The Tudor Monarchs The Tudors The Tudors reigned

The Tudor Monarchs

The Tudors • The Tudors reigned from 1485 until 1603. • There were five Tudor kings and queens: Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey, Mary I and Elizabeth I. • They were very powerful and are remembered for having lots of people executed (killed).

Henry VII • Henry VII was the first Tudor King. • He became king by defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. • He ended the War of the Roses by marrying Elizabeth York, the daughter of his enemy. • He died in 1509.

Henry VIII • Henry VIII was Henry VII’s son and became king when he died in 1509. • Henry VIII is remembered for having had six wives. • Henry VIII started the Church of England. • He was born in 1491 and he died in 1547.

Edward VI • Edward was only 10 when he became king. • He was ill for most of his life and died at the age of 16 in 1553.

Lady Jane Grey • Lady Jane Grey was chosen to be queen because she was Protestant (Church of England). • She was not Henry’s child and so had no right to the throne. This made the public angry. • After just nine days she was forced to leave throne and was later beheaded.

Mary I • Mary was the daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. • She tried to make England become Catholic again and was known as Bloody Mary because of all the Protestants she had killed. • She married Philip of Spain. This made her unpopular as the English did not trust the Spanish. • She died in 1558.

Elizabeth I • Elizabeth became queen in 1558, following her sister Mary’s death. • She returned England to Protestantism. • She never married. • During her time as queen there was a great deal of exploration by England, including many parts of America. • She died in 1603 and, because she had no children, the Tudor period ended.