Europe: Royal Rumbles

• Strong monarchies began to emerge in western Europe during the 1500s. In Spain, England and France strong kings and queens emerged through both conquest and religious sponsorship.

Height of Spanish Empire in the early 1500s

Spain

• Had been united under Spanish Catholic rule during reign of Ferdinand and Isabella in the 1400s.

• Killed or cast out all non-Catholics (Protestants, Jews, Muslims); Inquisitions

• Favored by the Catholic Church, unified Spain grew in wealth and power

• Became dominant sea power in the world

• Philip II becomes king in 1556. Grandson of Ferdinand and Isabella (his parents were first cousins)

• Most powerful king in Spanish history

• Fought many religious wars in Europe, trying to stop the spread of Protestantism

• Netherlands—inherited by Philip II; Dutch were mostly Protestant (supported by England) and declared their independence

• Brought Spanish/British into direct conflict

• May, 1588, Spanish fleet of 130 warships head for England--known as the Spanish Armada

• Outmaneuvered by smaller, faster English ships and set afire. Then, a storm in the North Sea sank many ships

• This defeat marked end to direct Spanish threat to England and the end of Spain’s dominion over the seas

Tudor England

Henry VII became king in 1485 after the War of the Roses--a series of civil wars fought over the throne of England between adherents of the House of Lancaster (red rose) and the House of York (white rose). Both houses were branches of the Plantagenet royal house, tracing their descent from King Edward III.

• Henry VII was a skilled politician/economist and made major improvements to the English economy and government. He quickly disposed of all rivals and kept England in relative peace during his reign.

Henry VIII

• Henry VIII was the younger son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. His elder brother, Arthur, Prince of Wales, died in 1502, leaving Henry as heir to the throne.

• Most significant achievement was to break England away from the Catholic Church and establish the protestant Church of England (Anglican) Church.

• Henry VII married his eldest son, Arthur, to Catherine of Aragon, daughter of F&I of Spain (political alliance). Arthur was ill and died soon afterwards.

• To keep the alliance, Henry VIII married the widow Catherine w/the understanding that her first marriage was never consummated.

• After several years of marriage, no male heir was produced. Henry blamed Catherine and began looking elsewhere.

• Found Anne Boleyn, one of Catherine’s entourage

• Asked Pope for a divorce on grounds Catherine’s first marriage had been consummated.

• Catherine denied Henry’s claim as such an accusation would have ruined her reputation.

• Fortunately for Catherine, her nephew was Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Charles basically controlled the Pope in Rome and told him not to grant the divorce.

• Not to be outdone, Henry had Parliament pass a series of laws separating England from Catholic control and creating a new official state church. Removed all papal influence/control in English government.

• Act of Supremacy, 1534, made Henry the head of the new Church of England. He then closed all Catholic monasteries/convents in England and seized all Catholic properties and possessions.

The Trouble with Tudors…

• After Henry’s death, religious conflict created political turmoil.

• Henry named his only son, Edward (by 3rd wife Jane Seymour) as his heir to the throne. Edward died shortly after becoming king. Henry’s Catholic daughter Mary (by Catherine of Aragon) became Queen.

Queen Mary I• Mary, the fourth

monarch of the Tudor dynasty, is remembered for returning England from Protestantism to Catholicism. To this end, she had almost three hundred religious dissenters executed; as a consequence, she is often known as Bloody Mary.

• Mary quickly married Philip II of Spain to ensure a Catholic male heir. Problem: Philip was not attracted to her and avoided her whenever possible. He quickly returned to Spain and only saw her from time to time.

• Mary died childless after a five year reign. Next in line, Elizabeth, Henry’s other daughter (by Anne Boleyn)

Queen Elizabeth I• Became queen in 1558

when she was 25. Had stayed out of the limelight most of her life while her siblings fought for control.

• She was shrewd, well educated with lots of personality.

• She was sarcastic, sharp-tongued and to-the-point, but the English people loved her

• Elizabeth was protestant and restored the Church of England

• One of England’s greatest rulers, the nation prospered under her rule. She supported the arts and education (Shakespeare, etc)

• Everyone expected her to marry soon after becoming Queen (a woman incapable)

• Quandary—if she married, who?

a) Foreign prince—foreign control

b) Englishman—jealousies among noble families

c) A husband would mean giving up her power

She never married, but used the idea to keep foreign powers at bay

• During her reign, England began to create its colonial empire, beginning with the additions Ireland and several colonies in North America (VA colony)

• She was instrumental in converting Scotland to Protestantism, removing her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots, and creating a strong alliance between the two nations

• She ruled from 1558 to 1603.

• Elizabeth died with no children. Her closest living relative was King James VI of Scotland

• Upon her death, he became King James I of England

• His rule united England and Scotland under one monarch (United Kingdom)