Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

Historian Claire Ridgway is doing a masterclass on Mary Boleyn on 12th February and would like your help in preparing it. Please leave a comment answering the following questions (as many as you want):1. What you think of Mary Boleyn? Who is your Mary Boleyn?2. What interests you about Mary?3. What myths do you think surround Mary?4. And, finally, what questions do you have about Mary that you want answered?Thank you for your help.The masterclass is a bonus for ticketholders of "Anne Boleyn, the Woman who Changed England" and you can sign up at https://claireridgway.com/events/anne-boleyn-the-woman-who-changed-england/ 

"How did Thomas Boleyn feel sitting in judgement on his children?" is a question that historian Claire Ridgway was asked recently, and it's one she's been asked before.   But did Thomas Boleyn even sit on the jury that tried Queen Anne Boleyn and her brother, George Boleyn, Lord Rochford?   Find out what history tells us about the jury in this talk from Claire.   Links to other videos on Thomas Boleyn:Thomas and Elizabeth Boleyn - https://youtu.be/fvgbE1FaMYw The Death of Thomas Boleyn - https://youtu.be/KhiuvNMUiyY

Get access to Claire's line masterclass on 15th January 2022, "Who killed Anne Boleyn?", by buying your ticket to "Anne Boleyn, the Woman who changed England" before the end of 31st December 2021 - see https://claireridgway.com/events/anne-boleyn-the-woman-who-changed-england/   "Anne Boleyn, the Woman who changed England" is a 7-day virtual conference. It's completely online and you'll be able to learn from 8 Anne Boleyn experts in talks and live Q&A sessions from the comfort of your own home.   I believe that it's only by looking at Anne Boleyn's background and her formative years, spent at two Renaissance courts, that we can truly understand her. By the end of the week (28 Feb to 6 March), you will have met a very new Anne and understand just why King Henry VIII changed the course of English history to be with her, and why they were such a powerful union.   It's a truly unique experience and I hope you can join me!   Go to https://claireridgway.com/events/anne-boleyn-the-woman-who-changed-england/ to find out more and to book your ticket right now.

In this third part of Claire Ridgway's talks on Anne Boleyn, we uncover a good number of strange stories which now surround Anne Boleyn. But what is actually true? Claire tells us more... You can see this talk as a video here: https://youtu.be/sYsMjVT4zh0

In this second of three live events with Claire Ridgway, Claire discusses whether Anne Boleyn was a woman who was manipulated by her parents into Henry VIII's arms, whether she was a ruthless predator who single-mindedly took herself all the way to the top, or whether she was neither of these! Enjoy this talk with Claire Ridgway. You can see it as a video here:https://youtu.be/u3AUB4xsLAM

In this talk, Claire Ridgway goes into detail about the various portraits and images of Queen Anne Boleyn that we have today. Claire then discusses what we really know about Anne Boleyn's apperance. You can watch this podcast as a video here:https://youtu.be/IA7k59UjF9Q

You may have seen the news about the discovery of a contemporary carving of Anne Boleyn's falcon badge and how Paul Fitzsimmons, an antiques dealer, bought it for £75 and how it's now worth £200,000. It's a wonderful find and the good news is that Paul isn't keeping it to himself, it's going on loan to Hampton Court Palace. Thank you, Paul, and thank you to Tracy Borman, Joint Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces.   In this podcast, historian Claire Ridgway interviews Sandra Vasoli and James Peacock, who both played key roles in the story of this carving. It is a fascinating story.   You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/FSQ0ww6cAmo   Paul's website is https://www.marhamchurchantiques.com/  and a big thank you to him for allowing us to use his photos of Anne Boleyn's falcon badge before and after its restoration. Photo credit: Paul Fitzsimmons,  Marhamchurch Antiques   You can find out more about the symbolism of Anne Boleyn's badge and the other parts of her heraldry in Claire's article at https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/anne-boleyns-badge/   Sandi is the author of two novels about Anne Boleyn - Struck with the Dart of Love and Truth Endures - and a non-fiction book Anne Boleyn's Letter from the Tower. Her website is https://sandravasoli.com/   James works at Hampton Court Palace and also runs the popular Queen Anne Boleyn Society on social media - https://www.facebook.com/anneboleynsociety, https://twitter.com/anneboleynsoc and https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynsociety/   -- Claire Ridgway I'm a best-selling author and historian, and founder of the Tudor Society where I help Tudor history lovers worldwide to connect with experts so that they can learn real Tudor history, the fact behind the fiction.www.tudorsociety.com/signup www.theanneboleynfiles.com www.medievalcourses.com www.elizabethfiles.comhttps://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFileshttp://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/https://twitter.com/thetudorsocietyhttps://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/ https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/  

Catherine of Aragon and Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales, were married from 14th November 1501 until Arthur's death on 2nd April 1502, but did they consummate their marriage? They certainly slept in the same bed, but did Catherine of Aragon and Arthur Tudor have sex?   Find out what people said at the Legatine court hearing in 1529 and the Zaragoza hearing in 1531, and what Catherine claimed, in this talk from historian Claire Ridgway.   Huge thanks to Lucy from the UK for asking such a wonderful question.   Further reading:   Sister Queens by Julia Fox Catherine of Aragon, Henry’s Spanish Queen by Giles Tremlett Tudor by Leanda de Lisle Catherine of Aragon by Patrick Williams The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser Six Wives by David Starkey Catherine of Aragon by Garrett Mattingly Did Arthur Tudor consummate his marriage by Kyra Kramer - http://www.kyrackramer.com/2020/01/26/did-arthur-tudor-consummate-his-marriage/ Catherine of Aragon: Spain’s Virgin queen? - https://www.historyextra.com/period/tudor/catherine-aragon-katherine-henry-viii-wife-queen-facts-virgin-sex-arthur-divorce-rome-how-why/ 

Queen Elizabeth I, who ruled over England from 1558 to 1603, is one of England's most famous monarchs, and is seen by many as one of the best.   But how much do you know about this Tudor queen? In this talk, historian Claire Ridgway shares 25 interesting facts about Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/4jEGPQZcImU   Here's a link to Claire's Elizabeth I playlist - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLepqWJ7TpkrLRKPV6ZH-EJIwPUQUkS2F6 

Thank you to Sebnem for asking "Did Elizabeth of York really have an affair with Richard III?", something which has been popularised by the "Cousins' War" series of novels by Philippa Gregory and the TV adaptations of them.    Is there any truth to this idea? Was Elizabeth of York in love with Richard III? Did Richard and his niece become lovers? And did Richard III poison Anne Neville, his queen? Historian Claire Ridgway looks at what history tells us about Elizabeth of York and her uncle, Richard III.   You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/SiIWLs0X00E   Book recommendation: Elizabeth of York: The Forgotten Tudor Queen by Amy Licence Article for further reading: https://nerdalicious.com.au/history/elizabeth-of-york-and-her-kings-richard-iii/   -- Claire RidgwayHistorian and author, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Societywww.theanneboleynfiles.comwww.tudorsociety.com www.elizabethfiles.comhttps://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFileshttp://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/https://twitter.com/thetudorsocietyhttps://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/ https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/  

Thank you to all our wonderful subscribers, we can't believe that we've reached 60,000! Enjoy this quiz and let us know how you get on! The questions are here and the answers are below (no cheating!) 1) Who said: “I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too”? 2) Who was this priest describing - “a tyrant more cruel than Nero, for Nero destroyed but part of Rome, but this tyrant destroyeth this whole realm”? 3) “If my head would win him a castle in France, it should not fail to go” was said of Henry VIII, but who said it? 4) “Much suspected of me, nothing proved can be, quod Elizabeth the prisoner” - The Lady Elizabeth, future Elizabeth I, was said to have etched this on a window during her house arrest at Woodstock, but why was she a prisoner? 5) Who is being described in these words: “For her behaviour, manners, attire and tongue she excelled them all...”? 6) Who wrote to their former tutor saying: “I cannot marvel at thee and lament the case that thou sometimes was the lively member of Christ but now a deformed imp of the Devil”? 7) That homicide and unnatural tyrant which now unjustly bears dominion over you” Who said it and who was it about? 2 points 8) “Little man, the word ‘must’ is not to be used to princes” - Who said this? 9) “When I think again that you shall depart from me again it makes my heart die to think what fortune I have that I cannot always be in your company” - who wrote these words in a letter and to whom? 2Points 10) Who was apologising for their eyesight, and therefore poor handwriting, with these words: “I beseech you to pardon me, for verrayly Madame my sight is nothing so perfitt as it has ben”? 11) Who wrote: “Princes at all times have not their wills, but my heart being my own is immutable”? 12) Who ended a letter “Lastly, I make this vow, that mine eyes desire you above all things” and to whom were they writing? 2 points. ANSWERS------- 1- Elizabeth I to the troops at Tilbury, August 1588.2- Henry VIII during the Pilgrimage of Grace Rebellion 15363- Sir Thomas More4- Mary I and her privy council believed that Elizabeth was involved in Wyatt’s Rebellion5- Anne Boleyn, described by Lancelot Carles, secretary to the French ambassador6- While she was in the Tower, Lady Jane Grey wrote this to her former tutor, Thomas Harding, who had converted to Catholicism.7- This is how Henry described Richard III in letters sent to those who were in support of his claim to the throne.8- Elizabeth I said this to Robert Cecil, her Secretary of State, when she was dying and he advised her to take to her bed.9- Catherine Howard to Thomas Culpeper10-Henry VII to Lady Margaret Beaufort11-Mary, Queen of Scots, to Ambassador Randolph12-The dying Catherine of Aragon to her former husband Henry VIII.

On this day in Tudor history, 8th August 1503, King Henry VII's eldest daughter, Margaret Tudor, married King James IV of Scotland. Find out more about their marriage, and how it was arranged, in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:https://youtu.be/rcBOxk8Emw4 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/

On this day in Tudor history, 7th August 1574, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester's illegitimate son, Sir Robert Dudley, was born at Sheen.   Find out more about Sir Robert Dudley, who grew up to be a mariner, cartographer and landowner, in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/5rASbuoCxZ8   Find out more about his mother, Douglas Sheffield, who claimed to be Dudley’s legal wife, in Claire video - https://youtu.be/rhP-Z89CbEg

On this day in history, 6th August 1623, Anne Hathaway, wife of William Shakespeare, the famous playwright, died. Find out a bit more about Anne Hathaway, and hear the tomb inscription written about her by her son in law, in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:https://youtu.be/FvQ-tVf60Q8

As well as running her Podcast and YouTube channel, author and historian Claire Ridgway runs the Tudor Society membership site. What's happening in August over at the Tudor Society?   Find out all about August 2021's events from Claire. There's so much Tudor history to enjoy!   Try out the Tudor Society with a 14-day free trial at https://www.tudorsociety.com/signup/ref/1