The Early Tudors

Henry VII (1485-1509)

 First Tudor King of England after “The War of the Roses”
 Created new family emblem (combining the white rose of York with red rose of
Lancaster)
 Introduced high taxes, banned nobles from creating own armies (but still had
to face attackers who had help from Scotland and Ireland)
 Sponsored John Cabot to explore E America and Nova Scotia. Erasmus of
Rotterdam brought Humanism to Oxford and Cambridge Universities and
Thomas More moved England closer to North- European
thinking/Protestantism – England more “cosmopolitan”.
 Died in 1509 – leaving England economically stable/at peace with Scotland
and France

Henry VIII (1509-1547)

 Became King at 18
 Good-looking (bello), skilled at sports/music/poetry
 Initially not in agreement with Martin Luther (who supported Protestantism).
Wrote an attack on Luther and was known as “defender of the faith”, but later,
when he wanted to divorce (to have a son), he changed his mind!
 Reformation – England became independent from Rome (Pope). The Kind
became head of the church with the new law -> “ The Act of Supremacy”. The
King confiscated (took) land and money from monasteries and gave it to a
new merchant class.

 Thomas Cranmer in 1533 was made Archbishop of Canterbury - a dominant

figure in English Reformation. He prepared a new prayer book “The Book of
Common Prayer” sent to all churches. Church services in English instead of
Latin – helped develop English Language

Edward VI (1547-1553)
 9 years old when his father died
 Precocious – studied History and Protestant theology
 Made it compulsory to use English in church services (instead of Latin)

Mary I (1553-1558)
 Daughter of Henry VIII (from 1st wife) declared herself Queen
 Wanted to restore Catholicism
 Married Philip II of Spain making England an ally of Spain against France
 Counter-Reformation brought restoration of Catholic rituals
 Mary became known as “Bloody Mary” for burning Protestant martyrs at the
stake (rogo)
 Became ill and left throne to sister Elizabeth