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Henry Tudor (later Henry VII) defeated and killed Richard III at Bosworth Field. Then he married Elizabeth of York, which united the two families (Lancaster and York). -
Henry VII:
Reign: August 22, 1485 – April 21, 1509 -
A marriage alliance between Princess Margaret of England and James IV of Scotland, aiming to secure peace through diplomatic and familial ties. -
Henry VIII:
Reign: April 22, 1509 – January 28, 1547 -
Daughter of the Catholic Monarchs (the spanish Queen King Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon), she was described as very devout by her contemporaries. -
A list of propositions written by Martin Luther. They challenged the Catholic Church's practice of selling indulgences—payments said to reduce punishment for sins. He argued that salvation came through faith alone, not money or good deeds, and questioned the Pope's authority over Scripture. This bold move sparked the Protestant Reformation, a movement that transformed religion and society across Europe. -
After years of infertility the royal couple only had 1 daughter: Mary. Henry VIII became impatient for a male heir and his wife was getting old and couldn't bear children anymore. This led to the break with the Catholic Church. -
Henry VIII married Anne Boleyn, with whom he already had an affair. This was a secret marriage that took place while he was still technically married to Catherine of Aragon, marking a key moment in the lead-up to the English Reformation. Anne could give him children and especially sons because she was young. She became queen consort of England. -
The act proclaimed that no church has authority in England nor above the King. -
By the Parliament of England, it was one of the first major events in the English Reformation. It established the Church of England. -
It was initiated by Henry VIII to disband monasteries, priories, and convents, transferring their wealth and land to the Crown. Beginning with smaller monasteries in 1536 and expanding to larger ones in 1539, Henry justified this by accusing them of corruption and aligning with papal authority.
1536 – 1541 -
were designed to establish a middle ground between Catholicism and Protestantism after England’s break with Rome. -
were a more conservative set of laws, introduced by Henry VIII to reaffirm Catholic doctrine at a time when Protestant ideas were gaining ground. -
Edward VI:
Reign: January 28, 1547 – July 6, 1553 -
Major protest against the policies of Edward VI's government, particularly the widespread enclosure of common land, which led to poverty and unrest among the rural population -
Mary I
Reign: July 19, 1553 – November 17, 1558
(Lady Jane Grey was declared queen from July 10 to July 19, 1553, but is not officially recognised.)
After the divorce of her parents in 1532 Mary was declared illegitimate but was not erased from the succession line. Contrary to her siblings she was raised catholic. She was almost overthrown by one of her brother's distant cousin Jean Grey who claimed the throne for 9 days. -
This union was part of Mary’s effort to restore Catholicism in England and strengthen ties with Spain, a leading Catholic power. However, the marriage was unpopular in England, the government was afraid that Philip would become king of England and especially that England would become Spanish. -
Known as the "Oxford Martyrs", the two bishops were Protestants and were sentenced to be burnt at the stake. Latimer's famous words before his death were, "Play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out." Their martyrdom became a symbol for the Protestant cause in England, particularly during the later reign of Elizabeth I. -
Elizabeth I:
Reign: November 17, 1558 – March 24, 1603
Elizabeth is the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. After her mother's death she was declared illegitimate like her sister but was not erased from the succession.
When she came to power in 1558 she had to deal with the political and religious instability the previous reigns left behind. -
Tensions between Protestant and Catholics are at the heart of the country. Elizabeth tried to find compromises to please both parts. -
Elizabeth declared herself Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and instituted an Oath of Supremacy. -
It established the mandatory use of the Book of Common Prayer in England's churches, enforcing Protestant worship as part of Queen Elizabeth I's Religious Settlement. -
To document the suffering and executions of Protestants during the reigns of Henry VIII, Mary I, and earlier, portraying them as heroes of faith. -
The Welsh New Testament and Book of Common Prayer were published, marking a significant milestone in the spread of Protestantism in Wales.
1588 – full translation of the Bible in
Welsh -
issued by Pope Pius V, excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I and declared her a heretic and illegitimate ruler. It called on Catholics to resist Elizabeth’s Protestant reign and recognise Mary, Queen of Scots as the rightful queen of England. The Bull had limited impact, as most English Catholics remained loyal to Elizabeth. -
It was passed during the reign of Elizabeth I. This was a response to the rising threat of Catholic plots against the queen, such as the Northern Rebellion (1569) and the Ridolfi Plot (1571) -
Establishing the doctrinal foundation of the Church of England. They were designed to define Anglican beliefs, balancing Protestant theology with traditional Christian practices. -
The first edition is introduced under the rule of Edward VI. This work, primarily by Thomas Cranmer, standardises worship in the Church of England. -
The war was deeply rooted in religious conflict, with Catholic Spain seeking to suppress Protestantism in Europe and restore Catholic rule in England, particularly after Elizabeth’s excommunication in 1570. The Protestant-Catholic divide defined much of the war, including the attempted Spanish Armada invasion of 1588, which aimed to overthrow Elizabeth and reinstate Catholic dominance.
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Mary, who had been imprisoned by her cousin Elizabeth I for 19 years, was accused of plotting to assassinate Elizabeth in the Babington Plot (1586), a Catholic conspiracy to replace Elizabeth with Mary, a legitimate Catholic heir to the English throne. Elizabeth reluctantly signed her death warrant -
Philip II of Spain launched an attempted invasion of England to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I and restore Catholic rule. The Armada, consisting of about 130 ships, faced a series of challenges, including bad weather, strategic mistakes, and the resilience of the English fleet. The Armada was decisively defeated, and the defeat marked a turning point in European power dynamics, strengthening England’s position as a maritime power and confirming Elizabeth's reign -
And accession of James VI of Scotland (later James I) to the throne, the first of the Stuart kings.