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
Catherine Howard's execution - What happened?
A big thank you to Naomi for her question regarding the executions of Catherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII, and Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford.
In Showtime's "The Tudors" series, it shows Jane Boleyn being executed first, but was that really the case?
Author and historian Claire Ridgway looks at what really happened on 13th February 1542 and also looks at whether Catherine really saw the heads of Francis Dereham and Thomas Culpeper on her way into the Tower, whether she practised with the block the night before her execution, and what the two women said as they addressed the crowd from the scaffold.
Book recommendation: Young and Damned and Fair by Gareth Russell, an excellent book on Catherine Howard.Show More
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Catherine Howard's execution - What happened?
A big thank you to Naomi for her question regarding the executions of [...]
A big thank you to Naomi for her question regarding the executions of Catherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII, and Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford.
In Showtime's "The Tudors" series, it shows Jane Boleyn being executed first, but was that really the case?
Author and historian Claire Ridgway looks at what really happened on 13th February 1542 and also looks at whether Catherine really saw the heads of Francis Dereham and Thomas Culpeper on her way into the Tower, whether she practised with the block the night before her execution, and what the two women said as they addressed the crowd from the scaffold.
Book recommendation: Young and Damned and Fair by Gareth Russell, an excellent book on Catherine Howard.Show More
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A literary patron and her husband, a chaplain dies at sea, and a pragmatic reformer pleases nobody
In this second part of This week on Tudor history for the week [...]
In this second part of This week on Tudor history for the week beginning 22nd February, historian and author Claire Ridgway introduces a literary patron and her husband, a clergyman who ended up dying on a voyage far from home and being buried at sea, and a famous reformer whose peacemaking and pragmatic approach failed to heal rifts and please people. Oh and he ended up being dug up and posthumously tried for heresy, and burnt!
--Contents of this video--
00:00 - Introduction
00:42 - 24th/25th February 1618
02:50 - 26th February 1548
05:00 - 27th February 1583
08:47 - 28th Feb/1st March 1551
24th or 25th February 1618 - Death of Elizabeth Carey (née Spencer), Lady Hunsdon. Elizabeth was a renowned literary patron and was one of the Spencers of Althorp.
26th February 1548 - Birth of Elizabeth Carey's husband, Sir George Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon, son of Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon, and grandson of Mary Boleyn.
27th February 1583 - Death of clergyman and diarist Richard Madox at sea, near Espirito Santo harbour, near Vitória, Brazil. Madox was on a trading voyage at the time and kept a diary which is a wonderful source of the lead-up to the voyage and tthe voyage itself.
28th February/1st March 1551 - Death of Martin Bucer, the famous theologian and Protestant reformer at Cambridge. As well as his reform and works, Bucer was known for his peacemaking and pragmatic approach. He had good intentions, wanting to avoid schism, but he ended up not pleasing anyone.
Claire's video on the burning of the remains of Bucer and Fagius can be viewed at
https://youtu.be/lwVXkWK3q-k
More "On this day" events for 25-28 February:
February 25 - The execution of Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex - https://youtu.be/lQ0nFNgD74s
February 25 - Elizabeth I is excommunicated - https://youtu.be/sS__T7HLURM
February 26 – Christopher Marlowe – a rather colourful character! - https://youtu.be/QnT2Qp7RuXc
February 26 - The sad ends of loyal men - https://youtu.be/tSH2feVoYHQ
February 27 - The Battle of Ancrum Moor and a legendary stone - https://youtu.be/LMEowRAmMns
February 27 - The ends of three Catholics at Tyburn - https://youtu.be/zsUSrhyWnwA
February 28 - Thomas Forret, a chief heretic and teacher of heresy - https://youtu.be/f3_SnmqCcmk
February 28 and 29 - The fugitive wizard earl and an awful burning - https://youtu.be/UBeu4Gz9CNM
--
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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10 facts about Elizabeth Boleyn, mother of Anne Boleyn
Elizabeth Boleyn was, of course, the mother of Queen Anne Boleyn, aunt [...]
Elizabeth Boleyn was, of course, the mother of Queen Anne Boleyn, aunt of Queen Catherine Howard and grandmother of Queen Elizabeth I, but she's quite a shadowy historical figure.
Find out more about this Tudor lady in these 10 facts from Claire Ridgway, founder of The Anne Boleyn Files website and author of several books on the Boleyns.
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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Broken leg kills translator, Elizabeth of York's funeral, and an earl implicated in murder
In the first part of This Week in Tudor history for the week beginning [...]
In the first part of This Week in Tudor history for the week beginning 22nd February, historian and author Claire Ridgway talks about a translator killed by a broken leg, the lavish funeral of Elizabeth of York, and an earl who rose in the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I, but who was implicated in a murder in his final days.
--Contents of this video--
00:00 - Introduction
00:35 - 22nd February 1571
01:24 - 23rd February 1503
06:23 - 24th February 1540
22nd February 1571, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I - The death of translator John Bury after breaking his leg in a fall from his horse.
23rd February 1503, in the reign of King Henry VII - The lavish funeral of Elizabeth of York, queen consort of Henry VII and mother of Henry VIII, at Westminster Abbey. It cost £3,000!
24th February 1540, in the reign of King Henry VIII - The birth of Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton, a man who went through periods of disfavour in Elizabeth I's reign, and was imprisoned five times, but who rose in favour at the end of her reign and into James I's reign, but who, in his final days, was implicated in a murder.
Other videos on these dates in Tudor history:
February 22 - Marie de Guise, who avoided marrying Henry VIII! - https://youtu.be/_T0YqQX_-XM
February 22 - Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII lose their baby boy - https://youtu.be/uk3mpMrm_ak
February 23 - Job Throckmorton, a colourful and lucky character - https://youtu.be/URAyKk4Qodw
February 23 - What happened to Henry Grey's head? - https://youtu.be/xkyb5qTHSBU
February 24 - Katherine Howard, Elizabeth I's good friend - https://youtu.be/qvwXYt0kYos
February 24 - The Birth of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor - https://youtu.be/-QVYrBtojOsShow More
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Did Anne Stanhope, Edward Seymour's wife, really have scandalous affairs? - Tudor Fan Q&A
In this edition of Tudor Fan Q&A, historian and author Claire Ridgway [...]
In this edition of Tudor Fan Q&A, historian and author Claire Ridgway answers a question about a character featured in Showtime's "The Tudors" series.
Colleen (and King Louis, her beautiful cat!), from California, wanted to know whether Anne Seymour (née Stanhope), wife of Edward Seymour, really had scandalous affairs with Sir Francis Bryan and her own brother-in-law, Thomas Seymour, and if Thomas really fathered one of her sons. Claire looks at the Anne Seymour of the series compared to the Anne of the contemporary sources, and shares the truth about this maligned duchess.Show More
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A murdered French duke, Margaret Douglas's bad news, a Tudor countess, and Lady Katherine Grey
In this second part of “This week in Tudor history” for the week [...]
In this second part of “This week in Tudor history” for the week beginning 15th February, historian Claire Ridgway tells us how the death of a French duke led to an awful massacre, and how the imprisoned Margaret Douglas heard of her son's murder, as well as introducing us to a countess who served all six of Henry VIII’s wives and who was close to his daughter Mary, and a noblewoman who managed to give birth twice while imprisoned in the Tower of London.
--Contents of this video--
00:00 - Introduction
00:40 - 18th February 1563
02:47 - 19th February 1567
05:15 - 20th February 1552
09:36 - 21st February 1568
18th February 1563 - Francis, Duke of Guise, was wounded by a Huguenot assassin at the Siege of Orléans. He died a few days later and his death was a factor in the 1572 St Bartholomew's Day Massacre.
19th February 1567 - An imprisoned Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox, is informed of the murder of her son, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, King Consort of Scotland as the husband of Mary, Queen of Scots.
20th February 1552 - Anne Herbert, Countess of Pembroke and sister of the late Queen Catherine Parr, dies at Baynard's Castle. She was buried at Old St Paul's Cathedral in a lavish funeral.
21st February 1568 - Burial of Lady Katherine Seymour (née Grey), Countess of Hertford, and sister of the late Lady Jane Grey, or Queen Jane. Katherine was under house arrest at the time of her death for marrying Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, without Queen Elizabeth I's permission.
St Bartholomew's Day Massacre - https://youtu.be/1DmTMXr0TcQ
Edward Seymour, the Serial Secret Husband - https://youtu.be/lYBsHD2kMw4
Lady Mary Grey - https://youtu.be/amBA9_Ifjno
Other Tudor events for these dates:
February 18 - Happy Birthday Queen Mary I - https://youtu.be/67X8uA_k2cM
February 18 - The Ridolfi Plot against Elizabeth I - https://youtu.be/_7WjajdaFRw
February 19 - King Edward VI's Coronation Procession - https://youtu.be/UwabU2pySns
February 19 - The Rose Theatre, an Elizabethan playhouse - https://youtu.be/l-Xh1-cUads
February 20 - King Edward VI's Coronation - https://youtu.be/OZubBZP3-B4
February 20 - The hanging of Lady Hungerford - https://youtu.be/EjFZCHtXyfc
February 21 - The Execution of St Robert Southwell - https://youtu.be/i-lJgaY975Q
February 21 - Ambrose Dudley, Earl of Warwick - https://youtu.be/VWSw1uwMvq8Show More
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The Tudor Puzzle Book
In this video, historian and author Claire Ridgway introduces her [...]
In this video, historian and author Claire Ridgway introduces her latest book, The Tudor Puzzle Book: Word Searches, Crosswords and Fiendish Questions, which is available as a paperback right now.
It's jam-packed with Tudor fun!
http://getbook.at/tudorpuzzlebook
- How many of Henry VIII's marriages were officially annulled?
- What is the Grey family home?
- Which word did the dying Elizabeth say "is not to be used to princes"?
- Where was George Boleyn arrested?
- Which man was sent from London with forces to apprehend Mary?
- Which Christmas vegetable made its debut in England in the late 1580s?
With over 50 word searches and crossword puzzles, this book is packed with enough Tudor questions to keep any history buff happy. Whatever your level, this book will be a challenge for the mind, and is the perfect Tudor knowledge quiz book.Show More
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The last monk to be Archbishop of Canterbury, a famous Reformer and an earl who wept for Elizabeth
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 15th February, Claire is going to tell you about the last monk to become Archbishop of Canterbury; the man who wrote one of the most important documents of the Protestant Reformation, and an earl who wept when he had to imprison Princess Elizabeth, the future Elizabeth I.
--Contents of this video--
00:00 - Introduction
00:35 - 15th February 1503
06:37 - 16th February 1497
10:48 - 17th February 1557
15th February 1503, in the reign of King Henry VII - The death of Henry Deane, the last monk to become Archbishop of Canterbury.
16th February 1497, in the reign of King Henry VII - The birth of famous Protestant Reformer and writer of the Augsburg Confession, Philipp Melancthon, at Bretten in Germany.
17th February 1557, in the reign of Queen Mary I - The death of Henry Radcliffe, 2nd Earl of Sussex, a man who was loyal to Mary I but who wept when he had to take her half-sister, Elizabeth, to the Tower.
James William Richard’s 19th century biography "Philip Melanchthon, the Protestant preceptor of Germany, 1497-1560" - https://archive.org/details/philipmelanchtho00richuoft
Other Tudor events for these dates:
February 15 - Dastardly Deeds in Tudor England - https://youtu.be/1NF_7RdLFDg
February 15 - Galileo, the Father of Modern Science - https://youtu.be/Ba0Wa_bR7EE
February 16 - Sir William Stanley is executed - https://youtu.be/S1myYUnze7o
February 16 - The burial of King Henry VIII at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle - https://youtu.be/eKeNITPiQAk
February 17 - Love at first sight for Mary, Queen of Scots? - https://youtu.be/dsuimqJz_sI
February 17 - Edward Seymour is made Duke of Somerset - https://youtu.be/teSMa93EF6EShow More
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Claire's birthday and presents for you!
On this day in history, 11th February 1971, historian and author [...]
On this day in history, 11th February 1971, historian and author Claire Ridgway was born, meaning that she's celebrating her 50th birthday! And she's celebrating by doing some kindle countdown deals for 9 of her books!
http://viewauthor.at/claireridgwayShow More
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Mad people can be executed, a miscarriage of justice, problematic prophecies and William Waste All
In this second part of This Week in Tudor History for week beginning [...]
In this second part of This Week in Tudor History for week beginning 8th February, historian Claire Ridgway talks about two parliamentary acts that allowed a king to execute his wife and to execute people showing signs of madness; a miscarriage of justice which led to a priest being executed in Elizabeth I’s reign; an Elizabethan astrologer who was ridiculed after his prophecies didn't come true, and a man known as William Waste-all.
--Contents of this video--
00:00 - Introduction
00:40 - 11th February 1542
03:42 - 12th February 1584
08:23 - 13th February 1564
10:13 - 14th February 1492
11th February 1542 - King Henry VIII gave his assent "in absentia" to an act of attainder against his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, and her lady-in-waiting, Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford. A bill allowing people showing signs of lunacy was also passed, an awful thing, but the king was determined to take revenge.
12th February 1584, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I - The executions of five Catholic priests by hanging, drawing and quartering at Tyburn. One of them, James Fenn, suffered a huge miscarriage of justice, being accused of plotting in Rome when he was actually in England, in prison, at the time!
13th February 1564, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I - Astrologer and physician John Harvey was baptised at Saffron Walden in Essex. Harvey ended up being ridiculed with his brother, Richard, after their prophecies of apocalyptic events didn't come true.
14th February 1492, in the reign of King Henry VII - Death of William Berkeley, Marquis of Berkeley, a man who took part in the last English battle fought between private armies of feudal magnates, but who was nicknamed William Waste All by the family historian.
Teasel's Tudor Trivia video on Valentine's Day can be found at https://youtu.be/iSl4Zk7htSc
Videos on other Tudor events for 11-14th February:
February 11 - The birth and death of Elizabeth of York - https://youtu.be/FIeJtsYCvcU
February 11 - Success for George Boleyn - https://youtu.be/m9Gs3tvgCWo
February 12 - The executions of Lady Jane Grey and Lord Guildford Dudley - https://youtu.be/qf7up1CHfJA
February 12 - Blanche Parry, a mother figure to Elizabeth I - https://youtu.be/eaB9piZbhxs
February 13 - Bess of Hardwick - https://youtu.be/zCehMXaVkqs
February 13 - The Executions of Catherine Howard and Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford - https://youtu.be/4nGL47QKe4k
February 14 - Being a royal favourite doesn't save you - https://youtu.be/5A5CSKvzbhE
February 14 - A dog licks up the king's blood - https://youtu.be/jg-97Zi5ZLsShow More
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Did Charles Brandon have a French mistress? - Tudor Fan Q&A
In this edition of "Fan Questions", questions asked by her YouTube [...]
In this edition of "Fan Questions", questions asked by her YouTube viewers, historian Claire Ridgway answers a question about Showtime's "The Tudors" series.
Annette from Michigan, US, wanted to know about a storyline concerning Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, in Season 4 of The Tudors. Did Charles Brandon really have a French mistress who accompanied him back to England
Find out the answer to this question, and whether Suffolk was really estranged from his wife, Catherine Willoughby, at this time, in this talk.
March 22 - Catherine Brandon (Catherine Willoughby), Duchess of Suffolk, a woman with spirit! - https://youtu.be/dVz3KEzvYso
September 7 - Charles Brandon marries Catherine Willoughby - https://youtu.be/uabimBawgsI
July 14 - The Brandon boys are no more - https://youtu.be/oSNvXjyiFDY
March 3 - A secret marriage for Mary Tudor and Charles Brandon? - https://youtu.be/yPlUHeSNi40
May 13 - Mary Tudor and Charles Brandon get married again! - https://youtu.be/-8Anes65T9AShow More
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A man who refused a title, Lady Jane Grey's reprieve, and a naughty earl with a magic ring
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 introduces a chap named John, one of the many Johns in his family, who turned down a title; explains why Lady Jane Grey's execution was postponed and what happened, and introduces an earl who appears to have been a bit of a Tudor bad boy.
--Contents of this video--
00:00 Introduction
00:37 8th February 1545
04:05 9th February 1554
09:09 10th February 1564
8th February 1545, in the reign of King Henry VIII - Death of courtier and soldier Sir John Arundell of Lanherne, or John Arundell III, a man who turned down a barony from King Henry VIII. Find out why.
9th February 1554 - Queen Mary I postpones Lady Jane Grey's scheduled execution and gives her a three-day reprieve. Her execution had already been postponed from 7th February, and in December 1553 it had appeared that Jane would be given mercy. What happened between December 1553 and February 1554? Why did Mary finally sign Jane's death warrant and then why did she give her a reprieve? Find out!
10th February 1564, in Queen Elizabeth I's reign - Death of Henry Neville, 5th Earl of Westmorland. Neville served King Henry VIII as a soldier, swapped sides in the succession crisis of 1553, and appears to have been a bit of a Tudor bad boy, being involved in dastardly plots against his own family. He had a magic ring though!
Other events for 8th, 9th and 10th February:
February 8 - The Execution of Mary Queen of Scots - https://youtu.be/sd3hP9Qb8Yk
February 8 - The Queen's favourite rebels - https://youtu.be/dhxFDUnxQig
February 9 - An awful end for a bishop - https://youtu.be/dE_mtQMSHVA
February 9 - Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, is taken to the Tower - https://youtu.be/53HVn-dfMyk
February 10 - Catherine Howard goes to the Tower - https://youtu.be/jYbD8-Qua-s
February 10 - The murder of Lord Darnley - https://youtu.be/jYbD8-Qua-s
Sir John Arundell's memorial brass, which depicts him in full armour, can be seen at https://www.pinterest.es/pin/342344009155130091/
Executions of Lord Guildford Dudley and Lady Jane Grey - https://youtu.be/qf7up1CHfJAShow More
