Romancing the Renaissance:
the Feminization of Early Modern Culture in Twentieth Century Mass Media

English 339

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Edward Tudor (Edward VI)
Owen Wyatt

King Edward VI (1537-1553)

Edward VI was the son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour. He was born on October 12, 1537, and he died of consumption at the age of sixteen, on July 6, 1553. He ascended the throne in 1547 when his father died. He was nine years old at the time, and he reigned until his death. At one time he was betrothed to his cousin, Mary Queen of Scots, however, because the relationship between England and Scotland was deteriorating, the marriage never took place.

As king, Edward faced many problems. The first problem was his youth. Henry VIII, in his last days, tried to eliminate this problem by establishing a Council of Regency that would govern until the child came of age. However, during Edward's reign, his uncle, Edward Seymour, gained the control. The Council offered Seymour the Protectorship of England, and made him the Duke of Somerset. Seymour did care for the interests of the king, however he used the Protectorship, as well as Edward's religious radicalism, to further his Protestant interests. Under his guidance, The Book of Common Prayer, began to be used in 1549 as a handbook to the softer version of Protestantism that became popular at this time. This version avoided controversial issues in an effort to pacify Catholics, which made them happy, however, radical Protestants wanted more reforms, and so the religious factions in England still grew.

During Edward's reign, there was a great deal of financial distress to England, as well as difficult foreign relationships. Unemployment rates were extremely high, caused by the break-up of the Catholic faith. English money lost its value and new coins were minted from inferior metals. The English were also disturbed by a French/Scottish alliance that was threatening.

Edward was a highly intellectual and pious young man, who really had no control over the machinations of his powerful Council of Regency. His frailty led to an early death. Had he lived into manhood, he potentially could have become one of England's greatest kings. Jane Austen wrote, "This Man was on the whole of a very amiable character...", to which Beckett added, " as docile as a lamb, if indeed his gentleness did not amount to absolute sheepishness."

(information gathered from www.britannia.com)

Books About King Edward

Edward VI and the Book of the Common Prayer

By Francis A. Gasquet

King Edward VI, his Life and Character

By Sir Clements R. Markham

King Edward VI on the Supremacy

By Edward VI, Edited by Robert Potts

The Last Tudor King; a study of Edward VI

By Hester W. Chapman

The Life and Raigne of King Edward the Sixth

By Sir John Hayward, Edited by Barrett L. Beer

The Prince and the Pauper (fiction)

By Mark Twain

Films About King Edward

"The Prince and the Pauper", 1991, Directed by George Scribner

"The Prince and the Pauper", 1978, With Charlton Heston, Directed by Richard Fleischer

"The Prince and the Pauper", 1937, With Errol Flynn, Directed by William Keighley

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