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    History

    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.

    Advertise

    Copyright: Copyright © 2019 All rights reserved.

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    Latest Episodes:
    The Tudor Fixer Who Changed Ireland Forever Oct 22, 2025
    Show notes

    On this day in Tudor history, 22 October 1521, Sir Edward Poynings, soldier, administrator, and diplomat,died at his manor of Westenhanger in Kent.
    He’s not a household name, but if you’ve ever heard of “Poynings’ Law,” you already know his legacy.
    I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and in today’s episode we meet the Kentish gentleman who helped Henry VII restore royal control in Ireland, hunted pirates off the Flemish coast, and later steered diplomacy for Henry VIII.
    From rebellion and exile to power and reform, Poynings’ life shows how Tudor government really worked, through loyal, tireless fixers.
    His “law” would shape Irish governance until the late 18th century.
    If you enjoy discovering the forgotten figures behind Tudor power, please like, subscribe, and ring the bell for more daily Tudor stories.

    The Tragic Fall of John Dudley Oct 21, 2025
    Show notes

    On this day in Tudor history, 21 October 1554, John Dudley, 2nd Earl of Warwick, died at Penshurst in Kent, just days after being released from the Tower of London.
    The son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, and brother of Robert Dudley and Guildford Dudley, Warwick was born to power and promise. Knight of the Bath, Master of the Horse, and one of Edward VI’s glittering young courtiers, his rise seemed assured.
    But the failed attempt to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne destroyed the family’s fortunes. Imprisoned, condemned for treason, and stripped of his titles, Warwick’s freedom came too late. He died in quiet disgrace at his brother-in-law Henry Sidney’s home, aged only in his twenties.
    I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and today we remember the overshadowed John Dudley, Earl of Warwick.
    #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #Dudley #LadyJaneGrey #EdwardVI #MaryI #PenshurstPlace #TudorTragedy #JohnDudley #TowerofLondon

    Anne Boleyn’s Forgotten Secretary: John Uvedale, the Man Who Ran Tudor England Oct 20, 2025
    Show notes

    Most people know Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and Thomas Cromwell, but not the man who kept their orders moving, their money counted, and their papers straight.
    John Uvedale (or Woodall) royal service took him from Henry VII to Edward VI, and he even held the title of secretary to Queen Anne Boleyn. He worked the border wars, the Council of the North, and the quiet engine room of Tudor power: the Exchequer.
    On this day in Tudor history, 20 October 1549, he died after nearly fifty years of service. Discover the world of Tudor clerks, paymasters, and fixers, the men who kept things running smoothly behind the scenes of Tudor government.
    #OnThisDay #AnneBoleyn #HenryVIII #EdwardVI #TudorHistory #JohnUvdeale #Cromwell #CouncilOfTheNorth #TudorBureaucracy #HiddenTudors

    The Real Face of Elizabeth I Oct 19, 2025
    Show notes

    When you picture Elizabeth I, you probably imagine the Armada or Ditchley portraits - alabaster skin, red wig, pearls, and poise.
    But how close were those famous images to the real Elizabeth?
    In this episode, I trace the evolution of her image, from the poised princess of the 1540s to the ageless Virgin Queen of legend, using eyewitness accounts, surviving portraits, and the propaganda that shaped her face for history.
    Who was the woman beneath the heavy makeup and myth?
    Discover the features that never changed, and meet Elizabeth as her contemporaries saw her: intelligent, complex, and utterly human.
    Watch until the end to see how artists and ambassadors together shaped one of history’s most iconic faces.
    And tell me in the comments: which Elizabeth feels most real to you - the young scholar, the new queen, or the ageing monarch behind the mask?
    #ElizabethI #VirginQueen #TudorHistory #AnneBoleynFiles #ClaireRidgway #TudorPortraits #RenaissanceArt #BritishHistory #TudorMonarchy #HistoryDocumentary #WomenInHistory

    The Woman Behind the Cobham Family Portrait Oct 17, 2025
    Show notes

    On this day in Tudor history, 17 October 1592, Frances Brooke, Lady Cobham died and was buried at Cobham in Kent.
    You may already know her face: she appears in the famous Cobham Family Portrait of 1567, that beautiful Elizabethan painting capturing an entire household, from Frances and her husband to six of their children.
    I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and in today’s episode I’ll introduce you to the woman behind the portrait: a loyal attendant who moved through the very heart of Elizabeth I’s court.
    Frances served as Mistress of the Robes and Lady of the Bedchamber, rose high, briefly fell after her husband’s involvement in the Ridolfi Plot, and was later restored to favour.
    Her story is one of quiet endurance, family alliances, and a life spent in the Queen’s shadow, from Cobham Hall to the privy chamber itself.
    Like, subscribe, and ring the bell for more daily Tudor history, and tell me in the comments:
    Do you love the Cobham Family Portrait as much as I do?
    Link to portrait - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/William_Brooke%2C_10th_Baron_Cobham_and_family.jpg

    #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #ElizabethI #FrancesBrooke #LadyCobham #CobhamHall #TudorCourt #BessOfHardwick #TudorWomen #16thCentury #WomensHistory

    The English Cardinal Who Backed Spain’s Invasion of England Oct 16, 2025
    Show notes

    On this day in Tudor history, 16 October 1594, Cardinal William Allen died in exile in Rome.
    To Catholics, he was the shepherd who kept the old faith alive.
    To Elizabeth I’s government, he was a traitor who conspired with England’s enemies.
    I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and today we’re exploring the life of the man who founded the English colleges at Douai, Reims, and Rome; who helped bring the Douai-Reims Bible into print; and who sent secret missionary priests back to England, knowing that discovery meant death.
    But Allen’s story darkened when he threw his support behind Philip II of Spain and justified Elizabeth’s deposition as a heretic.
    Was he a man of faith or a man of treason?
    Judge for yourself as we trace the choices that made him both hero and villain in Tudor eyes.
    Like, subscribe, and ring the bell for more daily Tudor history, and tell me in the comments: Was William Allen a saintly reformer… or a danger to his queen?

    #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #ElizabethI #WilliamAllen #SpanishArmada #CounterReformation #DouaiReimsBible #16thCentury #Tudors #EnglandVsSpain #CatholicPersecution

    Henry VIII’s Boyhood Companion Who Became His Enforcer Oct 15, 2025
    Show notes

    On this day in Tudor history, 15 October 1542, William Fitzwilliam, Earl of Southampton, died on campaign at Newcastle, serving Henry VIII one last time.
    He’d been by the king’s side since childhood; a boyhood companion who became a soldier, sailor, ambassador, and royal enforcer. From the naval battles of 1512, to the splendour of the Field of Cloth of Gold, and even the downfall of Wolsey, Anne Boleyn, and Cromwell, Fitzwilliam’s career ran through the heart of Tudor power.
    I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and in today’s episode, I uncover the life of the man who was always there when Henry VIII needed something done - on land, at sea, or in the shadows of court politics.
    #TudorHistory #WilliamFitzwilliam #HenryVIII #TudorCourt #HistoryTok #BritishHistory #OnThisDay #TudorNavy #AnneBoleyn #ThomasCromwell

    Arthur Grey: The Elizabethan Soldier Who Went Too Far? Oct 14, 2025
    Show notes

    On this day in Tudor history, 14th October 1593, Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey of Wilton, died at his Buckinghamshire home.
    He’d served Elizabeth I as a soldier, statesman, and staunch Protestant, but his career left a stain that history has never quite erased.

    In this episode,I explore the life of the man behind one of the most brutal episodes of Elizabeth’s rule, the Smerwick massacre, and ask how such a devout reformer became known for such ruthless acts.

    From the battlefields of France and Scotland to the rebellion-torn lands of Ireland and the muster fields of Tilbury, Arthur Grey’s life reveals both the heroism and harshness of Tudor power.

    Was he a commander doing his duty, or a man who crossed a moral line in the name of faith and crown?

    #TudorHistory #ArthurGrey #ElizabethI #Smerwick #TudorIreland #HistoryTok #BritishHistory #OnThisDay #TudorDrama #Reformation
    "I'll do it my way!" Oct 13, 2025
    Show notes

    On 13 October 1549, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, the man who had ruled England as Lord Protector for young Edward VI, lost it all.
    By the next day, he was in the Tower.

    How did the most powerful man in Tudor England fall so fast?

    In this episode, I uncover the character flaws, bad decisions, and political missteps that doomed Somerset’s rule.
    He was a soldier, reformer, and visionary, but also proud, volatile, and deaf to counsel.

    Discover:
    - The letter that warned Somerset he was heading for disaster
    - How anger and obstinacy turned allies into enemies
    - Why his leadership failed both at home and abroad
    - And how ambition finally led him to the scaffold in 1552

    Was Somerset a well-meaning reformer crushed by politics, or an arrogant ruler who couldn’t share power?
    Tell me what you think in the comments.

    #TudorHistory #EdwardSeymour #DukeOfSomerset #EdwardVI #HenryVIII #Reformation #TudorDrama #OnThisDay #HistoryTok #BritishHistory

    Did Edward VI Really Kill His Falcon Oct 12, 2025
    Show notes

    Did England’s boy-king really tear his pet falcon to pieces?
    In 1551, a foreign ambassador claimed that thirteen-year-old Edward VI, Henry VIII’s only son, plucked and ripped apart his own falcon, saying he was that bird “whom everyone plucked.”
    Some at court swore it happened. Others called it lies.
    Was this a violent outburst, a misunderstood symbol of royal power, or pure Tudor gossip?
    Join me, historian Claire Ridgway, as I unpack the evidence, the politics behind it, and what this strange rumour reveals about the young king determined to rule, not be ruled.
    Listen to the end and decide for yourself: was Edward’s falcon moment real, or a tale that flew out of control?

    #TudorHistory #EdwardVI #HenryVIII #TudorMystery #BritishHistory #TudorEngland #ClaireRidgway #Reformation #OnThisDay #RoyalHistory #TrueCrimeHistory #TudorDynasty

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