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Table of Contents
Henry VII................................................................................................................................................3
Battle of Bosworth.............................................................................................................................3
H7 Character and aims.......................................................................................................................3
State of England.................................................................................................................................3
Power of the church..........................................................................................................................5
Humanism and Erasmus....................................................................................................................5
Dealing with Nobility.........................................................................................................................5
Government.......................................................................................................................................6
Finances.............................................................................................................................................6
Contenders to the throne..................................................................................................................8
Rebellions..........................................................................................................................................8
Foreign Policy...................................................................................................................................10
Later years.......................................................................................................................................13
Henry VIII.............................................................................................................................................13
Passing the torch.............................................................................................................................13
Government.....................................................................................................................................13
Wolsey.............................................................................................................................................15
Anti-clericalism................................................................................................................................15
Wolsey and the church....................................................................................................................15
Wolsey and Government.................................................................................................................17
Early Foreign Policy..........................................................................................................................17
Early Social and Economic changes..................................................................................................19
Alter Rex?........................................................................................................................................19
Great Matter....................................................................................................................................19
Divorce.............................................................................................................................................19
Fall of Wolsey...................................................................................................................................21
Anne Boleyn.....................................................................................................................................21
Royal Supremacy.............................................................................................................................21
Cranmer and Cromwell....................................................................................................................21
Acts for Break..................................................................................................................................23
Spread of Beliefs..............................................................................................................................23
Why did he Dissolve?.......................................................................................................................23
How did he Dissolve?.......................................................................................................................25
Opposition to Dissolution/religious changes...................................................................................25
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Pilgrimage Of Grace.........................................................................................................................26
Post Reformation Government........................................................................................................26
Foreign Policy (1540-47)..................................................................................................................27
Factionalism.....................................................................................................................................28
Religion (1540-47)............................................................................................................................29
Domestic changes............................................................................................................................29
Edward VI (1547-53)............................................................................................................................29
Somerset (1547-1549).....................................................................................................................30
Religious changes.........................................................................................................................30
Foreign policy...............................................................................................................................31
Economic issues...........................................................................................................................31
Rebellions in 1549........................................................................................................................32
Northumberland (1549-53).............................................................................................................34
Religious changes.........................................................................................................................34
Foreign policy...............................................................................................................................35
Economy, trade and exploration..................................................................................................35
The “Devyse” and the succession problem..................................................................................36
Mary I (1553-58)..................................................................................................................................36
Society and Economy.......................................................................................................................37
Religious reform..............................................................................................................................37
Marriage to Philip I (1554)...............................................................................................................38
Wyatt’s Rebellion (1554)..................................................................................................................38
Foreign policy..................................................................................................................................39
A mid-Tudor crisis?..............................................................................................................................40
The start of Elizabeth’s Reign (1558-1603)..........................................................................................43
Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement (1558-63)......................................................................................44
Elizabeth and Mary I, Queen of Scots (1558-1587)..........................................................................45
Plots against Elizabeth (1569-87).....................................................................................................46
Relations with Scotland...................................................................................................................48
Relations with France......................................................................................................................48
Relations with Spain and the Netherlands.......................................................................................50
Economic development under Elizabeth.........................................................................................52
Societal Development under Elizabeth............................................................................................54
Regional issues with Ireland.............................................................................................................55
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Henry VII - Ruled from 1485-1507.
- At childhood, exiled to Brittany to stay with Jasper Tudor, the last
main Lancastrian (weak claim from bastard ancestor).
- Henry’s main support came from both Jasper Tudor as well as his
mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort. She had organised the marriage to
Elizabeth of York, and a Spanish envoy Pedro de Ayala stated that
Henry was “much influenced by his mother” even in 1498. This shows
her long-lasting effect on his decision-making.
- Known to be a shrewd King, but contemporarily was not too favoured.
- Towards the end, he had established Tudor rule, boosted the Crown
income, centralised the power into the Crown, and left a stable
foundation for HVIII.
Having lived abroad and in relative poverty to his noble status, this arguably
left Henry in a familiar position with setbacks, troubles, and adversities, that
would be influential in his more pragmatic and controlled reign.
Battle of
Bosworth - 1483, Edward succeeded by Richard III, Elizabeth Woodville wants
Henry to marry Elizabeth of York, Richard tries to get Henry, John
Morton warns HVII.
- HVII makes it to France, gathers English allies, Earl of Oxford, Jaspar
Tudor, Richard Fox, etc… and lands in Wales before RIII marries EoY.
- 22nd August 1485, they meet the York army of 10,000 against HVII’s
army of around 5000-8000. Stanley stands on side with around 6000.
- Stanley joins on Henry’s side, and RIII falls. Henry is crowned 1 day
before the battle, on the 21st of August 1485. This is to portray Henry in
a more favourable light
- Official ceremony on 30th October 1485hhhh, married EoY on 18th
January 1486 (to say that he gained crown without Elizabeth).
H7 Character
and aims - HVII wanted to eliminate threats to his dynasty; married EoY to unite
houses, gave supporters land and titles whilst punishing nobles against
him to remove opposition (attainders), adopted a flexible foreign
policy around alliances rather than war.
- He wanted to control the nobility better, to consolidate power within
the Crown, so he could reform the country better.
- He wanted to strengthen the English economy to provide a strong
financial foundation.
- He was more respected, but not popular, shown to be a good military
leader and soldier, and was an only child.
- He was flexible and thoughtful, knowing when to be forceful and when
to be lenient.
State of
England - Several nobles had enough wealth and territorial power (57 nobles in
1487) to rival the Crown.
- The Crown had uneven control over the kingdom, particularly with the
North and lack of local administration. The Councils of the North,
