The 16th century: Henry VIII (1509-47) Tudor

Edward VI (1547-53) Mary (1553-58) Elizabeth (1558-1603)
Henry VIII: (1509-47)
The Pope Leo X gave him the title of Defender of the Faith.
Married Catherine of Aragon , the widow of his brother Arthur.
Asked for divorce to marry Ann Boleyn , and he married her secretly. Thomas Cromwell’s period was called: ”The English Reign of Terror”.
He appointed Thomas Cromwell as an Archbishop instead of Wolsey.
- The Act of Annates: in 1533-34,Henry procured from the parliament the passage of the Act of Annates which ordered that the fruits of archbishopries should be paid to the English crown and not to the Pope.
- The Act of Supremacy: which “him the only supreme Head in earth of the church of England.
Then the next step of Henry was the suppression of the monasteries and the confiscation of their property.
The English church became neither Protestant nor Catholic.
Henry was interested in naval affairs, and he created for England a standing navy.

Edward VI: (1547-53)
All pictures and crosses were cleared from the churches.

Mary: (1553-58)
She returned England to the papal sea. Parliament refused to restore the confiscated church lands.
The Protestant were subjected to persecution.

Elizabeth : (1558-1603)
She gathered the wisest men. The work of religion of Mary was undone by Elizabeth. She supported the Protestant.
Her Parliament passed the two important acts of supremacy and uniformity.
Catholic began to desert England.
- Pope Pins excommunicated Elizabeth and aided conspirators to overthrow her.
- Mary Stuart was tried and accused of plotting and was beheaded.
- Philip II of Spain was encouraged by the Pope to invade England.(130 ships called Armanda).
The English ships about 80 in number began to impede the enemy. The English sent 5 ships among the vessels to create panic.
Sir Walter Raleigh sent several expeditions for the purpose of making explorations .One part of North America was called Virginia , in the honor of the Virgin Queen.