FREE ESSAY ON COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE TUDOR AND STUART DYNASTIES

COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE TUDOR AND STUART DYNASTIES

Throughout history, dynasties, or a series of rulers who belong to the same family, have
come and gone. No two are exactly alike. They all have similarities and differences when
compared to each other. The Stuart and Tudor dynasties are no exception to the rule. Each
had different views on how to rule. 
An example of a ruling style would be divine right. When a king or queen is said to rule
by divine right, it means they believe god chose them to rule. While Elizabeth, the last
and the greatest Tudor monarch, ruled somewhat by divine right, she did not rule by
divine right to the extent of James I of the Stuart dynasty who felt that it was beneath
his dignity to bargain with parliament over money. Instead, Elizabeth used her
intelligence to get her way or for her countries financial benefit. For example, she used
the hopes of a marriage to Phillip II of Spain to win diplomatic advantages with many
European countries. Ruling by divine right was common of the Stuart dynasty but only
Elizabeth of the Tudor family ruled in that manner.
Henry VII tried desperately to have a son. He wanted to have a male heir in order to help
assure that the Tudor family would continue to control the throne and prevent any
fighting over who would succeed him. Six wives later, he had one son, but he died at age
15. Having male heirs was something the Tudor family was not to good at. Henry's
daughters, Mary and Elizabeth both died childless. Charles I took over the throne from
his father, James I, and then had two sons of his own to continue the Stuart dynasty.
The dynasties are similar in that both mostly ruled England. In addition to ruling
England, James I ruled Scotland also. His heir to the throne, Charles I not only ruled
England and Scotland, but also ruled Ireland.
While the Tudor dynasty did not have many problems with parliament, the Stuart dynasty
did not cooperate well with parliament at all. James I had many quarrels with parliament
and Charles I became so enraged with parliament when they refused to grant him funds that
he dismissed them all. Oliver Cromwell, who took control of England as military dictator
after Charles I died, had his soldiers drive parliament out of the building. Charles II
did not run into to much trouble with parliament, mainly because he was borrowing money
from Louis XIV on the side. His successor and brother, however, James II was overthrown
by William and Mary who were helped by parliament for the sake of Protestantism.
In conclusion, the Tudor and Stuart Dynasties are similar in some ways, yet different in
others. The Tudors had trouble in the male heir field, mostly the Stuarts ruled by divine
right and did not get along well with parliament, and the Tudors dynasty once included
England, Scotland, and Ireland. 
Bibliography
world book '99
World History 1997 by Robert Froster Gazeteer Times