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Edward VI's Childhood - Coggle Diagram
Edward VI's Childhood
Character
Edward kept a valuable account of his childhood in his 'Chronicles'. As well as providing an insight into his day-to-day life and preparation for kingship, this source reveals an insight into his character, particularly a certain coldness, even in his approach to his own family members.
Edward was closest to Elizabeth, but there still wasn't complete affection between them.
Edward's mother Jane Seymour had died during childbirth. As such, he suffered from a lack of maternal affection and a loving role model; it wasn't until Catherine Parr that he found a maternal figure and even began to call her 'mother'.
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Education
Edward was very intelligent and was fluent in 4 languages. He had received an excellent education under the humanist scholars Sir John Coxe and Richard Cheke. Henry VIII had deliberately organised this education for him to prepare him for kingship and instil Protestantism in him. Under Edward, England was the most Protestant that it would ever be.
Edward was taught at a royal court with 14 other boys who were set to become the members of his inner circle in his Privy Council later in life.
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When Henry VIII died in 1547, Edward was 9, he was not old enough to become king in his own right. Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset emerged as his protector, due to...
Proximity - Somerset was Edward's uncle (brother of Jane Seymour), making him a blood relation, and he positioned himself at Edward's side when his father died.
Position - Somerset was part of the Privy Council. Henry VIII had tried to create a balance between Catholics and Protestants in his Privy Council, although there ended up being more of the latter, providing Somerset with more support. Somerset had the dry seal (Privy Stamp), of which there were only 3, putting him in a position of prestige as he could deal with the king's own letters.
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However, Somerset had some limitations as a Regent...
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It was his position as Jane Seymour's brother, rather than his own merit, which had earned him a place in Henry's Privy Council and the dry stamp.
Somerset was not the most imaginative leader and largely followed in Henry's footsteps, prolonging his mistakes.