Hi, I'm historian Claire Ridgway
I'm the best-selling author of 15 history books and the founder of the TheAnneBoleynFiles.com, Elizabethfiles.com and The Tudor Society.
I help Tudor history lovers worldwide to gain access to experts and resources to discover the real stories behind myths and fiction, so that they grow in knowledge while connecting with like-minded people and indulging their passion for history.
How I can help you...
My latest youtube video
Henry VIII: Not Like Other Kings
Why did Henry VIII marry so differently from other European monarchs?
Most Renaissance kings married for diplomacy, alliances and dynastic advantage. Personal attraction might have mattered, but politics usually came first.
Henry ...VIII repeatedly did the opposite.
Instead of choosing the most politically advantageous bride, he often pursued the woman he personally wanted to marry, even when it transformed the course of English history.
In this video, I explore why Henry approached marriage so differently from rulers such as Ferdinand of Aragon, Francis I and Charles V. Was he shaped by his childhood? Did the example of Elizabeth of York influence his idea of the perfect queen? Did the ideals of chivalry and courtly romance leave him expecting too much from marriage?
Join me as we examine each of Henry's six marriages through a different lens and ask whether England's most famous king was searching for something no real woman could ever provide.
I'd love to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment below. Do you agree with this interpretation, or do you see Henry's marriages differently?
If you enjoy Tudor history, don't forget to subscribe for new videos every week.
Become a channel member for exclusive Tudor content, live Zoom talks, and our monthly digital magazine, *The Privy Chronicle*.
Thank you so much for watching!
#HenryVIII #TudorHistory #AnneBoleyn #SixWives #History #englishhistory
00:00 Introduction
02:45 Ferdinand
03:09 Francis I
03:40 Charles V
05:09 Prince Arthur
06:18 Elizabeth of York
10:31 Henry VIII
11:36 Katherine of Aragon
15:17 Anne Boleyn
17:40 Jane Seymour
19:25 Anne of Cleves
22:00 Catherine Howard
23:17 Catherine Parr
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Henry VIII: Not Like Other Kings
Why did Henry VIII marry so differently from other European monarchs? ...
Why did Henry VIII marry so differently from other European monarchs?
Most Renaissance kings married for diplomacy, alliances and dynastic advantage. Personal attraction might have mattered, but politics usually came first.
Henry ...VIII repeatedly did the opposite.
Instead of choosing the most politically advantageous bride, he often pursued the woman he personally wanted to marry, even when it transformed the course of English history.
In this video, I explore why Henry approached marriage so differently from rulers such as Ferdinand of Aragon, Francis I and Charles V. Was he shaped by his childhood? Did the example of Elizabeth of York influence his idea of the perfect queen? Did the ideals of chivalry and courtly romance leave him expecting too much from marriage?
Join me as we examine each of Henry's six marriages through a different lens and ask whether England's most famous king was searching for something no real woman could ever provide.
I'd love to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment below. Do you agree with this interpretation, or do you see Henry's marriages differently?
If you enjoy Tudor history, don't forget to subscribe for new videos every week.
Become a channel member for exclusive Tudor content, live Zoom talks, and our monthly digital magazine, *The Privy Chronicle*.
Thank you so much for watching!
#HenryVIII #TudorHistory #AnneBoleyn #SixWives #History #englishhistory
00:00 Introduction
02:45 Ferdinand
03:09 Francis I
03:40 Charles V
05:09 Prince Arthur
06:18 Elizabeth of York
10:31 Henry VIII
11:36 Katherine of Aragon
15:17 Anne Boleyn
17:40 Jane Seymour
19:25 Anne of Cleves
22:00 Catherine Howard
23:17 Catherine Parr
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCioSUqeGrdFq6DEVK3-DXGQ/join
Subscribe to my channel at https://www.youtube.com/@anneboleynfiles?sub_confirmation=1 so you don't miss my latest videos!
Visit linktr.ee/claireridgway to find resources, events, social media links and more.
You can find my books on Amazon at http://viewauthor.at/claireridgwayShow More
Was Anne Boleyn Really the Love of Henry VIII's Life?
People often call Anne Boleyn the love of Henry VIII's life, but was ...
People often call Anne Boleyn the love of Henry VIII's life, but was she really?
In this video, I'm taking a closer look at one of the most romanticised relationships in ...Tudor history and asking whether we've mistaken obsession, desire and possession for love. Henry VIII pursued Anne Boleyn for years, wrote her passionate letters, and changed the course of English history in order to marry her, yet in 1536, when Anne was arrested, imprisoned in the Tower and accused of adultery, incest and treason, where was that love?
I'll be exploring Henry's relationships with Anne Boleyn, Catherine of Aragon, Mary Tudor, Thomas More, Wolsey and Cromwell to ask a much bigger question: was Henry VIII capable of real love at all, or was his affection always conditional on people giving him what he wanted?
In this video, I explore:
- the myth of Anne Boleyn as Henry VIII's great love
- what Henry's behaviour in 1536 reveals
- obsession, possession and power in their relationship
- whether Anne was the hunted rather than the beloved
- and what Henry's treatment of wives, children and friends tells us about the man himself
I'd love to know what you think: was Anne Boleyn the love of Henry VIII's life, or is that one of Tudor history's biggest myths?
#AnneBoleyn #HenryVIII #TudorHistory #TheTudors #SixWives #BritishHistory #EnglishHistory #HistoryChannel #RoyalHistory #TudorEngland
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The Truth about Immigration in TudorEngland
Tudor England was more diverse and internationally connected than many ...
Tudor England was more diverse and internationally connected than many people realise.
People Were Protesting Immigration in England 500 Years Ago
The history of immigration in England is far older than many people ...
The 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
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Would you survive a Tudor football match
#TudorHistory #FootballHistory #WorldCup Long before packed stadiums, ...
#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
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You can find my books on Amazon at http://viewauthor.at/claireridgwayShow More
Henry VIII Expected a Prince… But Anne Boleyn Gave Birth to Elizabeth I
England waited anxiously for the birth of Anne Boleyn’s child in 1533. ...
England 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
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The Gossip, the Murmuring, the Speed: Henry VIII and Jane Seymour in 1536
On 20th May 1536, just one day after Anne Boleyn’s execution, Henry ...
On 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
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Who Killed the Princes in the Tower? One of History's Greatest Mysteries
Two young princes vanished inside the Tower of London, and history has ...
Two 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
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The Wars of the Roses Explained | The Civil War That Created the Tudors
Kings were overthrown, noble families destroyed, princes vanished, and ...
Kings 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
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Henry VIII married Anne Boleyn twice?!
Anne Boleyn didn’t just marry Henry VIII once, she may have married ...
Anne Boleyn didn’t just marry Henry VIII once, she may have married him twice.
And both times, he was still married to Catherine of Aragon.
#AnneBoleyn #HenryVIII #TudorHistory #BritishHistory
Did Anne Boleyn really marry Henry VIII twice?
In this episode of my Anne Boleyn series, we explore one of the most ...
In 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
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You can find my books on Amazon at http://viewauthor.at/claireridgwayShow More
The Groom of the Stool
The man who helped Henry VIII go to the toilet was one of the most ...
The man who helped Henry VIII go to the toilet was one of the most powerful figures at court.
In Tudor England, access was influence.
#TudorHistory #HenryVIII #HistoryFacts #RoyalHistory #DidYouKnow
Online Events
I regularly host online Tudor history conferences to connect Tudor history lovers with Tudor historians all from the comfort of their own homes. They comprise talks, live events, live Q&A sessions and resources, and are educational and fun.
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The Anne Boleyn Files
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As featured in...
I am a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. I was a contributor for the BBC docudrama The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family, and have been featured in BBC History Extra, USA Today, History of Royals Magazine, the Express, and Refinery 29, as well as on podcasts including Suzannah Lipscomb's Not Just the Tudors, Gareth Russell's Single Malt History, Natalie Grueninger's Talking Tudors, Hever Castle's Inside Hever, James Boulton's Queens of England, and many more.
Praise for Claire's work
"Claire's blog - recently made available in book form - is more rigorous than that of many professional historians." Susan Bordo, author of The Creation of Anne Boleyn: A New Look at England's Most Notorious Queen
"A sumptuously illustrated and impeccably researched history about the domestic life of a family that shaped British history. This is a fascinating window into both the Boleyns' lives at Hever and upper-class life on the eve of the Reformation." - Gareth Russell, Author of Young and Damned and Fair, on The Boleyns of Hever Castle.
"I've been a history buff all my life, both as a reader and as a writer. I thought I knew about Anne and her Boleyn family, Henry VIII and his court, but this book [The Anne Boleyn Collection] fills in so many blanks for me that I will read it more than once...This is a book for the legion of Tudor fiction readers, who want to know the stories behind the myths, the truth behind the legend...Absolutely fascinating read. " - Jeane Westin, Author of His Last Letter
"Claire has produced another must read for Anne Bolyen fans." Leanda de Lisle, author of Tudor: The Family Story, writing about "The Anne Boleyn Collection II.
More about me
I founded the Anne Boleyn Files in 2009, the Tudor Society in 2014 and I have a popular YouTube channel.
I help Tudor history lovers all over the world learn more about history, connect with experts and like-minded people, and uncover the facts behind the fiction, all from the comfort of their own homes.
I'm a former teacher and a recognised expert in Tudor history, and, as the founder of The Tudor Society, I've built a community of history lovers and experts where members can share their passion for history and receive accurate resources and information.
Claire Ridgway's Books
