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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:
    Arthur Tudor: The King We Lost Oct 15, 2025
    Show notes

    Before Henry VIII, there was another heir. Prince Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales, married to Katharine of Aragon, and dead at fifteen. In this interview, Gareth Streeter (author of Arthur, Prince of Wales: Henry VIII’s Lost Brother and founder of Royal History Geeks) explores the prince’s real life beyond the footnotes.
    We discuss:
    - Why Arthur, not Henry, was central to Henry VII’s vision & propaganda - Reconstructing the Arthur–Katharine marriage - The big one: consummation, weighing contemporary evidence vs later “Great Matter” claims - Education, character & the king Arthur might have become - Illness and cause of death: what we know, what remains mystery - Gareth’s research process, sources that changed his mind, and advice for new history writers
    Find Gareth & the book:
    Arthur, Prince of Wales: Henry VIII’s Lost Brother - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Arthur-Prince-Wales-Henry-Brother-ebook/dp/B0C6NLT7NJ/, https://www.amazon.com/Arthur-Prince-Wales-Henry-Brother-ebook/dp/B0C6NLT7NJ/
    Royal History Geeks - https://www.royalhistorygeeks.com/
    If you enjoy deep dives into Tudor history, please like, subscribe, and tell us in the comments: What kind of king do you think Arthur would have been, and why?
    #ArthurTudor #PrinceOfWales #TudorHistory #HenryVII #KatharineOfAragon #WarsOfTheRoses #GarethStreeter #HistoryInterview

    Helene Harrison on The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn Sep 27, 2025
    Show notes

    Who’s the “real” Anne Boleyn—the medal, the portraits, or the version we’ve imagined? In this interview, Helene Harrison joins me to discuss her book The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn: Interpreting Image and Perception—not a biography, but a study of how Anne has been seen across centuries.
    We explore:

    • What readers should unlearn about Anne’s image
    • Beyond the 1534 medal: which likeness may come closest—and which is most misleading
    • Foreign observers (ambassadors, visitors): who reads Anne well, and who writes with an agenda?
    • Evidence vs. imagination: where the record ends and interpretation begins
    • Stage/film/TV: what one portrayal gets right—and what most get wrong

    I’m Claire Ridgway, historian, author, and host of the Anne Boleyn Files & Tudor Society. If you enjoy deep dives into Tudor history, please like, subscribe, and share your thoughts below.
    Get Helene’s book & follow her work:
    Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Many-Faces-Anne-Boleyn-Interpreting/dp/1036105024/
    Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/Many-Faces-Anne-Boleyn-Interpreting/dp/1036105024/
    Website - https://tudorblogger.com/

    The Carpenter Who Built Henry VIII’s World Sep 22, 2025
    Show notes

    Ever looked up at Hampton Court’s Great Hall and wondered who made that jaw-dropping roof?
    On this day in Tudor history, 22 September 1544, James Nedeham, master carpenter, architect and Surveyor of the King’s Works, died while on campaign with Henry VIII at Boulogne. You may not know his name, but you know his work: Hampton Court’s Great Hall roof, Traitors’ Gate timbering at the Tower of London, and key projects at Whitehall and beyond.
    I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway. In this episode, meet the craftsman who helped stage Tudor power.
    What you’ll learn:

    • How a London guildsman rose to Master Carpenter & Surveyor of the King’s Works
    • The story behind Hampton Court’s hammer-beam masterpiece
    • Nedeham at the Tower of London: Jewel House & Traitors’ Gate (1532)
    • Whitehall, Canterbury, and reusing monastic sites after the Dissolution
    • His final campaign with Henry VIII and memorial at Little Wymondley

    Question for you: If you could time-travel through one Tudor space, which would it be—Hampton Court, Whitehall, or the Tower—and why?
    If you enjoy the “hidden makers” of Tudor England, please like, subscribe, and ring the bell for daily On This Day history.
    Hashtags: #TudorHistory #HamptonCourt #HenryVIII #TowerOfLondon #Whitehall #OnThisDay #ArchitecturalHistory #GreatHall #TraitorsGate

    From “Looking for Richard” to Writing Richard III — Wendy Johnson Interview Sep 20, 2025
    Show notes

    Villain or maligned? In this interview, historical novelist Wendy Johnson—a founding member of Philippa Langley’s “Looking for Richard” project—joins me to discuss her debut novel, The Traitor’s Son, which traces Richard III’s formative decade (1461–1471).
    We explore:

    • What being close to the 2012 discovery in Leicester changed for her as a writer and Ricardian
    • Why start with boyhood—and what newcomers should unlearn about Richard
    • Fact vs fiction: where the record ends and imagination begins
    • Favourite sources for Edward, George, and Richard
    • Places that shaped the story: Ludlow, Middleham, London
    • Teasers for Books 2 & 3 in the trilogy

    Plus: Wendy’s top Ricardian must-visit sites, the scene she’d film first, and one non-fiction pick to read next.
    I’m Claire Ridgway. Thanks for watching. Please like, subscribe, and share your thoughts below!
    #RichardIII #WarsOfTheRoses #HistoricalFiction #LookingForRichard #Plantagenets #MedievalHistory

    Katherine Willoughby: Duchess, Exile, Survivor Sep 19, 2025
    Show notes

    On this day in Tudor history, 19 September 1580, Katherine Willoughby (Katherine Brandon, later Katherine Bertie), Duchess of Suffolk, died after a long illness and was laid to rest at Spilsby, Lincolnshire.
    I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and today I’m telling the story of one of my favourite Tudor women, a brilliant, resilient figure who moved from court glitter to deepest grief, from duchess to exile and back again, guided by a sharp mind and a fiercer faith.
    In this episode:

    • Heiress & child-bride: ward of Charles Brandon and Duchess at 14
    • Court & conscience: official mourner at Catherine of Aragon’s funeral; hiring Hugh Latimer to preach
    • Tragedy in 1551: losing both sons to the sweating sickness the same day
    • Love & exile: marriage to Richard Bertie, flight under Mary I, return under Elizabeth I
    • Legacy: patronage of reform, Miles Coverdale in her household, and that famous little dog named “Gardiner”

    If you enjoy deep dives into remarkable Tudor women, please like, subscribe, and share your thoughts below.
    #OnThisDay #TudorHistory #KatherineWilloughby #DuchessOfSuffolk #CharlesBrandon #Reformation #SweatingSickness #ElizabethI

    Heir, Hostage, Court Favourite… Dead at 15 - Henry Brandon’s Story Sep 18, 2025
    Show notes

    On this day in Tudor history, 18 September 1535, Henry Brandon, 2nd Duke of Suffolk, was born at Chartley in Staffordshire. The eldest son of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, and Catherine Willoughby, Henry’s life was full of promise, until it was heartbreakingly cut short.


    Educated alongside Prince Edward (the future Edward VI), Henry thrived at court: he carried the orb at Edward’s coronation, ran at the ring, and studied at Cambridge under some of the greatest humanist tutors of the day. He was a young noble who seemed destined for greatness.
    But in the summer of 1551, the dreaded sweating sickness struck. Within hours, Henry and his younger brother Charles were dead, snuffing out the Brandon male line in one cruel blow.
    In this podcast, I share Henry’s brief but brilliant story, his education, his role at court, and the tragedy that ended his family’s hopes.
    If you enjoy daily Tudor stories, please like, subscribe, and ring the bell. And let me know in the comments: which Tudor “might-have-been” do you wish had lived to fulfil their promise?
    #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #HenryBrandon #EdwardVI #TudorTragedy #ClaireRidgway
    The Quiet Power Behind the Reformation: Bullinger Sep 17, 2025
    Show notes

    On 17 September 1575, Zurich lost one of its great reformers: Heinrich (Henry) Bullinger.
    While Luther thundered, Calvin systematised, and Zwingli fought and died, Bullinger quietly anchored the Swiss Reformation, and his writings reached far beyond Switzerland, shaping the faith of Tudor England.
    In this episode, I explore:

    • Bullinger’s rise from Bremgarten priest’s son to Zurich’s leading pastor
    • His household with Anna Adlischweiler—marriage, 11 children, orphans, and refugees
    • His leadership after Zwingli’s death in 1531, keeping Zurich’s church steady
    • The Decades - sermons that became required reading in Elizabethan England
    • His covenant theology - grace freely offered, faith shown through conduct
    • His role as a bridge-builder: the First and Second Helvetic Confessions, and a vast correspondence that reached Edward VI and Elizabeth I

    Bullinger’s death on this day in 1575 marked the end of an era, but his influence endured - quiet, steady, and lasting.
    Had you heard of Bullinger before today? And which Reformation voice - Luther, Zwingli, Bullinger, or Calvin - do you find most compelling? Tell me in the comments.
    If you enjoy these daily glimpses into Tudor history, please like, subscribe, and ring the bell. For exclusive extras—zoom calls, behind-the-scenes content, and my monthly magazine—consider joining my channel membership.
    \#OnThisDay #TudorHistory #Reformation #Bullinger #ChurchHistory #ProtestantReformers #ClaireRidgway #ElizabethanEngland
    Walter Devereux: Poison Plot or Tragic Misfortune Sep 16, 2025
    Show notes

    On 16 September 1539, Walter Devereux was born at Chartley in Staffordshire. Nobleman, soldier, coloniser—and father to Robert Devereux, Elizabeth I’s brilliant but doomed favourite—Walter’s life was full of ambition, controversy, and whispers that outlived him.

    From his meteoric rise at Elizabeth’s court to his brutal and ill-fated campaign in Ireland, Walter seemed destined for greatness. But at just 37, he died suddenly in Dublin in 1576. Official cause? Dysentery. The rumours? Poison… perhaps even at the hands of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester—who later married Walter’s widow, Lettice Knollys.

    In this episode, I trace Walter’s journey from Chartley heir to Irish commander, explore his marriage into the Boleyn-Knollys family, and ask:

    • Why did his Irish venture turn so grim?

    • Was his death really natural—or the result of a Tudor plot?

    • How did his early end shape the fate of his son, the tragic Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex?


    Poison or misfortune? You decide in the comments.

    If you enjoyed this Tudor true-crime style tale, please like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you don’t miss tomorrow’s story from Tudor history.

    #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #ElizabethI #Essex #WalterDevereux #HistoryTok #ClaireRidgway

    What did Henry VIII REALLY look like? Sep 15, 2025
    Show notes

    When you picture Henry VIII, do you see Holbein’s towering figure in furs and jewels—broad, bearded, and imposing?
    That image is iconic... but it’s not the full story.
    In this video, I’m going back to the start of Henry’s reign to ask:
    What did Henry VIII really look like when he took the throne in 1509?
    Before the tyranny, before the weight gain, before the codpieces and propaganda, Henry was something else entirely.
    Discover how contemporary eyewitnesses described him
    What portraits and armour tell us about his build and features
    And why our mental image of Henry is shaped more by politics than portraits
    Who would you cast as young Henry in a film or series? Let me know in the comments! Watch next: Tracking Henry VIII’s Weight Gain… Through His Armour - https://youtu.be/sesuSTxpXMs?si=rZ1_jWVl1l-jQ8FZ
    Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and tap the bell for more myth-busting Tudor history from The Anne Boleyn Files.
    #HenryVIII #TudorHistory #YoungHenryVIII #AnneBoleynFiles #TudorMonarchy #HolbeinMyth #TudorPortraits #EarlyModernHistory

    Tudor Quiz - 75 THOUSAND Youtube Subscribers - Play Along! Sep 14, 2025
    Show notes

    I can't believe that I've got over 75,000 subscribers on my YouTube channel, and to celebrate it, my lovely husband, Tim, put together a "mastermind" style expert round quiz to test my knowledge on the Tudors and especially the Boleyn family.
    There's a quick-fire round of two minutes where I have to answer as many questions correctly as I can, and then a slightly more leisurely round where I get some bonus questions.
    Let me know how many questions you got right by playing along now...
    THANK YOU to every single one of my subscribers, I really appreciate your support and I read every comment you leave.

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