King Edward VI: "The Young Ruler"

Edward VI granting the Royal Charter, 1553.
by Beth Von Stats 

    The article I chose to focus on for todays blog is "Edward VI and The Pope", written by Roy C. Strong. The main reason why I had chosen the young ruler Edward VI and this article is connect to my concentrated theme is to what extent does religion influence human events. The throne of England fell to Henry VIII's youngest legitimate child, a son, who became known as King Edward VI, after his death in 1547. Because Edward is just ten years old when he ascends the throne, he is surrounded by a Regency Council of counselors and advisers. Stated in the article, "The young King is enthroned beneath a cloth of estate and at the feet of this doll like figure there lies an open book inscribed THE WORDEOF THE LORDE ENDVRETH FOR EVER; it is the Word of God whos purity crushes down and vanquishes the impure Roman pontiff" (Strong pg 311). After surviving measles and small pox, Edward VI only ruled for six years, succumbing to TB (then known as consumption). Viruses like this were common in Tudor England, which explains why people lived very short lives. Because the typical individual only lived until about the age of 35, a person of 18 years old would be considered middle-aged. As a result, Edward's death at the age of 16 was not unheard of. Before his death, King Edward VI followed a tradition started by his father Henry VIII. The Crown seized Catholic Church lands, which became known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries. It wasn't enough, though, that Church lands were taken. They were also re-distributed to aristocratic households around England, mostly to purchase the nobility's favor.

Here is a short video ten minute video for a brief summary of King Edward VI: 

    The portrait I chosen was "Edward IV 1537-53", illustrated by William Scrots; it is an amazing portrait with little details that truly makes the small details to stand out and really focus on how important and powerful King Edward VI was back then. Strong stated, " The portrait of Edward VI is derived from the earliest portrait series of the new King, of which a version at Petworth is datef 1547" (Strong pg. 311). The little prince is dressed in a russet satin gown with flowing sleeves, velvet edging, gold thread embroidery, and lynx fur lining. The Prince of Wales' coronet and feathers are adorning the gem around his neck. Through the left window, a deer park may be seen, with Hunsdon House, Hertfordshire, in the background. From May to July 1546, Prince Edward stayed in Hunsdon. The artwork may be seen in Pyne's 1819 illustrated 'Royal Residences,' hanging at Windsor Castle's King's Closet. 

Edward IV (1537-53)
by William Scrots 
Oil on panel 

    

    The main reason why I was so interested in King Edward VI was because he was King Henry VIII successor; I was very curious to know how influential King Edward VI would be to his people in comparison to his father. Another major comparison I wanted to dive into was how the young king handled the situation of religion during his time as the thrown. Before him, his father abused the religion system influencing his own desires, so I was curious to see how the young king would do in his fathers place. King Edward was reformed to be a Poststent while a majority of England continued to be Catholics. Stated in the article, "The scene of iconoclasm in the Edwardian allegory are framed  by a backcloth of smoldering ruins of building collapsing one upon the other" (Strong pg. 312).   He paired a strong commitment to religious reform with a determination to address social and economic problems such as the alleged widespread enclosure of land for pasture conversion.

Work Cited: 

Strong, Roy C. “Edward VI and the Pope.” Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, vol. 23, no. 3/4, Warburg Institute, 1960, pp. 311–13, https://doi.org/10.2307/750601.

Edward VI (1547 - 1553) - 10 minute history - youtube. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMm03Tg2XPA.

Staats, A. B. von. (2020, February 16). A godfather's solemn charge - the coronation of king Edward VI. Queen Anne Boleyn. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://queenanneboleyn.com/2017/02/20/godfathers-solemn-charge-coronation-king-edward-vi/.

William Scrots (active 1537-53) - edward VI (1537-53). Royal Collection Trust. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.rct.uk/collection/404441/edward-vi-1537-53.