The 1553 Succession Crisis: A Beginner's Guide

Mary Tudor is often remembered through a single, brutal label: “Bloody Mary.” But in the summer of 1553, she revealed a very different side of herself. In this second part of my series on the two tough cookies of 1553, I explore how Mary I faced down danger, isolation, and overwhelming odds to claim her throne - not through force of arms, but through resolve, leadership, and legitimacy. Drawing on contemporary accounts, including Robert Wingfield’s Vita Mariae, this video looks at: How years of pressure under Henry VIII and Edward VI shaped Mary’s resilience Why her flight to East Anglia in July 1553 was a calculated act of courage, not desperation How she rallied men, towns, and even the royal fleet, without a pitched battle And how her victorious entry into London marked the triumph of legitimacy over force Like Lady Jane Grey, Mary was unwavering in her beliefs and prepared to die for them. The tragedy of 1553 is not that one woman was strong and the other was not, but that only one could win. If you enjoyed this exploration of Mary, do consider subscribing for more beginner-friendly Tudor history guides.   #MaryTudor #BloodyMary #TudorHistory #1553Succession #LadyJaneGrey #WomenInHistory #TudorQueens #MaryI #EnglishHistory #HistoryDocumentary

Lady Jane Grey is usually remembered as a tragic pawn, a frightened girl forced onto the throne by ambitious men. But that story simply doesn’t hold up. When Jane was told she was queen, she wept and insisted that Mary was the rightful heir. Yet once she learned that Edward VI had named her, she made a deliberate choice. She embraced the crown as God’s will, and she ruled. This video reveals a very different Jane: The teenage queen who signed herself “Jane the Quene” The ruler who ordered troops, guards, curfews, and proclamations The young woman who chose her husband’s title and took charge of London The prisoner who refused to bend, denounced Catholicism, and argued theology with the queen’s own chaplain The sixteen-year-old who faced death with unshakable conviction Jane Grey was not weak. She was not passive. She was unyielding. This is Part One of Two Tough Cookies, a two-part series on the rival queens of July 1553. In Part Two, we turn to Mary: the woman who outmanoeuvred every obstacle and claimed her throne. Watch Jane’s story here , and discover why both queens of 1553 were far tougher than history often admits. #LadyJaneGrey #QueenJane #TudorHistory #NineDaysQueen #TudorQueens #WomenInHistory #HiddenHistory #HistoryDocumentary #BritishHistory

Three Monarchs - 13 Days - One Crown   In July 1553, England experienced one of the most volatile succession crises of the Tudor period. In just thirteen days, the crown passed from a dying teenage king, to a proclaimed queen who would never be crowned, and finally to Mary I, who became England’s first crowned queen regnant. This video offers a clear, step-by-step guide to the events of that summer, explaining how and why the succession unravelled so rapidly. It explores Edward VI’s decision to rewrite the succession, the proclamation of Lady Jane Grey, and Mary’s determined response, which transformed a disputed claim into an uncontested victory. Rather than focusing on myth or hindsight, this documentary examines what contemporaries believed was at stake in 1553, religion, legitimacy, and the stability of the realm, and how decisions made in the final weeks of Edward VI’s life shaped England’s future. Drawing on contemporary accounts and modern historical scholarship, including diplomatic reports and eyewitness chronicles, this video explains: Why Edward believed Mary could not succeed him How Jane Grey became queen, and why her regime collapsed How Mary organised support, secured loyalty, and claimed the throne without a pitched battle This is a beginner-friendly but in-depth exploration of a pivotal moment in Tudor history, designed to give viewers a solid understanding of the July 1553 succession crisis and its wider significance. Presented by historian and author Claire Ridgway. #TudorHistory #MaryITudor #LadyJaneGrey #EdwardVI #SuccessionCrisis #TudorEngland #BritishHistory #HistoryDocumentary #WomenInHistory #TudorQueens

Before Anne Boleyn left England for the European courts, before Henry VIII, before scandal, drama, queenship, and tragedy... there were two places that shaped her earliest world, places that were home to her.   Those two places were the Boleyn seats of Blickling Hall in Norfolk and Hever Castle in Kent. In this episode, we explore: Blickling Hall as the heart of the family’s Norfolk roots, and the probable birthplace of Anne Boleyn The medieval origins of Hever Castle and its transformation into a refined Tudor home How Thomas Boleyn reshaped Hever to reflect his growing power at court Why these estates mattered to Anne’s sense of self and future This video forms part of my ongoing series on Anne Boleyn. In the next episode, we follow Anne beyond these family estates, as she leaves England for the courts of Margaret of Austria and France. #AnneBoleyn #TudorHistory #BoleynFamily #HeverCastle #BlicklingHall #TheMakingOfAnneBoleyn #TudorEngland #HenryVIII #HistoryDocumentary #BritishHistory #WomenInHistory #TudorCourt #HistoricalPlaces #MedievalCastles #EnglishHeritage #HiddenHistory

Was Anne Boleyn thirty-five when she died… or just twenty-eight? Because the answer completely changes how we read her downfall in 1536. I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and in this companion episode to my Anne Boleyn documentary series I’m diving into one of the most contested questions in her biography: when was Anne Boleyn actually born – 1501, 1507, or somewhere in between? In this video we’ll look at: • Thomas Boleyn’s comments about his children being born “every year” • Anne’s early service with Margaret of Austria and what her letter tells us about her age • the traditional 1501 date and why many historians still favour it • the rival 1507 date, based on William Camden and Jane Dormer • new thinking from court household records about the normal age for maids of honour • why a mid-range date around 1504–1505 now looks increasingly persuasive Drawing on the work of historians including Eric Ives, Retha Warnicke, Sophie Bacchus Waterman, and Gareth Russell, I explore how each possible birthdate affects our understanding of: • Anne’s education in Europe • her status and suitability as queen • and, crucially, Henry VIII’s motives in 1536 What do you think? Do you lean towards 1501, 1507, or the 1504–1505 middle ground? Let me know your view  in the comments. For channel members: Members can access companion resources for this video and my wider Anne Boleyn series, including transcripts, timelines, reading lists and extra notes that don’t always make it into the main episodes. If you’d like to support the channel and unlock those extras, you’ll find the Join button beneath this video or go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCioSUqeGrdFq6DEVK3-DXGQ/join, and if you’re already a member, thank you so much, your support genuinely helps me keep producing in-depth Tudor content.   #AnneBoleyn #TudorHistory #HenryVIII #TudorCourt #BritishHistory #HistoryYouTube #AnneBoleynSeries #TudorQueens

Anne Boleyn is so often remembered at the height of drama, standing at the centre of Henry VIII’s court, caught in politics, passion, and tragedy. But Anne did not appear from nowhere. Before the scandals, the Reformation, and the dramatic fall, there was a child, shaped by powerful families, privilege, education, and expectation. In this episode, I explore the world that formed Anne Boleyn - her lineage, identity, upbringing, and early surroundings at Blickling and Hever. Far from the myth of a “low-born girl who rose too high”, Anne belonged to three great dynasties: • the Boleyns - wealthy, ambitious, rising through land and service • the Butlers of Ormond - one of the greatest Anglo-Irish noble houses • the Howards - ancient English aristocracy with royal blood Through these families we uncover: • how Anne’s status and upbringing shaped her confidence and outlook • what her childhood world looked like in elite Tudor households • the roles of Blickling and Hever in her early life • how her education prepared her for courts across Europe • why understanding her origins changes how we see her later story This episode traces Anne’s background up to her departure to the Continent, setting the stage for the next chapter of her life, and the making of the woman who would one day change English history. Let me know in the comments what surprised you most about Anne’s early life, and whether you think her upbringing has been misunderstood in popular history. This is part of my new deep-dive Anne Boleyn series, designed to tell her story with context, nuance, and humanity, so please make sure you're subscribed to my channel and have hit the notification bell so you don't miss my other episodes. Want more behind-the-scenes research and companion resources? Channel members receive (depending on level) extra resources like: • transcripts • reading lists • timelines and family-tree resources • Monthly YouTube livestreams • Monthly zoom call discussions to get deeper into these topics You can join via the Join button under this video, or by going to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCioSUqeGrdFq6DEVK3-DXGQ/join  — and thank you so much to everyone who already supports the channel

Christmas in Tudor England wasn’t a single day, it was a season. And Twelfth Night was its final, glittering crescendo. In this final episode of my Tudor Advent and Christmas series, I explore how Tudor people marked the end of Christmas with feasting, music, disguisings, misrule, and the famous Twelfth Night cake, complete with a hidden bean or pea to crown a King (or Lord of Misrule) for the night. I also explain: When Twelfth Night actually was — the 5th or the 6th of January Why Epiphany mattered both socially and spiritually How Tudor court celebrations turned halls into living theatre And how these traditions still survive today, including here in Spain with the Roscón de Reyes Twelfth Night mattered because it ended Christmas properly, rather than Christmas just fading away. If you’ve missed earlier episodes, do watch “The Real Twelve Days of Christmas”, where I explain how the Tudors celebrated the entire festive season: https://youtu.be/0t61a2jATgs Do you celebrate Epiphany or Twelfth Night today? I’d love to hear your traditions in the comments.

Christmas Eve in Tudor England was a day of preparation, restraint, and anticipation, not feasting. It marked the final day of Advent. In this short Christmas Eve episode, I’m sharing quick reminders of how Tudor people marked this special day, from fasting and firelight to church and tradition, before the celebrations truly began. For a deeper look at how Christmas was celebrated across the whole season, watch my video “The Real Twelve Days of Christmas” - https://youtu.be/0t61a2jATgs Before I go, I also want to say a heartfelt thank you,  from me and Tim, and from our whole family (including the pets!), for all your support this year. Whether you watch, comment, share, or support the channel in other ways, it genuinely means so much. If you’d like to support the channel further and enjoy exclusive Tudor content, livestreams, zooms, magazines and resources, you’re very welcome to join my YouTube channel membership.  Merry Christmas, and thank you for being here.    #TudorChristmas #ChristmasEve #TwelveDaysofChristmas #HistoricalTraditions

Tudor Christmas didn’t just sound like gentle carols, it was bold, noisy, and spectacular. In this episode of my Tudor Christmas Advent series, we step beyond singing and into the vibrant world of Tudor Christmas music, the instruments, entertainers, and soundscape that filled great halls, courtyards, streets, and chambers during the festive season. This isn’t church music. This is feasting, dancing, misrule, and display. You’ll discover: - Why loud instruments like shawms and sackbuts dominated festive evenings - How pipes, tabors, and drums drove dancing and revelry - Which softer instruments — like viols, rebecs, and lutes — were played later in the evening - Who provided the music, from court musicians and household minstrels to the city waits - And why Henry VIII himself was at the heart of Tudor Christmas music-making If you’d like to explore Tudor music even further, I recommend my interview with historian, musician, and historical instrument maker Jane Moulder, which I’ve linked here: https://youtu.be/07xLwzchEqs Question for you: Which Tudor instrument would you most like to hear played live? #TudorChristmas #TudorMusic #TudorHistory #EarlyMusic #HenryVIII #ChristmasHistory #MusicHistory

Tudor Christmas wasn’t just celebrated at home or in church, it was performed. In this episode of my Tudor Christmas Advent series, we step into the vivid, noisy, emotional world of Christmas mystery plays, public dramas staged in streets, market squares, and churchyards across medieval and early Tudor England. You’ll discover: - What mystery plays really were — and why the word “mystery” meant craft, not confusion - How towns like York, Chester, and Coventry brought Christmas to life with pageant wagons and street drama - Why King Herod was played as a terrifying, shouting tyrant - How shepherds’ humour made the Nativity relatable to Tudor audiences -  And how one of our most haunting carols, Coventry Carol, comes directly from a Christmas mystery play These plays didn’t just tell people the Christmas story, they made them feel it. This video is part of my Tudor Christmas Advent series. If you’ve enjoyed it, please like, subscribe, and ring the bell so you don’t miss tomorrow’s episode. Question for you: Would you have watched a Tudor Christmas mystery play, or found it too intense? #TudorChristmas #MysteryPlays #CoventryCarol #TudorHistory #ChristmasHistory #MedievalDrama #BritishHistory #EarlyModernEngland