A Brief History of England: From Henry VIII to the Virginia Company

Henry VIII (1491-1547)

England's Second Tudor Monarch

Henry VIII ruled England from 1509 and is best known for his six marriages and his efforts to annul his first marriage to Catherine of Aragon. When the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church, refused to allow the divorce, Henry challenged the Church's authority. He declared himself the Supreme Head of the Church of England through the Act of Supremacy (1534), solidifying his power and control over religious matters in England.

The Dissolution of the Monasteries

Henry VIII appointed Thomas Cromwell as his chief minister. Cromwell orchestrated the dissolution of Roman Catholic monasteries and convents between 1536 and 1540. During this period, Thomas More was beheaded for refusing to accept King Henry VIII as the Head of the Church.

Elizabeth I (1533-1603)

The Virgin Queen

Elizabeth I, also known as Gloriana, became Queen of England and Ireland in 1558. She was the last Tudor monarch and the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth's reign is often considered a golden age in English history.

Church Laws

While Elizabeth I established the Anglican Church, she aimed for a more moderate approach compared to her predecessors. She adopted the title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England, a more acceptable title for a woman, and enforced the new Act of Supremacy in 1559, requiring the public to swear loyalty to the monarch as the supreme authority.

The Republic and Oliver Cromwell (1649-1660)

The Commonwealth of England

Following the English Civil Wars and the execution of Charles I, England entered a period known as the Commonwealth. Oliver Cromwell, a military leader and Member of Parliament, emerged as Lord Protector and effectively ruled as a dictator. This era saw significant political and social upheaval.

The Restoration

Charles II's Return

After the death of Oliver Cromwell in 1658, a political crisis led to the restoration of the monarchy. Charles II, the son of the executed Charles I, returned from exile and was crowned king in 1660, marking the end of the Interregnum.

First Arrivals in America

European Colonization

Europeans began crossing the Atlantic and establishing settlements in North America. The Virginia Company, a commercial trading company chartered by King James I in 1606, played a crucial role in this colonization effort.

The Virginia Company and Jamestown

The Virginia Company aimed to establish a profitable colony in America. It consisted of two divisions: the Plymouth Company and the London Company. The London Company established Jamestown in Virginia. John Rolfe's introduction of Caribbean tobacco proved to be a significant economic boost for the colony. However, the Virginia Company faced financial difficulties and was eventually dissolved in 1624.