Timeline of the Kings and Queens of England
The Tudors (Find out more about the Tudors)
King Henry VII 1485 - 1509
King Henry VIII 1509 - 1547
King Edward VI 1547 - 1553
Jane Grey 1554
Queen Mary I (Bloody Mary) 1553 - 1558
Queen Elizabeth I 1558 - 1603
King Henry VII 1485 - 1509
Age 28-52
Great-great-great-grandson of Edward III
Married Elizabeth (daughter of Edward IV)
Seven children
Buried in Westminster Abbey.
Henry gained the throne when he defeated and killed Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. The battle ended the War of the Roses, a dispute between the House of Lancaster and the House of York.
Kept England peaceful and brought riches to the crown and country.
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King Henry VIII 1509 - 1547
Age 18-56
Second son of Henry VII
Married Catherine of Aragon (Spanish), Anne Boleyn (English), Jane Seymore (English), Anne of Cleves (Flemish-Belgian), Catherine Howard (English), Catherine Parr (English)
Three children
Buried in Windsor Castle.
Henry succeeded to the throne because his elder brother Arthur died in 1502. His first wife, Catherine of Aragon, was Arthur's wife. The best known fact about Henry VIII is that he had six wives! Argued with the Pope and made himself the head of the new 'Church of England'.
Most school children learn the following rhyme to help them remember the fate of each wife: "Divorced, Beheaded, Died: Divorced, Beheaded, Survived".
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King Edward VI 1547 - 1553
Age 10-16
Son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour.
Unmarried
Died from consumption
Buried in Westminster Abbey.
Edward reigned under the protection of his uncle, the Duke of Somerset.Edward was never a healthy King and died aged only 15 years.
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After Edward's death there was a dispute over the succession. As Mary was Catholic, LADY JANE GREY was named as the next in line to the throne. She was proclaimed Queen but Mary entered London with her supporters and Jane was taken to the Tower. She reigned for only 9 days. She was executed in 1554, aged 17.
Queen Mary I (Bloody Mary) 1553 - 1558
Age 37-42
Daughter of Henry VIII and Catharine of Aragón
Married Philip (Spanish)
No Children
Buried in Westminster.
Married Philip II of Spain. Wanted to make England Catholic again. Killed many who opposed her which is why she is remembered as Bloody Mary.
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Queen Elizabeth I 1558 - 1603
Age 25-69
Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn
Unmarried
Buried in Westminster Abbey.
During her reign great adventurers discovered many new lands. Fought off the Spanish Armada.
Named James VI of Scotland her heir, uniting the two countries Scotland and England.
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1066 - 1154 The Normans
1154 - 1399 Plantagenets
1399 - 1461 The House of Lancaster
1461 - 1485 The House of York
1485 -1603 The Tudors
1603 - 1649 and 1660 - 1714 The Stuarts
1714 -1901 The House of Hanovarians
1901 -1910 and 1910 - Today Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and The Windsors