We are going to learn about the lives of the Kings and Queens who ruled Britain from 1485 to 1603.

We are going to look at what type of people they were and what happened during their reigns.

We will look at the reigns of various monarchs.

Henry VII became king of England in 1485 when he defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field. This ended a civil war known as the War of the Roses and established the Tudor dynasty. He married Elizabeth of York and made a new family badge from the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster. He liked money and by the time he died he had made a great fortune.

Henry VIII was the son of Henry VII. He came to the throne in 1509 when his father died. He had six wives. When the pope refused to let him divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, Henry did anyway and made himself Head of a new Protestant religion known as the Church of England and took the power for himself. He later married Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr.

Edward was king for only a short time and died when he was just 15. Both he and his advisers were devoted protestants. They made many changes to church services and introduced a new English prayer book.

Mary  married Philip II of Spain. She was keen to make England a catholic country once again. Many people were killed for being protestant. Mary wanted children but was unable to have them. When she died of cancer in 1558 her 25 year old half sister Elizabeth became queen.

Elizabeth was a strong and formidable queen. Unlike Mary I, she was a protestant and became the supreme Governor of the Church of England. Elizabeth dealt very firmly with anyone who disagreed with her beliefs. Elizabeth's religion and her relationships with other countries led to war with Spain. Elizabeth died without having any children.

 Catherine Of AragonCatherine of Aragon was a Spanish princess. She was the daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen

Isabella of Spain, and at first was married to Henry's brother Arthur. Henry married Catherine to keep the peace with Spain after Arthur died. This marriage was organized by Henry VII a short time

before he died, but took place after his death in 1509, when Henry was almost 18 and Catherine was 23.

    Catherine gave birth to Mary, later to become known as Bloody Mary. Henry VIII needed a son to provide a male heir to the throne and so he  tried to persuade her to become a Nun. Catherine

refused, and after two years of arguments with the Pope, Henry created a new Archbishop who was prepared to declare the marriage annulled in 1532. Catherine was then banished from the Court

and separated from her daughter. It is said that she died of a broken heart, four years later.  

 

               

     Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn was English and was Maid-in-Waiting to Catherine of Aragon. Henry maiired her in 1533. She gave birth to Elizabeth who became Elizabeth I. Henry still wanted a son so he charged Anne with treason, after making up false evidence against her. She was finally executed at the Tower of London, where she was beheaded with a sword, in 1536  

                  Jane Seymour

Jane was lady in waiting to Anne and married Henry eleven days after Anne's execution. She gave birth to Edward VI and died soon after that.