Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

Would history have changed forever if Henry VIII had fully embraced Mary as his successor? Could England have had its first official ruling queen decades before Elizabeth I? And what if Mary had married James V of Scotland—would the Tudor and Stuart dynasties have united earlier?   In this week’s Sunday Q&A, I explore this fascinating alternate history! From dynastic politics to the religious...

The Brutal Tudor Sport That Shocked Kings!   Think football is a rough game today? Tudor football was an entirely different beast—chaotic, lawless, and downright deadly. Henry VIII banned it in 1540, but he wasn’t the first! Monarchs before him had also tried to stop the game, but why?   This wasn’t the structured sport we know today. Picture entire villages battling it out, no rules, no referee,...

On this day in Tudor history, 7th February 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots received the news she had been dreading—her execution warrant had arrived. By sunrise, she would face the executioner’s axe.   But how did she react? Did she break down in fear, or did she stand defiant in her final hours? What did she say? Who did she write to? And what preparations did she make for her death?   Today, we step...

She was the woman who replaced Anne Boleyn, the queen who finally gave Henry VIII a son, and the wife he never tired of. But was Jane Seymour truly the perfect Tudor queen—or just the perfect pawn?   - Was she a meek, obedient consort? - Did she play the game and win? - Or was she simply used by those around her?   Henry VIII’s courtship of Jane began while Anne Boleyn was still queen. But when di...

Did you know that King Charles III is a descendant of Mary Boleyn, sister of Anne Boleyn? And that Prince William and Prince Harry have two Boleyn bloodlines?   But wait—how can that be when Elizabeth I, Anne Boleyn’s only child, died childless? The Tudor and Boleyn bloodlines didn’t end with her…   In this fascinating deep dive, I’ll unravel the real royal connections between Mary Boleyn, Henry V...

The Double Life of Sir Edward Stafford   What if one of Elizabeth I’s trusted ambassadors was secretly working for Spain?   On this day in history, 5th February 1605, Sir Edward Stafford—diplomat, MP, and suspected traitor—died, leaving behind a legacy of espionage, scandal, and mystery.   He had royal blood, powerful connections, and a prestigious role as England’s ambassador to France. But whisp...

On this day in 1495, Anne of York, daughter of Edward IV and sister of Queen Elizabeth of York, married Thomas Howard, the future 3rd Duke of Norfolk. But this was far more than just a royal love story—it was a political gamble that shaped the future of the powerful Howard family.   Just ten years earlier, Thomas Howard’s family had been on the losing side at the Battle of Bosworth. His father and...

The Fall of the Duke of Buckingham    Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, had everything—royal blood, vast wealth, and a place at the heart of Henry VIII’s court. But in 1521, his world came crashing down. Accused of treason, condemned in a rigged trial, and executed on Tower Hill, Buckingham’s downfall was a chilling warning to the nobility.   Was he truly plotting against the king, or was h...

Henry VIII and his older brother, Arthur Tudor—were they close siblings or distant strangers? The answer might surprise you!   Despite being brothers, their lives were shaped by duty, distance, and very different upbringings. Arthur, as the heir to the throne, was raised in his own household, away from court, while young Henry was spoiled, surrounded by women, and never trained as a future king.  ...

When you think of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, you imagine power, influence, and unwavering loyalty to Henry VIII. But behind the grandeur of Tudor politics lies a secret life filled with intrigue and scandal. Did you know that Wolsey, the Church’s highest-ranking official, had a mistress and two children?   Who was the mysterious Mistress Larke? What became of their children? And how did Wolsey juggle...

Imagine this—England’s most infamous king is dead. His nine-year-old son is set to inherit the throne, but behind closed doors, a secretive power struggle is already unfolding. For three days, Henry VIII’s death was kept hidden while his advisors scrambled to secure control.   Enter Edward Seymour, the young king’s ambitious uncle. As Henry VIII’s body grew cold, Seymour was already positioning hi...

When we think of Catherine of Aragon, we think of a pious and dignified queen—but did you know that, before she even married Henry VIII, she was at the centre of a royal scandal? - Her confessor, Fray Diego Fernández, became more than just her spiritual advisor. - His influence over her raised eyebrows, sparked gossip, and even angered kings. - Was Catherine blindly loyal, or was there more to the...

A daring conspiracy. A near-catastrophic explosion. A brutal punishment.   The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 is one of history’s most infamous assassination attempts—but it wasn’t just Guy Fawkes who paid the price. On this day in 1606, four of his fellow conspirators met a gruesome end at St Paul’s Churchyard. Their execution was a chilling warning to all who dared to defy the crown.   What really led t...

On this day in Tudor history, Queen Anne Boleyn suffered a devastating miscarriage, on the very same day her predecessor, Catherine of Aragon, was laid to rest.   This wasn’t just a personal tragedy for Anne—it was a turning point that left her dangerously vulnerable. Without the male heir Henry VIII so desperately craved, and with Catherine gone, Anne’s position as queen began to crumble.   But w...

The Story of Three Kings   28th January is a date packed with significance for the Tudors—marking the birth of Henry VII, the death of Henry VIII, and the accession of Edward VI.   From Henry VII’s rise from exile to establish the Tudor dynasty, to Henry VIII’s dramatic reign that forever changed England, and Edward VI’s short but impactful time as the Boy King—this day is a snapshot of Tudor triu...

What would you do if your beliefs could cost you your life? On this day in 1556, Protestant lawyer Bartholomew Green faced that exact question—and paid the ultimate price. Burned at the stake at Smithfield alongside six others, Green’s story is one of unshakable faith, courage, and defiance in the face of Queen Mary I’s brutal crackdown on Protestantism. How did this Oxford-educated lawyer end up...

This tiny mother-of-pearl ring, once owned by Elizabeth I, holds a fascinating secret. Inside its locket are two miniature portraits: one of the queen herself and the other of a woman in 1530s fashion wearing a French hood. But who is this mysterious figure?   Could it be Elizabeth’s mother, Anne Boleyn? Or perhaps her stepmother, Catherine Parr? Some even suggest it’s a younger version of Elizabe...

It sounds like something out of a Tudor drama—an archbishop sneaking his wife across England in a ventilated chest! But is there any truth to this wild claim?    Join me as we uncover the fascinating story of Thomas Cranmer and his secret marriage to Margarete, the niece of a Lutheran preacher. How did they keep their union hidden during a time when clerical celibacy was law? And where did the biz...

When Henry VIII sought to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn became the focus of court gossip, religious upheaval, and shocking accusations. Catherine herself called Anne “the great scandal of Christendom,” but was she truly deserving of that title?   From forbidden romances and court scandals to her controversial rise as queen and tragic downfall, Anne’s life was full of intri...

On this day in Tudor history, 24th January 1502, King Henry VII and King James IV of Scotland signed the Treaty of Perpetual Peace—a bold agreement to end centuries of conflict between England and Scotland.   This treaty promised "good, real, and sincere peace… to last all time coming" and was sealed with a royal marriage: Margaret Tudor and James IV.    But did this ambitious peace truly last? Ju...

On this day in history, 23rd January 1570, James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray and regent for King James VI, was assassinated—the first head of government in history to be killed by a firearm.   Discover how Moray, the illegitimate son of a king and half-brother to Mary, Queen of Scots, rose to power, ruled during turbulent times, and met a tragic end at the hands of a gunman in Linlithgow. What drov...

Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, ruled England as Lord Protector during Edward VI's reign, wielding power like a king—but his story ended on the scaffold.   From his meteoric rise as Henry VIII's trusted brother-in-law and a staunch Protestant reformer to the catastrophic rebellions and political rivalries that sealed his fate, Somerset's journey is one of ambition, betrayal, and leadership gone...

Eustace Chapuys—diplomat, protector, and Mary I’s unsung hero.   When Princess Mary was declared illegitimate, banished, and threatened by her own father, Chapuys stood by her side. From daring escape plans to life-saving advice, he risked everything to keep her safe.   How far would you go to save a princess in peril? Discover the incredible story of Chapuys’ courage and cunning in the shadow of...

On this day in Tudor history, 20th January 1558, Queen Mary I opened her fifth Parliament—a moment steeped in political tension, personal heartbreak, and the shadow of impending loss.    By this point in her reign, Mary was facing immense challenges, and this Parliament marked one of her final public appearances.   But Mary’s legacy is far more complex than her struggles. She was a queen who fough...

Did King Henry VIII’s carol “Green Groweth the Holly” carry a hidden message of love for Catherine of Aragon? Or was it simply a poetic exercise?   That's the question I'm answering in my new Sunday Quick Q&A!   This beautiful Tudor-era song is filled with symbolism—holly and ivy, fidelity and love—but who was it really for? Published in 1522, the lyrics promise devotion, but by then, Henry an...