Edward VI of England

In 1543, Edward was first betrothed to Mary, Queen of Scots by his father, King Henry VIII, as a measure to seal peace between England and Scotland after signing of the Treaty of Greenwich which abandoned the alliance between Scotland and France. However, with Scots repudiating the treaty, the betrothal was also rejected.

In 1551, King Edward was betrothed to Elisabeth of Valois, daughter of King Henry II.

In January 1553, King Edward became increasingly sick with fever and cough which only worsened with time. He made his final public appearance on July 1, 1553.

Edward VI was born on October 12, 1537 in Hampton Court palace, Middlesex to King Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour. At the time of his birth, he became the undisputed heir to the throne, surpassing two stepsisters, Mary and Elizabeth I.

Edward was christened on October 15 and was proclaimed with the title of Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester. Sadly, his mother passed away a week after his christening due to postnatal complications.

Following Jane Seymour’s death, Edward was put under the care of several mistresses. He attained his education under the tutelage of Richard Cox and John Cheke. Other than academic studies, young Edward developed musical skills as well.

Since an early age, Edward was fascinated with military arts. He was often spotted sporting gold dagger with a jewelled hilt just like the one worn by his father, King Henry VIII.

Upon his father’s death on January 28, 1547, the nine-year old Edward became the heir apparent to the throne. He was anointed and crowned as the King of England on February 20, 1547 at Westminster Abbey.

Conferring to Henry VIII’s will, King Edward had a Council of Regency to fall back on, comprising of 16 executors and 12 assistants to executors, who would rule on His behalf.

King Henry VIII had not mentioned the appointment of a Protector in his will. However, the members of the Regency collaterally appointed King Edward’s uncle, Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford as the Lord Protector of the Realm, Governor of the King’s Person and Duke of Somerset.

Somerset’s military success in Scotland and France further reinforced his appointment as the Protector. In March 1547, he also secured from King Edward the monarchical rights to appoint members to the Privy Council.

The only hitch in Somerset’s autocratic rule was his younger brother Thomas Seymour who was hell bent for power. However, due to the latter’s involvement with Lady Elizabeth, he was beheaded in 1549.

Edward's reign saw radical progress in the Reformation. In his six years of supremacy, the Church transferred from an essentially Roman Catholic liturgy to a structure that was based on Protestantism. Also, it was under him that the Book of Common Prayer, the Ordinal of 1550, and Cranmer's Forty-two Articles were introduced, all of which form the basis of the English Church practices till date.