Curated Video
Lady Jane Grey part 10: Queen Jane's Rule Comes to an End
Jane's father, Henry Grey, declares his support for Princess Mary, then informs Jane that her short rule is ending. Jane and her parents hope to cast the blame on only the Duke of Northumberland and his family. This seems increasingly...
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Lady Jane Grey part 8: Princess Mary and Lady Jane Prepare for War
Jane condemns Princess Mary's religion, Catholicism, but knows that this alone will not be enough. She sends an army to capture Mary and encourage people to join their cause in towns along the way. They soon find, however, that towns are...
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Royal Ghosts part 2: Katherine Howard
Katherine Howard became the fifth wife of Henry VIII when she was a teenager and he was in his late 40s. Henry soon grew suspicious of Katherine's friendships with other men, particularly her relationship with Thomas Culpepper. Katherine...
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Royal Ghosts part 1: Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn was a talented and attractive young lady who became the second wife of King Henry VIII. After a few years of marriage without a son, Henry VIII began looking for a new wife and a way to get rid of Anne. in 1536, she was...
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Elizabeth I of England part 4: Religious Tolerance and Choosing a Successor
Calming the tension between Protestants and Catholics was important to Elizabeth I of England. She re-instituted the Church of England as the country's chosen church but repealed strict heresy laws and permitted people to practice...
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How Indistrialization Changed Christmas
Victorian Christmas part 2 The expansion of the railway system across the British Isles and the introduction of Bank holidays made it easier, cheaper, and quicker to travel to see friends and relatives during Christmas. Mass production...
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Lady Jane Grey part 5: Queen of England
On July 8th, 1533, Jane was crowned as Queen of England at the age of 16. She unexpectedly and dramatically threw herself to the floor and sobbed as her parents and in-laws bent the knee to her. Was this the behaviour of a naive young...
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Lady Jane Grey part 4: Lady Jane AND Her Heirs Male
Just before his death, Edward VI made a small but important change to his will that ruled Jane's mother, Frances out of the succession and moved Jane next in line to the thrown. The fact that Jane and her sisters were born in England,...
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Lady Jane Grey part 13: the Duke of Northumberland is Beheaded
Queen Mary arrives in London. John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland goes on trial. Ironically, most of the people deciding his fate had also originally pledged allegiance to Jane. Though he is spared being drawn and quartered, the Duke of...
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How Did the Victorians Celebrate Christmas?
Victorian Christmas part 8 The Victorians were the first to create what we might recognize as a modern Christmas, modifying medieval meals and focusing on family, children, and charity during the holiday season.
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How the Evergreen Tree Became a Symbol of Christmas
Victorian Christmas part 1 During the Victorian era, Christmas evolved to become a family-oriented holiday and the tradition of the Christmas tree began! Learn how an image of Queen Victoria popularized the evergreen tree as a symbol of...
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Lady Mary Grey part 5: Freedom at Last
After about 8 years of house arrest, Lady Mary was finally granted freedom at the age of 27. She spend the time reconnecting with family and friends and building a comfortable home for herself. Lady Mary also succeeded in winning back...
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Aethelflaed part 3: Marriage to Aethelred, Ruler of Mercia
Around 886, Alfred took London, reverting it back to Saxon hands. He quickly handed London to Lord Aethelraed of Mercia, perhaps as a wedding gift. Aethelraed and Aethelflaed were married around 886. The couple poured their money and...
Weird History
Facts About Richard III | History's Most Reviled King
King Richard III of England is remembered as one of history’s most villainous royals: a cruel, calculating hunchback who did whatever it took to secure power for himself. But there’s a lot more to Richard than what the detractors want...
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Elizabeth I of England part 6: Why the Virgin Queen Could be Cruel
From gendered criticism to mercury poisoning from cosmetics, there are many theories about why Elizabeth I could be so cruel.
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The Invention of the Christmas Cracker
Victorian Christmas part 4 The Christmas Cracker was invented by Tom Smith in 1847. Smith began working in confections and was always looking for new ways to capitalize on the Christmas season. Legend has it that he was inspired to...
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The Invention of the Commercially Available Christmas Card
Victorian Christmas part 3 Sir Henry Cole is usually credited with introducing the commercially available Christmas card. He came up with the idea of creating a single, form card that people could send easily to friends and family rather...
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Elizabeth I of England part 3: Sibling Rivalry
When their brother died in 1553, Elizabeth's sister was crowned Mary I. Mary, a devout Catholic, soon began to distrust her Protestant sister, accusing Elizabeth of involvement in Wyatt's Rebellion of 1554. Despite a lack of evidence,...
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Aethelflaed part 7: Military Strategy and Leadership
Learn how Aethelflaed balanced violence and diplomacy to bring all of England back under united, Anglo-Saxon rule. Did Aethelflaed fight in battle? Or did she direct from behind the lines? How did Aethelflaed and her forces capture Derby...
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Eleanor of Aquitaine part 5: the Angevin Empire
Eleanor and her second husband, Henry II combine their territories to become what is known today as the Angevin Empire, stretching from the Carcassonne in the South of France to Northumbria in the North of England. Eleanor has more...
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Aethelflaed part 4: Life as a Mother and Queen of Mercia
What were the duties of a Anglo-Saxon royal women? Learn what role these women played in social, domestic, and legal affairs in their lands. In addition to the usual responsibilities, in the early 900s, Aethelflaed took on more of the...
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Aethelflaed part 5: A Diplomatic Leader for Mercia
In 902, an army of Danes crossed into Mercia. Rather than battle, Aethelflaed and Aethelred chose a diplomatic solution, giving the Danes a bit of land to live and work and avoiding an armed conflict. Aethelred died soon after. The...
Curated Video
Aethelflaed part 1: Lady of the Mercians Early Life
Aethelflaed was the eldest daughter of Albert the Great. Though Anglo-Saxon women held little political power at the time, Aethelflaed went on to become a queen and a legend. Learn what her early life was like and how she would have...
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Aethelflaed part 8: Legacy and Influence on Later Rulers
In June of 918, Aethelflaed died suddenly at 48 years old. There is dispute as to whether her brother Edward immediately took over as ruler of Mercia or whether her daughter, Aelfwynn ruled for a while. Eventually, Edward's son...