A A BriefBrief History of the History of the English MonarchyEnglish Monarchy

Before the Tudors…Before the Tudors…

• Prior to 1066 - British mainland was Prior to 1066 - British mainland was defined by the feudal systemdefined by the feudal system

-Lesser kings from different -Lesser kings from different Scandinavian regions were Scandinavian regions were

vying for power for centuriesvying for power for centuries

Before the Tudors…Before the Tudors…

• 1066 - William of Normandy is 1066 - William of Normandy is victorious at the Battle of Hastingsvictorious at the Battle of Hastings

• For us, TWO major results:For us, TWO major results:

1) Consolidates power over the 1) Consolidates power over the regionregion

2) Imposes French culture2) Imposes French culture

Before the Tudors…Before the Tudors…

• 1087 - William dies (and the corpse…)1087 - William dies (and the corpse…)

-His death = MASSIVE -His death = MASSIVE competition competition for the crown for the crown

• England basically at war with itself England basically at war with itself off and on until 1485off and on until 1485

Before the Tudors…Before the Tudors…

• 1450-1485 – The War of the Roses1450-1485 – The War of the Roses

-A thirty-five year power struggle -A thirty-five year power struggle for between the House of for between the House of

Lancaster Lancaster and the House of Yorkand the House of York

• 1485 - Henry of Lancaster wins and 1485 - Henry of Lancaster wins and the conflict endsthe conflict ends

Before the Tudors…Before the Tudors…

• 1486 - A politically crafty Henry 1486 - A politically crafty Henry extends an olive branch by marrying extends an olive branch by marrying Elizabeth of York (daughter of the Elizabeth of York (daughter of the enemy)enemy)

• Their marriage unifies EnglandTheir marriage unifies England• He becomes Henry VIIHe becomes Henry VII• Family is known as the House of TudorFamily is known as the House of Tudor

Henry VIIHenry VII

• Henry has two focuses Henry has two focuses

during his reign:during his reign:

1) Consolidating Power1) Consolidating Power

2) Acquiring vast amounts of 2) Acquiring vast amounts of money for the crown money for the crown

*** *** Henry’s efforts build the foundation Henry’s efforts build the foundation for Britain’s rise as a world power for Britain’s rise as a world power

Henry VIIIHenry VIII

• 1509 - Henry VII dies 1509 - Henry VII dies

-His second son, Henry VIII, ascends throne-His second son, Henry VIII, ascends throne

• Henry VIII’s priority is maintaining, Henry VIII’s priority is maintaining, strengthening, and securing the kingdom strengthening, and securing the kingdom his father establishedhis father established

*** What is the main ingredient in this recipe *** What is the main ingredient in this recipe for success? A for success? A MALEMALE HEIR! HEIR!

Henry VIIIHenry VIII

• At 19, Henry VIII marries At 19, Henry VIII marries Catherine of Aragon Catherine of Aragon (a Spanish queen)(a Spanish queen)

• They are married for about 20 yearsThey are married for about 20 years-Despite multiple pregnancies, they have -Despite multiple pregnancies, they have only one surviving child…only one surviving child…

……a daughter (Mary Tudor)a daughter (Mary Tudor)

Henry VIIIHenry VIII

• Henry desperately needs a son to Henry desperately needs a son to secure his kingdom…secure his kingdom…

… … So he makes a BIG decision, and So he makes a BIG decision, and life in England becomes life in England becomes reallyreally interesting…interesting…

Henry VIIIHenry VIII

• Henry decides to “rid himself” of Catherine Henry decides to “rid himself” of Catherine and try again with Anne Boleynand try again with Anne Boleyn

• The Catholic Church did not recognize The Catholic Church did not recognize divorce, so he had two options:divorce, so he had two options:1) Execute her – definitely lead to war with Spain1) Execute her – definitely lead to war with Spain

2) Divorce her – possibly lead to war with Spain, 2) Divorce her – possibly lead to war with Spain, and definitely lead to excommunication and definitely lead to excommunication

Henry VIIIHenry VIII

• Henry chose divorce, but since he Henry chose divorce, but since he could not rule as an excommunicated could not rule as an excommunicated king, he wisely king, he wisely firstfirst divorced himself divorced himself and England from the Catholic and England from the Catholic ChurchChurch

Henry VIIIHenry VIII• 1530s - Through massive legislation, Henry and 1530s - Through massive legislation, Henry and

Parliament refuted the Pope’s authority and Parliament refuted the Pope’s authority and severed England’s ties with Romesevered England’s ties with Rome

• The Anglican church (Protestant) is established, The Anglican church (Protestant) is established, and Henry acts as its headand Henry acts as its head

• He “sold” this concept to his subjects in three He “sold” this concept to his subjects in three ways: ways:

1) Emphasized the Divine Right of Kings 1) Emphasized the Divine Right of Kings 2) Make the Pope out to be fraud.2) Make the Pope out to be fraud.3) Sacked monasteries, churches and 3) Sacked monasteries, churches and cathedrals throughout the country cathedrals throughout the country

Henry VIIIHenry VIII

• And now back to the business of And now back to the business of begetting an heir…begetting an heir…

• Henry does marry Anne Boleyn, but Henry does marry Anne Boleyn, but she gives birth to another daughter she gives birth to another daughter (Elizabeth)(Elizabeth)

• Henry = Not Happy. Anne = Beheaded.Henry = Not Happy. Anne = Beheaded.

Henry VIIIHenry VIII

A list of Henry’s wives and their demise:A list of Henry’s wives and their demise:1)1) Catherine of Aragon – divorcedCatherine of Aragon – divorced

-daughter, Mary Tudor-daughter, Mary Tudor

2)2) Anne Boleyn – beheadedAnne Boleyn – beheaded-daughter, Elizabeth-daughter, Elizabeth

3)3) Jane Seymour – diedJane Seymour – died

-son, Edward -son, Edward

4)4) Anne of Cleves - divorcedAnne of Cleves - divorced

5)5) Catherine Howard – beheadedCatherine Howard – beheaded

6) Catherine Parr - survived6) Catherine Parr - survived

Henry VIIIHenry VIII

• 1547 – Henry VIII dies1547 – Henry VIII dies

Historically, the most important decision he Historically, the most important decision he made was to divorce Catherine of Aragonmade was to divorce Catherine of Aragon

***Henry’s decision to split from the Catholic ***Henry’s decision to split from the Catholic Church was based solely on politics, but it Church was based solely on politics, but it had a massive impact on not only had a massive impact on not only England’s history, but also the social, England’s history, but also the social, political, and religious climate around the political, and religious climate around the world world

Edward VIEdward VI

• 1547 - Edward VI (son Henry VIII and Jane 1547 - Edward VI (son Henry VIII and Jane Seymour) ascends the throne at the ripe Seymour) ascends the throne at the ripe old age of 9old age of 9

• During his reign, he absolutely During his reign, he absolutely reinforces his father’s break from thereinforces his father’s break from theCatholic ChurchCatholic Church

• Why? If he doesn’t, he is considered an Why? If he doesn’t, he is considered an illegitimate child and likely faces executionillegitimate child and likely faces execution

Edward VIEdward VI

• He’s a sickly child, and doesn’t last He’s a sickly child, and doesn’t last long…long…

• 1533 – Edward dies 1533 – Edward dies

(without an heir)(without an heir)

Lady Jane GreyLady Jane Grey• Once Henry’s only male heir had died, the Once Henry’s only male heir had died, the

power struggle beganpower struggle began• Edward’s will forbade his sisters from Edward’s will forbade his sisters from

succeeding him, so Lady Jane Grey, a succeeding him, so Lady Jane Grey, a cousin, is placed on the thronecousin, is placed on the throne

• Her ascension is deemed unacceptable by Her ascension is deemed unacceptable by her political enemies, and her reign lasts her political enemies, and her reign lasts only nine days (she is beheaded)only nine days (she is beheaded)

• http://fineartamerica.com/images-http://fineartamerica.com/images-medium/the-execution-of-lady-jane-grey-medium/the-execution-of-lady-jane-grey-hippolyte-delaroche-.jpg hippolyte-delaroche-.jpg

Mary TudorMary Tudor

• Mary Tudor (daughter of Mary Tudor (daughter of

Henry VIII and Catherine of Henry VIII and Catherine of

Aragon) assumes the throneAragon) assumes the throne

• Before she ever took power, her reign was Before she ever took power, her reign was viewed as “problematic” viewed as “problematic”

• Why? Mary is thoroughly Catholic (born Why? Mary is thoroughly Catholic (born into Catholic marriage, raised Catholic)into Catholic marriage, raised Catholic)

Mary TudorMary Tudor• Mary’s reign was defined by an ideological Mary’s reign was defined by an ideological religiousreligious

quest to undo everything her father had donequest to undo everything her father had done• One of her first acts was to marry Phillip ofOne of her first acts was to marry Phillip of SpainSpain• This was a blatant and bold political move for This was a blatant and bold political move for

several reasons:several reasons:1) Reaffirmed her mother’s reputation/honor1) Reaffirmed her mother’s reputation/honor2) Reestablished ties between Spain and 2) Reestablished ties between Spain and England (Spain is powerhouse at this England (Spain is powerhouse at this point) point) 3) Sent a clear message that she supported 3) Sent a clear message that she supported Catholicism, not Anglicanism Catholicism, not Anglicanism

Mary TudorMary Tudor

• A strong, stubborn leader, Mary legislated A strong, stubborn leader, Mary legislated the “undoing” of the English reformationthe “undoing” of the English reformation

• Earned the nickname “Bloody Mary” for Earned the nickname “Bloody Mary” for the the following:following:1) Killed about 300 religious dissenters 1) Killed about 300 religious dissenters who who refused to convertrefused to convert2) Imprisoned her sister Elizabeth2) Imprisoned her sister Elizabeth3) Forcibly moved England back to 3) Forcibly moved England back to CatholicismCatholicism

Mary TudorMary Tudor

1558 - Mary dies, and without an heir1558 - Mary dies, and without an heir

• Side note: She was so Side note: She was so psychologically desperate to produce psychologically desperate to produce an heir, Mary had several “phantom” an heir, Mary had several “phantom” pregnancies during which she pregnancies during which she actually stopped menstruating and actually stopped menstruating and physically appeared pregnant physically appeared pregnant

Elizabeth IElizabeth I

• 1558 – Elizabeth I (daughter of Henry 1558 – Elizabeth I (daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn) ascends the VIII and Anne Boleyn) ascends the thronethrone

• In a Catholic England, she could not In a Catholic England, she could not lawfully reign because she lawfully reign because she

would be considered an would be considered an

illegitimate childillegitimate child• So…So…

Elizabeth IElizabeth I

• ……Elizabeth sets about undoing everything Elizabeth sets about undoing everything Mary did in order to restore the Protestant Mary did in order to restore the Protestant England her father establishedEngland her father established

• The “Virgin Queen” reigns until 1603 (45 The “Virgin Queen” reigns until 1603 (45 years), during which:years), during which:

-England experienced its own renaissance -England experienced its own renaissance

-England became the world’s strongest -England became the world’s strongest naval powernaval power

Elizabeth IElizabeth I• This is the world Shakespeare was born into (1564)This is the world Shakespeare was born into (1564)

-Religion and politics went hand in hand, and both -Religion and politics went hand in hand, and both seemed arbitraryseemed arbitrary

• Elizabeth I was an Elizabeth I was an active and generous active and generous patron of the theatrepatron of the theatre

-Had her own acting -Had her own acting company called company called the “Queen's Men”the “Queen's Men”

Elizabeth IElizabeth I• Elizabeth stood against the Puritans who wished Elizabeth stood against the Puritans who wished

to close down the theatres to close down the theatres -Without her support the Elizabethan theatres -Without her support the Elizabethan theatres would not have survivedwould not have survived

• 1590s - Court performances by acting companies 1590s - Court performances by acting companies became popular and Shakespeare's company was became popular and Shakespeare's company was selected more than any otherselected more than any other

*** Shakespeare does not refer to his queen very *** Shakespeare does not refer to his queen very often, but he certainly benefited from her love of often, but he certainly benefited from her love of the theaterthe theater

Elizabeth IElizabeth I

• As you read As you read Hamlet,Hamlet, consider the consider the social, political, and religious turmoil social, political, and religious turmoil the people of England had the people of England had experienced in the past 50 yearsexperienced in the past 50 years

• Keep watch for Shakespeare’s Keep watch for Shakespeare’s dealing with such issues embedded dealing with such issues embedded in the text!in the text!

History ROCKSHistory ROCKS• http://http://

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English_monarchsen.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English_monarchs -List of all the English monarchs; pictures -List of all the English monarchs; pictures

• http://www.britroyals.com/tudor.htmhttp://www.britroyals.com/tudor.htm-Tudor family tree-Tudor family tree

• http://tudorswiki.sho.com/page/http://tudorswiki.sho.com/page/Historical+TIMELINE+of+the+TudorsHistorical+TIMELINE+of+the+Tudors

-European timeline during the Tudor reign-European timeline during the Tudor reign• http://tudorswiki.sho.com/page/http://tudorswiki.sho.com/page/

SIGNATURES+of+The+TudorsSIGNATURES+of+The+Tudors-Tudor signatures; awesome!-Tudor signatures; awesome!