Kingship and Politics in the Reign of Edward VI

A reappraisal of the reign of Henry VIII's son, Edward VI (1547–53).

Stephen Alford (Author)

9780521039710, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 16 August 2007

248 pages, 6 b/w illus.
22.6 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm, 0.373 kg

'Dr Alford has given us some fascinating … insights into this period.' Contemporary Review

This book offers a reappraisal of the kingship and politics of the reign of Edward VI, the third Tudor king of England who reigned from the age of nine in 1547 until his death in 1553. The reign has often been interpreted as a period of political instability, mainly because of Edward's age, but this account challenges the view that the king's minority was a time of political faction. It shows how Edward was shaped and educated from the start for adult kingship, and how Edwardian politics evolved to accommodate a maturing and able young king. The book also explores the political values of the men around the king, and tries to reconstruct the relationships of family and association that bound together the governing elite in the king's Council, his court, and in the universities. It also assesses the impact of Edward's reign on Elizabethan politics.

List of illustrations
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations and conventions
Introduction
1. Constructing the reign of Edward VI
2. King and kingship
3. The dynamics of power, 1547–9
4. Reforming the kingdom
5. An evolving polity, 1549–53
6. Beyond 1553: the Edwardian legacy
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Politics & government [JP], Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH], British & Irish history [HBJD1]