Henry VII(1485-1509)

The beginner of the Tudors dynasty. The father of Henry VIII, a man who established a new kind of monarchy and created the merchant fleet.

Henry VIII(1509-1547)

The most famous Tudor who adopted Protestantism after breaking off the relations with Rome and closed many monasteries. He had 6 wives and 3 children.

Catherine of Aragon

She was Henry’s first wife. She was a widow of Henry’s elder brother – Arthur. She gave birth to a daughter, Bloody Mary, in 1518. But Henry wanted a son. So he divorced her and broke off the relations with Rome.

Anna BoleynShe was Henry’s second wife. He married her in 1533 but the marriage lasted only 3 years. She gave birth to a daughter Elizabeth, who became later a queen of England. But she also couldn’t give birth to a son. So Henry accused her of adultery and she was beheaded outside the Tower of London.

Jane Seymour

The third wife. She was the only woman he really loved. He married her ten days after Ann’s execution. A few months later she gave birth to the only son Henry had. His name was Edward. But Jane died twelve days later.

Anna of ClevesWas Henry’s fourth wife. She was a German princess. The story tells that Henry sent the painter Hans Holbein to Germany. He brought the portrait of Anna that Henry liked. But when she came to England Henry found little likeness between the portrait and the lady.They divorced.

Catherine Howard

The fifth wife was Catherine Howard. She was very young. She was unfaithful to Henry. Catherine, like her cousin Anna Boleyn, was also imprisoned and beheaded.

Catherine ParrHis sixth wife was clever enough not to anger Henry and she outlived him. She had good relations with Elizabeth and Edward, but was hated by Mary, because they had different religious viewpoints. After Henry’s death she married Tomas Seymour, Jane’s brother.

Edward IVEdward VI became King of England and Ireland on 28 January 1547 and was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first ruler who was raised as a Protestant. He was ill and soon died.

Bloody MaryShe was Queen regnant of England and Ireland from 19 July 1553 until her death. She was the eldest daughter of Henry VIII and only child of Catherine of Aragon. She is remembered for restoring England to Roman Catholicism. She also are known as “Bloody Mary”. Her re-establishment of Roman Catholicism was reversed by her successor and sister, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth I

Elizabeth IShe was Queen regnant of England and Ireland from 1558 until her death. Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty. Her mother, Anne Boleyn, was executed two and a half years after her birth, and Elizabeth was declared illegitimate. Her brother, Edward VI, bequeathed the crown to Lady Jane Grey, cutting his sisters out of the succession. In 1558 Elizabeth succeeded the Catholic Mary I. Elizabeth was more moderate than her father and siblings. After the short reigns of Elizabeth's brother and sister, her 44 years on the throne provided welcome stability for the kingdom and helped forge a sense of national identity.