18 February – The Ridolfi Plot against Elizabeth I and the birthday of Queen Mary I

On this day in history, 18th February 1612, Italian banker Roberto di Ridolfi died in Florence, Italy, aged 80.

Amazingly, he died a natural death even though he'd been the brains behind the Ridolfi Plot, a plot to depose Queen Elizabeth I and to replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots, thereby restoring Catholicism in England.

Find out more about Ridolfi and his famous plot in this talk...

Also on this day in Tudor history, 18th February 1516, the birth of Queen Mary I.

Find out more about her birth, baptism, and some of her achievements as queen in this video...