On this day in Tudor history, 28 October 1479, a man was born who would rise to the highest offices of state, and somehow survive the reigns of four Tudor monarchs.

I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and today I’m talking about Sir John Gage: soldier, administrator, and courtier to Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I.

Gage’s life was a masterclass in cautious loyalty.

He held the keys to the Tower of London, helped dissolve the monasteries, investigated conspiracies, and stood at the heart of Tudor power through decades of religious and political upheaval.

But what was he really: a man of faith and duty, or a shrewd survivor in a dangerous age?

Join me as we explore the extraordinary life of Sir John Gage, the Tudor who managed to keep his head while those around him lost theirs.

Tell me in the comments:

Was Gage’s careful loyalty wisdom… or opportunism?

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