Claire Ridgway is a well-known writer of history books about the Tudor dynasty, with a particular focus on the life of the Boleyn family. Since 2009 she has run the websites TheAnneBoleynFiles.com and Elizabethfiles.com. Claire is also the founder of The Tudor Society.
The Tudor Society
With members from all around the globe, The Tudor Society was founded in 2014 and has quickly become the go-to place for Tudor enthusiasts because of the high quality of the unique articles, the Tudor focused magazines, and the experts it attracts.
The members have access to absolutely everything on the website, currently including lots of magazine back issues, hundreds of hours of video and all of the monthly expert lectures and hundreds of weekly quizzes.
The Anne Boleyn Files
In 2009, Claire set up her Tudor history website, www.TheAnneBoleynFiles.com, and it rapidly grew into a major website for the study of the Tudor period.
Where she wanted to share her journey into the annals of history with other people who have an interest in Anne Boleyn and the Tudor period, and thought that a blog would be the perfect forum.
Also fully admitting to being addicted to Anne Boleyn and Tudor history, and she is on a crusade to debunk the myths surrounding Anne Boleyn and educate the world about the REAL Anne Boleyn.
Books
Videos
Teasel's Tudor Trivia - What is the queen's closet?
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Teasel's Tudor Trivia - What is the queen's closet?
Teasel the dog is a curious animal and she was wondering how Henry [...]
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A heretic cardinal, the other Tudor Drake, and a plotting baron
In part two of This Week in Tudor History for the week beginning 5th [...]
In part two of This Week in Tudor History for the week beginning 5th April, historian Claire Ridgway talks about why Pope Paul IV branded Cardinal Pole a heretic and took away his legatine powers, before introducing you to a sea captain named Drake, but not Sir Francis Drake, and telling you about John Lumley, a baron who was involved with the Ridolfi Plot but kept his head, and a man who was recorded as owning a full-length portrait of Anne Boleyn.
--Contents of this video--
00:00 - Introduction
01:27 - 9th April 1557
02:59 - 10th April 1586
08:09 - 11th April 1609
9th April 1557 - Mary I's Archbishop of Canterbury, Cardinal Reginald Pole, had his legatine powers revoked by Pope Paul IV.
10th April 1586 - Death of sea captain Sir Bernard Drake, probably from gaol fever (typhus) at Crediton in Devon.
11th April 1609 - Death of conspirator, patron and collector, John Lumley, 1st Baron Lumley, at his London home.
Other Tudor events for these dates:
April 9 - Catherine Willoughby's second husband - https://youtu.be/xHtICfkzS7g
April 9 - From queen to dowager princess - https://youtu.be/c-zdfPaiK0U
April 10 - The Gregorian Calendar versus the Julian Calendar - https://youtu.be/VRz98plSjqk
April 10 - The Birth of King James V of Scotland - https://youtu.be/CiXTTLBhjus
April 11 - Victory for Anne Boleyn, finally! - https://youtu.be/3m9MnNczwzY
April 11 - The end of rebel Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger - https://youtu.be/HCKNH7_NFsU
--
Claire Ridgway
Historian and author, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Society
http://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
http://www.tudorsociety.com
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles
http://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety
https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/Show More
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20 Interesting Facts about Anne Boleyn
In the latest in her "Facts about...." series, Claire Ridgway, owner [...]
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A new king's journey, an earl who kept his head, injury kills a king, and a "Little Rome"
In part 1 of This Week in Tudor History for the week beginning 5th [...]
In part 1 of This Week in Tudor History for the week beginning 5th April, historian Claire Ridgway will be talking about King James VI of Scotland's journey from Edinburgh to London, following his accession to the throne of England as James I; the life and career of Henry Stafford, Earl of Wiltshire, who managed to avoid the awful fates of his father and brother despite his Plantagenet blood; the death of King Charles VIII of France after hitting his head on a lintel, and the accession of King Louis XII, and finally Magdalen Browne, Viscountess Montagu, patron of Catholics and a woman whose properties were Catholic safe houses in Elizabeth I's reign.
--Contents of this video--
00:00 - Introduction
00:30 - 5 April 1603
04:22 - 6th April 1523
07:10 - 7th April 1498
09:00 - 8th April 1608
5 April 1603 - King James VI/James I left Edinburgh to travel to London after hearing of the death of Queen Elizabeth I and his accession.
6th April 1523 - Death of Henry Stafford, Earl of Wiltshire, son of Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and brother of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, who were both executed for treason.
7th April 1498 - Death of King Charles VIII of France after hitting his head on a lintel at the Château d'Amboise, and the accession of King Louis XII.
8th April 1608 - Death of Magdalen Browne (née Dacre), Viscountess Montagu, following a stroke she had suffered in that January.
Other Tudor history events for those dates:
April 5 - The Pope was wrong... - https://youtu.be/xK2eAghRhgg
April 5 - A bishop's cook gets into hot water - https://youtu.be/E4i2ZMYWovU
April 6 - The serial secret husband - https://youtu.be/lYBsHD2kMw4
April 6 - Sir Francis Walsingham: The Queen's spymaster - https://youtu.be/XLP3N2AYuLg
April 7 - Robert Aske, the rebel leader - https://youtu.be/h6qe-bftBWA
April 7 - Elizabeth Boleyn, mother of Queen Anne Boleyn, is laid to rest - https://youtu.be/GyWTdjzHrK4
April 8 - The Second Martin - https://youtu.be/4OoFNN0Liu4
April 8 - A cat in priest's clothing - https://youtu.be/OS9hTIwPFhE
--
Claire Ridgway
Historian and author, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Society
http://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
http://www.tudorsociety.com
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles
http://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety
https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/Show More
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Were William Compton and Thomas Tallis, and George Boleyn and Mark Smeaton lovers?
Thank you so much to Omar from Leeds for the excellent questions [...]
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Poet Thomas Churchyard, Sir Ambrose Cave, Elizabeth Boleyn and the knighting of Francis Drake
In this second part of This Week in Tudor history, which covers 1st to [...]
In this second part of This Week in Tudor history, which covers 1st to 4th April, historian and author Claire Ridgway talks about Thomas Churchyard, a poet and soldier who kept being imprisoned; Sir Ambrose Cave, a man who joined the Order of St John as early as he possibly could, but survived its dissolution and ended his days serving Elizabeth I; before moving on to the death of Elizabeth Boleyn, Countess of Wiltshire, mother of Queen Anne Boleyn and grandmother of Queen Elizabeth I, and finishing with the knighting of explorer Francis Drake.
--Contents of this video--
00:00 - Introduction
00:36 - 1st April 1604
05:02 - 2nd April 1568
08:22 - 3rd April 1538
09:07 - 4th April 1581
1st April 1604 - Death of poet and soldier Thomas Churchyard at Westminster in London.
2nd April 1568 - Death of Member of Parliament, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Knight of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, Sir Ambrose Cave, at the Savoy.
3rd April 1538 - Death of Elizabeth Boleyn, Countess of Wiltshire, at Baynard's Castle in London.
4th April 1581 - The knighting of explorer, sea captain and pirate, Francis Drake, on board the Golden Hind at Deptford.
Elizabeth Boleyn is laid to rest - https://youtu.be/GyWTdjzHrK4
10 Facts about Elizabeth Boleyn - https://youtu.be/CMX89l5Io9o
December 13 - Sir Francis Drake sets off - https://youtu.be/k7xmAqIGWUw
September 26 - Sir Francis Drake, the Golden Hind and a whole lot of treasure - https://youtu.be/j8aQfsG7Zik
April 19 - Sir Francis Drake singes the King of Spain's beard - https://youtu.be/cGRGABOd_ss
January 27 - Sir Francis Drake - https://youtu.be/LCgBJbxsDds
Other Tudor history events for these dates:
April 1 - Henry VIII courts Jane Seymour - https://youtu.be/MORzUuPS8ec
April 1 - William Harvey, his experiments and blood circulation - https://youtu.be/xxMha0DQle4
April 2 - April 2 - Edward VI catches smallpox and measles - https://youtu.be/165sCxJn3KQ
April 2 - The death of Prince Arthur - https://youtu.be/eEanoR-aHRs
April 3 - Peace between Elizabeth I, France and the Empire - https://youtu.be/-ay-k25_ZBs
April 3 - The burial of Lady Margaret Douglas, "a lady of most pious character" - https://youtu.be/fuWfShWK-rY
April 4 - William Strachey and Shakespeare's The Tempest - https://youtu.be/BgGZyY6g2TI
April 4 - Mildred Cecil, Lady Burghley - far beyond the race of womankind - https://youtu.be/Jaap4Mj2Jbg
--
http://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
http://www.tudorsociety.com
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles
http://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety
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Plays with wonderful titles, Sir Ralph Sadler's busy life, and a dying king makes his will
In this first part of This Week in Tudor History for week beginning [...]
In this first part of This Week in Tudor History for week beginning 29th March, historian Claire Ridgway talks about William Wager, a playwright and clergyman who picked wonderful titles for his works; the interesting life and career of Sir Ralph Sadler, who started out working for Thomas Cromwell and who went on to serve Henry VIII, Edward VI, Queen Jane (Lady Jane Grey) and Elizabeth I - oh, and Claire will tell us about his bigamous marriage! Then, finally, Claire will leave us with the dying King Henry VIII making his last will and testament.
--Contents of this video--
00:00 - Introduction
00:31 - 29th March 1591
03:35 - 30th March 1587
14:24 - 31st March 1509
29th March 1591 - The burial of playwright and Church of England clergyman, William Wager, at his church, St Benet Gracechurch. His plays included “Enough is as Good as a Feast” and “The Longer thou Livest the More Fool thou art”.
30th March 1587 - The death of diplomat and administrator, Sir Ralph Sadler, in his 80th year. He was laid to rest in St Mary’s Church, Standon.
31st March 1509 - The dying Henry VII made his last will and testament at Richmond Palace. He died three weeks later.
Sir Ralph Sadler's letters and speeches can be read at https://archive.org/details/statepaperslette01sadluoft/page/n3/mode/2up?view=theater
and https://archive.org/details/statepapers02sadl/page/n9/mode/2up?view=theater
Other Tudor history events for these dates:
March 29 - As foul a lady as the smallpox could make her - https://youtu.be/OkBlboV2G8o
March 29 - Children encourage John Laurence at his sad end - https://youtu.be/ToYVgj9hQqI
March 30 - Thomas Cranmer and his protestation - https://youtu.be/P78Iz-2dLVA
March 30 - A "pregnant" Mary I makes her will - https://youtu.be/LWrcLR61Kbo
March 31 - John Donne, the bell tolls for thee - https://youtu.be/w7Gv5Dw8EJQ
March 31 - King Henry VIII as King Ahab, Anne Boleyn as Jezebel - https://youtu.be/fm1xJmzIyIA
Claire is the founder of the Tudor Society, an online membership site for those who love Tudor history. There, you can learn from Claire and many other expert historians and authors, enjoy Tudor-focused magazines and live Q&A sessions with experts, and have access to all kinds of talks, articles, quizzes, virtual tours and more. Try it with a 14-day free trial - https://www.tudorsociety.com/signup/
Claire has written some bestselling Tudor history books:
On This Day in Tudor History - https://amzn.to/3oceahH
The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown - https://amzn.to/3m8KaSi
George Boleyn: Tudor Poet, Courtier and Diplomat - https://amzn.to/2TdwyZr
The Anne Boleyn Collection - https://amzn.to/3kiQc1T
The Anne Boleyn Collection II - https://amzn.to/3o9LUwi
The Anne Boleyn Collection III - https://amzn.to/3kiQc1T
The Life of Anne Boleyn Colouring Books - https://amzn.to/3jkJ5Vz
Claire has also done an online history course, The Life of Anne Boleyn, for MedievalCourses.com - https://medievalcourses.com/overview/life-anne-boleyn-mc06/
You can find Claire at:
https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
https://www.tudorsociety.com
https://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/Show More
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16 Interesting facts about Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon was the first wife of King Henry VIII, the mother [...]
Catherine of Aragon was the first wife of King Henry VIII, the mother of Queen Mary I and the aunt of Emperor Charles V, but there are lots more interesting facts about this Tudor woman.
In this talk, historian Claire Ridgway shares 16 interesting facts about this Tudor queen consort. How many of them do you already know?
Here is the link to the video Claire mentioned, “September 9 - Catherine of Aragon and the mystery of James IV's body” - https://youtu.be/scoxeEPvLk4Show More
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Walter Raleigh's colonisation, war over vestments, an earl who saved the day, and some burnings
In part two of this week in Tudor history, historian Claire Ridgway [...]
In part two of this week in Tudor history, historian Claire Ridgway talks about Walter Raleigh (Ralegh) being given permission to colonise foreign lands in 1584; a disagreement over the wearing of vestments in 1566 which led to a pamphlet war, protests and ministers losing their parishes; a Tudor earl who saved the day for Henry VIII during the 1536 Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion, and the burnings of three Protestant martyrs in Essex in 1555.
--Contents of this video--
00:00 - Introduction
00:14 - 25th March 1584
02:59 - 26th March 1566
06:05 - 27th March 1539
10:48 - 28th March 1555
25th March 1584 - Queen Elizabeth I granted letters patent to explorer Walter Raleigh giving him permission to colonise lands owned by indigenous people and those previously taken by Spain. This led to the founding of the colony on Roanoke Island, also known as the Lost Colony.
26th March 1566 - Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Edmund Grindal, Bishop of London, summon 110 ministers to Lambeth Palace to get them to pledge their willingness to wear vestments. 37 of those ministers refused and a pamphlet war broke out.
27th March 1539 - The burial of George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury, at St Peter's, Sheffield. He served as a soldier under Henry VII and Henry VIII, and it appears that his actions and influence in late 1536, during the Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion, led to the failure of the rebellion.
28th March 1555 - Protestants Stephen Knight and William Pygot were burnt at the stake for heresy in Maldon and Braintree, Essex, and William Dighel was burnt at the stake in either Banbury, Oxfordshire, or Danbury, Essex.
The Lost Colony - https://youtu.be/DQdSpeYbMvg
Walter Raleigh - https://youtu.be/ISexLsnGKug
Other Tudor events for these dates:
March 25 - Margaret Clitherow, the Pearl of York, and her awful end - https://youtu.be/8RKxaGc4sHE
March 25 - Happy New Year - https://youtu.be/73k_gqClpFQ
March 26 - Robert Carey and his eventful ride to King James - https://youtu.be/dTyL66lKqMo
March 26 - Alchemy, astrology and angels This man was involved with them all! - https://youtu.be/A5hy__pKZuQ
March 27 - Arrangements are made for Prince Arthur to marry Catherine of Aragon - https://youtu.be/ivJa_K_8dh0
March 27 - Reading the Bible in church could get you into trouble - https://youtu.be/nItFisCuqFU
March 28 - The amazing Raphael - https://youtu.be/S7eQEQttjWs
March 28 - Anne Boleyn's chaplain and almoner John Skip - https://youtu.be/yk_TxLMtiPM
--
Claire Ridgway
Historian and author, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Society
http://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
http://www.tudorsociety.com
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles
http://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety
https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/Show More
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Was Anne Boleyn treated as queen in the Tower of London?
Thank you so much to Edith and Lucy the dog for their excellent [...]
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Henry Howard loses favour, purple fever takes an ambassador, and a Tudor judge and law reporter
In this first part of This Week in Tudor History, historian Claire [...]
In this first part of This Week in Tudor History, historian Claire Ridgway talks about Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey’s loss of royal favour after the English defeat in France, but his children’s joy at the news of him returning home; ambassador Sir Henry Unton (or Umpton) who was killed in France by the "purple fever", and Sir James Dyer, a Chief Justice who has gone down in history as the first law reporter.
Note: Tim (naughty boy!) used a portrait of the wrong Edward Seymour!
--Contents of this video--
00:00 - Introduction
00:32 - 22nd March 1546
10:25 - 23rd March 1596
14:32 - 24th March 1582
22nd March 1546 - Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, lands at Calais to relieve Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, as King Henry VIII's lieutenant general. Find out what had happened, why Surrey had fallen out of favour and what happened next.
23rd March 1596 - The death of Sir Henry Unton, resident ambassador in France, from "a violent, burning fever" which was described as the "purple fever". Find out about Unton's life and career. His portrait can be seen and explored at https://www.npg.org.uk/research/programmes/making-art-in-tudor-britain/case-studies/the-portrait-of-sir-henry-unton-c.-1558-1596
24th March 1582 - Death of judge, law reporter, Member of Parliament and Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir James Dyer, at the age of 72.
Book recommendation: Henry VIII's Last Victim: The Life and Times of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey by Jessie Childs.
Other Tudor history events for these dates:
March 22 - Catherine Brandon (Catherine Willoughby), Duchess of Suffolk, a woman with spirit! - https://youtu.be/dVz3KEzvYso
March 22 - William Bourne, his life and his submarine - https://youtu.be/m_Q6DgGntbM
March 23 - The last abbey is dissolved - https://youtu.be/O3X4-fZcsvQ
March 23 - Who's queen? Catherine of Aragon or Anne Boleyn? - https://youtu.be/h_j-UCM8V6E
March 24 - Robert Rich and Penelope Devereux, an unhappy marriage - https://youtu.be/ublAOK57VeA
March 24 - The end of Queen Elizabeth I, Gloriana! - https://youtu.be/9DNLNzDijSE
--
Claire Ridgway
Historian and author, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Society
http://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
http://www.tudorsociety.com
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles
http://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety
https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/Show More
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A secret agent & rebel, Henry VIII's barber, More's granddaughter, and a Puritan soldier
In this second part of This Week in Tudor History, historian Claire [...]
In this second part of This Week in Tudor History, historian Claire Ridgway introduces Sir Christopher Blount, a secret agent and rebel who married his master’s widow and whose stepson, the Earl of Essex was his undoing; Edmund Harman, the man who trimmed and washed King Henry VIII’s hair and beard, and who was rewarded for it; Mary Bassett, Sir Thomas More's granddaughter, who was a highly educated Tudor woman and gifted translator; and Sir John Leveson (pronounced Looson), a Puritan and soldier whose later life was marred by a falling out over money.
--Contents of this video--
00:00 - Introduction
00:39 - 18th March 1601
06:08 - 19th March 1577
07:55 - 20th March 1572
09:45 - 21st March 1555
18th March 1601 - The execution of Sir Christopher Blount, husband of Lettice Knollys (other married names: Devereux and Dudley), and stepfather of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex. He was executed for treason after supporting the 1601 Essex's Rebellion. Note: I don't know why I say 6 days before Elizabeth's death! It was two years and six days!
19th March 1577 - Death of Edmund Harman, former barber to King Henry VIII and a man who is depicted in Hans Holbein the Younger’s painting, Henry VIII and the Barber Surgeons.
20th March 1572 - Death of Mary Bassett (née Roper), granddaughter of Sir Thomas More and a gifted translator.
21st March 1555 - Birth of Puritan Sir John Leveson, Kent landowner and Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, at Whornes Place in Cuxton in Kent.
Other Tudor history events for these dates:
March 18 - The birth of Mary Tudor, Queen of France - https://youtu.be/Caoll3Fhv7s
March 18 - Elizabeth I is arrested - https://youtu.be/-V45UijJ2yg
March 19 - Elizabeth Seymour, Lady Cromwell - https://youtu.be/veOGlKep2-k
March 19 - Romeo and Juliet author dies in a shipwreck - https://youtu.be/JPWurAHjsGw
March 20 - St Cuthbert Mayne, an Elizabethan priest and martyr - https://youtu.be/PLNbGaLacgE
March 20 - Forgetting God to love a king - Thomas Seymour's end - https://youtu.be/-NROmIAjYUY
March 21 - Elizabeth I takes to her bed - https://youtu.be/2MPqO-ja-_Q
March 21 - This unworthy right hand - The end of Thomas Cranmer - https://youtu.be/7P-aGWg92qk
--
Claire Ridgway
Historian and author, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Society
http://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
http://www.tudorsociety.com
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles
http://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety
https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/Show More
