THEME 1: MONARCHY AND GOVERNMENT 1509-88

What were the main features of Tudor monarchy?

Personal authority

Belief in divine right

Reliance on reputation

Cooperation of elites

Governance through consensus rather than force.

What was the role of the monarchy?

They were in control of the government

The monarchy passed by the rule of primogeniture

Made the decision whether to go to war or to make peace

Responsible for upholding justice and the law

Summon or dismiss parliament at will

Listen to the people around them

What was the order of kings and queens in 1509-88?

Henry VIII —> Edward VI —> Mary Tudor —> Elizabeth I

When was Henry VIII reign?

1509-1547

Describe how Henry VIII came to the throne:

He was 17 years old and until 1502 was the second brother when Arthur died and so he did not expect to be king.

Describe Henry’s personal qualities:

Well educated

Spoke 4-5 languages

Could sing and dance

Wrote poems, songs and a book (in Latin)

Extremely sporty and fit

Describe Henry’s qualities as a king:

Forceful and sometimes cruel

Disliked writing state papers

Preferred to leave the details of day-to-day government to his ministers

Influenced by the Renaissance idea of ‘honour’, and defended England’s rights abroad

When was Edward VI reign?

1547-1553

Describe how Edward VI came to the throne:

He was heir to the throne but was only 9 years old so he was controlled by his protectors a lot even though he remained a political figurehead.

Describe Edward’s personal qualities:

Well educated by the best humanist thinkers in the country

Knew 5 languages

Kept a chronical (journal)

Enjoyed watching sports like jousting

Proud protestant

Describe Edward’s qualities as a king:

He learnt how to rule and got increasingly involved in government

Came up with ideas and designs about how to improve the defences of castles

Died before he could fully take power

When was Mary I reign?

1553-1558

Describe how Mary I came to the throne:

It was assumed for many years she would inherit the throne, but with Henry trying to annul his marriage to her mother and Mary being made illegitimate and excluded from the succession ( by the Act of Succession 1534). In 1544 she was restored as second in line but her illegitimacy was not reversed.

She was loyal to her RC faith and Edward was loyal to his protestant faith. He wanted her to renounce her beliefs but she consistently refusused.

Edward named LJG heir but she lasted 9 days and Mary became queen.

Describe Mary’s personal qualities:

Very intelligent and had been well educated

Happy childhood but teenage and adulthood was overshadowed by Henry and her mother.

She was personally pious and loyal to the Roman Catholic faith.

Very stubborn

Suffered form anxiety, depression and phantom pregnancies

Describe Mary’s qualities as a queen:

Her stubbornness caused problems during her reign as she wanted to restore the English Church to full Catholicism but politically she failed to realise how complex the situation was

Didn’t realise how big the opposition to her marriage was leading to open rebellion

Bad health stop her ruling effectively

When was Elizabeth’s I reign?

1558-1603

Describe how Elizabeth I came to the throne:

She was seen as the embodiment of the break with Rome and was made illegitimate ( in the Act of Succession 1534). Later she got reinstated for the royal succession (1544)

She was suspected for a few plots behind the monarchs back during both Mary and Edwards reign and because of this she learnt to be cautious when Mary named her heir to the throne.

Describe Elizabeth’s personal qualities:

Well educated

Quick-witted

Stubborn

Talent for man-management

Describe Mary’s qualities as a queen:

Was a politique especially when it came to religion

Very indecisive and cautious which caused her counsellors to be frustrated

Fearsome temper when orders were ignored or disobeyed

What were most of the rebellions aimed at?

Policies and/or councilors.

It was never usually aimed at the monarch themselves as it would be seen as against god’s will

What can’t the monarchy do?

They couldn’t raise taxation without the agreement of parliament

They couldn’t ignore the laws of the realm made in conjunction with parliament

What do the three Acts of Succession do?

1534 = Henry’s marriage to Catherine was invalid and that Mary was illegitimate

1536 = Elizabeth was illegitimate

1544 = Named Edward as heir and also restored Mary and Elizabeth to the royal succession(but did not make them legitimate again)

How and what was propaganda used for?

It was common to put on tournaments or banquets to emphasise their power and wealth.

When it came to religious changes, propaganda was used to spread the beliefs of the monarch (E.G when Henry staged a battle to represent the king and the Pope)

They increased their visibility by going on progresses around the country

Why did Henry have so many wives?

Because none of them produced sons apart from 1.

What political manoeuvring’s took place in January 1547 to enhance Hertford’s control over the future boy king?

The will was changed to give the regency council full power and authority to make any decisions necessary to the government of the realm

A further addition to the will was the ‘unfulfilled gifts’ clause that allowed the council to make gifts after H’s death

Henry’s death was kept a secret for 3 days while negotiations took place

Hertford made himself the Duke of Somerset and his supporters were also rewarded

What was the dry stamp?

The holder of the dry stamp could use it to put Henry’s signature on documents.

Who do people think influenced Edward to create the ‘device for the succession’?

Northumberland

This is because his power and position rested on Edward and if M or E became queen he would lose them.

Northumberland married his son to LJG and suggested the change to the device after this, this would make him father-in-law to the queen.

What were the traditional roles of the king and queen?

King = Rule his country, dispense justice and defend the realm by leading his troops into battle.

Queen = Be the kings wife, to intercede with king for peace and mercy and provide him with a son/heir

What was expected when Mary and Elizabeth came to the throne?

It was expected that they would find a husband to perform the king roles

Why did Mary want to marry Philip II?

It was driven by a combination of dynastic and religious considerations. It would also prevent internal tension.

What was in the marriage treaty in 1554 that protected the power in England?

Philip would have the title of the king, but he would not rule only assist

If Mary was to die first Philip would not be able to rule as a King of England on his own. Don Carlos would also have no claim to the English throne (Philip’s son)

Any children of the marriage would inherit the English throne

Philip was not allowed to appoint foreigners to positions in the English government

England would not be drawn into wars between Spain and France

What image did Elizabeth create?

The ‘virgin queen’ as she never married or had children.

She used this nickname to her advantage and suggested that she was married to her country.