26.01.2026: The Wives, "Bloody Mary", Elizabeth I, Council of Trent, Age of Religious Wars

What happens after Anne Boleyn marries Henry VIII?

• Anne marries him, gets pregnant, gives birth to a daughter (Elizabeth I)

• Anne miscarries a second baby, Henry believes all this is punishment from God and needs a way out of this marriage

• Tries Anne for treason, beheads her

Who does Henry VIII marry after Anne Boleyn? What happens to her?

Henry marries Jane Seymour, who gives birth to Edward VI but dies in childbirth.

Who does Henry VIII marry after Jane? Who arranges this? What happens to her? What happens to the one who arranged it all?

Thomas Cromwell arranges Henry’s fourth marriage to Anne of Cleves, but she looks NOTHING like her Holbein portrait (and not in a good way). Henry is so disgusted that he fires and executes Cromwell, and divorces Anne of Cleves, but does feel bad about the whole thing, so he sets her up to be financially taken care of for the rest of her life (one of Henry’s few good moments in life)

Who does Henry marry after Anne of Cleves? What happens to her?

Henry marries Kathryn Howard, but quickly executes her for adultery.

Who does Henry VIII marry after Kathryn Howard? What does she do that arguably sets the monarchy up for long-term success?

Henry VIII marries Katherine Parr, who arranges a friendship between Mary Tudor (Catharine of Aragon’s daughter) and Elizabeth I (Anne Boleyn’s daughter), and this proves to be a major win for the long game!

When does Henry VIII die? Who succeeds him? How long is his reign?

Henry dies in 1547 and is succeeded by his son, Edward VI, but Edward only lives until 1553.

Who takes over after Edward dies? What was their big goal?

Mary Tudor (“Bloody Mary”) steps in from 1553-1558, executing Thomas Cranmer and other Protestants in an effort to re-Catholicize England (HOWEVER, she preserves Elizabeth I, thanks to the friendship Katherine Parr made them start)

What Mary Tudor a popular monarch?

No, she was unpopular and had a rough life. She married Philip II of Spain, but was unable to conceive children, eventually is left by Philip.

Who works with Mary Tudor to bring back Catholicism? Who do they bring in to help?

Cardinal Reginald Pole. They bring in the Jesuits!

When does Mary Tudor die? Who coincidentally dies around the same time?

Mary died in November of 1558, and Reginald Pole died 12 hours after her.

Who takes over after Mary Tudor? How long is their reign?

Elizabeth I reigns from 1558-1603, and she was a Protestant in the Church of England (Anglican)

What was the big switch that turned Elizabeth I hard-against Catholicism?

Elizabeth was planning to make St. Edward Campeon the Archbishop of Canterbury, but he meets the Jesuits and ends up converting to Catholicism. Elizabeth has him captured, tried, and executed for treason.

Elizabeth becomes staunchly against Catholicism after Campeon.

What was Elizabeth I’s nickname and why?

“Virgin Queen” - she never married.

Who is Mary, Queen of Scots? What’s her significance?

Mary, Queen of Scots was Elizabeth I’s cousin and is the (lesser) Catholic alternative to Lizzy. Elizabeth eventually imprisons her to preserve her own reign, and Mary is beheaded in the 1590s by Elizabeth.

As a last prank, Mary wore a wig to her execution so that when the executioner tried to present her head to the public, it would fall from the wig and roll around on the ground (intrinsically making Elizabeth look foolish).

What does Elizabeth I commission?

The Spanish Armada

Who was James I of England? What does he do?

• The son of Mary, Queen of Scots (is also known as James VI of Scotland)

• Takes over after Elizabeth I

• Far more powerful in Scotland than in England, and ends the English Reformation!

What was the Catholic response to the English Reformation?

• Quote from Erasmus: “If you thought I was going Protestant, you’ve never understood my words. I never wanted revolution, I wanted reformation.”

• There’s debate on whether the English Reformation was a Protestant Revolution, or a Catholic Reformation.

• SO many saints came from the 1500s

• Pope Paul III sees the need for a council and calls the Council of Trent.

Who was Pope Paul III? What did he do? When did things happen in his life?

• He was the brother of the mistress of Pope Alexander

• In 1513, he had a reversion, ditches his mistress and sets up their four children for life

• HE APPROVES THE FIRST JESUITS

• Calls the Council of Trent eight years before it actually happens in 1545

What was the Council of Trent? Who was involved? What happened?

1545-1563

• Two goals of this council: redact heresy and reform abuse

• Reaffirms Catholic doctrine (penance, the correlation of Scripture and tradition, the Vulgate, faith and works, the sacraments)

• Paul III, Julius II, and Paul IV are the three popes to oversee the Council (three sessions, each session was led by a different pope)

Were the results of the Council of Trent IMMEDIATELY implemented into the Church publically?

No, not immediately

Who was Pope St. Pius V? What did he do?

• Simple man

• Living embodiment of the Council’s reforms!

• Updated Church documents for all churches to reflect the Council

• Created one seminary per diocese

What was the Age of Religious War? What kicks it off?

It’s the French Wars of Religion.

Begins when Francis II’s heir, Charles IX dies

1570s-1580s: France’s crisis over who would rule after Francis

What was the “War of the Three Henrys”? Who was involved? Who wins? Was he a good king?

The debate on which Henry would get the French crown!

• Henry I, Duke of Guise? He’s Catholic!

• The blood-heir Henry of Navarre? He’s Huguenot/Protestant.

• King Henry III, Royalist and Catholic.

Henry of Navarre wins, becomes Catholic for the sake of maintaining power, and becomes Henry IV of France. He’s actually a great king!

What is the Edict of Nantes?

A 1598 document by Henry IV saying that Protestants can legally exist and participate in daily life in France.

What happens to Henry IV in 1610? What is the result and who does it involve?

Henry IV is assassinated (probably by the Hapsburgs) in 1610, leaving Louis XIII the throne at just nine years old. Louis XIII lost a great role model for ruling too early, and Louis’s reign shows that.