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
A Power hungry Schemer
Anne Stanhope, Duchess of Somerset—ambitious, powerful, and controversial. History remembers her as arrogant and ruthless, but was she truly a villain, or simply a strong woman in a world that ...feared female power?
As the wife of Edward Seymour, Lord Protector of England, Anne was the highest-ranking woman in the country after the queen. She influenced religious reform, controlled vast lands, and had a reputation for defending her status fiercely—even clashing with Katherine Parr, Henry VIII’s widow. But when her husband was overthrown and executed, Anne lost everything.
Yet, she never gave up. Was she a power-hungry schemer or a woman unfairly vilified by history? Watch to find out!
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more Tudor history deep dives!
#TudorHistory #AnneStanhope #PowerfulWomen #TudorNobility #HiddenHistories #EdwardVI #KatherineParr #HistoryMakers #TudorScandals #RuthlessWomen #TudorCourt
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A Power hungry Schemer
Anne Stanhope, Duchess of Somerset—ambitious, powerful, and ...
Anne Stanhope, Duchess of Somerset—ambitious, powerful, and controversial. History remembers her as arrogant and ruthless, but was she truly a villain, or simply a strong woman in a world that ...feared female power?
As the wife of Edward Seymour, Lord Protector of England, Anne was the highest-ranking woman in the country after the queen. She influenced religious reform, controlled vast lands, and had a reputation for defending her status fiercely—even clashing with Katherine Parr, Henry VIII’s widow. But when her husband was overthrown and executed, Anne lost everything.
Yet, she never gave up. Was she a power-hungry schemer or a woman unfairly vilified by history? Watch to find out!
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more Tudor history deep dives!
#TudorHistory #AnneStanhope #PowerfulWomen #TudorNobility #HiddenHistories #EdwardVI #KatherineParr #HistoryMakers #TudorScandals #RuthlessWomen #TudorCourt
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You can find my books on Amazon at http://viewauthor.at/claireridgwayShow More
Priest Harbourer Countess
On 13th April 1630, a remarkable woman passed away—Anne Howard, ...
On 13th April 1630, a remarkable woman passed away—Anne Howard, Countess of Arundel. She was no ordinary noblewoman. In a time when Catholicism was outlawed in England, she risked everything ...to protect priests and defy the authorities.
Who was this fearless countess, and why did she go to such great lengths for her faith? Watch to uncover the fascinating and daring story of Anne Howard, the Priest Harbourer Countess.
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#TudorHistory #AnneHoward #HiddenHistories #PriestHarbourer #CatholicResistance #ElizabethanEngland #TudorNobility #TudorScandals #historymakers
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Fast Food Tudor Style
Fast food isn’t just a modern invention—people in medieval and Tudor ...
Fast food isn’t just a modern invention—people in medieval and Tudor England were grabbing quick meals centuries before us! In cities like London and Bristol, many people didn’t have kitchens, ...so they relied on cookshops for hot, ready-to-eat food.
Street vendors, called hucksters, even had portable ovens to sell pies on the go—just like a modern food truck!
So, next time you grab a burger or a takeaway, remember—the Tudors had their own version of fast food!
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#TudorHistory #MedievalFood #FastFoodHistory #TudorFood #FoodHistory #MedievalLife #TudorLondon #HistoryLovers #Cookshops #TudorEngland #StreetFood
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The Royals and Rebels Who Lost Their Freedom
Imagine being confined to your home with no hope of release. In Tudor ...
Imagine being confined to your home with no hope of release. In Tudor times, house arrest wasn’t just an inconvenience; it was a political weapon used to control and punish ...powerful figures.
In this video, I explore some of the most famous cases of house arrest in the Tudor period, from queens and princesses to ambitious courtiers. Catherine of Aragon was banished from court and separated from her daughter, while young Princess Elizabeth (the future Elizabeth I) was held under strict watch at Woodstock Palace. The Grey sisters lost their freedom for secret marriages, and Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, learned the hard way that barging into the queen’s chambers uninvited was not a good idea!
Some prisoners of house arrest eventually regained their power, while others never escaped their confinement.
But was house arrest a merciful alternative to prison—or just another way to ruin lives? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
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#TudorHistory #HouseArrest #TudorScandals #CatherineOfAragon #ElizabethI #MaryQueenOfScots #TudorQueens #TudorCourt #HistoricalDrama #HistoryLovers #TudorPoliticsJoin
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Foolish Tudors #tudorhistory #tudordynasty #history
April Fools’ in Tudor times? Not so funny—some fools actually lost ...
April Fools’ in Tudor times? Not so funny—some fools actually lost their heads!
Let’s talk Tudor blunders that turned deadly…
#TudorHistory #AprilFools #TudorFools #HistoryFails #TudorDrama #ExecutionFails #HistoryTok
Tudor Fools: The Courtiers Who Made Fatal Mistakes
It’s April Fools’ Day, and while I’ve already covered Tudor court ...
It’s April Fools’ Day, and while I’ve already covered Tudor court jesters like Will Somer and Jane the Fool, today we’re talking about Tudor fools—people who made shockingly bad decisions ...that led to their downfall.
The Tudor court was full of ambitious, reckless, and sometimes downright foolish courtiers. Some miscalculated their power, others defied the monarch, and some just had terrible luck. Let’s look at some of the worst blunders in Tudor history!
People covered:
00:00 Introduction
00:38 Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham
01:21 Thomas Culpeper
02:05 Francis Dereham
02:48 Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey
03:37 Thomas Seymour
04:30 Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex
05:27 Lady Katherine Grey
06:13 Lady Margaret Douglas
07:44 Catherine Howard
08:30 Jane Boleyn
Who do you think made the worst mistake?
Were these courtiers fools, or just unlucky? Let me know in the comments!
Enjoyed this deep dive into Tudor history? Like this video to support the channel, subscribe for more Tudor content, and watch my other videos on the Tudors and their courtly intrigues
Thanks for watching, and see you in the next video!
Find out about Tudor Court Fools, William Somer and Jane the Fool, here - https://youtu.be/nyy_ZaBsqps
#TudorHistory #AprilFools #TudorFools #HistoryFails #TudorCourt #HenryVIII #ElizabethI #CatherineHoward #AnneBoleyn #RoyalDrama #HistoryLover #TudorMonarchy #HistoricalMistakes #16thCentury #TudorIntrigue #RoyalScandal
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The Darker Side of Elizabeth I’s Reign: Was it Really a Golden Age?
Elizabeth I’s reign is often celebrated as a Golden Age—a time of ...
Elizabeth I’s reign is often celebrated as a Golden Age—a time of exploration, cultural flourishing, and military victories. But was it truly golden for everyone?
Behind the glorious image of Gloriana, ...there was persecution, war, economic hardship, and brutal repression. In this video, we’ll uncover the darker side of Elizabeth I’s rule—the suffering, censorship, and struggles that are often left out of history books.
Key Topics Covered:
- Religious persecution
- Economic hardship
- War and suffering
- Censorship
- Women’s lives
- Corruption and political instability in Elizabeth’s later years
Elizabeth I is often remembered as one of England’s greatest monarchs—but history is rarely that simple. For many of her subjects, life was not golden—it was a struggle for survival.
What do you think?
Did Elizabeth I’s reign deserve its Golden Age reputation, or have the struggles of ordinary people been glossed over? Let me know in the comments!
Enjoyed this deep dive into Tudor history? Like this video to support the channel, subscribe for more Tudor content, and watch my other videos on Elizabeth I and the Tudors.
Thanks for watching, and see you in the next video!
#ElizabethI #TudorHistory #GoldenAge #Tudors #History #BritishHistory #RoyalHistory #TudorMonarchy #Witchcraft #Censorship #SpanishArmada #IrishHistory #16thCentury #HistoricalTruth #HistoryLover #HiddenHistory
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Elizabeth I's Cause of Death #tudordynasty #onthisday #tudorhistory #elizabethi
@anneboleynfiles Historian Claire Ridgway explores the theories ...
@anneboleynfiles
Historian Claire Ridgway explores the theories regarding the death of Queen Elizabeth I on 24th March 1603.
What Really Killed the Virgin Queen: The Death of Elizabeth I
On 24th March 1603, Queen Elizabeth I passed away at the age of 69—but ...
On 24th March 1603, Queen Elizabeth I passed away at the age of 69—but what exactly caused her death?
Despite being one of history’s most documented monarchs, the exact cause of ...Elizabeth’s death remains a mystery. Historians and medical experts have proposed various theories, including:
- A deadly tooth abscess—Could an infection have turned septic?
- Lead poisoning—Did her makeup slowly poison her?
- Pneumonia—She suffered breathing difficulties and fever.
- Streptococcus infection—Could an untreated illness have taken her life?
- Psychogenic death—Did she literally give up on life?
Elizabeth’s final weeks were filled with grief, exhaustion, and refusal of medical treatment. Was she suffering from a fatal illness, or did loneliness and heartbreak cause her slow decline?
Join me as I explore the mysteries surrounding Elizabeth’s final days and discuss the most convincing theories.
What do you think killed Elizabeth I? Let me know in the comments!
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#ElizabethI #TudorHistory #TheVirginQueen #Mystery #TudorDynasty #HistoryLovers #RoyalHistory #16thCentury #WhatKilledElizabethI #BritishHistory #TudorMysteries
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Tudor Beards a hair raising history
Beards in Tudor England weren’t just about fashion—they were symbols ...
Beards in Tudor England weren’t just about fashion—they were symbols of masculinity, power, and even political loyalty! From Henry VIII’s beard rivalry with Francis I to Elizabeth I’s courtiers dyeing ...their beards red in her honour, facial hair was serious business.
Did you know that some Tudor men believed beards were proof of virility? Or that pulling another man’s beard was an insult worthy of a duel? And while it’s often claimed Henry VIII introduced a beard tax, the truth is more complicated!
Join me as we explore the wild, whiskered world of Tudor beards! Discover the 15 beard styles that dominated the era, the dangerous dyes courtiers used to match Elizabeth I’s hair, and how beards even played a role in religious identity during the Reformation.
Would you have rocked a Tudor beard? Let me know in the comments!
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#TudorHistory #HenryVIII #ElizabethI #AnneBoleyn #TudorBeards #HistoryLovers #HistoricalFashion #16thCentury #TudorStyle #BritishHistory #BeardHistory #RoyalHistory
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The Barber Who Survived Henry VIII
When we think of Henry VIII’s inner circle, we usually focus on his ...
When we think of Henry VIII’s inner circle, we usually focus on his wives, ministers, and high-ranking courtiers. But what about the man who held a razor to the king’s ...throat every day?
Meet Edmund Harman, Henry VIII’s personal barber—a man who not only kept the king’s hair and beard in check but also navigated the dangerous world of Tudor politics. From accusations of heresy to receiving royal land grants, Harman’s story is one of ambition, survival, and mystery.
But perhaps the most intriguing part of his legacy is his tomb in Burford Church, which features one of the earliest known depictions of Native Americans in England. What does it mean? And how did a Tudor barber come to include such imagery on his monument?
Join me as I uncover the fascinating life of Edmund Harman—his rise, his close calls, and his enduring legacy in Tudor history.
What do you think of Edmund Harman’s story? And why do you think Native Americans appear on his tomb? Let me know in the comments!
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#TudorHistory #HenryVIII #EdmundHarman #TudorDynasty #BritishHistoryShow More
Anne Boleyn vs. Catherine Howard: The Cousin Queens’ Falls Compared
Henry VIII executed two of his six wives—two young women from the same ...
Henry VIII executed two of his six wives—two young women from the same powerful family, both elevated to queenship and both brutally cut down. But while their fates were the ...same, their downfalls couldn’t have been more different.
- Anne Boleyn’s fall was a calculated, political execution—fast, ruthless, and built on lies.
- Catherine Howard’s fall was a slow-motion disaster, the result of a real investigation that dragged on for months before the axe fell.
Why were their fates so different?
In this video, we’ll compare Anne and Catherine’s falls, expose the truth behind their downfalls, and reveal the real villain of these tragic stories.
Thank you to Bianca Brooke for inspiring this discussion!
What do you think? Was Henry VIII a victim of betrayal, or was he the true villain? Let me know in the comments!
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#AnneBoleyn #CatherineHoward #TudorHistory #HenryVIII #TudorQueens #AnneBoleynExecution #CatherineHowardExecution #BritishHistory #HistoryLovers #AnneBoleynVsCatherineHoward #SixWives #RoyalHistory
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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.
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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
