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



Friday May 29, 2020
May 30 - Knights of the Bath for Anne Boleyn's coronation
Friday May 29, 2020
Friday May 29, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, on the night of 30th/31st May 1533, as part of the celebrations for Queen Anne Boleyn’s coronation, which was scheduled for 1st June, eighteen men were created Knights of the Bath.
What did this mean? What happened in this night-long ceremony?
Find out in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Society.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/yp7g5dmmzRg
Also on this day in Tudor history, three years later on 30th May 1536, Henry VIII married his third wife, Jane Seymour. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/7mMuqyGQq5M
You can find Claire at:
https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
https://www.tudorsociety.com
https://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/



Thursday May 28, 2020
May 29 - John Penry and his scandalous writings
Thursday May 28, 2020
Thursday May 28, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, 29th May 1593, Welsh religious controversialist, and a man regarded by Welsh historians as the pioneer of Welsh nonconformity, John Penry was hanged at St Thomas-a-Watering in Surrey.
John Penry was linked to the Martin Marprelate tracts and the resulting Marprelate Controversy, not for writing them, but for helping to run the secret press that printed them.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/HAvUa2rgtek
Find out more about Penry, his life and his work, and his involvement with these tracts, and how appealing to William Cecil didn't save him from the hangman's noose, in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway.
February 23 - Job Throckmorton, a colourful and lucky character - https://youtu.be/URAyKk4Qodw
Martin Marprelate Press and Controversy - http://people.umass.edu/marprelate/index.html
Also on this day in Tudor history, 29 May 1533, the celebrations for Queen Anne Boleyn’s coronation kicked off with a spectacular river pageant on the Thames. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/971Y88EauTA



Wednesday May 27, 2020
May 28 - The Spanish Armada sets sail
Wednesday May 27, 2020
Wednesday May 27, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, 28th May 1588, the Spanish Armada set sail from Lisbon in Portugal bound for the Spanish Netherlands.
With the Pope's blessing, King Philip II was going to invade England and depose the heretic, Queen Elizabeth I. The stop at the Netherlands was simply to pick up the Spanish forces there.
What happened next and why did the Spanish Armada fail?
Find out all about the Spanish Armada and how England was victorious in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History".
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/OcnS-lmbN00
Book recommendation - Garrett Mattingly’s “The Defeat of the Spanish Armada”.
Also on this day in Tudor history, 28th May 1582, Roman Catholic priests Thomas Forde, John Shert and Robert Johnson suffered full traitors' deaths at Tyburn for their alleged implication in the Rome and Reims Plot. However, many believe that this plot wasn't actually real. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/vBiIMRm4m04



Tuesday May 26, 2020
May 27 - Margaret Pole's botched execution
Tuesday May 26, 2020
Tuesday May 26, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, 27th May 1541, the frail sixty-seven-year-old Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, was executed at the Tower of London.
The former governess of Princess Mary had an awful end because the usual executioner was away from London, and one account has led to stories of her tormented ghost reliving her final moments at the Tower.
Find out why Margaret Pole was executed and what happened in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/6v9LGPqClTY
Also on this day in history, 27th May 1537, there were celebrations in England for the pregnancy of Queen Jane Seymour. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/0UfaRuXbHEk



Monday May 25, 2020
May 26 - Henry VIII and Charles V meet
Monday May 25, 2020
Monday May 25, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, 26th May 1520, in the lead-up to King Henry VIII’s meeting with Francis I of France at the Field of Cloth of Gold, the English king met with his nephew Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, at Dover Castle on the south coast of England.
Find out more about this meeting and the rather lavish outfits worn by Henry VIII and his queen consort, Catherine of Aragon, in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway.
https://youtu.be/LeKUWiMh0-s
Also on this day in Tudor history, 26th May 1536, Henry VIII's daughter, Mary, sought the help of Thomas Cromwell, the king's right-hand man. Now that Anne Boleyn was dead and gone, Mary hoped for a reconciliation with her father the king. What happened and how was she treated? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/piFHGOhSXEI



Sunday May 24, 2020
May 25 - A great shaking of the ground - a Tudor earthquake
Sunday May 24, 2020
Sunday May 24, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, 25th May 1551, at around noon, Croydon and several Surrey villages, in the south of England, experienced a “great shaking of the ground”, in other words, an earthquake.
In today's talk, Tudor history author, Claire Ridgway, shares descriptions of this earthquake, as well as other Tudor earthquakes, such as the famous 1580 Dover Straits Earthquake, which causes fatalities and damage.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/CKKhplIBCi4
Also on this day in Tudor history, 25th May 1553, Lady Jane Grey got married to Lord Guildford Dudley, son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. They weren't the only couple to get married in the ceremony at Durham House, Jane's sister, Katherine, and Guildford's sister, Catherine, also got married. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/0_cFulXOssU
Read "A warning for the wise, a feare to the fond, a bridle to the lewde, and a glasse to the good Written of the late earthquake chanced in London and other places, the. 6. of April 1580. for the glorie of God, and benefite of men that warely can walke, and wisely can iudge", Churchyard's pamphlet on the 1580 eathquake, at https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A18767.0001.001?view=toc



Saturday May 23, 2020
May 24 - The Life of Anne Askew
Saturday May 23, 2020
Saturday May 23, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, 24th May 1546, letters were sent from the Privy Council to the future Protestant martyr Anne Askew and her estranged husband Thomas Kyme.
The couple were ordered to appear in front of the council within fourteen days. But why? What was going on? And what happened next.
In today's talk, historian Claire Ridgway gives an overview of the life of Anne Askew, who was famously racked illegally at the Tower of London prior to being burnt as a heretic.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/nvtJAJ0I_gw
Also on this day in Tudor history, 24th May 1562, according to contemporary sources, a "monstrous" child was born in Chichester, Sussex.This deformed baby was not the only "monstrous" birth that year and these events were seen as signs from God. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/K1kml_DFVLk
More Anne Askew videos:
June 18 - Protestant martyr Anne Askew is found guilty of heresy - https://youtu.be/bmJtFqoJXDcJuly 16 - Anne Askew's courageous end - https://youtu.be/29QImEPHhbE



Friday May 22, 2020
Friday May 22, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, 23rd May 1554, Elizabeth, daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, arrived at the Palace of Woodstock in Oxfordshire, where she was placed under house arrest.
Elizabeth remained under house arrest there for just under a year, and she didn't make it easy for her gaoler, Sir Henry Bedingfield, and neither did her servants.
Find out why Elizabeth was under house arrest and what happened in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History".
https://youtu.be/OAZzfipAj6k
Also on this day in Tudor history, 23rd May 1533, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer declared the sentence of the special court that had met at Dunstable Priory in Bedfordshire to rule on the case for the annulment of King Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Find out more about this in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/i01ih2JcyGo

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.