The Renaissance Period(England 1485-1660)

Renaissance = “rebirth” -- refers to the renewed interest in classical learning and the writings of

ancient Greece and Rome

* Started in Italy* Italian geniuses: Boccaccio, Petrarch, da Vinci, Galileo, Machiavelli, Michelangelo, Columbus

• Michelangelo’s art, with its perfectly proportioned figures, suggests that humans are noble and capable of perfection

• Later, John Milton expressed same view of free will, potential greatness, and possible degradation of humanity. (with great power comes great responsibility) -- Paradise Lost = epic poem

• Beginning of the late 1400’s…Change– People’s values– Beliefs– Behavior

• Renewal of Human Spirit– “Renaissance person”

• The Church is still rich and powerful.

Humanism• An intellectual movement (OPTIMISTIC view of human life)• Used the classics combined with traditional Christian

thought – tried to harmonize Bible with classics• Taught them how to live and rule

• Desiderius Erasmus (1466?-1536)– Dutch Monk---loved to travel---wrote in Latin– Belonged to all of Europe---because of travels– On a trip to England

• Taught Greek at Cambridge• Met and became friends with a young lawyer…

Sir Thomas More

Sir Thomas More(1477?-1535)

• The two had much in common…both loved• Life• Laughter• Learning• Both churchmen…but neither happy about some of the Church’s corrupt

practices• Also wrote in Latin

Poems, pamphlets, “Utopia,” etc. Held a number of important offices as Lord Chancellor he was one of the king’s chief ministers

• Had a stand-off with the King (later) (over a matter of law) and was executed because of it (became a martyr and later the Church declared him a saint –1935)

Other English Humanists

• Sir Thomas Elyot• Robert Ascham

*** Both wrote in English, a sign that Latin would eventually cease to be the language of learning

Gutenberg’s (Johann Gutenberg)Printing Press

• About 1455• First book printed…– The Latin Bible

• Helped spread knowledge• Made books more available to more people (REVOLUTIONIZED THE WORLD)• William Caxton = English printing press set up

in 1476

Gutenberg’sPrinting Press

REFORMATION movement(going on during the Renaissance Period)

• Breaking with the Roman Catholic Church (many upset at corruption, etc. – remember Chaucer’s satire?) (PROTESTED = Protestants)

• English Reformation and Renaissance were closely related– English writers will feel the effects

• But varied from country to country• Basically the rejection of the authority of the

Pope and the Italian churchmen

(ASIDE) ???Did you Know???

• Discussion of Christianity divisions: Roman Catholic---Protestant (different denominations, vary according to doctrine)

• Other world religions did exist

The Church and England

• Conflict had been going on for a long time– Henry II and Thomas Beckett---remember?

• By 1530s break seemed possible– Patriotism and national identity– Resented financial burdens imposed by the Vatican

• Germany…..Martin Luther – 1517– A more personal relationship, understanding of the

Bible rather than the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church

– Not what the Pope said -- What the Bible said

War of the Roses(1455-1485)

• Battle for English throne• Houses of Lancaster and York• Richard III killed and replaced by Henry Tudor

who fought as a knight for the House of Lancaster and married Elizabeth York, uniting warring families and restoring peace & order to kingdom

• He became Henry VII, ruling from 1485-1509

Henry VIIruled for 24 years

“All My Wives”a Soap Opera!

• Henry VII– (War of Roses)– Henry and Elizabeth have two sons: – Arthur & Henry

Arthur and Katherine

• Arranged marriage (Katherine of Aragon)• Alliance with Spain• She-daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain• Banns (public proclamation of coming marriage)

were read by Church; married• Several months later, Arthur died• The spare– Henry married her

Henry VIII ruled for 36 years

Henry VIII• Life….1491-1547• Reign…1509-1547• “RENAISSANCE MAN” – wrote poetry, music,

literature; in youth very athletic, handsome, ladies man, good dancer, etc.

• Established the ROYAL NAVY (begun by his father and became powerful under son) Put stop to foreign invasions, allowed England to spread power, language, literature all over world. (beginnings of England as World Power)

Henry VIII Wives

• WIVES: - 1) Katherine of Aragon (divorced)– 2) Anne Boleyn (beheaded)– 3) Jane Seymour (died)– 4) Anne of Cleves (divorced)– 5) Catherine Howard (beheaded)– 6) Catherine Parr (survived)

Katherine of Aragon -- Wife 1

Katherine of Aragon

• Very Catholic!• They were very happy for awhile• Gave birth to daughter: Mary• Doesn’t give him the son he wants, eyes move

elsewhere• Annulment (divorce) – sends her back to Spain

Anne Boleyn – Wife 2

Anne Boleyn -- Wife 2

• Henry created the CHURCH OF ENGLAND -1531- for her

• Henry became attracted to her about 1525 – she was one of Katherine of Aragon’s ladies in waiting

• Henry sent Cardinal Wolsey to the Pope• 1529-Henry dismissed Cardinal Wolsey as

Lord Chancellor (didn’t get right answer from Pope)

Establishment of the Church of England

• Henry established the Church of England (English Church, Anglican Church) and made himself supreme head in 1531 (NOTHING changed in Church except his divorce—never considered himself Protestant)

• Henry replaced him with Sir Thomas More…– Loyal to Rome, his friend; thought he’d get the upper

hand in Church decisions, especially in getting a divorce– Henry underestimated his friend’s commitment to

Church

Anne BoleynWife 2 continued

• Henry secretly married Anne - 1533• Parliament declared the marriage to Katherine

invalid– Careful…..if marriage is invalid…• What happens to Mary????• She is considered illegitimate

• Anne gives birth to Elizabeth – Sept. 1533

Sir Thomas More Falls• A Catholic, loyal to true meaning of Church and to

Katherine• Would not attend Anne’s coronation– but sent messages that he hoped they would be

happy.• Henry VIII’s First Act of Succession- ordered

subjects to accept Henry’s marriage to Anne as “undoubted, true, sincere and perfect“– making Elizabeth the rightful heir and Mary

illegitimate

-- More refused to sign…4 days later imprisoned for high treason

Sir Thomas More Falls

• Kept in Bell Tower, London, for 1 year• Found guilty and sentenced to be beheaded• Beheaded 1535 • Last words: “I am the King’s good servant and

God’s first.”• The Pope excommunicates Henry

Anne Boleyn Falls

• Henry soon tires of her• Anne had 2-3 miscarriages or still-births (some males) –

(probably actually Henry’s fault…)• Henry needs a son….he needs to get rid of Anne• Has her arrested on charges of…WITCHCRAFT and

adultery– She TRAPPED him in to marriage– Says she is an adulteress

• Relations with 5 other men• Even incest with her own brother George

• None of it true

Anne Boleyn Falls

• Court finds her guilty---May 1536• Her own uncle presided over the court (her

father was excused from being present, but did preside over trial of supposed lovers)

• Because of Henry’s fondness for her, he has a sharp sword commissioned for the execution instead of the broad ax

Jane Seymour -- Wife 3

Jane SeymourWife 3

• Quiet, mousey and frail• One of Anne Boleyn’s ladies in waiting• Seemed to always be frightened• VERY different from Katherine and Anne• Married Henry day after Boleyn’s execution• Already carrying Henry’s only legitimate son– Edward (1537-1553)

• Childbed Fever• Died• Was Henry’s favorite…she gave him a son.

Act of Succession II

• Made Edward the heir

• Made BOTH Mary and Elizabeth illegitimate

Anne of Cleves -- Wife 4

Anne of ClevesWife 4

• 1540---Henry marries her, sight unseen• Alliance with Germany• Had only seen portraits of Anne (in person, didn’t

like what he saw– called her a “Flander’s mare”)

• She saw what was coming (SMART)• Testified-the marriage was never consummated • Probably most fortunate of all Henry’s wives– Received many gifts from Henry (SET for LIFE)

Catherine Howard – Wife 5

Catherine HowardWife 5

• Born between 1520 and 1525…no record• Cousin of Anne Boleyn (poor side of family)• Wild child -- not supervised like most young

children• Affair with music teacher• Affair with estate manager• One of Anne of Cleve’s ladies in waiting

Catherine HowardWife 5

• Rumors she was carrying Henry’s son before he annulled marriage to Anne of Cleves– Probably started by her family

• It worked…they were married a few weeks later (16 days after being freed from Anne)

• Henry showered her with jewels and clothes• Henry called her “his rose without a thorn”• Catherine vowed all his wishes would be met

• BUT….

Catherine HowardWife 5

• She found her marriage bed…unappealing• By this time, Henry was…– Nearly 50 (she was approximately 19)– Weighed about 300 lbs.– Sick– Had a leg ulcer

• Early in 1541..she had a romance with Thomas Culpepper

Catherine Howard’s Fall• By November 1541– She and her family had enough enemies– Charges of treason & adultery were brought against

her • Henry didn’t want to believe• Her lovers confessed…after torture…• AND Henry sees the love letter….• Catherine admitted to being wild before her

marriage…but NEVER admitted to the affairs after her marriage.

Catherine Howard’s Fall• Stripped of her title of “Queen”• Arrested and confined; found guilty – Sent to the Tower of London– Marriage annulled

• Last days, she practiced putting her head on the chopping block

• Beheaded February 12, 1542• Defiant Last words– “I die a Queen, but I would have rather died the

wife of Culpepper.”

Catherine Parr – Wife 6

Catherine Parr -- Wife 6

• 1512-1548• Widowed twice• In a relationship with Thomas Seymour (Jane’s

brother, actually married him after death of Henry)

• She caught Henry’s eye-he proposed• Married in July 1543• She was friends with his children– Even brought Henry and his daughters together– Through an Act of Parliament-they were put back in

the line of succession

OLD Henry VIII

• As he aged…– He became cruel, tyrannical– His health was failing– Over weight– Wound from 1536 still unhealed….

• Henry died January 28, 1547• Executions• His Legacy…….the new church…..The Church of

England (and Royal Navy)!

Edward VI(son of Jane Seymour)

ruled for 6 years

Edward VI(lived 1537-1553; Reigned 1547 - 1553)

Church of England

• Sickly, health problems• Began rule at age 9 (uncle and ministers

mostly ruled)• Followed policies of his father• At his death…at 15– Lady Jane Grey (cousin who did not want the

throne – felt it wasn’t her right; forced by powerful Earl Northumberland)• Ruled for 9 days (reluctantly executed by Mary I)

Mary I (daughter of Katherine of Aragon)

ruled for 5 years

Mary I (Mary Tudor)(Lived 1516-1558; Reigned 1553 - 1558)

Catholic

• Determined to have a Catholic heir• Her cousin was the King of Spain• Married the King of Spain’s son…Phillip• Problem pregnancies• Strong-willed, determined to avenge the wrongs done

to her mother • Converted England back to Roman Catholic, burned 300

Protestants at the stake, known as BLOODY MARY• Overthrown by subjects but died before being ousted• Died of ovarian cancer

Elizabeth I (daughter of Anne Boleyn) – ruled for 45 years

Elizabeth I (Elizabeth Tudor)(Lived 1533-1603; Reigned 1556-1603)

Church of England

• Considered one of the most brilliant & successful monarchs in history

• Church important to her. Reestablished Church of England, excommunicated from Roman Catholic Church

• Smart, resourceful, intelligent• Never married (knew strength in independence and

ability to play one suitor against another)• Taxes $$$ (Catholic families being taxed more – smiling

– raiders in Catholic church really her own men, kept her 10% from Church -- $$$ to military)

Elizabeth I

• Survived many plots against her, many from cousin, Mary Queen of Scots; endured 20 yrs and then had Mary beheaded

• King Phillip of Spain (widower of Mary Tudor) used beheading of Mary Stuart as excuse to invade England

Elizabeth I

• Spanish Armada (130 ships; 30,000 men) – smaller, faster, more maneuverable English ships DEFEATED Armada. Half Spanish fleet destroyed by English and weather (5,000 men drowned). England lost 100 men and NO ships!

• Defeat of Spanish Armada = turning point in history -- Established England as WORLD POWER

Elizabethan Era• With religious & national identity established,

England started writing as never before• Queen Elizabeth became a source of

INSPIRATION– Writers: William Shakespeare, Christopher

Marlow, Edmund Spencer…. All wrote about her.– Composer and Musician : Robert Johnson

• Dies without an heir

• TUDOR MONARCHS RULED FOR 118 YEARS (1485-1603: grandfather, father, 3 children)

James Iruled for 22 years

James I (James Stuart)(Lived 1566-1625; Reigned 1603 - 1625)

Catholic

• Mary Queen of Scots’ son• Was James the VI of Scotland (becomes James I

of England)

• Lacked Elizabeth’s ability to resolve or postpone conflicts, especially religious and economic issues. Difficult reign.

James I

• Patronized Shakespeare’s “King’s Men” and Jonson

• Persuaded John Donne to become clergyman

• Sponsored new translation of Bible: King James Version

Charles Iruled for approximately 21 years

Charles I (Reigned 1625 – 1646)

• Son of James I• Came to power during the Thirty Years War• Struggled for power with Parliament

(dissolved/dismissed 3 Parliaments)• Personal Rule/11 Year Tyranny – Used Star Chamber

(secret court session to condemn enemies with no trial, no jury, etc.) Seen as misuse of power

• Believed in divine right, felt no need to compromise

English Civil Wars(1642-1645) (1648-1649)

• Puritan controlled Parliament opposed the king– They didn’t like his Catholic sympathies– Shut down theatres as ungodly– Leader: Oliver Cromwell – Charles I was defeated in first civil war

• Charles I tried of treason…1649– Beheaded

• Monarchy abolished

Oliver Cromwell

Common Wealth of England

• Survived with Cromwell as leader (Lord Protectorate)

• Later his son (Richard Cromwell) led

• Lasted fm 1649 until 1660

Richard Cromwell (son of Oliver Cromwell)

Charles II (son of Charles I) begins the Restoration Period (next unit)