ABSTRACT

The Tudors form a bridge between the Medieval and the Early Modern. England’s wealth and power increased, and there were profound technological and social changes. The middle class grew, and feudalism fell away in the face of a widespread and growing cash economy. Linked to these changes was the growth of Protestantism. At first grasped opportunistically by Henry VIII, it became more and more entrenched under Edward VI and Elizabeth I, whereas Mary attempted a reintroduction of Catholicism. In a country powering through such a major transition, royal events were adapted and invented to smooth the process and retain power for the dynasty. As a royal dynasty, the Tudors were perhaps the first to realise how important it was to plan and control events and the messages they projected. In particular, many of the major events examined in this chapter concerned dynastic issues, such as coronations and strategic marriages.