Tudor Times is the online repository for all things Tudor and Stewart (1485–1625)

On 5th August 1529, a peace was signed between Emperor Charles V and Francois I of France. Known as ‘The Ladies’ Peace’, it ended the War of the League of Cognac, one of the many conflicts within the wider Italian Wars of the 16th century. In 1525, Charles V had defeated Francois at the Battle of Pavia and taken him prisoner. In exchange for his freedom, Francois had signed the Treaty of Madrid, which replaced him as a prisoner with his two sons, the Dauphin Francois, and Henri, Duke of Orleans, and ceded disputed territories in Burgundy, as well as Navarre.

As soon as he was free, Francois disowned the Treaty of Madrid and entered into the League of Cognac against Charles. The League, formed in 1526, included France, England, Venice, Milan, Florence and the Pope against Spain and the Empire. Nevertheless, Charles was victorious again, and it was during this war that the Sack of Rome of 1527 took place. Charles’ victory ended Henry VIII’s hopes for an annulment of his marriage to Charles’ aunt, Katharine of Aragon.

The peace treaty was negotiated between Louise of Savoy (pictured), Francois’ mother, and Marguerite of Austria, Charles’ aunt. The French princes were returned to their homeland, and Charles’ sister, Eleanor, was married to Francois.

Read more about these women, and other influential women in 16th century Europe in Sarah Gristwood's Game of Queens here

The 4th August 1598 saw the death of William Cecil, Lord Burghley. Cecil had first come into royal circles in the reign of Edward VI, in the employ of Protector Somerset. After Somerset’s fall, and a brief spell of imprisonment, he reconciled with Northumberland’s regime and became secretary to the Privy Council. He was a Reformist in religion, but not a zealot. He was one of the signatories to the Devise for the Succession that attempted to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne, although he claimed later that he signed only as a witness.

During Mary’s reign, he held no office. Having acted for the Lady Elizabeth in the management of her estates, on her accession he became her right-hand-man and remained such until his death. He was more radical in religion than the Queen, and he constantly promoted the cause of Protestant rebels in Scotland and the Netherlands. Married twice, both times to ladies of exceptional learning, he is the ancestor of both the Marquesses of Exeter and the Marquesses of Salisbury. Burghley House in Lincolnshire, and Hatfield House in Hertfordshire, are his creations.

On 3rd August 1553, Mary, daughter of Henry VIII and Katharine of Aragon, entered London as Queen. It was her moment of glory, as cheering crowds surrounded her on her procession through the City, which she entered from the east. Mary, who back in the 1520s had been treated as Princess of Wales, and the King’s most likely heir, had then been set aside, demoted to bastard status, harassed and persecuted. She only regained a place at her father’s court by compromising her principles, when, aged 20, she had been bullied and browbeaten into accepting the annulment of her parents’ marriage and the casting off of papal authority.

But the girl who had succumbed to pressure in 1536 was now a woman of 37, who was prepared to fight for her rights against the whole power of the Tudor government which had put forward her young cousin, Lady Jane Grey, as Queen, against Mary’s statutory rights under the Succession Act of 1544 and Henry VIII’s will. Mary had raised an army and prepared to stake her claim. Opposition collapsed, and without any need for bloodshed, the new Queen entered her capital in triumph.