King Henry VIII

A King is Born

Jun 28, 1491

Henry Tudor was born in Greenwich, England on June 28, 1491 during the conflicting events of the Reformation in Europe. He was the son of King Henry VII (who was the king of England), and Elizabeth of York. He was welcomed into a royal upbringing due to his father's position. His birth was important, for he would have to take the English throne from his father after the death of Arthur, his older brother. Thanks to his existence, the Anglican church was formed, as well ("Henry VIII").

Discovery of the New World

Oct 12, 1492

On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus spotted the land of what is believed to be San Salvador. He visited five different Bahaman islands and Cuba. This was important, for he was able to meet natives there and discover the lands of the "New World" (or, the Americas) for Spain. Soon, people would colonize there. (Grum 223).

Black Slaves Come to Santo Domingo

Jan 1, 1501

As the native population began to decrease in Santo Domingo, people coming to the New World began to drop off their African slaves there, as a port. In 1501, Nicolås de Ovando, the governer of Santo Domingo, was told to bring more slaves there. Soon, the black people outnumbered the white people. This was important because it was the beginning of black people living in the New World, and started slavery there (Grum 222).

Leonardo DaVinci Paints the Mona Lisa

Jan 1, 1503

In 1503, Leonardo DaVinci painted the Mona Lisa. It was believed to be a portrait of a Florentine merchant, and DaVinci kept it with him all the time. Constantly, there are new questions arising about this painting and there are new discoveries about its hidden layers. This painting is important because it leaves mysteries of the past as it represents the Reinassance, and is arguably the most recognized painting in the world. Perhaps, it may leave a clue about the past, as well (Grum 223).

Henry Tudor becomes King Henry VIII

Apr 21, 1509

Because Henry Tudor's older brother, Arthur, died unexpectedly in 1502, Henry became the automatic heir to the English throne on April 21, 1509. This happened when his father, Henry VII, died in 1509 ("Henry VIII"). When Henry VIII became king, he was a devout Catholic. It was important that he took the throne, because it led to England's "break" from Rome and the formation of the Anglican Church (Beck 431). It was also England's first peaceful succession since 1422 ("Henry VIII").

Mexico is Conquered

Jan 1, 1519

In 1519, Spanish Hernando Cortes conquered Mexico from the native Indian civilization, the Aztecs. The Spanish had discovered Mexico a year before and were eager to conquer it, as they did when they landed on the coast of the Yukutan Peninsula. Soon, the natives surrendered and their capital, Tenochtitlan, was invaded. This land, called "New Spain" was soon governed by Cortes. This is important because it began the decline of the Aztec civilization and gained new land for Spain (Grum 228).

The "Assertion of the Seven Sacrements" is Rewarded

Jan 1, 1521

King Henry VIII wrote The "Assertion of the Seven Sacraments" in 1521 and received pleasant reactions. Within his writings, he criticized Martin Luther and his teachings. For this, Henry was titled "Defender of the Faith" by the Pope. This pushed him to surpass his other fellow European monarchs for power and fame, as well. It was essential for this to happen because it was a boost of confidence that allowed Henry to, soon, create more diversions and independent ideas ("Henry, VIII").

Persecution of Jewish People in Hungary

Jan 1, 1526

In 1526, anti-Jewish feelings grew as Louis II reigned over Hungary. Initially, Jews had come there as a "save-haven", being left around Europe as war prisoners. However, they were soon persecuted so often that their population in Hungary declined. After the Hungarian war with the Ottomans, the Jewish were free. This was important because not only were the Jewish treated poorly during another time than the Holocaust, but they received a final result of freedom in Europe (Grum 234).

Henry Requests the Annulment of his Marriage with his First of Many Wives

Jan 1, 1527

Henry VIII realized that his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, would not be able to bear him a son, and he wanted a son to take over the throne when he died. Therefore, in 1527, he asked Pope Clement VII for an annulment of his marriage with Catherine and permission to remarry. Pope Clement denied, to please Catherine's nephew, a king who opposed. This is important, for it was the reason for Henry's split from the Pope and formed the Anglican Church ("Henry VIII" Encyclopedia).

A New Church is formed: The Protestant Anglican Church

Jan 1, 1529

When the Pope denied Henry VIII of an annulment, Henry called the Reformation Parliament together in 1529 to ask them to pass a set of laws that ended the Pope's power in England. Now, the Pope only had power over Rome, and England was split from them, with a new religion led by Henry VIII: The Protestant Anglican Church. This was important, for it established a new religion still used today. In addition, England had new freedom (Beck 431).

Henry VIII Passes the Act in Restraint of Appeals

Jan 1, 1533

Henry VIII had Parliament pass the Act in Restraint of Appeals in 1533, which mandated that all spiritual cases were to be handled in England, not Rome (Blumberg 106). Not only this, but it basically eradicated any papal jurisdiction in England ("Henry VIII" Encyclopedia).This strengthened Parliament and created a sovereign state, an important aspect of King Henry VIII's life (Blumberg 107).

Henry VIII is Recognized as Supreme Head of Church in England

Jan 1, 1534

When the Act of Supremecy was passed in 1534, Henry was officially recongized as the Supreme Head of the Anglican Church in England. Not only was he a religious leader, but he was a political leader, as well. His church and country were no longer under the unruly leadership of Rome, and were their own, independent country under the government of the English king. This was imporant, for now Henry could remarry, rule, gain power, and basically do whatever he desired ("Henry VIII" Encyclopedia).

Thomas More is Executed

Jan 1, 1535

Henry VIII wanted complete loyalty under his rulership. His former friend and important counselor, Thomas More, resigned because he disagreed with some of Henry's religious acts. Therefore, Henry VIII had him beheaded in 1535. This displays Henry's yearn for power, and it eventually led to him taking over monastaries and burning books; he wanted everybody to do as he said. It is important because it began a series of violent, and disloyal events that caused unease in England ("Henry VIII").

Parliament passes "An Act for Aboloshing Diversity of Opinion"

Jun 1, 1539

On June 1, 1539, Parliament passed "An Act for Aboloshing Diversity of Opinion", under King Henry VIII's request. It stated that anybody who refused to accept his ideas from his quarrel with the papacy would be treated as a treasonous subject. This lead to many more persecutions; if you did not agree with the king, you did not get to live. This was an important example of how manipulative he became at the end of his rule, and it started more controversy in England (Blumberg 105-107).

The First Protestants are Burned at the Stake by the Spanish

Jan 1, 1543

In 1543, Spanish Inquisition included burning Protestants to death at a stake. They did this to anybody who believed in, translated, or taught the Holy Scriptures. In addition to burning people, they would burn their Bibles, as well. This event is significant because rather than their objective of unifying Spain, the Spaniards killed many innocent people up until the 1800s and created for a dark period of deaths and conflicts (Grum 240).

King Henry VIII Dies

Jan 28, 1547

At the end if his reign, King Henry VIII was ill for months with ulcerated lungs and fevers. On his death bed, he asked Archbishop Crammer to come to him, and squeezed his hand to show he trusted Christ (he wanted to be cleared of his sins). He died at 2 A.M. on Friday, January 28, 1547. This is important, for it led to Edward VI's six-year rule over strong Protestants in England and ended the rather tyrannical rule over England posed by Henry VIII (Beck 431).