Committee Introduction

The house of Tudor faced many challenges in its attempt to establish legitimacy in England and abroad after the War of the Roses. Henry VIII was not raised to be king, but when his elder brother Prince Arthur died of the sweating sickness, he stepped up to take his place. Henry VIII’s reign was kicked off with a large treasury he inherited from his father, the “Accountant King”. He had many advisors including his queen who was well-versed in diplomacy. Although he was favored by the people in his youth, the public’s view of him slowly turned sour when he cast aside the beloved queen Katherine of Aragon in his quest for a male heir to cement the Tudor line. Henry grew paranoid as he got older, and his advisors were always kept on their toes. Delegates of this committee will navigate the domestic and international challenges of Tudor England while balancing the trust of King Henry VIII. They will aid the king in securing alliances via marriages and treaties, support him in military campaigns and mitigate his relationship with the Papacy concerning religious schisms and the ever-changing legitimacy of his children.