English Monarchs in Shakespearean England Tudors and Stuarts English Monarchs in Shakespearean England
King Henry VIII Third monarch from the House of Tudor Created the Church of England and Anglicanism when the Pope refused to grant him an annulment Could divorce and marry who he pleased as the head of the church Married six times: 2 divorces, 2 beheadings, 1 died, and 1 outlived him
Catherine of Aragon Annulled Devout Catholic Married Henry’s older brother, Arthur Married Henry after Arthur died Refused to grant Henry a divorce or annulment Daughter, Mary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd5C6kl1MDQ
Anne Boleyn Henry broke from Rome and created a religion so he could marry her Daughter, Elizabeth Son, stillborn Beheaded for adultery http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZJOhwlFiuU
Jane Seymore Third wife Son, Edward Died two weeks after child birth Henry was devastated because of her death http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTObhG8Rc3M
Anne of Cleaves Advisors convinced Henry to marry a protestant German After seeing her for the first time, Henry said, ‘She looks like a horse.’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH83TqrTZVI Annulled Given title of ‘The King’s Beloved Sister’ Remained close friends
Catherine Howard Beheaded Teenager when she married Henry, who was 49 Had an affair with Henry’s courtier, Thomas Culpepper Both were executed for adultery http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpAy0pi7TJ8
Catherine Parr Was twice a widow when Henry married her Outlived Henry Married once more Close friend to all Henry’s children http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRvgHfEZbpg
King Edward VI Henry’s only living son Anglican Became king at the age of 9 Died from an illness at age 15 Rumoured he was poisoned http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2tfXu6eJzE
Queen Mary Henry’s eldest daughter Became queen after Edward’s death Devout Catholic Tried to restore Catholicism in England Nickname ‘Bloody Mary’ Died of cancer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZNt7wdIRMo
Queen Elizabeth Anglican Reigned for 42 years during England’s Golden Age Never married No children Nicknamed ‘Virgin Queen’ Named her 2nd cousin, King James VI of Scotland, a protestant, her successor Was monarch when Shakespeare arrived in London http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLg-ziZg2fc
King James I Son of Mary Queen of Scots, a Catholic Queen Elizabeth, her cousin, signed Mary’s execution warrant for treason James was raised as a protestant First English monarch from the House of Stuart Helped prevent the “Gunpowder Plot” by Catholics who tried to assassinate him and blow up Parliament Secured his place on the English throne http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi0vRTOsmNA
King James and Macbeth Play was written shortly after he took the throne Setting is Scotland Banquo, a major character, is a distant relative of King James James was a self-proclaimed expert on witchcraft Witches and magic are prominent in the play James liked short plays Macbeth is Shakespeare’s shortest play King James gave Shakespeare a royal commission as a playwright