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



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



Thursday May 21, 2020
May 22 - New Garter Knights
Thursday May 21, 2020
Thursday May 21, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, 22nd May 1541, following their elections on St George’s Day, 23rd April 1541, Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford; Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey; Sir John Gage, and Sir Anthony Wingfield were all installed as Knights of the Garter.
Who were these men and what was the Order of the Garter?
Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society, introduces these Garter Knights and explains the origins of the Order of the Garter, England's oldest order of chivalry.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/YR85DSx3ONA
Also on this day in Tudor history, 22nd May 1538, Franciscan friar John Forest met his end at Smithfield in London for his allegiance to the Church of Rome. His death, along with the burning of a religious statue from Wales, was said to be the fulfilment of a prophecy made about the statue. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/om41xAXnxcQ



Wednesday May 20, 2020
May 21 - 81-year-old Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk
Wednesday May 20, 2020
Wednesday May 20, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, 21st May 1524, in the reign of King Henry VIII, courtier, magnate and soldier, Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, died at Framlingham Castle in Suffolk. He was about 81 years of age when he died.
Norfolk was the grandfather of Queens Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, but there was far more to him than that. In today's talk, historian Claire Ridgway introduces a man who was still leading troops into battle in his seventies.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:https://youtu.be/_gBIq8mGs24
Also on this day in Tudor history, 21st May 1535, reformer and Bible translator William Tyndale was arrested in Antwerp. Why was Tyndale arrested and why didn't King Henry VIII help him? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/Ip6PaFlQe1E



Tuesday May 19, 2020
May 20 - A cardinal’s hat for a headless man
Tuesday May 19, 2020
Tuesday May 19, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, 20th May 1535, Pope Paul III made John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, Cardinal-Priest of San Vitale, and arranged to have his cardinal's hat sent to him.
The pope hoped that this would save Fisher, who was imprisoned at the time, from further punishment, but it made the king even more determined to behead Bishop Fisher. Oh dear!
Find out more about what happened 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/u9C8WqwrGlM
Hall’s Life of Fisher - https://archive.org/details/lifeoffishe00hall/page/n11/mode/2up
Also on this day in Tudor history, 20th May 1579, wheelwright Matthew Hamont was executed for heresy in the city of Norwich. What had led to Hamont being charged with heresy? And what exactly was so heretical about his beliefs? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/HS_Nsc0ccUE
And on this day in 1536, Henry VIII and Jane Seymour became betrothed. https://youtu.be/nAJ19qeiw9o
Other videos on Bishop Fisher:December 22 - Bishop Fisher begs for a shirt - https://youtu.be/9EwSBKVB16E May 7 - John Fisher is tricked - https://youtu.be/vmgMvS_JZlw



Monday May 18, 2020
May 19 - A dispensation for Henry VIII to marry wife number three
Monday May 18, 2020
Monday May 18, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, 19th May 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn was executed within the confines of the Tower of London.
It must have been an incredibly hard day for the queen's friend, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. Not only did he have a visit from a friend regarding a terrifying vision, in the early hours... Not only did he have to cope with the idea of his friend and patron being beheaded, but he had to issue a dispensation for the king to marry again!
Find out more in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway.
https://youtu.be/L2fUU8Rc0dE
Also on this day in history, 19th May 1554, in the reign of Queen Mary I, Anne Boleyn’s daughter, Elizabeth, was released from the Tower of London after two months of imprisonment. Elizabeth wasn't free, though, she was released into house arrest. Why? Why had she been imprisoned in the Tower and what happened next? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/QFJx0u3nx_s
Here's the link for Claire's video on Anne Boleyn’s execution - https://youtu.be/Gpum3gzc3CU



Sunday May 17, 2020
May 18 - Rebel William Thomas comes to a bad end
Sunday May 17, 2020
Sunday May 17, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, 18th May 1554, in the reign of Queen Mary I, scholar and administrator, William Thomas, was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn for his alleged involvement in Wyatt's Rebellion. It was said that he even wanted the queen assassinated.
But William Thomas was far more than a rebel, he was also the author of the first he first Italian dictionary and book of grammar to be published in English.
Find out more about him and his rather bad end in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of several Tudor history books.
Also on this day in history, 18th May 1497, noblewoman Catherine Woodville, Duchess of Buckingham and Bedford, died. Who was she and how was she linked to the famous Woodvilles that rose in the reign of King Edward IV? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/Ozx9IBXDVFU And this day in 1536 was the day chosen for the execution of Queen Anne Boleyn, so Anne prepared to die. How did she prepare herself? Why was her execution postponed? What exactly happened on this day in 1536? Find out in the 18th May 1536 video - https://youtu.be/lct_iJylGhk



Saturday May 16, 2020
May 17 - Anthony Bacon, a Tudor spy
Saturday May 16, 2020
Saturday May 16, 2020
On this day in Tudor history, 17th May 1601, Anthony Bacon was buried in St Olave's, London.
You might have heard of Francis Bacon, but his brother, Anthony Bacon, was rather interesting too!
Who was Anthony Bacon?
Well, he was a spy, providing intelligence for the likes of William Cecil, Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth I and Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex. Find out more in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway.
Also on this day in Tudor history, 17th May 1521, Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was executed for treason on Tower Hill. He'd served King Henry VII and King Henry VIII loyally for many years, so what led to this nobleman being condemned for high treason? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/U9vqMXGaK_0
And on this day in 1536, George Boleyn, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston, William Brereton and Mark Smeaton were executed on Tower Hill for high treason after being found guilty of adultery with Queen Anne Boleyn and conspiring with her to kill King Henry VIII.
Find out more about their tragic ends in the video for 17 May 1536 - https://youtu.be/X7b1BLEpu9w

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.









