House of Tudor

Essential Facts

• Also Known As: The Tudor Dynasty.
• Key People: Owen Tudor, Catherine of Valois, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, Elizabeth I.
• Part Of: Age of Exploration, Settlement of the Americas.
• Significance: The House of Tudor is important to American History because of the role it played in events in Europe, including the Reformation and the early exploration and settlement of the English Colonies in America.

Key Details

• Henry VII established the dynasty after the Battle of Bosworth Field (1485).
• Henry VIII broke from the Roman Catholic Church, creating the Church of England.
• Elizabeth I’s reign marked a golden age in English history of cultural, naval, and colonial achievements.
• The House of Tudor ended when Elizabeth I died without an heir in 1603.
• James VI of Scotland succeeded Elizabeth, marking the beginning of the House of Stuart.

History

Tudor Monarchs

Five monarchs ruled England during the Tudor Dynasty from 1485 to 1603.

1. 1485–1509 — Henry VII.
2. 1509–1547 — Henry VIII. He was the son of Henry VII.
3. 1547–1553 — Edward VI. He was the son of Henry VIII.
4. 1553–1558 — Mary I. She was the daughter of Henry VIII.
5. 1558–1603 — Elizabeth I. She was the daughter of Henry VIII.

Catherine of Valois and Owen Tudor

In the late 1410s, rumors spread through the Royal Court that Catherine of Valois, widow of King Henry V, was romantically involved with Owen Tudor.

• Tudor was Welsh-born, a member of Catherine’s royal household, and had served in the English Army in France.
• In early 1428, Parliament passed a law forbidding the queen’s dowager from marrying without the monarch’s consent.

There is no official record of a marriage between Catherine and Owen, but they did have several children together.

• One of their sons, Edmund Tudor, became the Earl of Richmond.
• In 1455, Edmund Tudor married Margaret Beaufort.
• Before Edmund died in November 1456, he fathered a son, Henry.
• Henry Tudor became the strongest candidate from the House of Lancaster to claim the throne, which the rival House of York controlled.

AHC Notes

• Catherine of Valois (1401–1437) — She was the Queen Consort of King Henry V, mother of King Henry VI, and the grandmother of King Henry VII. Born in Paris, France, she was the daughter of Charles VI of France and Isabeau (Isaballa ) of Bavaria.
• Queen’s Dowager — The widow of a king who retains the title of queen after her husband’s death, although she no longer holds the powers of a reigning monarch or queen consort. In a colonial or political context, especially under British rule, the term may appear in legal documents, land grants, or diplomatic references when identifying the formal title of a royal widow. Her position could influence court politics, alliances, or royal patronage, particularly during periods of power transition.
• Queen Consort — The wife of a reigning king who holds the title of queen, though she does not rule in her own right. Unlike a queen regnant, who inherits the throne and rules as a monarch, a queen consort’s role is ceremonial and supportive. In British and European monarchies, the queen consorts often played key roles in diplomacy, court culture, and producing heirs, and were sometimes influential behind the scenes in matters of governance or succession.

Henry Tudor Becomes Henry VII

Henry VII (1457–1509) was the first Tudor monarch of England. He seized the throne by defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. He ended the Wars of the Roses by marrying Elizabeth of York, restoring stability to England after years of war. Henry VII strengthened royal finances, expanded trade, and pursued peace through diplomacy. His reign, which lasted for 24 years, established the Tudor Dynasty and transformed England into a stable and powerful European state.

• Henry VII strengthened England’s ties with foreign powers through strategic marriages to foreign royal families.
• He improved trade and reorganized the court system, boosting England’s economic and political power in Europe.
• Following his death in 1509, England faced 50 years of social upheaval.

Some of the important events that took place during the reign of Henry VII were:

• 1485, August 22 — Henry defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field and claimed the throne.
• 1486, January 18 — He married Elizabeth of York, thereby uniting the Houses of Lancaster and York.
• 1486 — Henry defeated insurgents led by Francis Lovell.
• 1487, June 16 — He won the Battle of Stoke Field, defeating insurgents led by Lambert Simnel.
• 1492 — Henry signed a treaty with France.
• 1496 — He signed a treaty with the Netherlands.
• 1496 — Henry financed John Cabot’s voyage of discovery to North America.
• 1497 — Another rebellion, led by Perkin Warbeck, was defeated.
• 1499 — He signed a treaty with Scotland.
  1502 — His eldest son, Arthur, Prince of Wales, died, making his second son, Henry, the heir to the throne.
• 1509, April 21 — Henry VII died at Sheen Palace. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.

AHC Notes

• Battle of Bosworth Field (1485) — The Battle of Bosworth Field was fought on August 22, 1485, and marked the decisive end of the Wars of the Roses, a series of dynastic conflicts between the houses of Lancaster and York. Henry Tudor, representing the Lancastrians, defeated and killed King Richard III of York, thereby claiming the English throne as Henry VII. This battle established the Tudor dynasty and marked the beginning of a new era of centralized royal authority, effectively ending decades of civil war and contributing to the decline of medieval feudalism in England.
• Wars of the Roses (1455–1487) — Also known as the “Cousins’ War,” this was a series of English civil wars fought for control of the English throne. The conflict was primarily between two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the House of Lancaster (symbolized by a red rose) and the House of York (symbolized by a white rose). The wars led to frequent shifts of power. It ended with Henry Tudor’s victory at the Battle of Bosworth Field (1485) and the founding of the Tudor Dynasty. This brought political stability to England and marked the transition from the Medieval Period to the Early Modern Era in England.
• Medieval Feudalism — Medieval feudalism was a political, social, and economic system that dominated Europe between the 9th and 15th centuries. It was based on a rigid hierarchy of reciprocal obligations among kings, nobles, vassals, and peasants. Land, or fiefs, was granted by lords to vassals in exchange for military service or loyalty, while peasants (serfs) worked the land in return for protection. This decentralized structure created local power bases and shaped medieval governance, law, and warfare. Feudalism declined as centralized monarchies rose, markets expanded, and military innovations reduced the need for knight-based armies.
• John Cabot (c. 1453–1498) — A Venetian mariner, Cabot secured a commission from Henry VII in 1496 to seek a westward route to Asia. In 1497, he sailed to Newfoundland, marking the official European discovery of North America. He explored the coast before returning to England. Believing he had reached Asia, he organized a second expedition in 1498 with five ships. Only one returned; the rest, including Cabots, disappeared.

Henry VIII

Henry VIII (1491–1547) was notable for his six marriages, the creation of the Church of England, and significant political reforms. His desire for a male heir drove key decisions, including England’s break from the Catholic Church. Henry expanded royal authority, integrated Wales into England, reformed and expanded the navy, and suppressed unrest in Ireland. Despite these achievements, his rule was marked by harsh enforcement of religious supremacy driven by personal flaws, including issues with his ego, temper, and health.

Some of the important events that took place during the reign of Henry VIII were:

• 1502 — Henry’s brother, Arthur, died, making him heir to the throne.
• 1509 — Henry became king and married Catherine of Aragon.
• 1511–1513 — England joined the Holy League and invaded France.
• 1516 — Catherine gave birth to a daughter, Mary.
• 1533 — Henry secretly married Anne Boleyn, and their daughter, Elizabeth, was born.
• 1534 — Henry broke from the Roman Catholic Church and established the Church of England.
• 1536 — Anne Boleyn was executed, and Henry married Jane Seymour.
• 1537 — Jane Seymour gave birth to Edward.
• 1534–1536 — Wales was legally unified with England.
• 1540 — Following the death of Jane Seymour, Henry married Anne of Cleves, but the marriage was annulled. Henry married Catherine Howard.
• 1542 — Catherine Howard was executed.
• 1543 — Henry married Catherine Parr.
• 1547, January 28 — Henry VIII died and was succeeded by Edward VI, who was only nine years old.

The six wives of King Henry VIII were:

1. Catherine of Aragon, born in 1485, was the first wife of Henry VIII. She married Arthur, the Prince of Wales, in 1501, making her Henry’s sister-in-law. Arthur died in 1502, making Henry heir to the throne. Henry and Catherine married in 1509, and their daughter, Mary, was born in 1516. In 1527, Henry asked Pope Clement V to annul the marriage. The Pope procrastinated, and Henry responded by marrying Anne Boleyn. This led to the break between England and the Roman Catholic Church. The 
2. Anne Boleyn, born around 1500, became Henry VIII’s second wife and mother to Elizabeth in 1533. Her refusal of Henry’s advances fueled his quest to annul his first marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Crowned queen in 1533, Anne failed to produce a male heir, leading to her execution in 1536.
3. Jane Seymour, born around 1508, became Henry VIII’s third wife after Anne Boleyn’s execution. Jane gave birth to a son, Edward, but died from puerperal fever soon after.
4. Anne of Cleves was born in 1515 in Düsseldorf. She became Henry VIII’s fourth wife in 1540 in a political marriage that Thomas Cromwell arranged to strengthen England’s ties to German Protestants. The marriage was annulled soon after, on the grounds of non-consummation and Anne’s prior betrothal to Francis, heir to Antoine, Duke of Lorraine.
5. Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII, was married to him shortly after his marriage to Anne of Cleves was annulled. Catherine was arrested for sexual indiscretions and executed in 1542.
6. Catherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry VIII, had a significant role in his later life and in England’s political landscape. After Henry’s death, she married Thomas Seymour and gave birth to a daughter, Mary.

AHC Notes

• Italian Wars (1495–1559) — A series of wars that started after Charles VIII of France invaded Naples in 1494. For the next 60 years, Italy was the battleground between France and the Holy Roman Empire for control of Europe.
• Holy League (1511) — A coalition formed between the Papal States (Italian provinces under the control of the Roman Catholic Church) and several nations, including England, to fight against France and its allies during the Italian Wars (1494–1559). 
• Defender of the Faith (Fidei Defensor) — A title bestowed upon King Henry VIII on October 11, 1521, for his treatise “Defense of the Seven Sacraments” (Assertio Septem Sacramentorum). In it, he affirmed the Pope’s authority over the Church. The title was revoked in 1535, after he broke with Rome. However, Parliament restored the title to the Crown on March 29, 1544.
• English Reformation — The religious and political changes that took place in England during the 16th Century, when the Church of England separated from the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. It was driven by both religious and political motives, including King Henry VIII’s desire for the annulment of his marriage and the influence of Protestant ideas. The English Reformation resulted in the establishment of the Church of England.
• Act of Supremacy (1534) — An act of Parliament that declared “…the king…his heirs, and successors…shall be…the only supreme head in earth of the Church of England.” This effectively made King Henry VIII the head of the church, breaking away from Pope Clement VII and the Roman Catholic Church.
• Church of England — The Church of England was established during the English Reformation when King Henry VII broke with Rome over political and personal disputes. Guided by figures like Thomas Cranmer, it developed its own theology and governance while retaining some Catholic traditions. Reforms continued under Edward VI, were reversed by Mary I, and then reestablished by Elizabeth I through the Elizabeth Settlement. Over time, it faced internal conflicts between traditionalists, Puritans, and reformers, but remained the dominant religious institution in England.

Edward VI

Edward VI (1537–1553) was the only surviving son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour. He became king at the age of nine and ruled under regents Edward Seymour and John Dudley, who advanced Protestant reforms and involved England in costly wars. Edward’s early death in 1553 led to a succession crisis and the brief reign of Lady Jane Grey before Mary I took the throne.

Some of the important events that took place during the reign of Edward VI were:

• 1547, January — Edward became king at age 9 after Henry VIII’s death.
• 1547–1549 — Edward Seymour, the Duke of Somerset, ruled as “Lord Protector of the Realm” and continued England’s war with Scotland. Seymour was the brother of Jane Seymour and Edward’s uncle.
• 1550 — Seymour was removed and replaced by John Dudley, the Earl of Warwick.
• 1553 — Edward, influenced by Dudley, excluded his half-sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, from the succession and named Lady Jane Grey as his heir.
• 1553, July 6 — Edward died at the Palace of Placentia.
• 1553, July 10 — Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed Queen.
• 1553, July 19 — Mary, the daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, seized the throne. Lady Jane Grey and John Dudley were executed.

Mary I

Queen Mary I (1516–1558) — Mary Tudor was the first woman to rule England in her own right. The daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, she reigned from 1553 to 1558. A committed Catholic, she reversed Protestant reforms and persecuted dissenters, earning the nickname “Bloody Mary.” Her marriage to Philip of Spain was unpopular, and her reign ended without an heir, paving the way for the succession of Elizabeth I and the reestablishment of Protestantism in England.

Some of the important events that took place during the reign of Mary I were:

• 1553, July 19 — Mary became queen after Lady Jane Grey’s nine-day rule.
• 1554, July 25 — She married Philip of Spain at Winchester Cathedral.
• 1554–1558 — Mary oversaw the execution of nearly 300 Protestants.
• 1557 — England allied with Spain in a war with France.
• 1558 — England lost Calais, its last territory on the European Continent.
• 1558, November 17 — Mary died of influenza at St. James’s Palace. Her half-sister, Elizabeth, became Queen.

Elizabeth I

Elizabeth I (1533–1603) was Queen of England from 1558 to 1603. She established the Protestant Church of England, strengthened the nation’s naval power, supported exploration and trade, and presided over the cultural flourishing of the Elizabethan Era, including the rise of William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson. Known as the “Virgin Queen,” she used the possibility of marriage to gain favorable agreements for England, but she never married. Her death ended the Tudor Dynasty, and James VI of Scotland succeeded her.

Some of the important events that took place during the reign of Elizabeth I were:

• 1558, November 17 — Elizabeth became Queen of England.
• 1559 — Parliament enhanced the Act of Supremacy and the Act of Uniformity, which were approved by Elizabeth. Together, they are known as the “Elizabethan Settlement,” which established her vision of Protestantism for the Church of England.
• 1562 — English sea captain John Hawkins captured and traded for Africans along the coast of Africa, and sailed to the Caribbean, where he traded them for pearls, animal hides, and sugar. This trip is considered the first on the Triangular Trade Route.
• 1570 — Pope Pius V excommunicated Elizabeth and declared that her subjects were no longer obligated to obey her.
• 1577–1580 — Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe.
• 1578 — Elizabeth granted a patent to Humphrey Gilbert for exploration and colonization in North America.
• 1584 — Elizabeth granted a patent to Walter Raleigh to establish a colony in the New World. This led to the establishment of the short-lived Roanoke Colony.
• 1587 — Mary, Queen of Scots, was executed for possible participation in plots to assassinate Elizabeth.
• 1588 — Philip II of Spain sent the Spanish Armada to invade England and overthrow Elizabeth I. The Armada was defeated by the English Navy in a series of battles, most notably the Battle of Gravelines.

AHC Notes

• Act of Supremacy (1559) — Elizabeth I was defined as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, instead of the Supreme Head, as Henry VIII had been. The change was made because some members of Parliament did not feel a woman should be recognized as head of the church, but the title of governor was acceptable. The Act abolished Papal authority over England.
• Act of Uniformity (1559) — The Act of Uniformity laid the foundation for the Elizabethan Church. It restored the 1552 version of the Book of Common Prayer and allowed for two versions of communion, one Catholic and one Protestant.

Succession to the Crown Acts

On three occasions, Parliament enacted legislation to ensure the children of Henry VIII would inherit the throne.

• If Henry’s children died without heirs, the throne would pass to the descendants of Mary Tudor, Queen of France, his younger sister.
• Henry’s will excluded the descendants of his older sister, Margaret Tudor, who was married to James IV of Scotland.

The First Succession to the Crown Act was passed by Parliament on March 25, 1534.

• The Act declared Mary, Henry’s daughter with Catherine of Aragon, to be illegitimate.
• The King’s subjects could be commanded to swear an oath promising to recognize the new law and could be charged with treason if they refused.

The Second Act of Succession was passed by Parliament on July 18, 1536. 

• The purpose of the Act was to ensure that Henry’s children with Jane Seymour took precedence in the line of succession over his children from previous marriages.
• The Act declared both Mary and Elizabeth to be illegitimate.

By 1543, Henry had only one male heir, his five-year-old son, Edward. Henry had also formed a military alliance with Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor. Charles was related to Henry’s daughter, Mary, through Catherine of Aragon, and wanted to see her remain in line to inherit the throne of England. To accomplish this, Parliament passed the Third Act of Succession, which established this order:

1. Edward.
2. Edward’s children.
3. Henry’s children with Catherine Parr, his last wife.
4. Mary.
5. Elizabeth.

Edward died childless, and the throne passed to Mary and then Elizabeth, continuing the line of the House of Tudor.

• Elizabeth I never married and had no children, leaving the succession uncertain.
• Elizabeth considered Edward Seymour, Lord Beauchamp, Mary Tudor’s great-great-grandson, as a potential successor.
• She also considered King James VI of Scotland, who had a strong claim by hereditary descent.
• On her deathbed, Elizabeth chose James VI of Scotland as her successor.
• This decision marked the end of the Tudor dynasty and the beginning of the rule of the House of Stuart.

AP US History Alignment

The Protestant Reformation is part of the following units, topics, and chapters in the AP US History curriculum:

Unit 1: 1491–1607

• 1.3 — European Exploration in the Americas
• 1.6 — Cultural Interactions Between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans

Unit 2: 1607–1754

• 2.2 — European Colonization
• 2.3 — The Regions of British Colonies
• 2.5 — Interactions Between American Indians and Europeans

Notes

• New World Beginnings (33000 B.C.–1769)
• The Planting of English America (1500–1733)