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Aug 22, 1485
End of the Wars of the Roses
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). -
Period: Aug 22, 1485 to Apr 21, 1509
Reign of Henry VII
Henry VII:
Reign: August 22, 1485 – April 21, 1509 -
Jan 30, 1502
Alliance with Scotland
A marriage alliance between Princess Margaret of England and James IV of Scotland, aiming to secure peace through diplomatic and familial ties. -
Period: Apr 22, 1509 to Jan 28, 1547
Reign of Henry VIII
Henry VIII:
Reign: April 22, 1509 – January 28, 1547 -
Jun 11, 1509
Marriage with Catherine of Aragon
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. -
Oct 31, 1517
The Ninety-Five Theses
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. -
1532
Divorce with Catherine of Aragon
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. -
Jan 25, 1533
Marriage with Anne Boleyn
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. -
Apr 7, 1533
The Act of Restraint of Appeals
The act proclaimed that no church has authority in England nor above the King. -
Nov 3, 1534
Act of Supremacy
By the Parliament of England, it was one of the first major events in the English Reformation. It established the Church of England. -
1536
The Dissolution of the Monasteries
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 -
Jul 13, 1536
Ten Articles
were designed to establish a middle ground between Catholicism and Protestantism after England’s break with Rome. -
Jun 28, 1539
Six Articles
were a more conservative set of laws, introduced by Henry VIII to reaffirm Catholic doctrine at a time when Protestant ideas were gaining ground. -
Period: Jan 28, 1547 to Jul 6, 1553
Reign of Edward VI
Edward VI:
Reign: January 28, 1547 – July 6, 1553 -
1549
Kett's Rebellion
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 -
Period: Jul 19, 1553 to Nov 17, 1558
Reign of Mary I
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. -
Jul 25, 1554
Marriage with Philippe of Spain
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. -
Oct 16, 1555
The Burning of bishops Latimer and Ridley
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. -
Period: Nov 17, 1558 to
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. -
1559
Elizabeth's religious settlement
Tensions between Protestant and Catholics are at the heart of the country. Elizabeth tried to find compromises to please both parts. -
Feb 1, 1559
Act of Supremacy
Elizabeth declared herself Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and instituted an Oath of Supremacy. -
Apr 28, 1559
The Act of Uniformity
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. -
Mar 20, 1563
Foxe’s Acts and Monuments
To document the suffering and executions of Protestants during the reigns of Henry VIII, Mary I, and earlier, portraying them as heroes of faith. -
1567
The acceptance of protestantism in Wales
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 -
Feb 25, 1570
Papal Bull 'Regnans in Excelsis'
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. -
1571
The Treason Act
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) -
Apr 20, 1571
Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion
Establishing the doctrinal foundation of the Church of England. They were designed to define Anglican beliefs, balancing Protestant theology with traditional Christian practices. -
Jun 9, 1571
Book of Common Prayer
The first edition is introduced under the rule of Edward VI. This work, primarily by Thomas Cranmer, standardises worship in the Church of England. -
Period: to
Anglo-Spanish War
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. -
The Execution of Mary Queen of Scots
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 -
The Defeat of the Spanish Armada
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 -
Death of Elizabeth I
And accession of James VI of Scotland (later James I) to the throne, the first of the Stuart kings.