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Period: 1500 to
Early Modern Period
The Early Modern Period, preceeded by the Late Middle Ages and followed by the Age Of Revolutions. -
Period: 1509 to 1547
Henry VIII's reign
Henry VIII was King of England from 1509, until his death in 1547. -
1516
Birth of Mary I
Henry VIII's second heir, became the first Queen of England at 37 years old in 1553. As a devout Catholic, she restored Catholicism after the death of her Protestant half-brother, Edward VI. -
Oct 31, 1517
Martin Luther's 95 theses
Martin Luther, german monk, published his 95 theses in which he heavily criticized the selling of indulgences by the Catholic church. -
1526
Tyndale Bible
The New testament, previously only in Greek and Latin, was translated by William Tyndale into English for all to read and understand, without the assistence of Clergy (who could have misleading interpretations of the Bible). -
1533
Act in Restraint of Appeals
Henry VIII made it possible for himself to annul marriages, in order to annul his own. -
1533
Birth of Elizabeth I
As Henry VIII's 3rd heir, she was born to Anne Boleyn, which would later pose a problem to her legitimacy as Queen, among other issues. -
1534
Act Of Supremacy
Henry VIII, a devout catholic, broke away from the Roman Catholic Church by giving himself the legal power to annul marriages (in order to annul his own marriage with Catherine of Aragon). He was excommunicated because the Pope did not see his new marriage with Anne Boleyn to be legitimate. -
Period: 1536 to 1541
Disbanding of Monasteries
Henry VIII decided to disband Monasteries, on the account of them being places of "popery". This led to major rebellions. -
Period: 1536 to 1537
Pilgrimage of Grace
Following the King's decision to disband monasteries, the common people, the gentry, and the clergy rebelled against the reformation as a whole in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. They also demanded the restoration of Catholicism. They were brutally repressed through exemplary public hangings. -
Oct 12, 1537
Birth of Edward VI
First (and only male) heir of Henry VIII, Edward VI did not reign for long. -
Period: 1547 to 1553
Edward VI's reign
Henry VIII's only male heir, became King at the age of 9, and died at the age of 15. Because he was very Protestant, he pushed England more towards Protestantism. -
1549
Book of Common Prayer
Edward VI authorized the use of the Book of Common Prayer in the Anglican Church. This allowed prayers to be available in English instead of only Latin, but led to rebellions in Cornwall and in Devon. -
Period: 1553 to 1558
Mary I's reign
Married to the Catholic Philip II of Spain, she herself restored Catholicism in England over 18 months only, at the cost of many of her people's lives, and her popularity. In fact, Mary I is also known as "Bloody Mary" because of her very brutal repression of Protestants. -
Period: 1553 to
Passing of Poor Laws
These laws, passed in 1553, 1597, and 1601, made it the government's responsibility to help the poor. At the same time, they make distinctions between "undeserving poor" and "deserving poor". -
Period: 1555 to 1558
Burning of "Heretics"
Over 200 "heretics" (Protestants) are believed to have been burnt during this period. This caused many Protestants to flee the country, and those people are nowadays known as Marian Exiles.
The burnings changed people's point of view on Protestants later on, as those who have been burnt at the stake are considered to be martyrs. -
Period: 1558 to
Elizabeth I's reign
Elizabeth I, also known as the Virgin Queen, had for a goal to pacify religious tensions at the time. Her step-sister wanted her to promise she would carry the Catholic reformation further, to which she replied "I will follow God's will."
In fact, she was Protestant, and stabilised the Church of England through numerous changes. Additionally she secured England's position in the World. -
1559
Act Of Supremacy of 1559
This Act issued by Elizabeth I, abolished the authority of the Pope, and restored that of the Queen over the Church, giving her the title of "Supreme Governor of the Church of England". -
Period: 1559 to 1561
Possible Love Affair Between Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley
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May 8, 1559
Act of Uniformity
This Act made sure that every parish used the Book of Common Prayer, and that those who did not, were fined.
This paved the road for further Protestant changes during Elizabeth I's reign. -
Period: 1563 to 1571
39 Articles of Faith
Important articles which stated the doctrine of the Chuch, instored a new ecclesiology, doctrine of salvation, and definition of sacraments and mass, were issued. -
1569
Northern Rebellion
In an attempt to replace Elizabeth I with Mary Stuart (Queen of Scots), Catholic nobles rebelled against the religious reforms. The 6000 insurgents and their leaders, Earls of Westmorland and Northumberland, were crushed.
This showed Elizabeth I's hostility towards Catholics to the Pope. -
1570
Excomunication of Elizabeth I
Pope Pius V excomunicated Elizabeth I through a bull, simultaneously challenging the Queen's legitimacy and calling all Protestants "heretics".
In response to this, Catholics were no longer tolerated in England, and the Queen published the Treasons Act in 1571, which deemed it treason to question the Queen's legitimacy. -
Execution of Mary Stuart
Mary, Queen of Scots, represented a danger for the Queen of England. When she had to flee her country due to a civil war in 1568, she was offered shelter by her cousin, Elizabeth I. Instead of shelter however, she was kept almost a prisoner in England for 19 years.
While reluctant to do so, Elizabeth I was convinced by her advisors to execute her cousin, in order to defend herself against plots (notably the Babington Plot, discovered by Francis Walsingham). -
Tilbury Speech
In preparation for battle against the Spanish Armada, the Queen gave a speech to the troops. In this speech she used interesting analogies and rhetorical strategies to overcome people's negative thoughts regarding the fact that she is a woman.
She used the two bodies theory, which divided her into her natural body (that which is weak), and her political body (that which has "the heart and stomach of a King"). -
Defeat of the Spanish Armada
Philip II, King of Spain, supported many plots against the Queen of England, which led the Queen to support the Dutch Revolt against Spain. This, in turn, made Philip II attempt to invade England with his "invincible Armada".
Due to a material and human advanage, fortunately timed storms, as well as new ships (Galleons) and strategies (line battle), the English fleet won the decisively. This victory served as proof of the Queen's qualities, divine protection and reinforced national cohesion. -
Death of Elizabeth I
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Millenary Petition
Puritans presented King James I with a petition, claimed to be signed by 1000 church ministers, asking for the removal of the remaining Catholic elements in the Anglican Church. It was refused. -
Period: to
James I's reign
James I, son of Mary Stuart (Queen of Scots), became King of England, putting an end to the Tudor rule and giving hope both to Catholics and Puritans for a better future (Puritans in particular since the King held Calvinist views). -
Gunpowder Plot
A plot aiming to kill the King by blowing up parliament was stopped after Guy Fawkes, one of the perpetrators, was arrested. -
King James Bible
King James I introduced a new translation of the Bible. -
Period: to
Thirty Years War
In an attempt to make peace between Catholics and Puritans, the King James I decided to marry his daughter to a Protestant Elector Palatine, and also planned to marry his son to a Spanish Catholic Princess.
When the Elector took the throne of the Empreror Ferdinand Habsburg, it caused him to send his army, supported by Catholic Spain, while the Elector was supported by Germany, Scandinavia, France, and the Dutch republic. -
Period: to
Charles I's reign
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Petition of Right
Parliament request the recognition of the illegality of some of the King's income and actions, on top of various and multiple other problems that led to tensions between King and Parliament.
When the King heard of the possible impeachement of his advsor, Lord Buckingham, he dissolved parliament. -
Three Resolutions
Members of Parliament voted the Three Resolutions, declaring: anyone who tries to bring Popery or Arminianism to the Kingdom is declared an enemy of the Kingdom; anyone advising the King to collect custom duties is an enemy of the Kingdom as well. -
Period: to
Personal Rule
The Three Resolutions were taken by the King as an act of defiance, and the Members of Parliament were imprisoned, and Parliament was dissolved, marking the begining of the Personal Rule. -
Period: to
Scottish Crisis
The introduction of the New Prayer Book in Calvinist Scotland was badly recieved. A petition opposing Charles' religious policy was introduced in 1638, and the Scottish General Assembly removed the Bishops.
This led to the Bishops' Wars, as both Scotland and England began forming armies. -
The Short Parliament
Needing money to fight Scotland in the Bishops' Wars, Charles summoned a new Parliament.
Since they wanted their problems to be addressed first, Charles dissolved that Parliament after only 3 weeks. -
Period: to
Long Parliament
Following England's defeat in the Bishops' Wars, Charles had to summon Parliament again.
They passed laws ensuring that Parliament should meet at least once every 3 years, and that its dissolution required the consent of its members.
They also executed Earl Stafford, one of the King's most powerful advisors. -
Irish Rebellion
Irish Catholics rose up against Protestant settlers, who were allowed by England to do take Irish land by the Plantation Policy passed by James I.
3000 to 4000 Protestants were massacred, but rumors spread about 200,000, which reinforced the anti-Catholic feeling in England. -
Grand Remonstrance
Document signed by Parliament summarizing all of the King's wrongs and concluded on "revolutionary" demands.
This split Parliament into two groups: those who believed the reform was necessary (Parliamentarians); and those who believed the reform was too harsh (Royalists). -
Breach of Privilege
The King, thinking there was a plot against his wife, marched into the House of Commons on horseback and with soldiers, to impeach 5 members of Parliament, despite being denied the permission by Parliament.
He later fled to York from London, fearing for his life. -
Period: to
The Civil Wars
Parliament won the First Civil War (1643-1646), thanks notably to the New Model Army. In May 1646, Parliament dissolved the New Model Army after the King surredered to the Scots, but they did not pay the soldiers, resulting in mutiny, and the New Model Army seizing the King. In November 1647 the King escaped from the Army and allied himself to the Scots by promising them Calvinism in England, in exchange for restoring him to power there. This led to the Second Civil War (1648-1649). -
King declares War on Parliament
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England becomes Commonwealth
Following the regicide, England was declared a Commonwealth.
Monarchy was abolished, and so was the House Of Lords. -
Period: to
England as a Commonwealth
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Execution of King Charles I
After the King was trialed for High Treason, he was executed. -
Period: to
The Interregnum
Period between two Kings, which followed the execution of King Charles I. -
Blasphemy Act
This Act led to increased repression of internal criticism and some radical sects. -
Instrument of Government
England's first and only written Constitution. -
End of the Commonwealth
General Oliver Cromwell dissolved the Rump Parliament by ordering the MPs to leave. His popularity had amready been developping through his victorious battles on royalists in Ireland (1649) and the Scottish uprising (1651). -
Period: to
Cromwellian Protectorate
Military dictatorship in which Cromwell was appointed "Lord Protector". -
Cromwell's Death
His son resigned after only 6 months, which led to a period of anarchy and chaos. -
Declaration of Breda
Charles II, son of Charles I, issued a declaration promising general amnesty (for the execution of his father), religious toleration, and shared power with Parliament if only monarchy was restored and he was King. -
Period: to
Early Restoration
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Charles II becomes King of England
After the declaration of Breda, Charles II reached his goal of becoming King of England.
However it later became apparent that he had lied in the declaration, as the 100 people who signed Charles I's death warrant were executed, and Cromwell's corpse was dismembered. -
Plague Outbreak
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Great Fire of London
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Period: to
Exclusion Crisis
Parliament tried to debar James II (Charles II's Catholic brother) from the succession to the throne, because of the Popish Plot. Since Charles II firmly believed in the Divine Rights of Kings, this angered him, and he dissolved Parliament. -
Death of Charles II
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Period: to
King James II's Reign
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Glorious Revolution
William of Orange, the King's son-in-law, was invited by Parliament to invade England with his troops and take over the throne. A state of panic had taken the country over soon after the birth the King's son, a potential Catholic heir.
Upon arriving, William met no resistance and promptly became King of England, giving this revolution its name as it required no bloodshed, and reinforced the liberties of English subjects. -
Bill of Rights
The first bill to have limited a monarch's power and enabled the transformation of Absolute Monarchy into a Constitutional Monarchy.