The Tudor Society

  • Sir Edward Stafford – A diplomat and suspected spy

    6 hours ago Author: Claire Ridgway
    No comment yet
    William Cecil, Philip II, Elizabeth I and Sir Francis Walsingham

    On this day in history, 5th February 1605, Sir Edward Stafford, Elizabethan diplomat, MP, and suspected spy, died. His life was one of political manoeuvring, intrigue, and scandal—his story a fascinating mix of loyalty, ambition, and betrayal.

    So, who was Edward Stafford, and why does his name carry the stain of espionage?

    Born in 1552, Edward had impressive Tudor lineage. His mother, Dorothy Stafford, was the granddaughter of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham (executed by Henry VIII), and also the great-granddaughter of George, Duke of Clarence, who was allegedly drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine on the orders of his brother, Edward IV.

    [Read More...]

  • Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, a victim of Henry VIII’s paranoia

    2 days ago Author: Claire Ridgway
    No comment yet
    Portrait of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, aged 42

    What happens when ambition, power, and royal paranoia collide? Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, was one of the wealthiest and most influential men in Tudor England—a man with royal blood and a life of privilege. But his story ends with betrayal, scandal, and a rigged trial.

    Was he a victim of Henry VIII’s fear of rivals, or was there truth to the charges against him?

    Edward Stafford was born on this day in Tudor history, 3rd February 1478, at Brecon Castle, a member of the powerful Stafford family. His father, the 2nd Duke of Buckingham, had rebelled against Richard III and paid the ultimate price—execution in 1483. Young Edward’s life began in turmoil, but it seemed his fortunes would improve when Henry VII came to the throne in 1485.

    [Read More...]

  • #OTD in Tudor history – 2 August

    6 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
    No comment yet
    Photo of Thornbury Castle and a portrait of Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham

    On this day in Tudor history, Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, was granted a licence to found a college at his manor of Thornbury; an English Protestant was burned in Rome; and Spanish forces landed on the Cornish coast…

    [Read More...]

  • #OTD in Tudor History – 3 February

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
    No comment yet
    Portraits of William Cecil, Lord Burghley, and Mary, Queen of Scots

    On this day in Tudor history, 3rd February, Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was born, Silken Thomas was executed, and Elizabeth I’s privy council met and agreed to send Mary, Queen of Scot’s death warrant to Fotheringhay without Elizabeth’s knowledge…

    [Read More...]

  • August 2 – Thornbury Castle

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
    No comment yet
    A photo of Thornbury Castle and a portrait of its owner and builder, Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham

    On this day in Tudor history, 2nd August 1514, Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, was granted a licence to found a college at Thornbury in Gloucestershire.

    There had been a manor there since the 10th century, but it was Buckingham who built Thornbury Castle. He obtained a licence to crenelate his manor in 1510 and building work began in 1511. Thornbury was built to the medieval quadrangular layout, with a large outer courtyard. The entrance front with its central gatehouse and octagonal corner towers is still standing, as are two of the side ranges. The surrounding curtain wall is intact on three sides.

    Buckingham never saw it completed. He was executed in 1521. The manor was seized by Henry VIII, who stayed there with Anne Boleyn in 1535.

    [Read More...]

  • February 3 – Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham

    2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
    No comment yet

    On 3rd February 1478, in the reign of King Edward IV, Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was born at Brecon Castle.

    His father, the 2nd Duke of Buckingham, was executed as a traitor in Richard III’s reign and Edward came to the same end in 1521, in King Henry VIII’s reign.

    Let me tell you a bit more about this Duke of Buckingham…

    [Read More...]

  • This week in Tudor history Part 1 – An alchemist, the Princes in the Tower’s doctor, and a duke who suffered a rigged trial

    4 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
    2 Comments

    In this first part of “This week in Tudor history”, I look at Tudor history events for 1st, 2nd and 3rd February.

    1st February 1552, in the reign of King Edward VI – The birth of Roger Cooke, an alchemist who worked for Dr John Dee, Francis Anthony, the Wizard Earl (Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland) and Sir Walter Ralegh, and a man with whom Dee shared the secret of a special elixir…

    [Read More...]

  • 17 May – The Duke of Buckingham and his Plantagenet blood

    5 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
    No comment yet
    Portrait of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, aged 42

    On this day in Tudor history, 17th May 1521, Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was executed for treason on Tower Hill.

    He’d served King Henry VII and King Henry VIII loyally for many years, so what led to this nobleman being condemned for high treason?

    [Read More...]

  • Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham (1478-1521)

    7 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
    1 Comment
    Portrait of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, aged 42

    Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was one of Henry VII’s and Henry VIII’s main associates in court. He attended the coronation of both kings and played an important part in each of their reigns. But how he ended up in that position of favour is a fascinating story, as is his eventual demise.

    Edward Stafford was born on 3 February 1478 and his parents were Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, and Catherine Woodville. Catherine was the sister of Elizabeth Woodville, wife of King Edward IV. Following his father’s execution in Richard III’s reign, Edward’s mother went on to marry Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford and the uncle of King Henry VII.

    Due to his father’s rebellion against Richard III in 1483, young Edward was hidden and moved around to different properties in and around Hertfordshire to keep him safe and out of harm’s way. His father’s rebellion against the king led to him losing his honours and being executed in November 1483. In 1485, Edward was honoured by the new king, Henry VII, by being made a Knight of the Order of the Bath, and he was made a ward of Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and the king’s mother. Unfortunately, this meant that Margaret was also granted all of his lands.

    [Read More...]

  • Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham

    8 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
    1 Comment
    Portrait of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, aged 42

    Hello, and welcome to my new series “The King’s Men”. Each month I will be writing an article exploring the life of one man that served Henry VIII. Some of these men had prosperous careers, reaching wondrous heights at court and exerting great influence under the King. Other men reached to high and met their end under orders of Henry VIII. However, each man left their imprint on Henry’s court and history, and it is the lives of these men that I will be exploring each month.

    This month I will be looking at the life of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham.

    [Read More...]