Claire | May 23, 2023
I have just launched my next online event, The Rise of the Tudor Dynasty, over on ClaireRidgway.com. The event runs from 18th to 27th September but our regular zoom call discussions start in June. These are such fun. I just love talking about history with others who share my passion. The event is completely online […]
Claire | January 6, 2023
Today, 6th January, is Epiphany or Kings’ Day or Three Kings’ Day – Happy Epiphany! Feliz día de los Reyes! Epiphany is a huge celebration here in Spain. The Three Kings visited our village last night with sweets and presents, and we’ve been tucking into our Roscón de Reyes, our special Kings’ Day cake. Unfortunately, […]
Claire | December 14, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 14th December 1542, King Henry VIII’s nephew, King James V died at the age of 30. James was succeeded by his six-day-old daughter, Mary, who became Mary, Queen of Scots. Find out what happened to James V, and how Mary became queen at such a young age… Transcript:
Claire | December 10, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 10th December 1541, in the reign of King Henry VIII, Thomas Culpeper and Francis Dereham were executed at Tyburn. Culpeper, a groom of the privy chamber, and Dereham, a member of Queen Catherine Howard’s household had been found guilty of high treason for intending to do ill with the […]
Claire | December 5, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 5th December 1560, Mary, Queen of Scots, lost her first husband, King Francis II of France and King Consort of Scotland. Francis II was just fifteen years old when he died. He’d come down with what appeared to be an ear infection in mid-November 1560 and died just a […]
Claire | December 3, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 3rd December 1536, King Henry VIII issued a proclamation to the rebels of the Pilgrimage of Grace offering them “free pardons”. Although these free pardons were proclaimed, prominent rebels ended up being executed. Let me explain what the Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion was about and how the rebels ended […]
Claire | December 1, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 1st December 1541, in the reign of King Henry VIII, Thomas Culpeper and Francis Dereham were tried for high treason at Guildhall, London. Both men had been linked romantically with the king’s fifth wife, Catherine Howard. Culpeper, a member of Henry VIII’s privy chamber, and Dereham, a secretary to […]
Claire | November 29, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 29th November 1530, in the reign of King Henry VIII, at around 8 o’clock in the morning, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey died at the Abbey of St Mary de Pratis in Leicester. Contrary to what was shown in The Tudors series, Wolsey did not commit suicide. Henry VIII’s former Lord […]
