Effects of the Tudor Dynasty on Great Britain

War of the Roses

Aug 22, 1485

The war of the roses was a bloody set of civil wars fought for the throne of England. The main contenders in these wars being the House of York and the House of Lancaster. It was given its name from the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster. The war lasted from 1455 up until 1485.

Tudor Dynasty/Family Tree

Aug 22, 1485

The Tudor Dynasty began with the marriage and reign of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. From their children and grandchildren came many great events in European history. Especially and I think most importantly the creation of Great Britain. Starts with Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. Children: Henry VIII and Margaret Tudor. Grandchildren: James V, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. Great grandchildren: Mary Queen of Scots. Great great grandchildren: James VI/I of Great Britain.

Henry VII & Elizabeth of York

Jan 18, 1486

Henry Tudor was a member of the House of Lancaster and was the victor in the war of the roses. After killing the Yorkist King Richard III, he married Elizabeth of York and united the houses of Lancaster and York. They kept peace in England by not engaging in any unnecessary wars and by being very politically as well as religiously minded. They also built up their house and got power in other countries by making strategic marriage alliances for all their children who survived to adulthood.

Margaret Tudor & James IV

Aug 8, 1503

Margaret Tudor was the daughter of Henry VII of England and was married to the Scottish King James IV. James IV died just after 10 years of marriage when their son was only 17 months old. Margaret ruled for her son James V in his early years and was part of the constant shift in Scottish alliances and conflicts with outside countries.

The wives of Henry VIII

Period: 1509 to 1547

This time span is explained over six tiles showing the times of Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr spent with Henry VIII. This time is considered a conflict of this time period due to its role in the English reformation.

James V

Sep 9, 1513

To go with timespan.

Margaret Tudor regency for James V

Period: Sep 9, 1513 to 1528

Margaret Tudor was the Queen of Scotland for 10 years before her husband’s death (James IV). With her son only being 17 months old at the time, Margaret naturally became his regent and ruled the country in his stead. This didn't last that long however due to her part in Scotland's constant shifting alliances and conflicts with outside countries.

Henry VIII & Catherine of Aragon Divorce

1533

Henry VIII became king after the deaths of his father, Henry VII, and his brother, Arthur Prince of Wales. When Henry became King, he married his brothers widow the Spanish princess Catherine of Aragon. Sadly during 24 years of marriage Catherine was only able to give Henry a daughter and no male heirs. Henry then started the English reformation in order to divorce Catherine of Aragon and gain money by taking control of the churches of England.

Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn

Jan 25, 1533

At the time they met Henry VIII was still married to Catherine of Aragon. In order to marry Anne Boleyn, whom Henry believed could give him a son, Henry had to divorce Catherine. The church however would not allow this making Henry break from the church thus starting the English reformation. After they were married however Anne was only able to give Henry a daughter and no male heirs. After producing no heirs for him and being accused of cheating on him Anne was sentenced to death by beheading.

Henry VIII & Jane Seymour

1536

Jane Seymour was the third wife of Henry VIII and the only one to give him a son that lived. She however did not live and died shortly after the christening. Her son's name was Edward VI. To many she was from then on considered the only true wife of Henry VIII and the only one he really loved.

Henry VIII & Anne of Cleves

1540

After the death of Jane Seymour, Henry was expected to marry again. His next wife was a German, Anne of Cleves. She would provide a connection to the Holy Roman Empire and hopeful more heirs to the English throne. This however was not meant to be due to their disastrous first meeting. This ended in Henry's dislike of Anne and their consequential divorce only 6 months later. Anne was then given the title of "The Kings Sister" and given many lands, jewels, and funds.

Henry VIII & Katherine Howard

Feb 13, 1542

Katherine Howard was one of Anne of Cleves ladies in waiting. Shortly after Anne's divorce to Henry, Katherine and Henry were married. The King was enamored by her for the next 14 months, however after finding about her extramarital affairs he wasn't that happy. Becoming increasingly more unhappy about Katherine's agenda Henry had a Bill of Attainder passed on February 11, 1542. Making it illegal for any unchaste woman to marry the King. Katherine was beheaded two days later.

Reign of Mary, Queen of Scots

Period: Dec 14, 1542 to Jul 24, 1567

Mary Queen of Scots was Queen from the young age of 6 days old. She was sent to France to marry the Dauphin, but shortly after their marriage he died. Back in Scotland she was married two more times. Bearing her only surviving child James VI/I with her second husband. A year later Mary was imprisoned by her lords and forced to abdicate the throne in favor of her son. At this point she fled to England seeking refuge which led to her 19-year imprisonment by Elizabeth I and eventual death in 1567.

Henry VIII & Catherine Parr

Jan 27, 1547

Catherine Parr was the final wife of Henry VIII. She became good friends with his 3 children and devoted herself to their education. She was also a humanist and very polite to protestants. As his last wife, she outlived him and was thus allowed a hefty amount of funds, highest honors, and allowed to keep all her jewels and gifts from the King.

Henry VIII Death

Jan 28, 1547

For all the controversial things Henry did during his life, he managed to leave the world with those things still bad but slightly better. Before his death Henry returned both Mary I and Elizabeth I to the line of succession. He also made sure his current wife (Catherine Parr) would be well taken care of and provided for after he died. On January 28, 1547 Henry died at the Palace of Whitehall, of Natural causes.

Reign of Mary I

Period: 1553 to Nov 17, 1558

Mary I was the first born of Henry VIII and came to the throne after the brief reign of her half-brother Edward VI. Tried to return England to the Catholic Church and in the process burned nearly 300 English protestants at the stake for heresy, which got her the name “Bloody Mary”.

Edward VI Death

Jul 6, 1553

Edward VI was the only surviving son of Henry VIII and succeed him to the throne. As dictated in Henry's will the government was taken care of by a council of regents that also took care of the young king. Two regents the Dukes of Somerset and Northumberland controlled the young king and had tremendous power in the country. In fact, Edward ignored his sisters and declared Northumberland's daughter in law and male heirs to be his successors. In July 1553 Edward died of Tuberculosis.

Mary I

Jul 7, 1553

To go with timespan.

Elizabeth I

Nov 17, 1558

To go with timespan.

Reign of Elizabeth I

Period: Nov 17, 1558 to Mar 24, 1603

Elizabeth I was the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth was made the heir to the English throne when her brother Edward VI died and sister Mary I, was queen. During her time as Queen, Elizabeth dealt with War of Religion in France, returned England to Protestantism, dealt with the Spanish Armada, and fought many to keep her throne. Those including Mary, Queen of Scots. She created the Elizabethan era and is considered one of England's greatest rulers.

James VI

Jul 24, 1567

Son of Mary Queen of Scots, James became king at the age of 1 when his mother abdicated the throne and was imprisoned by Elizabeth I. James became a successful ruler in Scotland by playing the Roman Catholics and the Protestants against each other. This made him a very absolute ruler, and highly comparable to Elizabeth I rule in England.

Mary, Queen of Scots

Jul 24, 1567

To go with timespan.

Conflict Between Mary Queen of Scots & Elizabeth I

Jul 24, 1567

Elizabeth was protestant and heirless making many think her not fit for the English throne. Her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots was the granddaughter of Margaret Tudor, princess of England, and sister of Henry VIII, many preferred Mary to Elizabeth as Queen. Elizabeth, threatened by Mary, had her imprisoned. The imprisonment lasted 19 years, in which Mary was part of many plots to kill Elizabeth. After gaining proof of Mary’s involvement in these plots Elizabeth had her beheaded in 1567.

Philip II sends the Spanish Armada

1588

Philip II of Spain dispatched a 130-ship naval fleet to England as part of a planned invasion. He had hopes of returning England to a rightful Catholic state as his Cousin Mary I had tried. He was defeated by Queen Elizabeth I who set her navy on fire and sent them towards the Armada. The Armada started on fire and was pummeled by storms while trying to retreat to Spain. This was part of the final slump that made Spain lose its powerful grip over the modern time.

James I

Mar 24, 1603

Also known as James VI, he was the son of Mary Queen of Scots. After being King in Scotland for many years, James became the King of England after the death of Elizabeth I in 1603. But though seasoned ruler, he was dreadfully unprepared for the trials of the English court. He did however succeed in ending the conflict between England and Scotland by uniting the countries under his rule. With this union James called the territories he controlled (England, Scotland, & Ireland) "Great Britain".