Who succeeded Henry VIII as King of England in 1547?

Question: Who succeeded Henry VIII as King of England in 1547?

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Edward VI.

Henry VIII was succeeded by his only surviving legitimate son, Edward VI, in 1547. Edward VI was born on October 12, 1537, to Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour. Following the death of Henry VIII on January 28, 1547, Edward ascended to the throne at the tender age of nine. His reign was marked by the deepening of the Protestant Reformation in England, a process initiated by his father.

Due to Edward’s young age, his rule was dominated by a regency council. Initially, the council was led by his uncle, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, who served as Lord Protector. Somerset was a committed Protestant who moved forward with several religious reforms. These included the advancement of the English Reformation, the establishment of a fully Protestant liturgy, and the dissolution of Catholic practices in the Church of England. His tenure saw the publication of the Book of Common Prayer in 1549, authored by Thomas Cranmer, which set the liturgy for the Anglican Church.

Somerset’s leadership, however, was marked by political instability and economic troubles, leading to his ouster. John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, succeeded Somerset as the de facto leader of the council. Under Dudley’s influence, Edward’s regime took even more radical Protestant measures.

Edward VI’s reign was also characterized by socio-economic challenges, including widespread poverty and the debasement of the coinage, which led to inflation and public unrest. His reign, though short and largely controlled by regents, was crucial in establishing a Protestant foundation in England, which significantly altered the religious landscape of the country.

Edward VI’s health was poor, and he died at the age of 15 on July 6, 1553. His death led to a brief succession crisis. Although Edward named his cousin, Lady Jane Grey, as his successor in an attempt to maintain Protestant rule, she was deposed after just nine days. Ultimately, Edward’s half-sister Mary I, a staunch Catholic, ascended the throne, reversing many of Edward’s Protestant reforms during her own reign.

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