The Tudors For Dummies

Delve inside the Tudor world and discover the facts behind the fiction

The British Isles have witnessed many great regal dynasties through the ages, but none more turbulent, exciting and controversial than the Tudors. This book looks through the history of a legendary era, exploring monarchs such as the infamous Henry VIII, the ruthless Mary I and the indomitable Elizabeth I. Packed with information on the battles, beheadings and royal family bust ups, The Tudors For Dummies is history at its best. Covering everything from the founding of the Church of England to the Spanish Armada, this book reveals why the Tudors were so pivotal in shaping modern Britain.

Back to the start find out about daily life in the sixteenth century and discover the roots of the Tudor dynasty

Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived take an in–depth look at Henry VIII′s ever–changing marital status and the reasons behind his break with the Roman Catholic church

Chasing the limelight unravel the chaotic successions of Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey and ′Bloody Mary′

The first Elizabeth explore an era of religious and political transformation, taking in the Spanish Armada, her feud with Mary, Queen of Scots, and much more

Open the book and find:

What Henry VIII was really like

How the Church of England was founded

Why Lady Jane Grey was queen for only nine days

Why Elizabeth I never married Robert Dudley

The history behind the Tudor rose

The origins of the Troubles in Ireland

How the monarchy changed hands, from Tudors to Stuarts

Where to find surviving Tudor buildings

What the Tudors did for us

Learn About:

Tudor life and times and how they shaped the Britain of today

Henry VIII and his unlucky wives

The turbulent private and political life of Elizabeth I

The bloody battles, rampant diseases and religious divides of the period

Introduction.

Part I. Encountering the Early Tudors.

Chapter 1. Touring the Time of the Tudors.

Chapter 2. Starting a Dynasty: Henry VII.

Part II. Handling Henry VIII.

Chapter 3. Being Bluff King Hal: Henry VIII.

Chapter 4. Running the Kingdom, Henry s Way.

Chapter 5. Six Weddings and Two Funerals: Henry VIII s Wives and Girlfriends.

Chapter 6. Building a New Church: Henry and Religion.

Part III. Remembering the Forgotten Tudors: Edward VI and Mary.

Chapter 7. Ruling from the Nursery: Edward VI and His Protectors.

Chapter 8. Encouraging Protestantism.

Chapter 9. Changing with the Times: Edward John, Jane and Mary.

Chapter 10. Returning to the Old Faith: Mary I.

Chapter 11. Ending the Dream: The Last of Mary.

Part IV. Ending with Elizabeth.

Chapter 12. Dancing with Elizabeth.

Chapter 13. Choosing the Middle Way between Protestants and Catholics.

Chapter 14. Gunning for Elizabeth.

Chapter 15. Facing the Armada.

Chapter 16. Ending an Era: 1590–1603.

Part V. The Part of Tens.

Chapter 17. Ten Top Tudor People.

Chapter 18. The Things the Tudors Did for Us.

Chapter 19. Ten Top Tudor Buildings.

Chapter 20. Ten Major Tudor Events.

Chapter 21. Ten Tudor Firsts.

Index.

Professor David Loades is Professor Emeritus at the University of Wales and has taught history at universities including St Andrews and Durham. He has written many books on the Tudor period and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Mei Trow is a history tutor, lecturer and author who has written numerous historical books on topics ranging from Jack the Ripper to Boudicca. His recent TV work includes Ancient Discoveries and Spartacus for The History Channel.