BBC - iWonder - How the Tudor dynasty shaped modern Britain
How the Tudor dynasty shaped modern Britain
1485
1603End of the Tudor dynasty
Building the house of Tudor
The Tudor era saw unprecedented upheaval in England.  Between them the five Tudor kings and queens introduced huge changes that are still with us today.
The years between the crowning of Henry VII in 1485 and the death of Elizabeth I in 1603 saw the old religious order swept away, the establishment of the American colonies, the foundation of the Royal Navy and the power of Europe challenged.
1485
Henry VII seizes the throne
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Thomas Penn reveals how the first Tudor monarch rose to power. Clip from Winter King (BBC Two, 2013).
Henry Tudor is crowned King of England on the battlefield at Bosworth after his army defeats and kills Richard III.
Henry VII presents himself as the unifier of the warring Lancaster and York dynasties – symbolised by his adoption of the red and white Tudor Rose. His reign brings 85 years of civil war to an end. He marries Elizabeth, daughter of the Yorkist king Edward IV. Within a year they have a son, Arthur, later followed by another, Henry.
Henry VIII is crowned king
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David Dimbleby explains the character of Henry VIII's reign. Clip from Seven Ages of Britain (BBC One, 2010).
The 17-year-old Henry succeeds to the throne on the death of his father, Henry VII. His older brother Arthur had died seven years earlier.
The Pope gives a special dispensation for the young king to marry his late brother’s wife Catherine of Aragon. Three years later Henry invades France in pursuit of an ancient claim to the throne. He is aided and abetted by his advisor Thomas Wolsey, who he appoints Lord Chancellor in 1514.
The heavens laugh, the earth exults... Our King does not desire gold or gems or precious metals, but virtue, glory and immortality.
Courtier William Blount on Henry's accession, 1509
1512
The Royal Mail is founded
Bridgeman
Church of England is created
Getty
Title page of the Great Bible. Henry VIII authorised it to be the first English Bible for public use in 1539.
Henry requests an annulment of his marriage with Catherine from the Pope in order to marry Anne Boleyn. The request is refused.
In response, Henry breaks from the authority of the Pope and is declared head of the English Church by Parliament. To cancel out the power of the Catholic church in England, he dissolves over 800  monasteries and transfers their wealth and lands transferred to the crown. Years of discord between Protestants and Catholics follow.
Mary Rose sinks but Royal Navy flourishes
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David Dimbleby explains how Henry VIII founded the Royal Navy. Clip from Seven Ages of Britain (BBC One, 2010).
Henry VIII is keen to build up his fledgling navy from the 15 ships he inherits. By 1540 the navy has 45.
He also builds the first naval dock at Portsmouth and establishes the Navy Board to run the service.  Many of the ships, like Henry's flagship the Mary Rose, are fitted with the latest guns. Henry's ships can now now stand up against those of the French and Spanish navies. In 1545, the Mary Rose sinks while leading an attack against a French invasion fleet.
The wind caught her sails so strongly as to heel her over, and plunge her open gun ports beneath the water, which flooded and sank her.
Attributed to Francis van der Delft, Ambassador of the Holy Roman Empire
1547
England becomes Protestant under Edward VI
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Simon Schama describes how the reformation was  brought in during Edward VI's reign. Clip from A History of Britain by Simon Schama (BBC Two, 2000).
Henry dies and his son Edward, aged nine, becomes king. Edward's uncle Edward Seymour seizes power by establishing himself as protector.
In order to make England a truly Protestant state, the Book of Common Prayer is introduced and religious imagery in churches is destroyed. Seymour is arrested and later executed after he fails to solve England's near bankruptcy. The king dies aged fifteen, never ruling in his own right. The cause of his death is not certain.
Elizabeth I’s long reign begins
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Simon Schama describes Elizabeth I's tolerant approach to religion. Clip from A History of Britain by Simon Schama (BBC Two, 2000).
When Mary dies, her Protestant half-sister Elizabeth, daughter of Anne Boleyn, becomes queen.
Elizabeth returns England to Protestantism, but she does not enforce strict religious conformity and declares she does not want to 'make windows into men's souls'. Elizabeth chooses never to marry as she wants England free from the influence of foreign princes and the dissent and infighting a marriage to a fellow countryman might bring.
...this shall be for me sufficient, that a marble stone shall declare that a Queen, having reigned such a time, lived and died a virgin.
Queen Elizabeth I to Parliament, 1559
1571
Royal Exchange sees trade flourish
Mary Evans
The first Royal Exchange at Cornhill, City of London.
Sir Thomas Gresham, known as the father of English banking, sets up the Royal Exchange – the first purpose-built centre for trading stocks in London.
However stock brokers are not allowed inside the building because of their rude manners, instead they operate from nearby coffee houses. Gresham helps persuade Elizabeth I's parliament to legalise money-lending, which allows the Crown to raise loans from home rather than abroad. Over time London takes over from Antwerp as the financial capital of Europe.
Spymaster ensnares Mary, Queen of Scots
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Neil Oliver describes how Mary Queen of Scots was involved in plotting Elizabeth I's downfall. Clip from A History of Scotland (BBC Two, 2008).
Queen Elizabeth I faces numerous plots against her and pays Sir Francis Walsingham to set up  a European network of spies across Europe.
He establishes England's first counter-intelligence network and a London school that teaches cipher breaking and forgery. Elizabeth's Catholic cousin Mary, Queen of Scots is in exile in England and poses a threat to Elizabeth. Mary is put under house arrest. Walsingham is convinced she is plotting against the queen and implicates her in a plan to depose Elizabeth. Mary is executed a year later.
Myself with ten gentlemen and a hundred of our followers will undertake the delivery of your royal person from the hands of your enemies.
Letter from plotter Anthony Babington to Mary Queen of Scots
1588
Defeat of Spanish Armada  inspires England
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Dan Snow describes how the English sent fire ships to disrupt the Spanish Armada. Clip from Battlefield Britain (BBC Two, 2004).
Philip II of Spain launches a great fleet of ships, known as the Spanish Armada, to overthrow Elizabeth and restore Catholicism to England.
The Armada of 130 ships sails up the English channel towards the Spanish Netherlands to pick up troops for the invasion. However, they are engaged by the Royal Navy and driven to the North Sea by strong winds. Only around half of them make it back to Spain. The English celebrate their victory with a medal inscribed with the words 'God Blew and they were Scattered'.
I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too.
Elizabeth I, addressing troops at Tilbury, July 1588
1601