Edward VI

“The last royal Tudor Baby”

Lifetime: October 12, 1537 - July 6, 1553.

Religion: Protestant (implemented Protestant reforms during his

reign). Position: King of England and Ireland.

Type of Reign: Short but significant; marked by Protestant religious reforms.

Contributions:
1. Implemented Protestant reforms, leading to significant religious changes
in England.
2. Promulgated laws favoring the Protestant Reformation, abolishing certain
Catholic practices, and introducing the Book of Common Prayer in
English.

Antecessor: His father, Henry VIII of England.

Successor: His half-sister, Mary I of England.

Important:
Edward VI ascended to the throne at a young age and his reign was
characterized by religious transformation in England. His advisors, including
Thomas Cranmer and Edward Seymour, played a crucial role in shaping the
religious landscape of the country. Edward's reign was marked by the
suppression of Catholic practices and the promotion of Protestantism. Despite
his youth, his influence on the religious direction of England was significant,
although his reign was cut short due to his untimely death at the age of 15.
Following his death, his half-sister Mary I, a devout Catholic, ascended to the
throne and reversed many of the Protestant reforms implemented during
Edward's reign.
Mary I
“From the beloved daughter to the bastard…”

Lifetime: February 18, 1516 - November 17, 1558.

Religion: Catholic (strongly adhered to Roman

Catholicism). Position: Queen of England and Ireland.

Type of Reign: Her reign was marked by an attempt to restore Roman

Catholicism in England after the Protestant reforms of her predecessors.

Contributions:
1. Restoration of Catholicism: Mary I aimed to return England to Roman
Catholicism. She repealed Protestant legislation, restored papal authority,
and persecuted Protestant reformers, earning her the nickname "Bloody
Mary" due to the harsh measures taken against Protestants.

2. Marriage to Philip II of Spain: Mary's marriage to Philip II of Spain was

intended to strengthen Catholic alliances in Europe. However, it proved
unpopular in England, contributing to her unpopularity among her
subjects.

Negative Aspects:
1. Persecution of Protestants: Mary I's reign was marred by the persecution
of Protestants. Hundreds of Protestants were executed, and many others
fled the country to escape religious persecution.

2. Loss of Calais: During her reign, England lost Calais, its last remaining
territory in France, which had significant economic and strategic
implications.

3. Political Unrest: Mary's marriage to the Catholic King Philip II of Spain

 raised concerns about foreign influence, leading to political unrest and
opposition from her Protestant subjects.
4. Failure to Produce an Heir: Mary's marriage to Philip II was childless,
and her death without a direct heir led to the end of the Tudor dynasty and
the ascension of her Protestant half-sister, Elizabeth I.

Important:
Mary I's reign was a turbulent period in English history, characterized by
religious conflict and political challenges, leaving a lasting impact on the
country's religious landscape.

Elizabeth I
“The Virgin Queen”

Lifetime: September 7, 1533 - March 24, 1603.

Religion: Protestant (Established the Elizabethan Religious Settlement, a

moderate Protestant policy).

Position: Queen of England and Ireland.

Type of Reign: Elizabeth I's reign is often referred to as the Elizabethan Era.
She ruled with a strong and savvy leadership style, promoting stability and
prosperity in England.

Contributions:
1. Religious Stability: Elizabeth I implemented the Elizabethan Religious
Settlement, which established a moderate Protestant church in England.
This policy helped bring stability to the religious tensions that had
plagued England for years.

2. Golden Age: Elizabeth's reign was a time of cultural and economic

 flourishing. It saw the flourishing of English literature, including the
works of William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe. The era is often
called the "Golden Age" due to its artistic, literary, and architectural
achievements.
3. Defeat of the Spanish Armada: In 1588, Elizabeth I's navy successfully
repelled the Spanish Armada, a significant naval victory that bolstered
England's status as a maritime power and reinforced Elizabeth's rule.

4. Exploration and Colonization: Elizabeth I supported exploration and

colonization efforts, leading to English ventures in the New World,
including the establishment of colonies in North America.

Challenges:
1. Mary, Queen of Scots: Elizabeth I faced threats from her Catholic cousin,
Mary, Queen of Scots, who was considered by some as the rightful heir to
the English throne. Mary's supporters plotted against Elizabeth, creating
political and religious tensions.

2. Economic Challenges: Despite the overall prosperity of her reign,

Elizabeth faced economic challenges, including inflation and financial
strain due to expensive military campaigns.

3. Heirless Legacy: Elizabeth I never married and remained childless. Her

death in 1603 led to the end of the Tudor dynasty, passing the throne to
James VI of Scotland, uniting England and Scotland under one monarch.

Important:
Elizabeth I's reign is remembered as a time of cultural brilliance and political
acumen, shaping England's trajectory as a world power during the Renaissance
period.

Edward VI - Complementary info:

“The last royal Tudor Baby”

Edward VI was Henry VIII and Jane Seymour's son. He became King of
England and Ireland when he was nine years old, after the death of his father.
During his short reign, England became more Protestant as Protestant advisors
influenced his policies. Edward's reign was marked by religious reforms. His
reign was dominated by others, symptomatic of the power-plays and
infighting dominating the court. Edward VI was a figurehead. nothing more, in
a time of great change.

His reign was short but significant, marked by religious reforms. Under
the guidance of advisors such as Thomas Cranmer and Edward Seymour,
England became more Protestant due to the influence of Protestant counselors.

The young king enacted laws favoring the Protestant Reformation. Certain
Catholic practices, like the veneration of images and relics, were abolished.
Additionally, the Book of Common Prayer, a liturgical text in English reflecting
Protestant beliefs, was introduced. Edward found his reign degraded by
continued conflict with both Scotland and France as well as economic issues.

The "Treaty of Greenwich" was an agreement signed on July 1, 1543,

between England and Scotland during the reign of King Henry VIII of England.
with two main goals: establishing peace between Scotland and England as well
as securing the marriage of Edward VI and Mary, Queen of Scots.

The purpose of this treaty was to establish an alliance between the two
countries through the proposed marriage between the future King Edward VI of
England, son of Henry VIII, and Mary, the daughter of James V of Scotland.

However, this treaty never materialized due to the death of Henry VIII in
1547 and the subsequent death of James V of Scotland in 1542. Tensions
between the two countries persisted, and the marital alliance never came to
fruition. The subsequent history of England and Scotland was marked by
intermittent conflicts and shifting alliances between the two nations.

Mary I - Complementary info:

“From the beloved daughter to the bastard…”
She was the daughter of King Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.
She became queen when Edward VI died, she was sixteen years old.

She was the first queen of England since Matilda, 400 years earlier. At that time
women were considered to be inferior to men. The marriage of a queen was
therefore a difficult matter. If Mary married an Englishman she would be under
the control of a man of lesser importance. If she married a foreigner it might
place England under foreign control.

Mary, for political, religious and family reasons, chose to marry King Philip of
Spain. (It was an unfortunate choice). Mary's marriage to Philip was the first
mistake of her unfortunate reign. She then began burning Protestants. Three
hundred people died in this way during her five-year reign, and the burnings
began to sicken people. At the same time, the thought of becoming a junior ally
of Spain was very unpopular.

Mary I, a devout Catholic, sought to restore Roman Catholicism in England after

her father's and brother's Protestant reforms. Her attempts to reverse
Protestantism led to intense persecution of Protestants, earning her the
nickname "Bloody Mary." Hundreds of Protestants were executed during her
reign.

Mary I died on November 17, 1558, ending her efforts to restore Catholicism in
England. Her death paved the way for the Protestant reign of her half-sister,
Elizabeth I, who brought religious stability and cultural flourishing during the
Elizabethan Era.

Mary I's reign is remembered for its religious intolerance and persecution.
While her efforts to restore Catholicism were largely unsuccessful, they left a
lasting impact on the religious landscape of England, contributing to a period of
religious tension and division

Elizabeth I - Complementary info:

“The Virgin Queen”
Elizabeth became Queen of England and Ireland on November 17, 1558, after the
death of her sister, Mary I. Her reign lasted for 45 years, making her one of the
most iconic monarchs in English history.

Elizabeth I established the Elizabethan Religious Settlement, which aimed to

achieve religious stability in England. This moderate Protestant policy allowed
for some Catholic traditions while promoting Protestant beliefs.

Her reign was marked by a cultural renaissance, known as the Elizabethan Era.
It saw the works of William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and other
literary giants, making it a golden age for English literature and drama.

One of Elizabeth's most significant achievements was the defeat of the Spanish
Armada, a powerful fleet sent by Spain to invade England. This victory
established England as a formidable naval power.

Elizabeth I supported exploration and colonization efforts, leading to the

establishment of colonies in North America, laying the foundation for the
British Empire.

Elizabeth I's legacy includes her role in shaping England's national identity,
fostering cultural achievements, and establishing a stable religious framework.
Her era is remembered as a time of artistic brilliance, political astuteness, and
military triumph.

Elizabeth I died on March 24, 1603, ending the Tudor dynasty. Her death led to
the peaceful succession of James VI of Scotland, who became James I of
England, uniting the crowns of England and Scotland.