Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

On this day in Tudor history, 6th May 1502, Sir James Tyrell met his end on Tower Hill—remembered not just as a royal servant, but as the man accused of murdering the Princes in the Tower. But did he really confess to killing Edward V and his brother? Or was his name dragged into a Tudor-era cover-up? In this podcast, we unravel the life, rise, and sudden fall of Sir James Tyrell—and examine the e...

The Marriage of James VI and Anne of Denmark   A royal wedding… a stormy sea… and a witch hunt that would echo through history.   When Anne of Denmark tried to sail to Scotland to join her new husband, King James VI, disaster struck. Fierce storms battered her fleet, whispers of witchcraft spread like wildfire, and before long, women were being accused, tortured, and executed.   Was it just bad we...

Think hanging, drawing and quartering was as bad as it got? Think again.   In this chilling follow-up, we dive into some of the lesser-known but equally gruesome methods of execution used during the Tudor period. From boiling people alive to crushing them slowly under immense weight, the Tudors certainly knew how to make a statement.   Join me as I explore these brutal punishments and the stories...

The Tudors were infamous for their brutal punishments, but none were more terrifying than the full traitor’s death—hanging, drawing, and quartering. Reserved for those guilty of high treason, this gruesome execution was designed not just to punish but to serve as a chilling warning to all.   But what did it actually involve? Step by horrifying step, I’ll take you through the brutal process—from be...

The Execution of George van Parris under Edward VI   The reign of Edward VI is often seen as a time of Protestant reform, but it was also a period of religious persecution. On 24th or 25th April 1551, George van Parris was burned at the stake—not for being Catholic, but for holding radical Protestant beliefs.   A Flemish surgeon living in London, van Parris was condemned for Arianism, the belief t...

Tudor history is full of ‘wicked women’—but were they truly wicked, or simply women who refused to conform?   From Anne Boleyn, accused of adultery and treason, to Catherine Howard, condemned for her past, and Lettice Knollys, who dared to marry Robert Dudley, history has painted many Tudor women as villains. But was their greatest crime simply being outspoken, ambitious, or politically savvy in a...

Anne Stanhope, Duchess of Somerset—ambitious, powerful, and controversial. History remembers her as arrogant and ruthless, but was she truly a villain, or simply a strong woman in a world that feared female power?   As the wife of Edward Seymour, Lord Protector of England, Anne was the highest-ranking woman in the country after the queen. She influenced religious reform, controlled vast lands, and...

On 13th April 1630, a remarkable woman passed away—Anne Howard, Countess of Arundel. She was no ordinary noblewoman. In a time when Catholicism was outlawed in England, she risked everything to protect priests and defy the authorities.   Who was this fearless countess, and why did she go to such great lengths for her faith? Watch to uncover the fascinating and daring story of Anne Howard, the Prie...

Fast food isn’t just a modern invention—people in medieval and Tudor England were grabbing quick meals centuries before us! In cities like London and Bristol, many people didn’t have kitchens, so they relied on cookshops for hot, ready-to-eat food.    Street vendors, called hucksters, even had portable ovens to sell pies on the go—just like a modern food truck!    So, next time you grab a burger o...

Imagine being confined to your home with no hope of release. In Tudor times, house arrest wasn’t just an inconvenience; it was a political weapon used to control and punish powerful figures. In this video, I explore some of the most famous cases of house arrest in the Tudor period, from queens and princesses to ambitious courtiers. Catherine of Aragon was banished from court and separated from her...

It’s April Fools’ Day, and while I’ve already covered Tudor court jesters like Will Somer and Jane the Fool, today we’re talking about Tudor fools—people who made shockingly bad decisions that led to their downfall.   The Tudor court was full of ambitious, reckless, and sometimes downright foolish courtiers. Some miscalculated their power, others defied the monarch, and some just had terrible luck...

Elizabeth I’s reign is often celebrated as a Golden Age—a time of exploration, cultural flourishing, and military victories. But was it truly golden for everyone?   Behind the glorious image of Gloriana, there was persecution, war, economic hardship, and brutal repression. In this video, we’ll uncover the darker side of Elizabeth I’s rule—the suffering, censorship, and struggles that are often lef...

On 24th March 1603, Queen Elizabeth I passed away at the age of 69—but what exactly caused her death? Despite being one of history’s most documented monarchs, the exact cause of Elizabeth’s death remains a mystery. Historians and medical experts have proposed various theories, including: - A deadly tooth abscess—Could an infection have turned septic? - Lead poisoning—Did her makeup slowly poison h...

Beards in Tudor England weren’t just about fashion—they were symbols of masculinity, power, and even political loyalty! From Henry VIII’s beard rivalry with Francis I to Elizabeth I’s courtiers dyeing their beards red in her honor, facial hair was serious business.   Did you know that some Tudor men believed beards were proof of virility? Or that pulling another man’s beard was an insult worthy of...

When we think of Henry VIII’s inner circle, we usually focus on his wives, ministers, and high-ranking courtiers. But what about the man who held a razor to the king’s throat every day? Meet Edmund Harman, Henry VIII’s personal barber—a man who not only kept the king’s hair and beard in check but also navigated the dangerous world of Tudor politics. From accusations of heresy to receiving royal la...

Henry VIII executed two of his six wives—two young women from the same powerful family, both elevated to queenship and both brutally cut down. But while their fates were the same, their downfalls couldn’t have been more different.    Anne Boleyn’s fall was a calculated, political execution—fast, ruthless, and built on lies.  Catherine Howard’s fall was a slow-motion disaster, the result of a real...

Welcome to another episode of Tudor Trivia! Last week, we explored historical makeup, and today, we’re uncovering the fascinating world of medieval and Tudor skincare.   You might be surprised to learn that many of the remedies used centuries ago are still in use today—or are even making a comeback in the world of natural beauty! From herbal treatments to floral waters and even animal fat-based cr...

On this day, 14th March 1553, a Tudor bishop passed away in Bangor, leaving behind a legacy that shaped religious life in Wales. But who was he, and why does his story matter?   From his time as chaplain to the Duke of Suffolk to his unexpected fall from favour with Thomas Cromwell, Arthur Bulkeley’s career was anything but ordinary. In an era of religious upheaval, he made a bold decision that se...

On this day, March 13, 1619, the stage lost one of its greatest stars. Richard Burbage wasn’t just an actor—he was Shakespeare’s leading man, the original Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear. But his impact went far beyond the stage.   From his early years in London to his legendary performances at The Globe Theatre, Burbage helped shape the golden age of English drama. He was a close friend of Shakesp...

Thomas Boleyn has long been painted as a ruthless social climber who exploited his daughters for power and wealth. But does history support this image, or have we been misled by fiction?   On the anniversary of his death in 1539, let’s uncover the real Thomas Boleyn—the diplomat, scholar, and trusted courtier of two Tudor kings. His rise at court had nothing to do with his daughters; in fact, he w...

On March 11, 1513, Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici became Pope Leo X, a ruler who would shape the Renaissance papacy with grandeur, patronage, and controversy. A lover of art and luxury, Leo transformed Rome into a cultural powerhouse, supporting artists like Raphael. But his extravagant spending led him to promote the sale of indulgences—a move that angered a certain monk named Martin Luther and h...

William Paulet and how he served FOUR monarchs & kept his head In Tudor England, where one wrong move could mean the Tower, how did one man manage to serve  four  monarchs and die peacefully in his 90s? William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester, had a secret:  adapt or die. From the reign of Henry VIII to Elizabeth I, Paulet mastered the art of political survival. He wasn’t a radical reformer...

What if Catherine of Aragon had stepped aside and entered a nunnery? Could it have saved her daughter Mary’s legitimacy? Would Anne Boleyn have had a son? And most importantly—would England have remained Catholic?   In this video, we explore a fascinating Tudor ‘What If’—how history might have changed if Catherine had accepted Henry VIII’s demands. Would the Reformation still have happened? Would...

Did Elizabeth I really poison herself with lead makeup? It’s a Tudor myth! While Venetian ceruse—white lead makeup—did exist, there’s no real evidence the Queen actually used it. So where did this ghostly image of Elizabeth come from? The Victorians!   But Tudor beauty wasn’t exactly safe… From toxic rouges made of mercury to fake blue veins and even urine hair dye (yes, really!), Tudor cosmetics...

Germain Gardiner and the Prebendaries' Plot   In the 1540s, England was a nation in religious turmoil, and those who resisted Henry VIII’s supremacy over the church risked everything.   I uncover the dramatic downfall of Germain Gardiner, John Larke, and others caught in the deadly Prebendaries' Plot—a conspiracy that sought to halt Protestant reforms and nearly brought down Thomas Cranmer.   Why...