The Reformation

To strengthen the monarchy, King Henry VII curbed the power of the nobles and built up the authority of the central administration of England. He also worked on domestic financial stability to put the Crown on a stronger footing. His son, Henry VIII, continued consolidating the monarchy’s power.

Breaking from the Church

Henry VIII is best known for breaking from the Church in Rome and for marrying six times. When the Pope refused to annul Henry’s marriage, he created the Church of England, placing the king – not the Pope – in charge of how people should worship and who should be appointed bishop.

The Reformation

At the same time that Henry VIII broke from Rome, the Reformation was under way across Western Europe, challenging the Catholic Church and the authority of the Pope. The Reformation was a religious movement that led to the creation of Protestant churches.

The Failure of the Protestant Reformation in Ireland

The English tried to introduce English laws on the inheritance of land in Ireland and to impose Protestantism on the Irish people. The Irish resisted, and brutal fighting followed.

Wales Unites with England

Wales was formally joined with England by the Laws in Wales Acts, also known as the Acts of Union, during the reign of Henry VIII. This placed Wales under the legal and administrative control of England.

The Monarchs after Henry VIII

After Henry VIII died, Edward VI, a staunch Protestant, became king. He commissioned the Book of Common Prayer for use in the Church of England.

Edward VI died at the age of 15, having ruled for just over six years. His half-sister Mary then took the throne. Mary was a devout Catholic and ordered the execution of many Protestants. Her reign was short; after her death, her half-sister, Elizabeth, became queen of England. Elizabeth was an important figure in English history, and her reign is known as the Elizabethan Era.