Who’s Who of Tudor History

Aragon, Katherine of = First Queen to Henry VIII, marriage annulled 1533, died 1536.

Ashley, Kat = Governess and close friend to Elizabeth I from her childhood. Died 1565.

Aske, Robert = One of the leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536. Executed 1537.

Beaufort, Margaret = Mother to Henry VII. Outlived her son and saw the accession of her grandson, Henry VIII.

Blount, Bessie = Henry VIII’s mistress, and the only one to give him an acknowledged illegitimate child – Henry Fitzroy.

Boleyn, Anne = Second Queen to Henry VIII, executed 1536 for adultery and incest.

Boleyn, George = Brother to Henry VIII’s second Queen. Accused of adultery and incest with his sister. Executed 1536.

Boleyn, Mary = Sister of Henry VIII’s second Queen. Mistress of Henry VIII. Died 1543.

Brandon, Charles  Duke of Suffolk and best friend to Henry VIII. Married Henry VIII’s sister, Mary. Died 1546.

Brereton, William = Courtier under Henry VIII. Accused of adultery with Anne Boleyn. Executed 1536.

Cecil, William = Lord Burghley. Principal Advisor to Elizabeth I until his death in 1598.

Cleves, Anne of = Fourth Queen to Henry VIII, marriage annulled 1540, died 1557.

Cranmer, Thomas = Archbishop of Canterbury. Pronounced on the ‘great matter’ of Henry VIII’s annulment. Executed 1556.

Devereux, Robert = Earl of Essex. Favourite of Elizabeth I. Rebelled against the throne. Executed 1601.

Dudley, Guildford = Husband of Lady Jane Grey and son of John Dudley Duke of Northumberland. Executed 1554.

Dudley, John = Duke of Northumberland. Protector for Edward VI. Executed 1554 for supporting Lady Jane Grey.

Dudley, Robert = Earl of Leicester. Favourite of Elizabeth I. Son of John Dudley Duke of Northumberland. Died 1588.

Edward VI = Henry VIII’s only son by his third wife. Died while still in his majority. Ruled 1547 – 1553.

Elizabeth I = Henry VIII’s youngest daughter by his second wife. Known as ‘Gloriana’. Ruled 1558 – 1603.

Fisher, John = Cardinal. Executed 1535 for refusing to recognise Henry as Head of the Church.

Fitzroy, Henry = Duke of Richmond and Somerset. Henry VIII’s illegitimate son by Bessie Blount, died 1536.

Grey, Lady Jane = Known as the ‘Nine Days Queen’, she was deposed by Mary I in 1553. Executed 1554.

Henry VII = First Tudor monarch, took the crown by force on the battlefield. Ruled 1485 – 1509.

Henry VIII = Second Tudor monarch, famous for having six wives. Ruled 1509 – 1547.

Howard, Henry = Earl of Surrey. Son to 3rd Duke of Norfolk. Executed 1547 for conspiring against the crown.

Howard, Katherine = Fifth Queen to Henry VIII, executed 1542 for adultery.

Howard, Thomas = 3rd Duke of Norfolk. Uncle to Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard. Died 1554.

Howard, Thomas = 4th Duke of Norfolk. Executed 1572 for plotting to put Mary Queen of Scots on the English throne.

James I = Follows Elizabeth I on the English throne. Unites English and Scottish thrones. Stuart dynasty.

Mary I = Henry VIII’s eldest daughter by his first wife. Became known as ‘Bloody Mary’. Ruled 1553 – 1558.

More, Thomas = Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor. Executed 1535 for refusing to recognise Henry as Head of the Church.

Norris, Henry = Courtier under Henry VIII. Accused of adultery with Anne Boleyn. Executed 1536.

Parker, Jane = Wife of George Boleyn. Executed 1542 for assisting Katherine Howard with her adultery.

Parr, Katherine = Sixth Queen to Henry VIII, outlived him and died 1548 in childbed.

Robsart, Amy = Wife of Robert Dudley. Fell to her death. It was said Dudley wanted to marry Elizabeth I.

Seymour, Edward = Duke of Somerset. Brother of Henry VIII’s third Queen. Protector for Edward VI. Executed 1552.

Seymour, Thomas = Brother of Edward and Jane. Married Katherine Parr. Executed 1549 for threatening the King.

Simnel, Lambert = Pretender to the English throne under Henry VII. Put to work in the palace kitchens.

Smeaton, Mark = Court musician under Henry VIII. Accused of adultery with Anne Boleyn. Executed 1536.

Spain, Philip II of = Consort of Mary I who he married in 1554. Also sent the Armada to England in 1588.

Stafford, Edward = Duke of Buckingham. Supposedly he plotted against Henry VIII to take the throne. Executed 1521.

Stuart, Mary = Queen of Scotland and France. Imprisoned by Elizabeth I and executed 1587.

Throckmorton, Francis = Plotted to replace Elizabeth I with Mary Queen of Scots. Executed 1583.

Tudor, Arthur = Prince of Wales. Henry VIII’s older brother. Died 1502 from tuberculosis.

Tudor, Margaret = Henry VIII’s sister. Became Queen of Scotland. Grandmother to Mary Queen of Scots.

Tudor, Mary = Henry VIII’s sister. Became Queen of France and then Duchess of Suffolk.

Warbeck, Perkin = Pretender to the English throne under Henry VII. Executed 1499.

Weston, Francis = Courtier under Henry VIII. Accused of adultery with Anne Boleyn. Executed 1536.

Wolsey, Thomas = Cardinal, advisor to Henry VIII, died 1530 en route to London for trial.

York, Elizabeth of = Wife of Henry VII and daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. Died 1503 in childbed.