Unit III

The Tudor age

The Plan:

1. Absolute Monarchy
2. Henry VII
3. Henry VIII
3.1 Problems with the Catholic Church
3.2 Henrys wives
3.3 The Reformation
4. Edward VI
5. Bloody Mary
6. Elizabeth I
6.1 Mary, the Queen of Scots
6.2 King Philip and Francis Drake
6.3 A Trading Empire
7.Tudor Parliaments
8. Renaissance
Bibliography : Yu. Golitsinski Great Britian p. 95-124; J. Grecu British Civilization p. 21-29

The Tudor Age

1. Absolute Monarchy
The Tudor period lasted from 1485 till 1603. The
16th century was the age of a growing absolutism of
monarchy and centralization of the state.
These phenomena facilitated the development and
foundation of new capitalist relations in production.
In historical development the rule of the Tudors
contributed to the strengthening of its absolute
power in international affairs. For the Tudors a
country which was Englands greatest trade rival
was also its greatest enemy. This idea remained
the basis of Englands foreign policy until the 19 th
century.

Henry VII

2. HENRY VII (1457-1509)

Henry VII was very important in establishing the new monarchy. He
based royal power on good relations with the growing classes of
merchants and gentry. Henry VII believed, that business was good for
the state. Thats why he made an important trade agreement with the
Netherland, witch allowed English trade to grow. Henry VII built a
huge fleet of merchant ships to develop international trade. He also
believed that wars ruined a countrys economy, and he avoided quarrels
with Scotland and France.
Henry VII was fortunate. He was very rich with the confiscated wealth
of his defeated rivals. This meant that Henry had more money than
earlier kings. He forbade anyone, except himself to the keep army.
Henrys aim was to make the Crown financially independent.
He took the lands from the old nobility and gave them to the merchant
and gentry classes. Of course, it made him unpopular with the old
nobility. But Henry, like his new nobility, dreamed of peace and
prosperity for his kingdom.

Henry VIII

3. Henry VIII
King Henry VIII was born in 1491. He was quite unlike his
father. He was cruel and wasteful with money. In 1509 he
married Catherine of Aragon. At that time Henry was a tall
and strong young man. He loved singing and reading and
writing. Henry went to church three or four times every
day. The Pope in Rome the most important man in the
Catholic church was very happy with him. Henry wanted a
son, the heir to the English throne. After 15 years Henry
and Catherine had one daughter, but no son. Henry asked
the Pope to allow him to divorce Catherine but the Pope
forbade him to do it.

3.1 Problems with the Catholic Church

3.1 Problems with the Catholic

Church.
Henry disliked the power of the Church in
England: it was an international organization , so
he could not control it. The power of the
Catholic Church worked against Henrys
authority. But Henry VIII wanted to have an
important influence on European politics : at that
time France and Spain were more powerful than
England.

3.2 Henrys wives

3.2 Henrys wives.

Henry had six wives: the first wife Catherine of
Aragon (mother of Bloody Mary) was divorced;
the second Ann Boleyn (mother of Elizabeth I)
was beheaded for unfaithfulness; the third Jane
Seymour (mother of Edward VI) died in
childbirth; the fourth Ann of Cleves, was
divorced; the fifth Catherine Howard was
beheaded on a charge of infidelity; the sixth
Catherine Parr survived him. The fate of Henrys
wives is humorously described by some school
teachers with the following rhyme:
divorced, beheaded, died,
divorced, beheaded, survived.

3.3 The Reformation

3.3 The Reformation

The Pope forbade Henrys divorce with his first wife Catherine
of Aragon. Thats why Henry got angry. He made the English
bishops to break away from the Catholic Church. Henry VII
wanted to establish a new Church in England, the head of which
would be the English monarch. In 1531 the Church of England
was established in the country. This became law after
Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy in 1534. Now Henry
was free to divorce Catherine and marry his new love Ann
Boleyn. But Henrys break with Rome was only political. He simply
wanted to control the Church and to keep its wealth in his own
kingdom. He did not approve the ideas of Reformation
Protestantism introduced by Martin Luther and John Calvin.
Henry still believed in the Catholic faith. But when he broke
with Rome, he wanted to make the break legal. Between 1532
and 1536 Parliament passed several Acts, by which England
officially became a Protestant country.

4. Edward VI
Henry died in 1547, leaving three children.
Mary, the eldest, was the daughter of
Catherine of Aragon. Elizabeth was the
daughter of his second wife, Ann Boleyn.
Edward was the son of Jane Seymour, the
only wife whom Henry had really loved but
who had died giving birth to his only son.
Edward was a child of 9 years old when he
became king, so the country was ruled by a
council. The members of the council were
keen Protestant Reformers because they
had benefited from the sale of monastery
lands. Most English people still believed in
the old Catholic religion. In 1552 a new
prayer book was introduced to make sure
that all churches followed the new
Protestant religion. Edward died in 1553
when he was 16 years old.

5. Bloody Mary
After Edwards death Mary, the
Catholic daughter of Catherine
of Aragon, became queen of
England. Mary was unwise and
made mistakes in her policy. She
married King Philip II of Spain,
but it was a bad choice. The
English people were afraid that
this marriage would place
England under foreign control.
Then Mary began burning
Protestants. Three hundred
people died in this way during
her five-year reign. For these
executions she was called
Bloody Mary.

6.Elizabeth I
When Mary died in 1558, her sister Elizabeth
became Queen of England and Wales and ruled
for forty-five years, but she had no husband
and no children. In order to make England
prosperous country Elizabeth brought together
two parts of English society (Catholic and
Protestant), which were in disagreement. The
Church was still under her authority. The
parish, the area served by one church, became
the unit of state administration. People had to
go to church on Sundays by Law and they were
fined if they stayed away. Elizabeth also
introduced a book of sermons to be used in
church. This book taught the people that
rebellion against the Crown was a sin against
God. The policy of Elizabeth I was one of
compromise and settlement. In foreign affairs
she continued the work of Henry VII
encouraging the expansion of the English trade.

6.1 Mary Queen of Scots

Mary, the Scottish queen, a Catholic,
usually called Queen of Scots, was the heir
to the English throne because she was
Elizabeths closest relative, as Elizabeth
had no children. Mary had powerful
enemies in Scotland and had to escape to
England. Elizabeth kept her in the Tower
of London as a prisoner for nearly 20
years. During that time several Catholic
plots were discovered, which aimed at
making Mary queen of England. Finally
Elizabeth agreed to Marys execution in
1587. Many people approved of Marys
execution. By 1585 most English people
believed that to be a Catholic was to be an
enemy of England. This hatred of
everything Catholic became an important
political force.

King Philip II and Francis Drake

6.2 King Philip and Francis Drake

During Elizabeths reign England became a great sea power. English sailors, the
most famous of which are Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh, challenged the
Spaniards in the Atlantic Ocean. They made raids on the Spanish colonies in
America and captured Spanish ships that carried treasure from the New World to
Spain. Elizabeth helped the Dutch Protestants. At that time the Netherlands was
part of the Spanish empire . King Philip II of Spain was trying to suppress the
Protestant rebellion there. He sent his army to the Netherlands. Elizabeth did the
same. So Philip had to fight with England. He built a huge fleet of ships, which
became known as the Invincible Armada. England was in danger. Elizabeth spoke
to her soldiers, who were going to fight with the Armada. She said, that she was
ready to live or die amongst you for my God, and for my kingdom, and for my
people I know I am a weak woman, but I have the heart of a king and a King of
England too!
The two fleets were fighting for six days. On the 9 th of August 1588 the Armada
was defeated. Only half the ships of the Armada returned to Spain.
Philip started again and built a new Armada, but it was defeated more by bad
weather than by English guns. It was a great victory for England.

Trading Empire

6.3 Trading Empire

Elizabeth encouraged English traders to settle abroad and
create colonies. This policy led directly to Britains colonial
empire of the 17th and 18th centuries.
In 1584 some English people went to live in Virginia, in America.
England began selling West African slaves for the Spanish in
America. Sir Walter Raleigh brought tobacco to England.
The second half of the 16th century was famous for development
of trade with foreign lands. During Elizabeths reign so-called
chartered companies gave some of its profits to the Crown.

Tudor Parliaments

7. Tudor Parliaments
The Tudor monarchs didnt like governing through parliament. Henry
VII used Parliament only for introducing new laws. Henry VII used it
to raise money for war and for his struggle with Rome. But the Tudor
monarchs didnt get rid of Parliament, because they needed the
support of the merchants, whose representatives sat in Parliament.
During the 16th century real power in Parliament moved from the
House of Lords to the house of Commons, because the members of
the House of Commons represented richer and more influential
classes. The monarchy used its influence to make Parliament support
royal policy. In order to control discussion in Parliament, the Crown
appointed a Speaker. The growing authority of Parliament led to the
question about the limits of its power. By the end of the 16 th century,
when the gentry and merchant classes realized their strength, it was
obvious that sooner or later Parliament would challenge the Crown.

Renaissance
in England

8. Renaissance in England
Renaissance was the period in Europe between the 14th and 17th
centuries, when people became interested in the art, literature and
ideas of ancient Greece. This interest caused the appearance of
outstanding thinkers, scientists, artists and writers.
England felt the effects of the Renaissance later than much of
Europe because it was an island. In the 16th century English thinkers
became interested in the work of the Dutch philosopher Erasmus. One
of them, Thomas More, wrote a book in which he described an ideal
nation. The book was called Utopia. It was very popular throughout
Europe. The Renaissance also influenced religion, music, painting and
literature. In literature such names as Christopher Marlowe, Ben
Jonson, Edmund Spenser and William Shakespeare were very popular.
But the most famous of them is William Shakespeare. He was born on
the 23 of April 1564; died 23 April 1616. He was an English poet and
playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English
language. Shakespeare was born and brought up in Stratford-uponAvon. Shakespeares popularity has not died down until our time. His
plays are still staged in many theatres throughout the world.

The Conclusion:
Elizabethan Age was one of the
greatest periods of English
literature, painting and music.
Elizabeths court became a
centre of culture in England.
The English were proud of their
country and their queen.