The Tudors

Almost 500 years ago, a princess called Elizabeth became Queen of England.

People were worried. It was unusual to be ruled by a woman, because at the time, they were seen as weak and not as clever as men.

But Elizabeth proved them wrong!

She was strong, loved by many, and some say, became one of England's greatest ever rulers.

Elizabeth was the daughter of King Henry VIII. She didn't expect to be Queen. She was third in line to the throne. Both her brother and sister died without having children so Elizabeth became Queen.

To show people she could rule the country well, she had portraits painted of her as strong, mighty and rich, just as a queen should be.

But Elizabeth had enemies like King Philip of Spain.

In 1588, he sent the Spanish Armada, a fleet of more than 100 ships, to invade England. Elizabeth stayed strong. She told her soldiers and sailors: "I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too." Her ships attacked and the weather helped blow the Armada away from England. England and Elizabeth had won!

Queen Elizabeth ruled for nearly 45 years.

Her reign was called the Golden Age.

There were many great artists and writers. William Shakespeare, the most famous playwright ever, performed his plays in front of her.

While Elizabeth was Queen, England became wealthy and powerful.

She had shown that a queen could be just as strong as a king. That a woman could do as good a job as a man!

Sometimes, history is shaped by big events like battles or earthquakes. Sometimes just one person changes things, like Henry VIII.

When Henry was 18, he became King of England. He loved music, dancing and playing sports, like jousting and archery. But he got angry if he couldn't have his own way!

At the time, most people in England belonged to the Catholic Church run by the Pope who lived in Rome.

Some people said it was run badly and needed to change or ‘reform’. But the Pope was so powerful, he could even tell Henry what to do!

Henry wanted a son to be king when he died. But he and the Queen, Catherine of Aragon, only had a daughter.

Henry wanted to divorce Catherine and marry Anne Boleyn instead. But the Pope said, "No!"

Henry was furious! He made everyone agree that in England, he, not the Pope was in charge of the Church.

His new church was called the Church of England. The people who wanted the church to change began to do this. This was called ‘The Reformation’.

Now Henry could do what he liked!

He divorced Catherine and married Anne. They had a daughter, Elizabeth. But Anne was accused of working against Henry, so he cut off her head!

Then Henry married Jane Seymour. They had a son, but Jane died.

Henry then married Anne of Cleves. He didn't like Anne, so he divorced her!

Next he married Catherine Howard, but he cut off her head too!

Finally, he married Catherine Parr. But he was old now, and died.

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived! Henry VIII changed things for his six wives, but by starting the Church of England, he changed history!