The Short Life of King Edward VI
This article dipicts the short but significant life of King Edward VI
Edward VI, son of Henry VIII became King of England at the tender age of nine, with a Regency being created. However, his health was never strong. Edward VI’s reign was dominated by nobles using the Regency to strengthen their own positions.
Edward VI was intellectually advanced, fluent in Latin and Greek and kept a journal of his full reign.
His father, Henry VIII, arranged for a council of Regency to rule on Edward VI’s behalf, but Edward VI’s uncle, Edward Seymour, at the time Earl of Hertford soon to be Duke of Somerset, took power and established himself as protector.
The Archbishop of Canterbury and Seymour had a shared ambition to make England a truly Protestant state, which was supported by Edward VI. In 1549 an English Prayer Book was issued, with an Act of Uniformity to enforce it.
In the West Country, this sparked a peasant revolt in the summer of 1549 and at the same time the French declared war on England. The Norfolk rebellion was suppressed by the Earl of Warwick, John Dudley.
John Dudley exploited his success by bringing the downfall of Seymour, who was arrested…
