The Sheep Farmer’s Son Who Helped Shape Tudor England

The Sheep Farmer’s Son Who Helped Shape Tudor England

He reformed how we pronounce Greek, helped dissolve the old Church, negotiated for Elizabeth I… and somehow survived every Tudor monarch from Henry VIII’s reign onward. On this day in Tudor history, 12th August 1577, Sir Thomas Smith—a scholar, diplomat, and political survivor—died quietly at his home in Essex. But his life was anything but quiet. I’m Claire Ridgway, historian and author, and in today’s video, I’m taking you beyond the famous names and into the fascinating life of one of the Tudor era’s most brilliant minds. Smith wasn’t a noble or a court favourite, but he taught the likes of William Cecil, helped shape Protestant reform, and worked behind the scenes to craft Tudor foreign policy. Listen now for a deep dive into a man who helped build the intellectual and political foundations of Elizabethan England—without ever grabbing the spotlight. Let me know in the comments—had you heard of Sir Thomas Smith before today? And which of his books would you want to read? Like, subscribe, and don’t forget to click the Join button if you'd like to be part of my Tudor inner circle—with exclusive content, a digital magazine, and much more! #TudorHistory #SirThomasSmith #OnThisDay #ClaireRidgway #ElizabethI #TudorCourt #TudorSurvivor #TudorReformation #EnglishHistory #ForgottenFigures #TudorScholar #TudorGovernment #HistoryDeepDive

Episoder(999)

Christmas on the Streets: Tudor Mystery Plays & the Origins of the Coventry Carol

Christmas on the Streets: Tudor Mystery Plays & the Origins of the Coventry Carol

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...

21 Des 20254min

Christmas Wasn’t Just Feasting

Christmas Wasn’t Just Feasting

Christmas in Tudor England wasn’t only about feasting, pageantry, and celebration. It was also a season of obligation, a time when charity and almsgiving were seen as essential acts of faith. In this...

20 Des 20255min

Play Along! A Tudor Christmas Trivia Challenge (Can You Beat Tim?)

Play Along! A Tudor Christmas Trivia Challenge (Can You Beat Tim?)

Think you know Tudor Christmas? In this festive quiz episode, I’m challenging Tim, my long-suffering cameraman (and husband!), with questions drawn from my Tudor Christmas Advent series. From royal f...

19 Des 202514min

The Creatures That Shaped a Tudor Yuletide

The Creatures That Shaped a Tudor Yuletide

Christmas in Tudor England wasn’t just about people, prayers, and pageantry, it was also shaped by animals. In today’s episode of my Tudor Christmas Advent series, we step into the world of Tudor Chr...

18 Des 20257min

The Beloved Tudor Palace That Vanished

The Beloved Tudor Palace That Vanished

Step with me into a palace that no longer stands, yet once witnessed some of the most important Christmases of the Tudor age. In this episode of my Tudor Christmas Advent series, we journey to Richmo...

17 Des 20255min

Three Chilling Tudor Christmas Superstitions You’ve Never Heard Of...

Three Chilling Tudor Christmas Superstitions You’ve Never Heard Of...

Christmas in Tudor England wasn’t just a season of feasting, music and Yule logs… it was also a time when the veil between worlds felt unusually thin. In today’s Tudor Christmas Advent episode, I’m s...

16 Des 20255min

What's Inside the Wonkiest Tudor House in England?

What's Inside the Wonkiest Tudor House in England?

Imagine rounding a frosty corner and discovering a house that looks as if it’s stepped straight out of a Tudor fairytale or Harry Potter - crooked beams, bowing floors, glittering leaded windows, and ...

15 Des 20258min

Did the Tudors Change Christmas More Than We Think?

Did the Tudors Change Christmas More Than We Think?

Did you know the English Reformation didn’t just reshape churches and doctrine… it quietly transformed Christmas itself? In today’s Tudor Christmas Advent episode, I explore how Henry VIII, Edward VI...

14 Des 20256min

Populært innen Fakta

fastlegen
mikkels-paskenotter
dine-penger-pengeradet
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
treningspodden
foreldreradet
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
jakt-og-fiskepodden
rss-bisarr-historie
tomprat-med-gunnar-tjomlid
hverdagspsyken
sinnsyn
level-up-med-anniken-binz
gravid-uke-for-uke
rss-kunsten-a-leve
fryktlos
takk-og-lov-med-anine-kierulf
rss-kull
rss-bak-luftfarten
hagespiren-podcast