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



Wednesday May 06, 2020
May 7 - The wife Bothwell divorced to marry Mary, Queen of Scots
Wednesday May 06, 2020
Wednesday May 06, 2020
On 7th May 1567, eight days before James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, married Mary, Queen of Scots, the Catholic court granted him a divorce from his wife, Lady Jean Gordon.
Who was Jean Gordon? Why did Bothwell divorce her? And what happened to Jean afterwards?
Find out more about Bothwell and Jean's marriage, and about Jean's life, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History".
April 29 video - https://youtu.be/trdexa_EwUM
Bothwell's death - https://youtu.be/XRU_nEsUxFw
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/H4NJetrgmhg
Also on this day in Tudor history, 7th May 1535, after a year of imprisonment in awful conditions at the Tower of London, John Fisher, former Bishop of Rochester, was visited at the Tower of London and tricked into saying something that would lead to his brutal end. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/vmgMvS_JZlw
And on this day in 1536, in the fall of Anne Boleyn, the queen’s chaplain was accosted and searched on his arrival back in England from the Continent. Why? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/tk6hHmiv_2E



Tuesday May 05, 2020
May 6 - Sir James Tyrell, alleged killer of the Princes in the Tower
Tuesday May 05, 2020
Tuesday May 05, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, 6th May 1502, in the reign of King Henry VII, Sir James Tyrell, former royal councillor, was executed for treason due to his links to a known traitor.
But it's not for his time as a trusted councillor, or for his links to a claimant to the throne that he is known, but for his alleged involvement in the murders of the Princes in the Tower.
Find out more in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society.
You can find out more about claimant Edmund de la Pole, the man Tyrell was meant to be connected with, in the 4th May video from last year - https://youtu.be/Jqx7fJdKJHg
Also on this day in Tudor history, 6th May 1541, King Henry VIII issued an injunction ordering the Great Bible to be available in every church in England. I explain more in last year's video - https://youtu.be/hmyv3T4wj2Q
And in the video for the 6th May 1536, Claire talks about a letter linked to Anne Boleyn, a letter with the title “To the King from the Lady in the Tower”. https://youtu.be/ilY6SLkKzlM



Tuesday May 05, 2020
May 5 - Can’t kill him for heresy, let’s try treason...
Tuesday May 05, 2020
Tuesday May 05, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, 5th May 1543, religious radical, Adam Damplip, also known as George Bucker, was hanged, drawn and quartered in Calais, which was an English territory at the time.
Although it was his heretical preaching that had got him into trouble, he couldn't be executed as a heretic, so he was condemned as a traitor instead - clever, but nasty!
Let Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History", explain more in today's talk.
Also on this day in Tudor history, 5th May 1542, just under three months after the execution of her stepgranddaughter, Queen Catherine Howard, Agnes Tilney, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, was pardoned and released from the Tower of London. Find out how she ended up in the Tower in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/B8_sPVnH3C8
And in 1536, in the lead-up to Queen Anne Boleyn’s execution, there were eight prisoners in the Tower of London – the queen and seven men. Who were they and what was going on. Find out in the 5th May 1536 video - https://youtu.be/noweh6u6Yr8



Sunday May 03, 2020
May 4 - A pitiful and strange spectacle
Sunday May 03, 2020
Sunday May 03, 2020
MUCH BETTER TO SEE THIS ONE ON YOUTUBEhttps://youtu.be/jNI9os9dvjs
On this day in Tudor history, 4th May 1535, in the reign of King Henry VIII, three Carthusian monks, a Bridgettine monk and a parish priest were executed at Tyburn.
They were executed for refusing to accept the King as the Supreme Head of the Church and “for writing and giving counsel against the King”, and had to suffer a full traitor's death, one after the other.
Find out more about them and also London Charterhouse, home to the Carthusian order, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society.
Also on this day in Tudor history, 4th May 1513, the execution of claimant Edmund de la Pole, 8th Earl of Suffolk. Find out more about him and his brother, Richard, in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/Jqx7fJdKJHgAnd in 1536, the imprisoned George Boleyn, Lord Rochford, brother of Queen Anne Boleyn, received a message of comfort from his wife, Jane Boleyn. Find out more about this event in the fall of Anne Boleyn, in my 4th May 1536 video - https://youtu.be/IGMiJS-5yKE
Videos on the Carthusian martyrs:
May 11 -Two Carthusian Monks - https://youtu.be/kFeYN34OA9M June 19 - More Carthusian monks meet their sad ends - https://youtu.be/kzzUWDkUdY8



Saturday May 02, 2020
May 3 - A man who served 3 monarchs and kept his head
Saturday May 02, 2020
Saturday May 02, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, 3rd May 1568, courtier, member of Parliament, and privy councillor, Sir Edward Rogers, died.
Rogers had a long and successful royal career, serving three of the Tudor monarchs, and he managed to keep his head too.
Find out more about him, and how he even survived being implicated in rebellion and opposing Mary I, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of several Tudor history books.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/PE5dT0xO4Fs
Also on this day in history, 3rd May 1580, poet, farmer and agricultural writer Thomas Tusser died. In last year’s video, Claire shared his verses for the month of May so please do watch that - https://youtu.be/px5PSyryEnA
And on 3rd May 1536, following the arrest of Queen Anne Boleyn and prominent courtiers, a shocked Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, wrote to King Henry VIII. Find out what was going on in the video for 3rd May 1536 - https://youtu.be/7CokGrvX3HE



Friday May 01, 2020
May 2 - Celestial flesh leads to a burning
Friday May 01, 2020
Friday May 01, 2020
On this day in history, 2nd May 1550, Anabaptist Joan Bocher, was burnt to death at Smithfield for her belief in Christ's celestial flesh.
How did a Protestant end up being executed in Edward VI's reign and what did she mean by Christ having celestial flesh?
Find out more about Joan Bocher, or Joan of Kent, her beliefs and her links to Protestant martyr Anne Askew, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of several Tudor history books.
Also on this day in Tudor history, 2nd May 1568, Mary, Queen of Scots, who had recently been forced to abdicate in favour of her son, King James VI, successfully escaped from Lochleven Castle.
How did she end up a prisoner at Lochleven? How did she escape? And what happened next? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/ozLwv3LaRY0
And on 2nd May 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn and her brother, Lord Rochford, were arrested and taken to the Tower of London. Find out more in the 2nd May 1536 video - https://youtu.be/ZJuAjJYzpcc
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/hEF4mgSfWeg
Here's William Wordsworth’s sonnet “Edward siging the warrant for the execution of Joan of Kent”:
"THE tears of man in various measure gushFrom various sources; gently overflowFrom blissful transport some--from clefts of woeSome with ungovernable impulse rush;And some, coeval with the earliest blushOf infant passion, scarcely dare to showTheir pearly lustre--coming but to go;And some break forth when others' sorrows crushThe sympathising heart. Nor these, nor yetThe noblest drops to admiration known,To gratitude, to injuries forgiven--Claim Heaven's regard like waters that have wetThe innocent eyes of youthful Monarchs drivenTo pen the mandates, nature doth disown."



Thursday Apr 30, 2020
May 1 - A hot-tempered Tudor courtier
Thursday Apr 30, 2020
Thursday Apr 30, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, 1st May 1551, in the reign of King Edward VI, Norfolk landowner and Member of Parliament, Sir Edmund Knyvet, died.
Knyvet had an interesting court career, being helped by his Howard connections, but he was known for his rather hot temper, which nearly led to him losing his right hand.
Find out more about hot-tempered Sir Edmun Knyvet 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/5kc8tSKlpP4
Also on this day in Tudor history, 1st May 1517, foreign traders in London had their shops and property vandalised and damaged by a mob of angry apprentices and labourers, in what was known as the Evil May Day Riot. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/hQoTvH_0kcY
And 1st May 1536 was supposed to be a fun day for King Henry VIII and Queen Anne Boleyn at the annual May Day joust but suddenly the king left abruptly, taking his good friend and groom of the stool with him. What was going on? Find out in the 1st May 1536 video in The Fall of Anne Boleyn series - https://youtu.be/Hx1ba-2d8NU



Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
April 30 - Thomas Audley, Lord Chancellor
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, 30th April 1544, in the reign of King Henry VIII, Thomas Audley, Baron Audley of Walden and Lord Chancellor, died at his home in London.
Audley was Thomas Cromwell's right-hand man in 1536, during the fall of Anne Boleyn, and became even more important after Cromwell's fall.
Find out more about Thomas Audley, an important Tudor statesman, and how he served King Henry VIII, 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/nK9NMs255B4

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.