Hi, I'm historian Claire Ridgway
I'm the best-selling author of 13 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
NEW EVENT: Mary & Anne Boleyn – Two Sisters, One King 👑 | Join Me for This 8-Day Tudor Experience!
Mary Boleyn and Anne Boleyn: Two Sisters, One King – a brand-new online event exploring the powerful, scandalous, and often misunderstood lives of two of Tudor history’s most fascinating women.
Join ...me, Claire Ridgway, historian and author, for this immersive 8-day experience featuring:
✅ Six new video talks
✅ Daily Zoom Q&As
✅ Bonus pre-event Zoom sessions
✅ A recommended reading list
✅ A chance to connect with fellow Tudor history lovers
We’ll go beyond the myths and headlines to discover how these two sisters helped shape English history—and why their legacy still resonates today.
🎟️ Spaces are limited and the event is already nearly half full!
Book your place now: 👉 https://claireridgway.com/events/sisters
#AnneBoleyn #MaryBoleyn #TudorHistory #BoleynSisters #ClaireRidgway #HistoryEventShow More
NEW EVENT: Mary & Anne Boleyn – Two Sisters, One King 👑 | Join Me for This 8-Day Tudor Experience!
Mary Boleyn and Anne Boleyn: Two Sisters, One King – a brand-new ...
Mary Boleyn and Anne Boleyn: Two Sisters, One King – a brand-new online event exploring the powerful, scandalous, and often misunderstood lives of two of Tudor history’s most fascinating women.
Join ...me, Claire Ridgway, historian and author, for this immersive 8-day experience featuring:
✅ Six new video talks
✅ Daily Zoom Q&As
✅ Bonus pre-event Zoom sessions
✅ A recommended reading list
✅ A chance to connect with fellow Tudor history lovers
We’ll go beyond the myths and headlines to discover how these two sisters helped shape English history—and why their legacy still resonates today.
🎟️ Spaces are limited and the event is already nearly half full!
Book your place now: 👉 https://claireridgway.com/events/sisters
#AnneBoleyn #MaryBoleyn #TudorHistory #BoleynSisters #ClaireRidgway #HistoryEventShow More
Coming tomorrow!
🔥 Are you ready? Tomorrow I reveal something I’ve been working on for ...
🔥 Are you ready?
Tomorrow I reveal something I’ve been working on for weeks—a special online experience for those of you who love Tudor history as much as I do.
It’s engaging, ...interactive, and packed with brand-new content on two famous sisters whose stories shaped England.
Can you guess who they are? Share your answer in the comments below.
#Tudors #ClaireRidgway #TudorHistoryEventShow More
Henry VIII’s Illegitimate Son: Henry Fitzroy
On this day in Tudor history — traditionally 15th June 1519 ...
On this day in Tudor history — traditionally 15th June 1519 — Henry Fitzroy, the illegitimate but much-loved son of King Henry VIII and Elizabeth “Bessie” Blount, was born at the Priory of St ...Lawrence in Essex.
Acknowledged by his father and showered with titles, Fitzroy was raised for greatness. At just six, he became Duke of Richmond and Somerset, Earl of Nottingham, and Knight of the Garter—unprecedented honours for a royal bastard.
He was educated like a prince, married into the powerful Howard family, and held top-level posts including Lord Admiral and President of the Council of the North. There were even whispers he might be legitimised and named heir.
But in July 1536, aged only seventeen, Fitzroy died suddenly—likely from tuberculosis—just weeks after witnessing the fall of Anne Boleyn. His father was devastated.
Had Fitzroy lived, could he have succeeded his father as king? Was England robbed of a strong, adult heir? Let me know in the comments—and don’t forget to like and subscribe for more Tudor history stories.
#TudorHistory #HenryFitzroy #HenryVIII #BessieBlount #OnThisDay #RoyalBastards #TudorHeir #16thCentury #HistoryTube #TudorPrince #AnneBoleyn
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You can find my books on Amazon at http://viewauthor.at/claireridgwayShow More
The Dastardly Richard Rich: Tudor Villain or Political Survivor?
Remember to like, comment, and subscribe for more Tudor deep dives. ...
How the Tudors Slept: Rituals, Remedies, and Nighttime Beliefs
Tossing and turning at night? The Tudors may have had the answer. In ...
Tossing and turning at night? The Tudors may have had the answer.
In this video, we dive into the fascinating world of Tudor sleep—where bedtime wasn’t just about rest, but about ...health, virtue, and even the soul. From feather mattresses and “sleep tight” rope beds to nighttime prayers, herbal pouches, and warm possets, sleep in Tudor England was a carefully managed ritual.
Did you know Tudors often had a first sleep and second sleep, waking in between to read, pray, or talk quietly by candlelight? Or that the wrong sleeping position could disrupt your digestion—or invite nightmares?
Join me as I explore what the Tudors believed about sleep, how they prepared for bed, the beds they slept in, and how their nightly habits could still teach us something today.
Whether you're a history lover or a fellow night owl—this one’s for you.
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more glimpses into daily life in Tudor England. Sleep tight!
Here's a recipe for a Tudor posset made from eggs, milk, ale and cinnamon and ginger, which could also be infused with rose or lemonbalm - http://www.historiesofsleep.com/2017/06/27/little-moreton-halls-sleep-remedies/
Further reading:
Sleep in Early Modern England – Sasha Handley
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/little-moreton-hall/features/how-we-used-to-sleep
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Maria de Salinas - The Loyal Friend Who Defied a King
On this day in Tudor history, 5th June 1516, Maria de Salinas married ...
On this day in Tudor history, 5th June 1516, Maria de Salinas married Lord Willoughby of Eresby. But this Spanish noblewoman would be remembered not for her marriage, but for ...her fierce loyalty to Queen Catherine of Aragon.
Maria’s story is one of deep friendship, political influence, and unwavering devotion. She followed Catherine from Spain to England, stood by her through triumph and tragedy, and, in the end, defied royal orders to be with her dying friend.
In 1536, when Catherine was banished and gravely ill at Kimbolton Castle, Maria risked everything. She rode through a bitter winter storm, suffered a riding accident, and still pushed on—claiming to have lost her permission papers, just to reach Catherine’s side. She arrived just in time. The queen died the next day.
Join me as I explore the extraordinary life and character of Maria de Salinas—friend, mother, fighter, and one of the most loyal women in Tudor history.
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more true Tudor tales.
#MariaDeSalinas #CatherineOfAragon #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #WomenInHistory #TudorCourt #TudorQueens #RealFriendship #TudorEngland #SpanishNoblewoman #KimboltonCastle #LoyaltyAndLove #HistoricalWomen #TudorDrama #AnneBoleynFiles
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Anne Boleyn Crowned Queen - A Day of Splendour and Symbolism
On this day in history, Anne Boleyn reached the pinnacle of her ...
On this day in history, Anne Boleyn reached the pinnacle of her triumph.
After six years of struggle, scandal, and seismic political and religious change, Anne Boleyn was crowned Queen of ...England in a glittering ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Dressed in purple velvet, barefoot and crowned with the Crown of St Edward—a crown usually reserved for monarchs—Anne processed through a sea of blue cloth, surrounded by nobles, clergy, and the hopes of a dynasty.
This wasn’t just a coronation. It was a carefully orchestrated show of legitimacy, power, and divine approval.
Join me as I take you through every detail of this extraordinary day—from the riverside arrivals and the grand abbey ceremony to the 80-dish banquet and Anne’s moment of glory beneath a cloth of estate… all while the king watched from the shadows.
This was Anne Boleyn at her height. Her triumph. Her crowning moment.
Watch now to relive the grandeur of 1st June 1533.
#AnneBoleyn #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #AnneBoleynCoronation #HenryVIII #TudorDynasty #WestminsterAbbey #CrownOfStEdward #HistoryLovers #BritishMonarchy #HistoricalReenactment #WomenInHistory #RoyalCoronation
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Tudor Timekeeping: Bells, Clocks, and a Bit of Bling
Ever wondered how people in the Tudor period told the time—long before ...
Ever wondered how people in the Tudor period told the time—long before smartphones or wristwatches? In this video, I explore the fascinating ways our medieval and Tudor ancestors kept track ...of their day.
From monastery bells marking the canonical hours to the rise of mechanical town clocks in the 14th century, Tudor timekeeping was far more advanced than you might expect. We’ll look at sundials, water clocks, astrolabes, and even the incredible astronomical clock at Hampton Court Palace. And yes—there were watches in Tudor England! Anne Boleyn owned one, and Elizabeth I had several, including a gift from Robert Dudley.
Plus, I’ll share why you sometimes hear the chimes of my village clock tower in the background of my videos—and how that links us back to the soundscape of the past.
Step back in time with me to discover how the Tudors measured their hours—and why timekeeping was as much about bells, beauty, and status as practicality.
#TudorHistory #AnneBoleyn #ElizabethI #TudorTechnology #Timekeeping #MedievalHistory #TudorLife #OnThisDay #TudorEngland #HamptonCourt #HistoricalClocks #HistoryNerd
Links:
Henry VIII portrait - https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw03080/King-Henry-VIII-King-Henry-VII
Anne Boleyn clock - https://www.rct.uk/collection/30018/anne-boleyn-clock and https://strawberryhillhouseblog.wordpress.com/2018/09/10/362/
Hampton Court - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton_Court_astronomical_clock
Early Mechanical Clocks - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clock#Early_mechanical_clocks
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The Pygmy and Beagle: Robert Cecil, the Power behind Two Thrones
On 24th May 1612, one of the most powerful men of the Elizabethan and ...
On 24th May 1612, one of the most powerful men of the Elizabethan and early Stuart courts—Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury—died on his way home from taking the waters ...at Bath. He was just 48, but his political career was nothing short of extraordinary.
The son of William Cecil, Lord Burghley, Robert Cecil overcame physical disability, courtly mockery, and fierce political rivalries to become Secretary of State, Lord High Treasurer, and a trusted advisor to both Elizabeth I and James I. From helping bring down the Earl of Essex to secretly securing James VI’s smooth succession, Cecil shaped the very future of the English monarchy.
In this video, we explore his remarkable life, his rise to power, his role in uncovering the Gunpowder Plot, and his legacy—one that helped bridge the Tudor and Stuart dynasties.
Watch now to discover the story of the man who proved brains could beat brawn at the heart of royal power.
#RobertCecil #TudorHistory #StuartHistory #ElizabethanEra #JamesI #GunpowderPlot #TudorToStuart #OnThisDay #BritishHistory #HatfieldHouse #CecilFamily #SecretaryOfState #TudorPolitics
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19 May 1536: The Execution of Anne Boleyn - A Queen's Last Moments
In the early hours of 19th May 1536, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer was ...
In the early hours of 19th May 1536, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer was woken with chilling news—his friend Alexander Alesius had dreamt of Anne Boleyn’s severed neck. He had no idea ...that Anne was due to be executed that very morning…
In this moving video, we trace Anne Boleyn’s final hours: from her quiet early morning Mass and her careful choice of crimson and ermine attire, to her composed speech on the scaffold and the swift stroke of the Calais executioner's sword. We explore eyewitness accounts, the reactions of those present, and the shocking speed with which Henry VIII moved on—issuing a marriage dispensation for Jane Seymour on the very day Anne was buried.
Anne Boleyn’s fall was fast and brutal, yet her legacy lived on in her daughter, Elizabeth I—England’s Gloriana.
Watch now to witness the last moments of one of history’s most compelling queens.
#AnneBoleyn #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #HenryVIII #ElizabethI #TudorQueens #AnneBoleynExecution #TudorDynasty #BritishHistory #RoyalHistory
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What Really Made a Tudor Marriage
Did you need a priest to be married in Tudor England? A church? ...
Did you need a priest to be married in Tudor England? A church? Witnesses? The truth might surprise you. In the 16th century, a simple exchange of vows—followed by consummation—could ...be enough to make a marriage fully legal.
In this video, we explore the fascinating (and often confusing) rules around marriage in Tudor times. From secret unions to royal annulments, handfasting to public ceremonies, find out how couples—rich and poor—sealed their unions, and how these customs led to scandal, bigamy, and disputed inheritances.
Discover what counted, what didn’t, and how Henry VIII used these rules to his advantage.
#TudorMarriage #TudorHistory #AnneBoleyn #HenryVIII #AnneOfCleves #CatherineHoward #LadyKatherineGrey #16thCentury #HistoryYouTube #MarriageCustoms #Handfasting #TudorScandals #ClaireRidgway #HistoricalMarriage #MedievalMarriage #RoyalHistory #womeninhistory
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Anne of Denmark: The Forgotten Queen?
On this day in history, 13th May 1619, Westminster Abbey hosted a ...
On this day in history, 13th May 1619, Westminster Abbey hosted a grand and costly funeral for a queen consort who is often overshadowed in British royal history. But who ...was Anne of Denmark? What role did she really play at the courts of Scotland and England—and why did her relationship with King James sour so drastically in her final years?
In this video, I explore the intriguing life, cultural impact, and overlooked legacy of Anne of Denmark, wife of King James I of England (James VI of Scotland). From dramatic court disputes and artistic patronage to her mysterious estrangement from the king, Anne’s story is full of surprises.
Could she be one of the most underrated queen consorts in British history?
Watch now to uncover the truth behind this fascinating royal figure.
Note: I say her birthday is in October, but it's actually December - sorry!
#AnneOfDenmark #TudorHistory #StuartHistory #ForgottenQueens #WomenInHistory #RoyalHistory #OnThisDay #JamesI #WestminsterAbbey #HistoricalMysteries #BritishMonarchy #HistoryYouTube #ClaireRidgway #QueenConsort #EarlyModernHistory
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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.
Check out the Events tab to find out about my latest event.
The Tudor Society
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The Anne Boleyn Files
Interested in learning the facts behind the myths and fiction surrounding Anne Boleyn?
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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
