Podcast
Tudor History with Claire Ridgway
Hosted by Claire Ridgway · EN
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.
38episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
People Were Protesting Immigration in England 500 Years Ago
6d ago00:28:15Tap to summarizeThe history of immigration in England is far older than many people realise. Immigration in Tudor England, medieval England and even Roman Britain helped shape the nation we know today. People often talk about immigration as though it is a modern issue, but England's history tells a very different story. In this video, we explore over a thousand years of migration to England, from the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Normans to medieval Jewish communities, Flemish weavers, Italian bankers, Tudor refugees, African residents and Muslim diplomats. You'll discover how immigrants helped shape England's economy, culture and society, and how concerns about jobs, wages and foreign competition were being debated centuries ago. We'll examine events such as the York massacre of 1190, the anti-immigrant riots of Evil May Day in 1517, the arrival of Huguenot refugees, the story of John Blanke, Henry VIII's Black royal trumpeter, and England's diplomatic links with Morocco and the Ottoman Empire. History doesn't tell us what immigration policy should be today, but it can challenge assumptions about the past. Was England ever truly isolated? What does the historical evidence actually reveal? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. #History #EnglishHistory #TudorHistory #MedievalHistory #BritishHistory #BlackTudors #ImmigrationHistory #HistoryDocumentary #HenryVIII #ElizabethI
Transcribe →Would you survive a Tudor football match?
2w ago00:10:47Tap to summarize#TudorHistory #FootballHistory #WorldCup Long before packed stadiums, professional leagues and World Cup tournaments, football in England was a very different game. There were no referees, no standard rules, no fixed number of players and, in some cases, no guarantee that everyone would make it home safely. In this video, historian Claire Ridgway explores the fascinating and often shocking world of Tudor football. Discover how the game was played, why English kings tried to restrict it, how Henry VIII was connected to football, and how some ancient football traditions still survive today. From village-wide matches and Shrove Tuesday games to royal proclamations and surprising accidents, this is the story of football before it became the beautiful game. Would a modern footballer survive a Tudor match? Watch to find out! Here's a video of the present-day Atherstone Shrovetide Football match, and, yes, it's rather violent - https://youtu.be/YZr4G_ySMs8?si=h1Hei7rCDiebKihc #TudorHistory #FootballHistory #SoccerHistory #WorldCup #HenryVIII #MedievalFootball #History #EnglishHistory #TheAnneBoleynFiles #Tudors #BritishHistory #HistoryFacts #Football #Soccer #HistoryYouTube
Transcribe →Henry VIII Expected a Prince… But Anne Boleyn Gave Birth to Elizabeth I
4w ago00:25:07Tap to summarizeEngland waited anxiously for the birth of Anne Boleyn’s child in 1533. Henry VIII had broken with Rome, overturned his kingdom, and married Anne believing she would finally give him the son and heir he desperately wanted. Astrologers predicted a prince, celebrations were prepared, a letter announcing the birth of a male heir had even been drafted in advance, but behind the splendour of Greenwich Palace lay the terrifying reality of Tudor childbirth. In this video, I explore Anne Boleyn’s confinement, the ritual of “taking her chamber”, Tudor beliefs and superstitions surrounding labour, the dangers faced by women in childbirth, and the dramatic birth of the future Elizabeth I. Discover: - The strange rituals of Tudor childbirth - Anne Boleyn’s lavish lying-in chamber - Tudor beliefs about labour and protection - The dangers royal women faced in childbirth - Henry VIII’s reaction to the birth - The magnificent christening of Princess Elizabeth - Anne Boleyn as a mother - The lasting influence Anne may have had on Elizabeth’s future #AnneBoleyn, #ElizabethI, #HenryVIII, #TudorHistory, #Tudors, #History, #BritishHistory, #RoyalHistory, #HistoryTube, #HistoryTok, #WomenInHistory, #EnglishHistory, #TudorEngland, #QueensOfEngland, #MedievalHistory
Transcribe →The Gossip, the Murmuring, the Speed: Henry VIII and Jane Seymour in 1536
May 2000:08:56Tap to summarizeOn 20th May 1536, just one day after Anne Boleyn’s execution, Henry VIII became formally betrothed to Jane Seymour. Even by Tudor standards, many saw the speed of the relationship as shocking and unseemly. In this off-the-cuff video, I explore the gossip and murmuring at court following Anne’s fall, ask why Henry was in such a desperate hurry, and consider whether fears of pregnancy may have played a role. I also reflect on what the atmosphere at court must have been like after the sudden destruction of the Boleyn faction — Anne gone, George Boleyn dead, courtiers executed, and two men still imprisoned in the Tower. How did people react? What did they really think? And what did this sudden betrothal reveal about Henry VIII? #HenryVIII #JaneSeymour #AnneBoleyn #TudorHistory #Tudors #OnThisDay #History
Transcribe →Who Killed the Princes in the Tower? One of History's Greatest Mysteries
May 600:26:10Tap to summarizeTwo young princes vanished inside the Tower of London, and history has never agreed on what happened next. In 1483, Edward V and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York, disappeared from public view after their uncle seized the throne as King Richard III. Were they murdered? If so, who was responsible? For centuries, suspicion has fallen on Richard III, but was the case really that simple? In this video, I explore: • the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower • Richard III and the evidence against him • the role of Buckingham, Henry VII, and Margaret Beaufort • medieval politics and rival claimants • Thomas More and the James Tyrell confession story • the mystery of Perkin Warbeck and survival theories • the bones discovered in the Tower of London • what contemporary sources actually tell us Was this a royal murder, a political conspiracy, or one of history’s greatest misunderstandings? Let me know your theory in the comments. #PrincesInTheTower #RichardIII #WarsOfTheRoses
Transcribe →The Wars of the Roses Explained | The Civil War That Created the Tudors
Apr 2900:23:34Tap to summarizeKings were overthrown, noble families destroyed, princes vanished, and England descended into decades of civil war. In this Beginner’s Guide to the Wars of the Roses, I explore the dynastic conflict between the rival houses of Lancaster and York, a struggle that would bring down the Plantagenets and pave the way for the Tudor dynasty. From the weak reign of Henry VI and the rise of Richard, Duke of York, to the battles of St Albans, Towton, Barnet, and Tewkesbury, this video untangles the complex family rivalries, political tensions, betrayals, and battles that shaped fifteenth-century England. We’ll also explore: - Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou - Richard Neville “the Kingmaker” - Edward IV and the Woodvilles - The Princes in the Tower - Richard III’s rise to power - Henry Tudor’s claim to the throne Whether you’re completely new to the Wars of the Roses or looking for a clear overview before diving deeper into Tudor history, my hope is that this guide will help you understand one of the most dramatic periods in English history. #WarsoftheRoses #RichardIII #HenryVI #EdwardIV #TudorHistory #Plantagenets #HistoryDocumentary
Transcribe →Did Anne Boleyn really marry Henry VIII twice?
Apr 2300:17:20Tap to summarizeIn this episode of my Anne Boleyn series, we explore one of the most fascinating and controversial moments in Tudor history, the possibility of a secret marriage in November 1532, followed by a formal wedding in January 1533, all before the king’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon had been officially annulled. After years of frustration during the Great Matter, Henry stopped waiting for Rome and began acting on what he believed to be the truth: that his first marriage was invalid in the eyes of God. But why the urgency? What changed after the Calais meeting with Francis I of France? And how did these secret decisions lead to one of the most spectacular coronations England had ever seen? In this video, we examine: The evidence for a possible November 1532 marriage The well-attested January 1533 wedding at Whitehall Anne Boleyn’s pregnancy and the question of legitimacy The final resolution of the Great Matter under Thomas Cranmer The pageantry, symbolism, and political messaging of Anne’s coronation After years of struggle, delay, and risk, Anne Boleyn was finally queen. Read more on this topic: https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/14-november-1532-first-secret-marriage/ https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/25-january-1533-marriage-of-henry-viii-and-anne-boleyn/ Watch the full Anne Boleyn series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLepqWJ7TpkrK-zOYsEHo618JwNPMyOK6M #AnneBoleyn #HenryVIII #TudorHistory #BritishHistory #HistoryDocumentary #HistoryYouTube #RoyalHistory #TheTudors #ElizabethI #HistoryLovers
Transcribe →Henry VIII’s Most Powerful Courtier? His Toilet Attendant
Apr 1700:05:44Tap to summarizeWhat if one of the most powerful men in Tudor England was responsible for helping the king go to the toilet? It sounds like the lowest of the low, but the Groom of the Stool was anything but a menial servant. In fact, this role placed a man at the very heart of royal power. In this video, I explore the surprisingly influential position of the Groom of the Stool under Henry VIII. From managing the king’s private chambers and personal belongings to controlling the privy purse and overseeing daily finances, this role was built on trust, access, and intimacy. And in the Tudor court, access to the monarch meant influence. Men like William Compton and Henry Norris held this office, men who weren’t just attendants, but key figures in the political world surrounding the king. I also look at how queens such as Mary I of England and Elizabeth I relied on their own trusted attendants for similarly intimate roles. #TudorHistory #HenryVIII #RoyalHistory #HistoryExplained #BritishHistory #AnneBoleyn #HistoryFacts #Tudors #HistoryChannel #OnThisDay
Transcribe →Henry VIII Used the Bible to Justify His Annulment… But Was He Wrong?
Apr 1200:06:24Tap to summarizeDid Henry VIII really have a biblical reason to end his marriage to Catherine of Aragon… or was he interpreting scripture to suit his own desires? In this video, we explore the religious argument at the heart of the King’s Great Matter: Henry VIII’s claim that his marriage was against God’s law. Using Leviticus 20:21, Henry argued that marrying his brother’s widow brought divine punishment. But there’s a problem: his marriage wasn’t childless, and his queen strongly denied ever being truly his brother’s wife. We’ll also examine the apparent contradiction in Deuteronomy 25:5, which seems to command the very marriage Henry claimed was sinful. So were these verses truly in conflict? Did Leviticus really take precedence? Or was this a matter of interpretation and power? We’ll also explore the role of canon law, papal authority, and the irony of Henry later marrying Anne Boleyn after a relationship with her sister. This isn’t just a theological debate. It’s the moment a personal crisis became a religious revolution. Watch my full episode: The Six-Year Wait: Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and the Great Matter (1527–1533) https://youtu.be/rVVoxkGSz0o If you enjoy Tudor history, don’t forget to subscribe - I’m working towards 100,000 subscribers this year! #HenryVIII #AnneBoleyn #CatherineOfAragon #GreatMatter #TudorHistory #BritishHistory #HistoryExplained #HistoryYouTube #Reformation #RoyalHistory #HistoryNerd #HistoryChannel #LearnHistory
Transcribe →The Six-Year Wait: Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and the Great Matter (1527–1533)
Apr 700:28:48Tap to summarizeAnne Boleyn said yes to Henry VIII in 1527, but she didn’t become his queen until 1533. Why did it take six years? In this video, I explore the dramatic and complex story of Henry VIII’s “Great Matter” - his attempt to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon so that he could marry Anne Boleyn. What began as a question of conscience soon spiralled into an international crisis involving the Pope, Emperor Charles V, and the balance of power in Europe. We’ll look at: Henry VIII’s biblical arguments Catherine of Aragon’s powerful resistance The Legatine Court at Blackfriars and its dramatic collapse The downfall of Cardinal Wolsey The influence of reformist ideas and Anne Boleyn’s role in shaping them The shift from papal authority to royal supremacy Anne’s rise in status, including her creation as Marquess of Pembroke The 1532 Calais meeting with Francis I And the intriguing possibility of a secret marriage before 1533 This wasn’t just a royal annulment; it was the beginning of a chain of events that would lead to England breaking with Rome and change the course of English history forever. And Anne Boleyn? She wasn’t simply waiting in the wings. This video explores how she was far more involved, informed, and influential than many people realise. What do you think: Was Henry driven by genuine religious conviction, or by his desire to marry Anne Boleyn? This is part of my Anne Boleyn series, which you can watch at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLepqWJ7TpkrK-zOYsEHo618JwNPMyOK6M #AnneBoleyn #HenryVIII #GreatMatter #TudorHistory #CatherineOfAragon #EnglishReformation #BritishHistory #HistoryYouTube #HistoryExplained #Tudors
Transcribe →