Final answer:
The correct order of Tudor monarchs and their religions is Henry VII - Catholic, Henry VIII - Catholic who founded the Church of England, turning towards Protestantism, Mary I - Catholic, and Elizabeth I - Protestant. The correct answer is option C.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Tudor monarchs and their respective religions in order are as follows: Henry VII - Catholic, Henry VIII - initially a devout Catholic, later on he established the Church of England, marking a shift towards Protestantism; Edward VI - Protestant; Mary I, often referred to as 'Bloody Mary', was a strong proponent of Catholicism and sought to restore England to Catholic practices; and Elizabeth I - Protestant, who balanced religious factions and strengthened the Protestant Church of England.
Henry VIII defended the Catholic Church against the criticisms of Martin Luther until personal circumstances led him to break with Rome and create the Church of England, with himself as its head. This was primarily to secure an annulment from Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn in his quest for a male heir. His daughter, Elizabeth I, dissented from the strict Catholicism of her sister, Mary I, and guided England into an era of religious compromise, which retained many of the ceremonial aspects of Catholicism while incorporating Protestant reforms.