Dr Tomasz Skirecki, IFA, UAM

History of Britain and the USA – 1 BA, 2011-12

LECTURE NINE

Tudors

1

House of Tudors (1485-1547)

1. Age of religious turmoil and reformation
2. Beginning of colonialism
3. Development of absolute monarchy with excellent cooperation with Parliament
4. Increasing role of landed gentry and town merchants

Henry VII (1485-1509)

Wise rule, restoring order and finances after the war, crushing Yorkist rebellions, trade
contracts with the Netherlands secure export of wool.

John Cabot (1497) - given the patent to explore, annex, and trade with unknown lands –
discovers Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Henry VIII (1509-1547)

SIX WIVES

1.

Catherine of Aragon - marriage annulled (daughter MARY)

2.

Anne Boleyn - executed (daughter ELIZABETH)

3.

Jane Seymour - died giving birth (son EDWARD)

4.

Anne of Cleves - divorced

5.

Catherine Howard - executed

6.

Catherine Parr – survived

Foreign policy:

•

English involvement in the War of the Holy League (1508-1516) against the Auld
Alliance

•

Two victories of 1513: Battle of the Spurs against the French and Battle of Flodden
Field against the Scots.

•

1520 - the Field of the Cloth of Gold, English Calais - diplomatic meeting of Henry VIII
and Francis I

England becomes a strong diplomatic European power supported by huge Royal Navy and
artillery fortifications developed under Henry VIII

1536, 1542 - Laws in Wales Acts - Wales becomes legally incorporated into England
1542 - Crown of Ireland Act - Henry VIII becomes the King of Ireland

Dr Tomasz Skirecki, IFA, UAM

History of Britain and the USA – 1 BA, 2011-12

LECTURE NINE

Tudors

2

ENGLISH REFORMATION

Causes and general characteristics

•

European religious developments (Lutheranism, Calvinism)

•

Lollards and John Wycliffe’s legacy

•

William Tyndale’s Bible - first printed English translation of the Bible

•

Unlike European Reformation, English reformation starts out of politics, not doctrine

•

Reformation based on a series of acts of English Parliament

First, Henry VIII opposes the Reformation in Europe in 1521 – granted title Fidei Defensor
by the Pope – held today by Elizabeth II (F.D. on British coins)

Dissatisfied with his marriage to Catherine of Aragon Henry pursues a divorce seeking papal
support. Campaign for support of Henry's decision turns out to be long and frustrating in
England and abroad. Pope does not give the King the divorce.

Course of events

1534 - Act of Supremacy -

King established as the Supreme Head of Church of England –

breaks with Rome

1536-1541 - The Dissolution of the Monasteries

- confiscation of goods, distribution of the

wealth among nobility, destruction of shrines, ban on pilgrimages, pictures and status of saints

1536 - Pilgrimage of Grace

- armed rebellion in northern England led by Robert Aske -

suppressed.

As a result a distinct "third" (via media) reformed church is being formed - ANGLICAN:

1.

Catholics persecuted for disobeying the Act of Supremacy, e.g. Thomas More

2.

Protestants persecuted for disobeying Henry VIII acts, e.g. William Tyndale

Compromise with Lutheran theology with some elements of the Catholic doctrine kept - the
bishopry remains although appointed by the king himself not Rome.

Reforms of the church took place under Edward VI and Elizabeth I

Main figures of the reign:

Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, Thomas

Cranmer

Dr Tomasz Skirecki, IFA, UAM

History of Britain and the USA – 1 BA, 2011-12

LECTURE NINE

Tudors

3

Edward VI (1547-1553)

Teenage king, zealous Protestant, never married – England run by the Regency Council.
Protestant religion becomes dominant in England - Acts of Uniformity (1549, 1552) make
the Books of Common Prayer the official guidebook of religion in England

Jane Gray

(1553 - nine days)

- staunch Protestant

Mary I Tudor (1553-1558) - BLOODY MARY

Ardent Catholic and reactionist, married to Philip II of Spain becoming unpopular.
Restoration of the Catholic faith to England. Numerous persecutions of Protestants (e.g.
Thomas Cranmer in 1556)

As a result of a disastrous war with France England loses Calais

Elizabethan Age (1558-1603)

Elizabeth I the Great (1558-1603) - the Virgin Queen, Good Queen Bess

Intellectual monarch, tough politician and diplomat. Excellent choice of advisors - not reigned
but governed England - left the country prosperous with national spirit. Married to the state –
the Tudors come to the end with her death.

The age of maritime adventurers and beginning of overseas expansion

Elizabethan Religious Settlement

•

Act of Supremacy, Act of Uniformity (1559) - laws in the country: There should be
outward conformity to the Established religion, but the opinion should be left free

•

compromise between extreme Protestantism and Catholicism - Queen remains the
Supreme Governor of the Church of England, bishopry kept, Anglican priests free to
marry - English Bible available to all.

•

1563 - Thirty Nine Articles establishment of Anglican belief - valid until today.

The Established Church of England opposed by:

Dr Tomasz Skirecki, IFA, UAM

History of Britain and the USA – 1 BA, 2011-12

LECTURE NINE

Tudors

4

•

Roman Catholics

•

Calvinists (Presbyterians) - John Knox and the Kirk in Scotland

•

Puritans – radical Protestants

OVERSEAS EXPANSION

•

England lags behind other European colonial powers

•

Search for the North-West passage for new markets - often unsuccessful

•

Dominated by competition with Catholic Spain

•

Gradual weakening of Spain by the English pirates (sea dogges) sponsored by the
monarch.

John Hawkings - pioneer of English slave trade from Africa to Spanish West Indies.
Involved in the Triangular Trade – brings potatoes, tobacco, sharks.

Humphrey Gilbert - claims Newfoundland for England - first overseas colony.

Martin Frobisher - three expeditions in search for the North-West passage

Francis Drake - 1577-1580 – circumnavigation, Drake Passage, San Francisco Bay claimed
as New Albion for England. 1587 - Cadiz - "singeing the king of Spain's beard" - sinking of
30 Spanish ships and delaying the Armada.

Walter Raleigh - unsuccessful colonization of Virginia - 1585 - Roanoke the Lost Colony.
Attempted to find El Dorado in Guyana - unsuccessful

1588 - the Spanish 'Invincible' Armada

Causes of Spanish invasion:

•

Philip II's ambition to destroy Protestantism and revenge Mary Stuart

•

Devastation and plundering of Spanish ships and possessions by English pirates (sea
dogges) - destruction of Spanish ships in Cadiz by Drake 1587

Armada met by a smaller English force under Lord Howard, Drake, Frobisher and Hawkings

Fireships and storms - Armada forced to sailing back around Scotland and Ireland - utter
defeat of the Spanish fleet.

Consequences

•

huge victory of the English navy

•

breaking Spanish sea dominance

•

superiority of England as a naval, trading and colonizing power

Dr Tomasz Skirecki, IFA, UAM

History of Britain and the USA – 1 BA, 2011-12

LECTURE NINE

Tudors

5

Main figures of the reign: Sir Francis Walsingham, Sir William Cecil, Robert Dudley, Robert
Devereux, John Dee

Elizabethan society and culture

•

playwrights: William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe

•

Thomas Tallis and William Byrd compose cathedral music

•

development of grammar schools and literacy

•

intensive trade and economy - Muscovy, Eastland, and Levant Companies

•

East India Company (1600)

•

London develops as a main sea port