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The Battle That Made Francis Drake Spain’s Worst Nightmare
Drake contributed more than anyone to the war in which England famously defeated the Armada in 1588. But mere patriotism and fear of Catholicism didn't drive him to harass the Spanish. For Drake, it was personal. One battle drove him mad with vengeance and convinced him he could no longer trust or trade with the Spanish.
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How Three of Robert Browning’s Poems Represent the Romantic and Victorian
Browning was a 19th century English poet, who became famous in the latter half of the century. Three of his poems, "My Last Duchess," "The Bishop Orders His Tomb at Saint Praxed’s Church," and "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came," show considerable influence from both the Romantic and Victorian Ages, which his life spanned.
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Was Henry VIII a Renaissance Monarch?
England made significant literary, political, and cultural strides during Henry VIII's reign. This came largely thanks to the influence of the Renaissance, which Henry and those in his administration adapted to English culture and religiosity.
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The Cause Behind the Glorious Revolution: The Overthrew of James II
Hollland's William of Orange and English opposition leaders dethroned England’s King James II in 1689, in what became known as the Glorious Revolution and the beginning of modern constitutional monarchy. But why did the English join foreigners to overthrow their monarch?
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How Successful was James I?
He maintained Protestant rule and retained the loyalty of most of his subjects by pursuing an ecumenical policy among the various factions. This ecumenical spirit produced his greatest legacy, the King James Bible, which continues to carry his fame today.
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Reformation without the People: How the English Became Protestant
The Protestant Reformation did not come to England because of a religious revival or a sudden change of heart by the English people. King Henry VIII created the Church of England for personal reasons, and he never truly became Protestant in belief and practice. The schism with Rome did, however, allow for the political and ecclesiastic infiltration of Protestants that set in motion a thorough reformation under Edward VI and Elizabeth I.
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Was the Tudor Dynasty Illegitimate?
In medieval England, claims to a strong genealogy dating deep into time provided desired legitimacy to authority regardless of the substance of the claims. In order to validate the Tudors’ legitimacy to the throne, that dynasty’s historians have made such claims of lineage dating back to legendary kings like Arthur.
