-
The First Succession Act of 1534 declared Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon invalid and recognized his children with Anne Boleyn as heirs to the throne, disinheriting his daughter Mary. It was a key step in the English Reformation, reinforcing Henry's break from the Catholic Church. -
Henry VIII ruled England from April 21, 1509, to January 28, 1547. His reign is most famous for his break with the Catholic Church and the establishment of the Church of England in 1534. Henry's six marriages, his role in the Battle of Flodden (1513), and the Dissolution of the Monasteries (1536–1541) transformed England both politically and religiously.
-
The Act of Supremacy was passed by Henry VIII in 1534, declaring the king as the Supreme Head of the Church of England. This act formally broke England’s ties with the Roman Catholic Church and established the monarch as the ultimate authority over religious matters in England. It allowed Henry to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn. The act laid the foundation for the establishment of the Church of England as a separate entity from the Catholic Church. -
The Great Bible, first published in 1539, was a landmark English translation of the Bible authorized by King Henry VIII. It was the first English Bible to be officially approved for public use in the Church of England. Its publication marked a pivotal moment in the English Reformation, making the scriptures more accessible to ordinary people and helping to solidify the English language as a dominant force in religious and cultural life. -
Edward VI, son of Henry VIII, ruled from January 28, 1547, to his early death on July 6, 1553. As a young king, his reign was largely controlled by regents. During his short time on the throne, England became even more Protestant, with reforms like the Book of Common Prayer (1549) and the Act of Uniformity (1549) pushing the nation further away from Catholic traditions. His reign ended abruptly when he died at just 15, leading to a brief struggle for succession.
-
The Book of Common Prayer, first published in 1549 during the reign of Edward VI, was a key text in the English Reformation. It provided a standardized form of worship in English, replacing the Latin services previously used in the Church of England. It included prayers, hymns, and liturgies for daily worship, baptisms, marriages, and funerals. The Book of Common Prayer helped establish a distinct English religious identity and played a major role in shaping Anglican worship practices. -
The Forty-Two Articles of Faith, published in 1553 during the reign of Edward VI, were a set of doctrinal statements intended to define the beliefs of the Church of England. Though never fully adopted, they laid the groundwork for later doctrinal documents, including the Thirty-Nine Articles (1571), which became the definitive statement of Anglican belief. The Forty-Two Articles reflected the growing shift towards Protestantism in England during the Reformation. -
Lady Jane Grey’s reign lasted just nine days, from July 10 to July 19, 1553. After the death of her cousin Edward VI, she was declared queen in an attempt to prevent the Catholic Mary I from taking the throne. However, Jane was quickly deposed by Mary's supporters. Her brief, tragic reign ended with her imprisonment, and she was executed in 1554.
-
Mary I, also known as Mary Tudor or Bloody Mary, reigned from July 19, 1553, until her death on November 17, 1558. Mary is best remembered for her attempts to restore Catholicism in England, which led to the Marian Persecutions where many Protestants were burned at the stake. Her marriage to Philip II of Spain was deeply unpopular and contributed to tensions with her subjects. Despite her efforts, Mary's reign ended in frustration, and England remained Protestant after her death.
-
The Act of Supremacy of 1559, passed under Elizabeth I, reasserted the monarch's role as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, reversing the Catholic restoration under her sister, Mary I. The Act declared that no foreign authority, such as the Pope, could have power over the English church, solidifying England’s break from Rome. It also required all clergy and royal officials to swear allegiance to Elizabeth as the head of the Church. -
Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, ruled from November 17, 1558, to her death on March 24, 1603. Her reign, known as the Elizabethan Era, is often seen as a golden age in English history. Elizabeth’s leadership stabilized the country after the turmoil of her sister's reign, established the Church of England as the dominant religion, and saw the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. Under her rule, England flourished culturally and economically, laying the foundation for the British Empire.
-
The Act of Uniformity of 1559, passed during the reign of Elizabeth I, restored the Book of Common Prayer as the official liturgy of the Church of England, following the Catholic restoration under Mary I. It required all churches to use the Prayer Book in services. The Act also enforced uniformity in religious practices, with penalties for those who refused to comply. This legislation was crucial in establishing Protestantism as the state religion in England. -
The Bishops' Bible, first published in 1568, was an English translation of the Bible commissioned by the Church of England. The Bishops' Bible was intended to be used in church services and aimed to reflect the Church of England's doctrines, though it was never as widely adopted as the King James Version later became. It played a role in the development of English biblical translations and helped establish the language of later versions. -
Elizabeth I was excommunicated by Pope Pius V in 1570, following her refusal to recognize papal authority over the Church of England. The excommunication was a response to her establishment of Protestantism as the state religion and her persecution of Catholics who refused to conform. Despite this, Elizabeth's reign continued, and the excommunication had little immediate effect on her authority in England, although it heightened tensions with Catholic Europe. -
The St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, which began on August 24, 1572, was a violent event in France during the French Wars of Religion. Thousands of Huguenots (French Protestants) were killed by Catholics, instigated by the marriage of Protestant Henry of Navarre to Catholic Margaret of Valois. Initially targeting prominent Protestant leaders in Paris, the massacre spread across France, resulting in an estimated 3,000 to 30,000 deaths. -
The defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 was a pivotal moment in European history. King Philip II of Spain sent a massive fleet, the Armada, to invade England and overthrow Queen Elizabeth I, largely in response to England's support of Dutch rebels and English piracy against Spanish ships. The Armada, comprising around 130 ships, was defeated. The Spanish fleet was forced to retreat. -
James I, the first monarch of the Stuart dynasty, ruled from March 24, 1603, until his death on March 27, 1625. James, also king of Scotland as James VI, united the crowns of England and Scotland. His reign saw the publication of the King James Bible in 1611 and the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605. His belief in the divine right of kings led to tensions with Parliament, setting the stage for the political conflicts that would eventually lead to the English Civil War.
-
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was a failed attempt by a group of Catholic conspirators, led by Robert Catesby, to assassinate King James I and blow up the Houses of Parliament in London. The plot was intended to end Protestant rule in England and replace it with a Catholic monarchy. The conspirators were tortured and executed. -
The King James Bible, published in 1611, was commissioned by King James I, the goal was to create a version that would be accessible to everyone and suitable for use in church services. A team of over 50 scholars worked on the translation, drawing from earlier works like the Bishops' Bible. -
Charles I reigned from March 27, 1625, until his execution on January 30, 1649. His rule was marked by conflict with Parliament over issues like taxation and royal prerogative. His belief in the divine right of kings led to his confrontation with Parliament, which eventually resulted in the English Civil War. Charles was defeated, tried for treason, and executed, becoming the first English monarch to be publicly executed.
-
The Treaty of Ripon, signed in October 1640, ended the Bishops' Wars between King Charles I and the Scottish Covenanters. It forced Charles to pay the Scots £850 a day while they occupied northern England, and allowed them to hold their own religious meetings. -
Pride's Purge, in December 1648, took place when Colonel Thomas Pride and his soldiers kicked out MPs who were seen as pro-King Charles or opposed to the army. This left the "Rump Parliament," which was largely controlled by army leaders. The purge paved the way for the trial and execution of King Charles I the following year. -
King Charles I was executed on January 30, 1649, after being convicted of treason for his role in the English Civil War. Refusing to recognize the court's authority, he was sentenced to death and publicly beheaded outside the Banqueting House in London. His execution was a historic moment, marking the first time a reigning British monarch had been put to death, and led to the brief abolition of the monarchy, with England becoming a republic under Oliver Cromwell. -
Oliver Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector from December 16, 1653, until his death on September 3, 1658. Following the execution of Charles I, Cromwell led the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War and helped establish the Republic of England. As Lord Protector, he wielded near-absolute power, though his rule was marked by religious intolerance, particularly towards Catholics. After his death, England briefly returned to a Commonwealth before the monarchy was restored.
-
Richard Cromwell, the son of Oliver Cromwell, briefly served as Lord Protector from September 3, 1658, to May 25, 1659. His short reign followed the death of his father, but Richard struggled to gain control and lacked the military backing his father had. After facing increasing opposition, he resigned, and the Commonwealth was temporarily restored. Richard’s abdication marked the beginning of the end of the Cromwellian regime, leading to the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.
-
Charles II, reigned from May 29, 1660, to his death on February 6, 1685. After the Interregnum, Charles was restored to the throne, marking the Restoration of the Monarchy. His reign was a time of political tension, as he navigated relations with Parliament and the rise of religious and political factions. He is most famous for surviving the Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of London in 1666, but his efforts to increase royal power created conflict that would outlive his reign.
-
James II ruled from February 6, 1685, until he was deposed on December 11, 1688. His attempts to reintroduce Catholicism and strengthen royal power alienated Parliament and Protestants, sparking fears of a Catholic dynasty. His reign ended with the Glorious Revolution when he was replaced by his daughter Mary II and her husband William of Orange. James fled to France, marking the end of the Stuart dynasty’s absolutist rule.
-
William III and Mary II ruled jointly from February 13, 1689, until Mary's death in 1694. Their reign began after the Glorious Revolution, which removed James II from the throne. They established key constitutional reforms, including the Bill of Rights, which limited the powers of the monarchy and laid the groundwork for modern parliamentary democracy.
-
William III reigned alone from 1694 until his death in 1702. His rule followed the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which had secured his position alongside his wife, Mary II. After her death, William continued his commitment to Protestantism and parliamentary power. He died in 1702, leaving the throne to his sister-in-law, Anne.
-
Queen Anne reigned from March 8, 1702, to her death on August 1, 1714. She was the last monarch of the Stuart dynasty, and her reign saw the Union of England and Scotland in 1707, creating the Kingdom of Great Britain. Her leadership during the War of Spanish Succession and the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 were significant, though she struggled with personal tragedy and health issues, having no surviving children to secure the Stuart line.