Page 38 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - England's South Coast

36  INTRODUCING ENGLAND ’ S SOUTH C O AST

A painting depicting the Royal Navy, on the right, using fire ships to attack the Spanish Armada at the Battle of Gravelines in 1588
The Tudors protection was largely the responsibility of
Henry Tudor defeated the last Plantagenet the Cinque Ports, five coastal towns in Kent
king, Richard III, in 1485, ending a 30-year and Sussex that provided a fleet in return
dynastic struggle known as the Wars of the for exemption from certain taxes.
Roses. Henry’s son, Henry VIII, is considered
to be England’s most notorious king. In The Stuarts
1533 he divorced his wife, Catherine of Elizabeth I named James VI of Scotland as
Aragon, without papal consent, in order to her heir and he was crowned James I of
marry Anne Boleyn, thus precipitating the England in 1603. Two years later, a group
Reformation in England. This included the of dissident Catholics planned but failed to
Dissolution of the Monasteries, whereby blow up Parliament and kill the king in the
Henry VIII closed down all monasteries Gunpowder Plot. There were deep divisions
and appropriated their assets. His daughter over religion: the Church of England was the
Mary I tried to re-establish Catholicism official faith, but some Protestants wished to
and executed many Protestants. Mary’s reform it, and many worshippers remained
half-sister Elizabeth I returned the country loyal to Catholicism. In 1620 a group of
to Protestantism, but in 1588 was faced fundamental Protestants, or Puritans, left
with a Spanish invasion force, the Armada. Plymouth on board the Mayflower to start a
After engaging with the Royal Navy off new life in America. Eventually things came
Plymouth, the Spanish fleet was dispersed to a head in a standoff between Parliament
following the Battle of Gravelines. and King Charles I, who believed he ruled by
England owed its naval prowess to divine right. In the ensuing seven-year Civil
Henry VIII, who built heavily armed ships, War, most of the South supported Parliament.
such as the Mary Rose, and established Charles I was executed at London’s Whitehall
important dockyards at Portsmouth and Palace in 1649. Though the monarchy was
Chatham. Prior to that, England’s maritime restored in 1660 under Charles II, it suffered

King Henry VIII 1555–8 Execution 1620 Pilgrim Fathers set off from
of Protestants Plymouth for the New World
1497 John Cabot leaves during the
Bristol for his first voyage reign of Mary I 1660 Restoration of the
to North America monarchy under Charles II
1450 1500 1550 1600 1650 1700 1750
1536–41 Following the 1588 Spanish 1642 Civil War 1647 Charles I 1703 The Great
English Reformation, invasion fleet, the breaks out; the executed at Storm devastates
Henry VIII dissolves Armada, is defeated Parliamentarians London’s central and
England’s monasteries by the English fleet control much of Whitehall Palace southern England
the South

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