Good Friday in Tudor England: Ritual, Power, and the Reformation

Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, a moment at the heart of the Christian faith, remembered as the ultimate act of sacrifice and redemption. But how was Good Friday marked in Tudor England? In this video, I explore both the meaning of Good Friday and the powerful, physical rituals that shaped its observance in medieval and Tudor times. From the biblical account of Christ’s trial before Pontius Pilate and crucifixion at Calvary, to the dramatic church practices of the period, including the Easter Sepulchre and the deeply symbolic ceremony of “creeping to the cross”. By the reign of Henry VIII, even the monarch took part in these rituals, approaching the cross on his knees in an act of humility. But the Reformation brought change and controversy. Under Edward VI, such practices were abolished, only to be restored with intensity under Mary I of England, whose Good Friday ceremonies also included the blessing of cramp rings and the royal healing touch. With the reign of Elizabeth I, these traditions were once again swept away, reflecting the shifting religious landscape of the Tudor period. This is a glimpse into a world where faith was not just believed, it was expressed physically, emotionally, and publicly, by both ordinary people and monarchs. How is Good Friday marked where you are? Let me know in the comments. #TudorHistory #GoodFriday #HenryVIII #MaryTudor #ElizabethI #BritishHistory #HistoryExplained #Reformation #Easter #OnThisDay

Maundy Thursday is often overlooked today, but in Tudor England it was marked with powerful and symbolic royal rituals. In this video, I explore the meaning of Maundy Thursday - from the Last Supper and the washing of the disciples’ feet, to the development of royal Maundy ceremonies in medieval and Tudor England. By the reign of Henry VIII, the monarch would wash the feet of poor people and give alms, with the number of recipients reflecting the monarch’s age. We also have a fascinating eyewitness account from the reign of Mary I of England, showing just how personal and devotional this ceremony could be, with the queen washing, drying, and even kissing the feet of poor women before giving them gifts. Although the foot-washing ritual eventually ended, the tradition of Maundy money continues today. Charles III still distributes Maundy coins each year in recognition of service to the community. This is a glimpse into a lesser-known aspect of Tudor life,  one that combines faith, monarchy, and charity. Do you mark Maundy Thursday in your community? Let me know in the comments.  

Elizabeth I is often remembered as England’s greatest monarch, but why? Her reign lasted over 44 years and saw the defeat of the Spanish Armada, the rise of Shakespeare and the arts, and the emergence of England as a global power. It’s often described as a Golden Age, but how did Elizabeth achieve all of this? In this beginner’s guide to Elizabeth I’s reign, I explore how a woman who began life as the daughter of an executed “traitor”, declared illegitimate and even imprisoned in the Tower of London, rose to become one of England’s most iconic rulers. We’ll look at: How Elizabeth secured her power as a female monarch Why she refused to marry and called herself “married to her kingdom” Her religious settlement and attempts to heal a divided nation Her diplomatic strategy and how she avoided major wars The flourishing of culture during the Elizabethan Golden Age And the dramatic defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 In the next part, we’ll explore the darker side of Elizabeth’s reign - poverty, conflict, and religious persecution - and ask whether it really was a Golden Age for everyone. If you enjoy Tudor history, do subscribe (please!) and join me for more deep dives into the Tudor world. #ElizabethI #TudorHistory #ElizabethanEra #BritishHistory #HistoryExplained #Tudors #AnneBoleyn #HenryVIII #SpanishArmada #GoldenAge #HistoryYouTube #LearnHistory

I recently watched Louis Theroux' documentary "Inside the Manosphere", in which he interviewed several members of the online Manosphere, a community of influencers promoting controversial views of women.  And I couldn’t stop thinking about Tudor England, because as I listened to these modern influencers, their ideas about women - what they expect, how they judge, and how they define women’s roles - felt strangely familiar. It connected directly with something I’ve been exploring recently: how women like Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth Woodville have been labelled as the seductress and the witch, and how history is full of women branded as she-wolves, unnatural, or dangerous.   In this video, I explore: How Manosphere views on women compare to attitudes in the medieval and Tudor periods The historical roots of double standards around sex, power, and control Whether these modern ideas are echoes of the past, or something even more extreme And I ask: Are these attitudes really new, or have we heard them all before?  And why are some voices trying to turn back the clock? A big thank you to my Privy Council channel members for their insights during our recent Zoom discussion, some of which helped shape this video.   Sources:  Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere, Netflix Adultery in the Middle Ages by Jo Geisen - https://sites.up.edu/earlybritishsurvey/adultery-in-the-middle-ages/  Women in Early Modern England by Sara Mendelson and Patricia Crawford

For centuries, two queens have carried damaging reputations. Anne Boleyn has often been portrayed as the ambitious seductress who trapped King Henry VIII, while Elizabeth Woodville has been accused of using witchcraft to ensnare Edward IV. But how much truth is there in these stories? In this podcast, I explore how both women have been vilified in remarkably similar ways, and consider how the myths about seductive queens and magical manipulation developed, and why they continue to shape how we see powerful women in history. They're not the only queens to have suffered in this way! Join me as we look beyond the myths to the far more complex reality behind two of England’s most famous queens. #AnneBoleyn #ElizabethWoodville #TudorHistory #WomenInHistory #HistoryMyths #MedievalHistory #BritishHistory #WarsoftheRoses

For centuries, Anne Boleyn has been portrayed as the great seductress of Tudor history, the ambitious woman who bewitched Henry VIII and destroyed his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. But when we examine the evidence, the surviving sources tell a very different story. Henry VIII’s own love letters reveal that he pursued Anne relentlessly, writing to her repeatedly and even worrying that she did not return his affection. Anne refused to become the king’s mistress and, at times, even withdrew from court to avoid him. In this video, I explore what we actually know about Henry VIII’s pursuit of Anne Boleyn: • When the courtship may have begun • The famous love letters Henry wrote to Anne • The gift that may have signalled Anne’s acceptance • The terrifying sweating sickness outbreak of 1528 • And the myth that Anne Boleyn deliberately seduced the king This relationship would ultimately lead to the king’s Great Matter, the break with Rome, and the English Reformation, transforming the course of English history. #anneboleyn #henryviii #tudorhistory #tudors #englishhistory #britishhistory #history #historyyoutube #reformation #historydocumentary

Before Elizabeth I became one of England’s greatest monarchs, she faced a scandal that could have destroyed her reputation , and possibly her future. In 1547, after the death of Henry VIII, the young Princess Elizabeth went to live with her stepmother, the dowager queen Catherine Parr. Catherine had secretly married Thomas Seymour, the ambitious uncle of the new king, Edward VI. What followed became one of the most troubling and controversial episodes of Elizabeth’s youth. According to sworn testimony later given to the government, Thomas Seymour repeatedly entered the teenage princess’s chamber early in the morning and behaved in ways that alarmed members of the household. Rumours spread, servants were questioned, and eventually the government became involved. When Seymour was arrested for treason in 1549, Elizabeth herself was interrogated. In this video, we explore the evidence, the testimonies, and the political crisis surrounding the Thomas Seymour scandal, and examine how this early experience may have shaped Elizabeth’s famous caution and determination to control her own life.   #ElizabethI #TudorHistory #ThomasSeymour #EdwardVI #TudorScandal #HistoryExplained

Queen Elizabeth I is remembered as Gloriana, England’s Virgin Queen and ruler of a golden age. But before the crown came danger. Born the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth went from celebrated princess to declared illegitimate, from royal heir to political suspect. Under her half-sister Mary I, she was imprisoned in the Tower of London, interrogated for treason, and at one point believed she would not survive the night. This video explores Elizabeth’s extraordinary journey before her accession in 1558 - her upbringing, education, political dangers, imprisonment, and the lessons that shaped one of England’s greatest monarchs. #ElizabethI #TudorHistory #BritishHistory #MaryI #AnneBoleyn #HenryVIII #HistoryDocumentary #EnglishHistory #WomenInHistory

Was Anne Boleyn really too socially inferior to marry Henry Percy, heir to the powerful Earldom of Northumberland? For centuries, Anne Boleyn has been portrayed as an ambitious social climber, a woman of comparatively humble origins who dared to reach beyond her station. According to popular tradition, her relationship with Henry Percy was doomed because she was simply too low. But the historical evidence tells a very different story. In this video, I examine the truth behind one of the most persistent myths in Tudor history and reveal why Anne Boleyn was not an outsider at court, but a woman firmly embedded within England’s elite aristocratic networks. Discover: • Anne Boleyn’s powerful Howard and Butler ancestry • The overlooked importance of the Ormond inheritance • Why Anne arrived at court as a prospective countess • How Tudor society actually viewed rank, lineage, and marriage • Why Henry Percy’s proposed marriage was politically dangerous, not socially impossible • How post-1536 propaganda reshaped Anne Boleyn’s reputation Far from being a middle-class newcomer, Anne Boleyn was the granddaughter of the Duke of Norfolk and connected to one of the most influential noble dynasties in Ireland. At the very moment Percy considered marriage, royal policy itself was preparing her for an aristocratic match. So why has history continued to describe her as “too low”? #AnneBoleyn #TudorHistory #HenryPercy #HenryVIII #Tudors #BritishHistory #RoyalHistory #HistoryDebunked #TudorCourt #WomenInHistory #EnglishHistory #HistoryDocumentary

In May 1536, Anne Boleyn went from Queen of England to execution in just eighteen days. It remains one of the most shocking political collapses in English history - a moment that destroyed families, reshaped the Tudor court, and sent shockwaves across Europe. Having researched Anne Boleyn’s life and fall since 2009, I still find these events deeply affecting. Each return to the primary sources - letters, trial records, ambassadorial reports and eyewitness accounts - raises the same question:  Was Anne Boleyn’s fall truly a tragedy… or had her fate already been decided? To mark the 490th anniversary, I’m hosting a live anniversary intensive exploring Anne Boleyn’s final weeks through contemporary evidence and Tudor political reality. If you’d like to study these events in depth with me, you can find full details here: https://claireridgway.com/events/last-18/ Early Bird Offer ends 27 February Use code AB2026 for $20 off. Thank you for supporting my work and for continuing to explore Tudor history with me.