The Monarchy and the Church

Writers during the English Renaissance wrote about politics

Kings and Queens belief in Christianity, made the writers either praised or punished for their
writings.
The Kings and queens had different views on everything but mostly religion.

The Tudor

Henry Tudor took the throne as Henry VII in 1485

He made treaties and made the merchant fleet prosper.
He had plan to marry his son Arthur to Catherine of Argon for a political alliance. (Spain was
Englands New World rival.
Arthur suddenly dies and the pope makes an exception to marry the younger brother, Henry, to
Catherine.

The Protestant Reformation

In the reign of Henry VIII, people did not like the church due to the paying of indulgences and
the cardinals living in luxury.
A German monk, Martin Luther, wrote out 95 oppositions against the actions and nailed them
on the church doors
Luther just wanted the church to reform others made up Protestant churches

The Church of England

Henry VIII was loyal to the church until he became over determined to have a male heir. He had
wanted his marriage due to having a daughter (Mary). The pope refused to annul his marriage
therefore.
In 1534, he declared himself the head of the Church of England.
Divorced Catherine of Argon.
Married her court attendant, Anne Boleyn and eventually was married to 6 women (not all at
once) and produced one son, Edward VI who succeeded at 9 but died at 15.
During his reign a group formed the puritans.
After Edward it was Mary, Catherine of Aragns daughter, to take the throne.
Mary brought back Catholicism to avenge her mother and killed all the Protestants.
She was nicknamed Bloody Mary
She died 1558 and her half sis, Elizabeth took the throne.

The Elizabethan Era

The unwanted daughter from Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII

England was prosperous
She exercised complete authority while keeping the publics opinion and respected parliament
Kept England out of costly wars
Ended the Spanish alliance

Encouraged oversea adventures such as Sir Francis Drakes adventure around the world & Sir
Raleighs attempt to settle a colony in Virginia
She favored the in balanced of Catholicism and Puritanism.
However the Catholics believed her cousin was the rightful heir to throne, and after years of this
belief, Elizabeth had her cousin, Mary Stuart, beheaded in 1587
In response, Spain (Catholic) sent an armada to England.
The small English ships defeated the Spanish with the help of a violent storm.
This made Elizabeth the undisputed leader of a great military.

The Rise of the Stuarts

Elizabeth dies in 1603

The son of her beheaded cousin, James VI ruled England
James favored the England church which Catholics and Puritans didnt like
Catholics plotted to kill him and blow up parliament- unsuccessful- Gunpowder plot of 1605
James and son, Charles, didnt like the puritan dominated house of commons with the catholic
style High-Church rituals in the Anglican Church
When Charles took the throne in 1625, the clashes with the Puritans increased.
1629 Charles dismissed Parliament
Persecuted puritans, (1637) attempted to introduce Anglican practices in Scotlands
Presbyterian churches which led to rebellion.
In need of funds, Charles calls back for Parliament (1640) which stripped most of his powers. In
response, Charles went into civil war.

The Defeat of the Monarchy

Royalists- Catholics, Anglicans, Nobility

Parliament- Puritans, small landowners, middle class
Royalists vs. Parliament
Oliver Cromwell leader of Parliament defeats the Royalists in 1645 and the king surrenders a
year later.
Puritans est. commonwealth and made Cromwell as head; later made him lord protector for
life.
This government was just as autocratic as the Stuart reign.
Englands theaters were closed, Sunday was a day of worship (not even walking for pleasure was
allowed) and most recreation was suspended
Cromwell dies in 1658, son inherits all the responsibilities
1660, Charles II, son of Charles I has the throne
Charles IIs reign becomes the Restoration chapter of English history.

The Renaissance

Renaissance= rebirth, revival

Began in Italy in 14th cent. Then spread North throughout Europe
What delayed England into the Renaissance was the political instability

Began in 1485 when Henry VII had the throne but fully came about when Elizabeth I came to
reign.

The Renaissance Worldview

Before the Renaissance, people thought more of the afterlife and the work to come, now people
were more curious about the earth they lived on.
A new emphasis was placed on the individual and on the development of human potential.
Bold and dashing knight or a scholarly monk were no longer popular but a well-rounded
person who cultivated his talents to the fullest was