-
1470
Wolsey born
Wolsey was born the son of a butcher in Ipswich -
1491
Birth of the future HVIII
Second son of HVII and Elizabeth of York -
1502
Death of Arthur
made HVIII heir -
1503
Wolsey secretary to Richard Fox (Lord Privy Seal)
Thomas acted as one of the secretaries to the Lord of the Privy Seal, Richard Fox. Given his work experience, he was well suited to performing administrative duties, including missions abroad -
1508
Wolsey's foreign diplomacy for HVII
he went to Scotland to secure the alliance between King James IV and England; he had also been sent to the Low countries to discuss potential marriages for HVII -
1509
Marriage to Catherine of Aragon
CofA had gained mass popularity through her grace and decorum of being held captive during HVII
Seen as chivalrous act from HVIII for marryin her -
Apr 21, 1509
Henry VIII becomes King
Aged 17 and 10 months
- saw the change of monarch as the dawning of a new age
- HVII had left £300 000 for HVIII, a peaceful policy and a conciliar government -
1510
Council Learned in Law Abolished
-
1510
The Renewal of the Treaty of Etaples
Councillors sought to renew the Treaty but it was evident that HVIII was thinking otherwise. HVIII wanted to be like HV and claim France -
1510
Martin Luther's visit to Rome
highlighted the corruption of Rome -
Period: 1510 to 1510
Parliament called
Council Learned in the Law abolished -
Aug 17, 1510
Empson and Dudley executed
Executed for their involvement in the CLIL -
1511
The Formation of the Holy League
Henry persuaded Pope Julius II to enter an alliance with England, Spain, HRE, Venice and the Papacy against France -
1512
The first invasion of France
Henry sent an army of 10 000 men to Southwest France under Marquis Dorset. However, this achieved nothing and was used as a diversionary tactic by Ferdinand (Spain) while he conquered Navarre. -
1512
St Paul's School in London
John Colet (humanist) relies on city guilds rather than clergymen. -
Period: 1512 to 1514
Parliament called
Provided extraordinary revenue for invasions of France and Scotland; Anticlerical Act restricting benefit of the clergy -
1513
Wolsey gains the trust of HVIII
Organised an expeditionary force to invade France under HVIII's leadership. Despite others more senior and experienced ranks, Wolsey defied all the pundits by achieving the seemingly impossible.
His logistics were greatly praised. He had made all 30,000 men and supplies were in place. Arguing that the King's wishes must take precedence over all other considerations. -
1513
War against Scotland - Battle of Flodden
James IV crossed the border with a substantial force but was defeated by a smaller English army hurriedly put together (led by Earl of Surrey). James IV was killed, along with a lot of Scottish nobles.
Nearly led to a rebellion + revolt in Yorkshire again + lost French pension -
1513
Wolsey becomes Bishop of Tournai
-
1513
Second Invasion of France
HVIII led a force to northeastern France. Won the battle of the spurs and captured towns of Therouanne and Tournai -
1513
James V king of Scotland
Duke Albany = regent King -
1514
Francis I new king of France
-
1514
Wolsey becomes the Bishop of Lincoln and Archbishop of York
-
1514
Wolsey's power increased drastically
By the middle of 1514, HVIII was referring to almost all matters of business to Wolsey in the certainty that they would be dealt with efficiently, and generally along the lines that he desired. -
1514
Richard Hunne Case
Refused to pay mortuary fee to the local clergy and refused to pay the fine - taken to court but was prepared to bring civil lawsuit
found dead by 'hanging' in his cell (not likely) -
Oct 9, 1514
Princess Mary marries Louis XII
organised by Wolsey. -
1515
Wolsey becomes Cardinal
Wolsey had put pressure on the Pope to appoint him to Cardinal -
1515
Wolsey prepares to become Lord Chancellor
-
Jan 1, 1515
Louis XII dies
Mary remarries Duke of Suffolk -
Period: 1515 to 1529
Wolsey
was chief minister to HVIII -
Period: 1515 to 1515
Parliament called
Act restricting benefit of the clergy not renewed despite the apparently anticlerical atmosphere of the House of Commons -
1516
Treaty of Noyon
Peace between Spain and France. The new king of Spain, Charles V, negotiated with Francis I. France abandoned its claim to the Kingdom of Naples and received the duchy of Milan in recompense -
1516
Charles V becomes Emperor of HRE
-
1516
Birth of Mary (heir presumptive)
-
1516
Extended use of the Star Chamber
Became the centre of both government and justice under Wolsey. Extended use of the Star Chamber from 1516 as a way to increase cheap and fair justice. Also encouraged use of Star Chamber for private lawsuits, forced to set up a series of 'overflow tribunals'. -
1517
Treaty of Cambrai
agreement ending one phase of the wars between France and the habsburg Charles V (HRE) -
1517
The 'Evil May Day Riots'
violent disturbances broke out in London against foreigners migrating to London. Angers about loss of jobs to the migrants fueled the riots and some believed that they were being cheated by the foreigners -
1518
Wolsey becomes Papal respresentative
He gained the honour, in order to act on the Pope's behalf in negotiations for what was hoped to become a general truce between the major European states -
1518
Treaty of London
a 'universal peace' between France, England and Spain. Each promised not to attack any of the others. Top 20 leaders in Europe signed up to it including the Pope. Brought prestige to HVIII and Wolsey and England was seen as an important country in European politics -
1519
Wolsey replaces members of the Privy Council
the 'minions' of the Privy Chamber distrusted Wolsey. In 1519, he secured the removal of the minions and replaced them with his own supporters.
However, most of the minions recovered their positions, thus the Privy Chamber thus retained some of its prestige and influence and was the one part of the government that was outside Wolsey's immediate control -
1519
Court of Requests
-
1519
Charles V of spain + HRE elected Holy Roman Empire
HVIII tried to arrange a marriage between Charles V and Mary I, Mary I got rejected by Charles V -
Jul 7, 1520
The field of Cloth of Gold
A diplomatic meeting between HVIII and Francis I. It was a fortnight of feasting and jousting with no expense spared as both kings wanted to show off. However, no agreements were made and only made Charles V suspicious of England. -
1521
HVIII named Defender of the Faith
HVIII writes in defence of Catholicism and is rewarded with the title Fidei Defensor by the Pope -
1521
Treaty of Bruges
An alliance between HVIII and Charles V. It agreed a one-year delay in sending on English army to France, to save money and gain prestige. HVIII decided to ally with Charles V because of strong trade links and HVIII's marriage to CofA (Charles' aunt) -
1522
War with France
Henry agreed to send 11 000 troops to attack Paris in 1522 with Charles V and Duke of Bourbon -
1523
War with France
sent 11 000 troops to France -
Period: 1523 to 1523
Parliament called
Provided extraordinary revenue for invasion of France. Speaker of the pse of Commons, Sir Thomas More, made the first known plea for freedom of speech for MPs. Despite parliament's ill temper, the level of anticlericalism seemed much reduced. -
1524
Wolsey gains legatine powers for life
-
1525
The Amicable Grant
heavy taxation levied without parliament's approval but put forth as to be a 'freely given gift to the King'. Parliament saw Wolsey as 'arrogant and insensitive'. Wolsey used the 'Tudor Subsidy' as a way to raise extraordinary without going to parliament -
1525
Treaty of More
After Pavia, Charles had shown he didn’t value or respect Henry as an equal ally, so Henry decided to ally with France instead.
Henry agreed to give up his claim to the throne of France in return for Francis giving him an annual payment. -
1525
End of the War with France
However, Charles’ and the Duke’s troops never showed up and the English were forced to retreat.
Charles had used the English to distract the French, so he could defeat them at the Battle of Pavia.
The war had cost Henry over £400,000 but he had nothing to show for it after three years of fighting. -
1525
Battle of Pavia
Charles V fought Francis I in Pavia, in northern Italy.
The French army was destroyed, and Francis was captured. Henry wanted to use this to take advantage of France and invade, but Charles released Francis and wouldn’t share any of his spoils from the battle with Henry. -
1526
The Eltham Ordinances
Introduced by Wolsey in order to reform the finances of the Privy Council
Secured as reduction in the number of the Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber (also secured the removal of the groom of the stool and replaced with Henry Norris) -
1526
League of Cognac
Wolsey organised but didn’t join an alliance against Charles’ expansion into Italy, alongside France, the Pope, Venice and Florence. -
1527
Henry becomes besotted with Anne Boleyn
-
1527
The Sacking of Rome
Charles V took control of Rome
Charles’ troops had attacked Rome and basically imprisoned the Pope during their campaign in Italy.
The Pope was the only person who could grant Henry his annulment, and would not do so while he was under the control of Charles V. -
1527
Treaty of Westminster
England and France threatened to fight Charles if he didn’t improve relations with neighbouring countries. -
Period: 1527 to 1536
The King's Great Matter
It took seven years for him to rid himself of his first wife. So all-consuming was Henry's desire for a divorce that it became known as the King's 'Great Matter'. -
1528
War against Charles V
France and England declared war on Charles in Italy, but no English troops were sent to fight.
Wolsey introduced a trade embargo with the Habsburg controlled Netherlands, but protests forced him to call it off.
This made England look like it wasn’t a serious European power. -
1529
Fails to get annulment from CofA
Henry fails to get his marriage annulled -
1529
Legal Efforts of the Great Matter
In June 1529, the court finally met to discuss the divorce. Catherine immediately refused to recognise it and appealed to the Pope to move the hearing to Rome. -
1529
Wolsey accused of Praemunire
Henry used Wolsey's position as Papal Legate to accuse of using is powers in the disinterest of the King.
Wolsey was stripped of his powers, possessions, exiled to his diocese York. -
1529
Treaty of Cambrai
Francis made peace with Charles, and Wolsey was only informed about this at the last minute.
England wasn’t seen as an equal by either country anymore. -
1529
Simon Fish
anticlericalism was stirred up Crown
wrote the 'supplication for the beggars'
- vicious attack on the church -
Period: 1529 to 1536
Parliament called
'Reformation' Parliament -
Nov 29, 1530
Wolsey dies
Wolsey's ill-health led to his death on the journey to London to answer further charges -
1532
Pregnancy of Anne Boleyn
-
1532
Cranmer becomes Archbishop of Canterbury
had never held a senior position in the church
HVIII had personally requested his appointment, despite his moderate reformist views and connections to the Boleyn family.
rapid rise due to loyalty and support to HVIII rather than traditional Church hierarchy -
1532
Defense alliance between England and France
-
1532
First Act of Annates
-
Period: 1532 to 1540
Cromwell
was Chief Minister to HVIII -
1533
The Act in Restraint of Appeals
Appealing to foreign powers, like the Pope, was forbidden. This effectively isolated CofA and made all attempts to fight Henry futile as he was 'Supreme Head' and 'King' -
1533
Birth of Elizabeth I
-
1534
Act of First Fruits and Tenths
Taxation on clergy. All had to pay a years salary when first joined then 10% of their income thereafter - increased royal revenue -
1534
The Act of Supremacy
HVIII was recognised as Head of the Church of England, This ultimately gave him all power and rather than bestowing the power upon him, it was phrased as a 'restoration'. -
1534
Treason Act
denial of royal supremacy was a crime punishable by death in speech as well as writing -
1534
Act of Succession
declared Henry's marriage to Catherine illegal, making Princess Mary illegitimate. Denial of Henry's new marriage was declared treason -
1534
Cromwell named Vicegerent in Spirituals
act as deputy in his oversight of the Church's organisation and running
Vicegerent in Spirituals, with powers to change the Church. -
1535
Start of the visitations to the monasteries
Start of the visitations to the monasteries to look for corruption. -
1535
Valor Ecclesiasticus
Cromwell commissions the Valor Ecclesiasticus to assess the wealth of the monasteries -
1536
Catherine of Aragon dies
-
1536
Wales Act
Divided wales into 3 shire countries
giving some shires representation in House of Commons
same legal framework as England
increased crown's influence over wales -
1536
The Pilgrimage of Grace
the collective name for a series of rebellions in northern England, first in Lincolnshire and then in Yorkshire and elsewhere between October and December -
1536
Ten Articles of Faith
-
1536
The 'Act Extinguishing the Authority of the Bishop of Rome
made it illegal to call/acknowledge the Pope as the 'Pope' - must call him the Bishop of Rome -
1536
Succession Act
declared Elizabeth illegitimate and lays down that HVIII can determine the succession by will in the absence of Heir apparent
Chose to acknowledge the possibility of legitimising his son Duke of Richmond -
1536
Act of Parliament passed to dissolve the smaller monasteries.
Act of Parliament passed to dissolve the smaller monasteries. -
Period: 1536 to 1536
Parliament called
Called to enact new Succession Act following the fall of Anne Boleyn -
May 19, 1536
Anne Boleyn executed
Accused of adultery and incest -
May 30, 1536
Jane Seymour marries HVIII
-
1537
English Bible
-
1537
The 2nd Pilgrimage of Grace
a new uprising
178 put on trial and executed
Aske charged and hanged in York using a noose of chains -
1537
Bishop's book published
-
Sep 12, 1537
Prince Edward born
-
Oct 24, 1537
Jane Seymour dies
-
1538
Royal Injunction
every parish church must have one copy of the English bible in it -
1538
Treaty of Nice
Francis I and Charles V agree a truce and to sever connections with England -
1538
Pope published a bull deposing HVIII
thereby absolving English Catholics from the need to obey their rules
the pope sent envoys to France and Scotland to try raise support for a Catholic crusade -
1539
Six Articles
-
1539
Act to dissolve the remaining monasteries passed
Act to dissolve the remaining monasteries passed -
Period: 1539 to 1540
Parliament called
called to provide extraordinary revenue with invasion threatened; produced divergent religious legislation, for example the dissolution of the greater monasteries and the Six Articles Act -
1540
Court of Augmentations
Court of Augmentations set up to sell off the land of the monasteries -
1540
All remaining religious houses had been dissolved
By March, all remaining religious houses had been dissolved -
Jul 28, 1540
Cromwell executed
Accused of treason and heresy at a Council meeting
Lost credibility after the failed marriage of Anne of Cleves and HVIII -
Jul 28, 1540
HVIII and Catherine Howard marry
-
1542
Catherine Howard executed
already had premaritual sex with other men -
1542
Scottish Invasion
immediate military success
James V died leaving Mary Queen of Scots in charge at 1 month old
HVIII didn't take advantage of Scotland's weakness -
Period: 1542 to 1544
Parliament called
provided extraordinary revenue for invasions of Scotland and France; dealt once more with the issue of succession -
1543
HVIII married Katherine Parr
-
1543
Act for the Advancement of the True Religion
restricted the reading of the bible to only upper-class men and upper-class women (in private) -
1543
Treaty of Greenwich
Arranged marriage between Edward VI and Mary QS -
1544
Thomas Wriothesley becomes Lord Chancellor
Conserative -
1544
Succession Act
Reinstates Mary and Elizabeth in the succession and reaffirms that Henry could determine the succession by will -
1544
Invasions of Scotland and France
Siege of Boulogne
France were giving aid to scotland, outraging HVIII
HVIII initially captured the city but France later retook it -
Period: 1544 to 1546
Debasing the Coinage
short-term economic boom -
1545
The Battle Ancrum More
'rough wooing' scotland won ending english incursions into the scottish border -
1545
French counter-invasion of the Isle of Wight
French fleet of more ships than the spanish armada, was sent to attack the Isle of Wight in retaliation of the English invasions
Only three days after the sinking of the Mary Rose, it was decided to abandon the invasion. The troops on the Isle of Wight were recalled and the French fleet finally departed on 28th July. -
Period: 1545 to 1547
Parliament called
provided extraordinary revenue -
1546
Peace with France
Henry agreed to sell back all his French territory within eight years' time. -
1546
Henry's will
confirms the terms of the succession act of 1544 and laid down that in default of heirs to Edward, Mary and Elizabeth then his sister Mary -
Jan 28, 1547
HVIII dies