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The Ninety-Five Theses is a famous text written by Martin Luther, a German monk and professor of theology. This text marks the start of the European Reformation and was spread through Europe thanks to the printing press. -
William Tyndale translated the New Testament into English. -
The Act of Supremacy, which have founded the Anglican Church, made king Henry VIII the "Supreme Head of the Church of England". -
After Henry VIII's death, his son Edward VI, who's fiercely protestant, became king. During his reign, a series of measures pushed England towards Protestantism.
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After Edward VI's death, Mary I, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, became the first Queen of England. She repealed the Prostestant legislation and restored Catholicism within 18 months.
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With the Act of Uniformity, which is a religious belief, every parish had to use the Book of Common Prayer and people who did not attend an Anglican service were fined.
With the Act of Supremacy, which is a church organisation, Elizabeth I became "Supreme Governor of the Church of England", abolished the authority of the Pope and restored the authority of the Queen over the Church, like Henry VIII previously did. -
The 39 articles of faith stated the doctrine (religious belief) of the Church and made 3 important changes : a new ecclesiology (conception of the Church), a new doctrine of Salvation and a new definition of sacraments and of the mass. This doctrine is still in use today.
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The papal bull "Regnans in Excelsis", issued by Pope Pius V is a text that called Elizabeth the "so-called queen" and "a heretic favouring heretics". It also excommunicated Elizabeth. -
In response to the papal bull "Regnans in Excelsis", The Treasons Act made it treason for anyone to say that Elizabeth was not the true Queen of England and Wales. -
After Francis Walsingham (Elizabeth's master spy) managed to decipher a coded letter between Mary Stuart and a group of Catholics plotting against Elizabeth (Babington Plot, 1586), Mary was then executed. -
Philip II, king of Spain supported several plots against Elizabeth. In retaliation, the queen of England supported the Dutch Revolt against Spain, which led Philip II to attempt invading England. The Spanish Armada was then defeated. -
In 1603, Elizabeth died at the age of 69. She had secured the position of England in the world and imposed Protestantism during her reign. -
After Elizabeth's death, James VI of Scotland (Mary Stuart's son and Elizabeth's heir) became James I of England.
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After dissolving parliament again, Charles I declared there would be no more parliaments. The Personal Rule is a period during which the king ruled 11 years without calling a parliament.
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The Grand Remonstance is an important document voted by parliament summarizing all of Charles I's wrong doings and concluding on "revolutionary" demands. -
On January 30th 1649, Charles I was then executed after being put on trial for high treason. -
The Bill of Rights is a key political text which limited the monarch's power for the first time. It listed King James' misdeeds, set out the rights of Parliament and basic civil rights -
All King William III's and Mary II's potential successors were Catholic. The Act of Settlement ensured a Protestant succession, ignoring dozens of Catholic heirs. -
England and Scotland merged into a single kingdom : the United Kingdom of Great Britain.