3. The Founder: Henry VII
• His Welsh blood and descent from royal
illegitimacy made his claim to the
throne rather laughable.
• Nevertheless, he was adopted by the
Lancastrian faction of the nobility
displeased with the York factions’
dominance.
• Crowned on the battlefield after the
defeat and death of King Richard III at
Bosworth Field in 1485.
• Affirmed his claim to the throne by
papal decree, filled the state coffers,
brought the nobles to heel, and sired
heirs. A very successful reign!
4. The Tyrant: Henry VIII
• Inherited a secure and prosperous kingdom
from his father, Henry VIII. He reigned
from 1509-1547.
• Married six times and was the father of
three future monarchs: Edward VI, from
his third wife Jane Seymour. Mary I, from
his first wife Catherine of Aragon.
Elizabeth I, from his second wife Anne
Boleyn.
• Though he possessed a formidable and
shrewd intellect he is often perceived to
have been disinterested in the rigors of
governance.
• The second half of his reign saw England’s
split from the Catholic church,
social upheaval in the form internal revolt,
the the death of 4 of his wives (2 by
execution), the execution of his
2 top advisors, as well as the execution of
other high nobility and clergy. Despite the
horrors of his later reign fascination with
Henry persists to this day.
6. The prominent advisors of Henry VIII
• Cardinal Thomas Woolsey, born of common blood and rose to
the heights of political and religious power.
• Served as Henry’s Chancellor, chief political advisor and papal
legate.
• Woolsey was often thought of as the real power behind the
throne due to the often disinterested nature of Henry’s rule.
• By all accounts an extremely hardworking and capable
administrator Henry finally grew tired of him in 1532 because
of his seeming lack of enthusiasm in finding resolution to the
King’s “great matter” (divorcing Catherine, marrying Anne).
• Thomas Cromwell was another self-made man and protégé of Woolsey. A
solicitor by trade he also proved to have exceptional administrative and
political talents. Assumed Woolsey’s position as the king’s chief advisor upon
his downfall.
• He was what would be considered a religious radical and follower of Martin
Luther and the Protestant reformation. His religious motives and a way to
solve the King’s “great matter” fortuitously coincided.
• His downfall is precipitated by court intrigue among staunch Catholics and
Henry’s unhappiness with Anne of Cleves, daughter of a protestant German
prince, who was suggested by Cromwell.
7. The Boy King: Edward VI
• Only 9 when his father died his
ascension to the throne was
accompanied by powerful and
ambitious regents like his uncle
Thomas Seymour, brother of Henry’s
3rd wife Jane.
• He was always a frail and sickly child
and long life for him was not
expected.
• Nonetheless, he was well educated
and had his own ideas about how the
Kingdom should be managed but was
always dominated by his powerful
uncles.
• His death at age 16 instigated furious
political machinations and a brief
succession crisis before his eldest
half-sister Mary I assumed the throne
8. The Zealot: Mary I
• Embittered by her years of disownment Mary
was a cold and ruthless religious fanatic for the
Catholic faith.
• She trook great steps to restor the “old religion”
to England including the execution of
“heretics”. Though she was often capable of
great acts of kindness, clemency and charity to
the poor.
• She, like her brother, suffered from poor health
and never bore children.
9. The Virgin Queen: Elizabeth I
• The only child of Henry’s stormy
relationship with Anne Boleyn.
After Anne’s execution Elizabeth
suffered the same indignities and
legitimacy questions as Mary.
• She was a committed Protestant
and skilled political operator which
allowed her to avoid the potential
pitfalls during Mary and Edward’s
reigns.
• The controversies of Mary’s foreign
husband and heavy handed
attempts to restory Catholicism
made the public especially
receptive to her perceived
“Englishness” and politically
popular religious positions.
• She reigned with no husband,
children, or family beside her and
oversaw the beginning of the
historic British Empire.
Editor's Notes
The sure-handed, fruitful reign of Henry VII is consistently in the shadows of the tumultuous reign of his son. What we do know of Henry VII is best summed up by G.J. Meyer in his book “The Tudors” : “… the thing that always comes through is his unfailing competence. In temperament he appears to have been more like a modern corporate executive of remarkably high caliber – cooly savvy, demanding but amiable enough, a good judge of risk and reward – than some swashbuckling medieval warrior king … He took the one great chance that fate offered him, pulled it off, and devoted the rest of his life to the careful consolidation of his winnings”.
1. Catherine of Aragon – daughter of iconic monarchs Ferdinand & Isabella of Spain. By accounts, an intelligent, accomplished, and worthy queen. Mother of Mary I, her only surviving child. Henry’s obsession with a male heir led to the dissolution of their marriage. 2. Ann Boleyn – daughter of a fast rising political family. Her father, Sir Thomas Boleyn was the French ambassador and her uncle was the Duke of Norfolk. She was the catalyst of the king’s “great matter” and a committed protestant in her own right. Her failure to produce a male heir and the intrigue of her enemies at court led to her execution. 3. Jane Seymour – daughter of an ambitious political family. Her brother Edward had a long career in royal service including acting as regent for Edward VI. She seemed to have a truly loving relationship with Henry and give him what he desired most of all, the future Edward VI. She died of a fever 12 days after giving birth. 4. Anne of Cleves – daughter of a prominent Protestant German duke. This was a politically calculated marriage arranged by Thomas Cromwell. Henry was deeply unsatisfied with her looks and the marriage was annulled. This was a key factor in Cromwell’s downfall. 5. Kathryn Howard – a daughter of impoverished nobility she was young & nubile and charmed the king. The marriage was short lived as Henry discovered her far less than chaste past, including committing adultery even after marriage to Henry. She was executed after less than 18 months of marriage. 6. Katherine Parr – a relativey young & widowed noblewoman she was in love with Jane Seymour’s youngest brother. Henry sent the rival away and began to court her and she felt she had no choice but to acquiesce. Often given credit to rebuilding the relationship between Henry and his daughters which resulted in them being returned to the line of succession.
