On 11th March 1513, Giovanni di Lorenzo de’ Medici was proclaimed Pope Leo X—a man who would leave a lasting mark on the Catholic Church and European history.

Born into the powerful Medici family, Leo was the son of Lorenzo the Magnificent, ruler of Florence and a patron of the arts. From an early age, Giovanni was destined for the Church—he was made a cardinal at just 13 years old! By the time he was elected pope in 1513, he held not just religious power but also political dominance as head of the Papal States and his influential family in Florence.

But what kind of pope was Leo X? Well, let’s just say he wasn’t your typical, pious, reform-driven leader.

Leo X was a true Renaissance pope. He transformed Rome into a thriving cultural hub, attracting artists, poets, and scholars to his court. One of his most famous protégés was Raphael, the great painter and architect. Under Leo’s patronage, Raphael worked on St. Peter’s Basilica and painted some of his most stunning works.

he was the wife of a Boleyn descendant, the patron of some of Elizabeth I’s greatest minds, and a member of the powerful Spencer dynasty, the same family as Princess Diana. Yet, history has largely forgotten Elizabeth Carey, Lady Hunsdon.

Meet Elizabeth Carey (née Spencer), Lady Hunsdon, a Tudor noblewoman who lived a life of influence, power, and cultural significance.

Born on 29th June 1552 at Althorp (yes, the same family estate later associated with Princess Diana!), Elizabeth was part of the powerful Spencer dynasty, being the sixth child of Sir John Spencer and his wife, Katherine Kitson.

Through marriage to Sir George Carey, later 2nd Baron Hunsdon, grandson of Mary Boleyn, in 1574, Elizabeth became linked to the legacy of Anne Boleyn and Queen Elizabeth I. The couple had one daughter, and their marriage was reportedly happy—Carey even described Elizabeth as “the sweetest Companion that ever Man hathe found in this lief.” After Carey’s death in 1603, Elizabeth married Ralph Eure, 3rd Baron Eure. But it was in the world of literature and music that she made her mark.

Murder, political betrayal, royal intrigue… The life of Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton, had it all. He was a survivor in a dangerous world, navigating the courts of Elizabeth I and James I, escaping imprisonment five times, and playing a shadowy role in one of the most scandalous murder cases of the 17th century.

But who was he? And how did he go from being a suspected traitor to one of the most powerful men in England? Stick around as we uncover the secrets of this Tudor earl—his rise, his rivalries, and his connection to a deadly conspiracy…

Birthday boy Henry Howard was born into one of England’s most prestigious families on 24th February 1540. But that didn’t mean his life was destined to be easy… because his family was already marked by treason.

His father? None other than Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey—the poet and courtier executed by Henry VIII in 1547 for alleged treason. His brother? Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk—executed by Elizabeth I for plotting to marry Mary, Queen of Scots. With this kind of family history, you’d think Henry would learn to stay away from treasonous schemes… but you’d be wrong.

She served five of Henry VIII’s queens, witnessed scandal, betrayal, and power shifts, and became the closest confidante of the last Tudor queen consort—yet history has largely forgotten her.

She was Anne Herbert (née Parr), Countess of Pembroke, the younger sister of Catherine Parr.

Anne played a key role in Tudor court life, navigating its dangers with intelligence and grace. She stood beside queens who lost their heads, carried out high-stakes royal duties, and even found herself entrusted with the doomed Catherine Howard’s jewels.

But who was Anne Herbert beyond her royal connections? What was her true role at court? And how did she manage to stay in favour through so many royal changes?

On this day in Tudor history, 10th February 1564, Henry Neville, 5th Earl of Westmorland, died—but not before leaving behind a legacy of scandal, treason, and… magic?

In 1536, at just 11 years old, Henry Neville, who was the eldest son of Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmorland, and Catherine Stafford, and the grandson of the executed Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was taken hostage during the Pilgrimage of Grace, a major Tudor rebellion. His captors used him as a bargaining chip to force his father’s compliance—quite the dramatic start to his life!

By 1546, Neville had racked up huge gambling debts and was desperate for a way out. So what did he do? He purchased a magical ring that supposedly summoned angels to help clear his debts! Spoiler alert: it didn’t work, and he landed in Fleet Prison.