The Tudors reigned from 1485 until 1603. The five sovereigns of the Tudordynasty are among the most well-known figures in Royal history. Of Welshorigin, Henry VII succeeded in ending the Wars of the Roses between the housesof Lancaster and York to found the highly successful Tudor house. HenryVll, hisson Henry VIII and his three children Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I ruled for118 eventful years.
During this period, England developed into one of the leading Europeancolonial powers, with men such as Sir Walter Raleigh taking part in theconquest of the New World. Nearer to home, campaigns in Ireland brought thecountry under strict English control.
Culturally and socially, the Tudor period saw many changes. The Tudorcourt played a prominent part in the cultural Renaissance taking place inEurope, nurturing all-round individuals such as William Shakespeare, EdmundSpenser and Cardinal Wolsey.
The Tudor period also saw the turbulence of two changes of officialreligion, resulting in the martyrdom of many innocent believers of bothProtestantism and Roman Catholicism. The fear of Roman Catholicism inducedby the Reformation was to last for several centuries and to play an influentialrole in the history of the Succession.Henry VII (1485～1509)
Henry VII was the founder of the Tudor dynasty, unifying the warringfactions in the Wars of the Roses. Although supported by Lancastrians andYorkists alienated by Richard IIls usurpation, Henry Vlls first task was tosecure his position. In 1486 he married Elizabeth of York, eldest daughter ofEdward IV, thus uniting the Houses of York and Lancaster.
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