Shakespeare: Art imitating Life? The Wild World of Tudor England

Catherine of Aragon FIRST WIFE OF HENRY VIII FIRST WIFE OF HENRY VIII Married 1509 Married 1509 Annulment 1533 Annulment 1533 Daughter: Daughter: –Mary I Mary IMary I –Queen of England ( ) ( ) Image courtesy of Google

Catherine of Aragon Could not conceive a male heir Could not conceive a male heir Henry looked outside the marriage for someone who could bear him a son … Henry looked outside the marriage for someone who could bear him a son … Things came to a head in 1533 when Anne Boleyn became pregnant (yikes) Things came to a head in 1533 when Anne Boleyn became pregnant (yikes) Marriage annulled against her wishes Marriage annulled against her wishes

Anne Boleyn Married 1533 Married 1533 Executed 1536 Executed 1536 Daughter: Daughter: –Elizabeth I Queen of England Queen of England ( ) ( ) Image courtesy of Google

Anne Boleyn Anne's enemies at court began to plot against Shortly before her execution, she was accused of adultery and her marriage to the King was dissolved and declared invalid. How she could have committed adultery if she had in fact never been married to the King?

Jane Seymour Married 1536 Married 1536 Died in childbirth 1537 Died in childbirth 1537 Son: Son: –Edward VI, King of England ( ) Image courtesy of Google

Jane Seymour Within 24 hours of Anne Boleyn's execution, Jane Seymour and Henry VIII were formally betrothed!! Within 24 hours of Anne Boleyn's execution, Jane Seymour and Henry VIII were formally betrothed!! Unlike Henry's previous two Queens, Jane never had a coronation. (Perhaps the King was waiting for Jane to 'prove' herself by giving him a son.) Unlike Henry's previous two Queens, Jane never had a coronation. (Perhaps the King was waiting for Jane to 'prove' herself by giving him a son.) The baby was named Edward. The baby was named Edward.

Anne of Cleves Married 1540 Married 1540 Annulment 1540 Annulment 1540 Image courtesy of Google

Anne of Cleves Henry VIII remained single for over two years after Jane Seymour's death Henry VIII remained single for over two years after Jane Seymour's death Anne was a French aristocrat Henry was encouraged to marry for political reasons Anne was a French aristocrat Henry was encouraged to marry for political reasons After the marriage had been dissolved, Anne accepted the honorary title as the 'King's Sister'. After the marriage had been dissolved, Anne accepted the honorary title as the 'King's Sister'.

Kathryn Howard Married 1540 Married 1540 Executed 1542 Executed 1542 Image courtesy of Google

Kathryn Howard Sixteen days after he was free of Anne, Henry took his fifth wife, Kathryn Howard, on July 28, Sixteen days after he was free of Anne, Henry took his fifth wife, Kathryn Howard, on July 28, Henry was 49 and he bride was no older than 19 Henry was 49 and he bride was no older than 19 Less than a year into Kathryn's marriage, the rumors of her infidelity began… She was executed in 1542 Less than a year into Kathryn's marriage, the rumors of her infidelity began… She was executed in 1542

Catherine Parr Married 1543 Married 1543 Survived Henry Survived Henry Image courtesy of Google

Catherine Parr Maud, Catherine’s mother was a lady-in- waiting to Queen Catherine of Aragon … Maud, Catherine’s mother was a lady-in- waiting to Queen Catherine of Aragon … Henry VIII died in January 1547 and Catherine remarried shortly thereafter. Henry VIII died in January 1547 and Catherine remarried shortly thereafter.

Mary I Crown first went to Edward, Henry’s son Crown first went to Edward, Henry’s son He died and there was heated debates on who should rule- Mary (daughter of Catherine of Aragon) had been reared in Scotland and Ireland and she was a practicing Catholic He died and there was heated debates on who should rule- Mary (daughter of Catherine of Aragon) had been reared in Scotland and Ireland and she was a practicing Catholic Protestant leaders did NOT want her to rule. Protestant leaders did NOT want her to rule.

Jane Grey The true tragedy of Jane Grey is that her death was through no fault of her own, but of the unfortunate fact of her heritage and of her religion. The true tragedy of Jane Grey is that her death was through no fault of her own, but of the unfortunate fact of her heritage and of her religion. Her ambitious parents sought to keep a Protestant monarch Her ambitious parents sought to keep a Protestant monarch Four days after Edward's death on July 6, 1553, Jane was proclaimed Queen of England. Four days after Edward's death on July 6, 1553, Jane was proclaimed Queen of England.

Jane Grey However, Mary, who was the rightful heir to the throne according to Henry VIII's will, was gathering support … However, Mary, who was the rightful heir to the throne according to Henry VIII's will, was gathering support … She and her followers rode into London nine days later and imprisoned Jane and her supporters. Mary was the next Queen of England. She and her followers rode into London nine days later and imprisoned Jane and her supporters. Mary was the next Queen of England. Jane and her husband were held in the Tower of London but were not executed until after a second ill-fated uprising in their name. Jane and her husband were held in the Tower of London but were not executed until after a second ill-fated uprising in their name.

Bloody Mary When Queen Mary began to act on her intention to restoring the Catholic faith in England. When Queen Mary began to act on her intention to restoring the Catholic faith in England. To establish power, she ordered religious dissenters to be burned at the stake! To establish power, she ordered religious dissenters to be burned at the stake! It was because of these burnings that the Queen gained the epitaph "Bloody Mary". It was because of these burnings that the Queen gained the epitaph "Bloody Mary".

Elizabeth I When Elizabeth came to the throne in 1558 she made England Protestant again. Consequently she had many Catholic enemies who wanted to see her replaced by Mary Queen of Scots. Image courtesy of Google

Elizabeth I Elizabeth faced opposition from Mary Queen of Scots, who had a strong and legitimate (especially in the eyes of Catholics) claim to the throne of England. Elizabeth faced opposition from Mary Queen of Scots, who had a strong and legitimate (especially in the eyes of Catholics) claim to the throne of England. Elizabeth knew Mary was a threat, so she had her imprisoned for almost two decades and eventually ordered her execution. Elizabeth knew Mary was a threat, so she had her imprisoned for almost two decades and eventually ordered her execution.

Queen Elizabeth I The later years of Elizabeth's reign are often referred to as a Golden Age The later years of Elizabeth's reign are often referred to as a Golden Age –Religious Compromise –Arts flourish –Shrewd businesswoman

Elizabeth I Elizabeth refused to marry Elizabeth refused to marry Died on March 24, 1603 Died on March 24, 1603 Succeeded by James I (James VI of Scotland), the son of Mary, Queen of Scots. Succeeded by James I (James VI of Scotland), the son of Mary, Queen of Scots. The Tudor dynasty ended and passed to the Stuarts. The Tudor dynasty ended and passed to the Stuarts..

James VI/I Son of Mary Queen of Scots and Henry Stuart. Son of Mary Queen of Scots and Henry Stuart. –Well educated –Author of the King James Bible –Very Religious

Works Referenced ml ml ml ml elizabeth_mary_queen_of_scots.htm elizabeth_mary_queen_of_scots.htm elizabeth_mary_queen_of_scots.htm elizabeth_mary_queen_of_scots.htm All images courtesy of Google Images All images courtesy of Google Images