Tudor Facts for Children and Teachers

The Tudors are one of the most famous royal families in British history and the Tudor era is a fascinating one to explore with your KS2 children. Check out these Tudor facts to learn more about this key period:

When was the Tudor period?

The Tudor period began on 22nd August 1485 and lasted until 24 March 1603. This means the Tudor period lasted for over 117 years.

Who were the Tudors?

The Tudor period began on 22nd August 1485 and lasted until 24 March 1603. This means the Tudor period lasted for over 117 years.

How did the Tudors come to power?

The Tudors seized power in England at the Battle of Bosworth, which was the last significant battle of the Wars of the Roses. The Wars of the Roses was a series of battles that lasted for 30 years between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. Henry Tudor was part of the Lancastrian faction. Both sides believed they had the right to the throne.

However, at the Battle of Bosworth on 22nd August 1485, Henry Tudor defeated Richard III, the last Yorkist king, to begin the Tudor reign. He was crowned King Henry VII. He married Elizabeth of York, finally bringing the two houses together.

Who were the Tudor kings and queens?

There were six Tudor monarchs altogether, although only five of them were actually crowned; Lady Jane Grey was queen for just nine days.

• Henry VII (1485 - 1509)
• Henry VIII, son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York (1509 - 1547)
• Edward VI, son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour (1547 - 1553)
• Lady Jane Grey, a descendent of Henry VIII’s sister (1553)
• Mary I, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon (1553 - 1558)
• Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn (1558 - 1603)

Teachers: Check out our fun lesson exploring the Tudor family tree in more detail.

Henry VIII and his Six Wives

Henry VIII was king for 38 years and, whilst there were lots of political and military events and achievements during his reign, he is most remembered for his charismatic personality and for having six wives.

Who were his six wives?

• Catherine of Aragon (divorced)
• Anne Boleyn (beheaded)
• Jane Seymour (died)
• Anne of Cleves (divorced)
• Catherine Howard (beheaded)
• Catherine Parr (survived)

Henry was married to his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, for nearly 25 years but they never had a son together and Henry needed a male heir. For this reason, Henry divorced her. His following marriages were all much shorter. His shortest marriage to Anne of Cleves lasted only six months. Only Jane Seymour, commonly thought to be his favourite wife, gave him what he most wanted – a son.

The Elizabethan Era

Queen Elizabeth I came to the throne in 1558 after the death of her half-sister, Queen Mary. Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, his second wife. Elizabeth I ruled for 44 years – this period is known as the Elizabethan era. She was known as the ‘Virgin Queen’ because she never married.

The Elizabethan era often referred to as the golden age of English history because of all its artistic, cultural, social and political achievements. It was also an age of exploration in which there were many voyages of discovery across the seas to discover new lands.

Teachers: If you're looking for in-depth lesson planning on the Elizabethan Era, check out our Elizabethan England scheme of work for KS2.

What was life like in the Tudor period?

Life in the Tudor period depended very much on whether you were rich or poor, and whether you were a man or a woman.

The Tudors lived in a feudal system. This means that the monarch had absolute power and owned all the land in the country. Nobles would swear loyalty to the monarch who would then grant them lands. The nobles would then allow peasants to work the land in exchange for food and shelter.

In Tudor times, you couldn’t rise above the rank you were born into. This meant that if you were poor, you would always be poor.

Women and