The Tudor monarchs were kings and queens of England from 1485 to 1603. The first Tudor king was Henry VII, who became king after defeating Richard III in battle. He was followed by his son, Henry VIII, who is famous for having six wives. Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church and created the Church of England because he wanted to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. After Henry VIII died, his son Edward VI became king, but he was very young and only ruled for a short time before he died. Then his half-sister Mary I became queen, and she was known as "Bloody Mary" because she persecuted Protestants. After Mary I died, her half-sister Elizabeth I became queen. She was a very popular queen and ruled for a long time, known as the Elizabethan era. The Tudor monarchs were important because they brought stability to England after many years of war and political turmoil. They also made England a Protestant country and helped to establish it as a world power. Today, we can still see the influence of the Tudor period in English culture and history.