Anne Boleyn's favourite colour was, but we do know the colours Anne chose to wear and the colours she chose for fabrics for Elizabeth's nursery and clothes.
Find out which colour fabrics were ordered for and by Anne Boleyn in this talk.

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.









