
24 August 1572 – St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
On this day in history, 24th August 1572, during the reign of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn’s daughter Elizabeth I,…

Elizabeth I’s Earliest Surviving Letter
On 31st July 1544, the future Elizabeth I wrote her earliest surviving letter to her stepmother, Catherine Parr. It was…

25 July 1554 – The Marriage of Mary I and Philip of Spain
On this day in history, 25th July 1554, Mary I married Philip of Spain, son of Charles V, Holy Roman…

19 July 1553 – Mary Proclaimed Queen in London
On the 19th July 1553, thirteen days after the death of her half-brother, Edward VI, Mary was proclaimed Queen in…

Happy 485th Birthday John Dee!
Today marks the 485th anniversary of the birth of one of my favourite Tudor men, John Dee. Happy 485th birthday,…

10 July 1553 – Lady Jane Grey Proclaimed Queen
On the afternoon of Monday 10th July 1553 a party of people arrived at the Tower of London by barge….

9th July 1553 – Mary Writes to the Privy Council and Lady Jane Grey is Informed that She is Queen
After declaring herself as Queen the day before, in front of her household at Kenninghall, Mary wrote the following letter…

8 July 1553 – Mary Declares Herself Queen
On Saturday 8th July 1553 at her home, Kenninghall in Norfolk, Mary Tudor declared herself Queen. She had been informed…

Elizabeth I’s Locket Ring on Display Now!
Thank you so much to Tamise for alerting me to the fact that Elizabeth I’s famous locket ring is on…

19th May 1554 – Elizabeth is Released from the Tower of London
On the 19th May 1554, the future Elizabeth I was released from the Tower of London and escorted to Woodstock,…

New Book – The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown
I’m so excited! My second book, The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown, which obviously focuses on the downfall of Elizabeth I’s…

28th April 1603 – Elizabeth I’s Funeral
On this day in history, 28th April 1603, Elizabeth I’s funeral took place in London. I have written in detail…

11 April 1554 – Execution of Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger
On this day in history, 11th April 1554, Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger, son of the poet and diplomat Sir…

Thomas Seymour – A Man with Much Wit and Very Little Judgement
On this day in history, 20th March 1549, Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley and Lord High Admiral, was…

25 February 1601 – Execution of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
On this day in history, the 25th February 1601 at just before 8am on the 25th February 1601, Robert Devereux,…

18 February 1612 – Death of Roberto di Ridolfi
On this day in history, the merchant and conspirator Roberto di Ridolfi died at the grand old age of eighty…

12 February 1590 – Death of Blanche Parry
On this day in history, 12th February 1590, Elizabeth I’s former childhood nurse and chief gentlewoman of the privy chamber,…

10 February 1567 – Murder of Lord Darnley, Husband of Mary Queen of Scots
At 2am on the 10th February 1567, Kirk o’Field, the house where Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley, was lodging, was blown…

8 February 1587 – Mary Queen of Scots is Executed
On the morning of the 8th February 1587, Mary Queen of Scots was executed at Fotheringhay Castle. It was a…

Wyatt’s Rebellion 1554
On 22nd January 1554, Thomas Wyatt the Younger met with fellow conspirators at his home of Allington Castle in Kent…