The Tudor age can be characterised by the consolidation of royal power, the repression of any opposition and the great wealth of king. Henry VIII(1509-1547) was intellectually brilliant, though inclined towards pride, ambition and brutality. He is known as a king who had 6 wives and established the Church odf England. He had three children: Mary I (Bloody Mary), Elizabeth I, Edward VI.
Elizabeth I(1558-1603) is the most important of his successors. In her age - called Elizabethan Age – England prospered in many ways. She enforced the Protestant religion by law. England became the leading power on the sea, which led to colonial developement of the Engllish power in America and East India. The Rennaissance came its height because of the works of many important artists (Shakespeare). Also the trade prospered. James I, the first Stuart king on the English throre, united England and Scotland. Neverthless the next period was full of political and military fighting. Charles I had to oppose the growing power of the Parliament. Because of this he dissolved the Parliament in 1629. But then he needed money for his wars, so he had to summon the Parliament gaing in 1640. But instead of giving him money, they petitioned for a peaceful settlement with Scotland. So it was dissolved again. But a few years later the Parliament was summoned again and it opposed the king very much. Charles I tried to arrest some leaders of the Parliament and this was the biginning of civil war in England. It was won by the Parliament.
During the following period England was ruled by Oliver Cromwell as the Lord Protector and from 1649 to 1660 England was a republic. But after Oliver Cromwell’s death there was no suitable man for the leading position, so the monarchy was renewed. Charles II became the king. The 18th century was marked by the growing power of Britain in world policy. Britain took part in several important wars that decided not only about Europe, but also about the overseas territories. One of the wars which were very important for Britain was the Seven Years’ War, after which it received Canada, Florida, Dominika, Tobago, Grenada and some African settlements. At the end of the 18th century England became the richest country in the world and fully recovered from the loss of the American colonies. It was transformed from an agricultural to a manufactural country. The Napoleonic War (1803-1815) meant a new struggle between the two traditional rivals, Britain and France.