The English Reformation

Biography of Henry VIII

Jan 17, 1509

King Henry VIII was born on June 28, 1491 in Greenwhich, London, England. His parents were King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. As a young child he was very thin, athletic, and intelligent. He enjoyed playing sports like tennis, jousting, and hunting. Henry was also very fond of music and poetry. He loved life and was very happy, he could even speak fluent french, latin, and spanish. The cheery, enjoyable Henry soon began to change after he was involved in a jousting accident.

Catherine of Aragon married King Henry VIII

Jun 11, 1509

Catherine of Aragon was born in Spain and was the youngest surviving child. When she was 16 she took the journey to England where she married Arthur but soon after there marriage Arthur died. After her husbands death she was bethrothed to Arthur's younger brother, Henry. The two married on June 11, 1509. During there marriage Catherine had 4 unsuccessful pregnancies but had only one child survive, Mary. In 1533 the King called for an annaulment and Catherine and Mary were forced to leave court.

Katherine Parr

Aug 22, 1512

Katherine Parr was Queen consort of England and Ireland and the last of the six wives of King Henry VIII of England. She married Henry VIII on 12 July 1543. She was the fourth commoner Henry had taken as his consort, and outlived him. Katherine brought the family closer together, and was responsible to reconciling Henry with his daughters Mary and Elizabeth who he had disowned, and developed a good relationship with his son Edward. She was originally catholic but became protestant.

Mary Tudor

Feb 18, 1516

Mary Tudor was King Henry VIII's first child, she was born on February 18, 1516, the daughter of Catherine of Aragon. As a child she was known to be very pretty and have a love for jewelry and clothing, until her parents messy divorce. She was well educated and a devoted catholic. Later she married Philip II of Spain and had a strong hatred towards her half-sister Elizabeth and Elizabeth's mother. During her rule she persecuted many Protestants, which explains her nickname Bloody Mary.

King Henry VIII marrys Anne Boleyn

Jan 25, 1533

Little is know about her younger years, but Anne Boleyn was said to be one of King Henry's mistress's while he was married to Catherine. Anne knew that Henry desperately needed to have a male heir and since catherine was not capable of that she told Henry it was either marriage or nothing. The king then sent out to have his marriage be annauled. On January 25, 1533 Henry and Anne were secretly married. She gave birth to Elizabeth I of England and then had 3 miscarriages.

King Henry VIII divorces Catherine

May 23, 1533

Thomas Carnmer declared the marriage illegal, and ended it with an annaulment. Catherine and Mary were forced to leave court.

Elizabeth I

Sep 7, 1533

The second child of Henry is born from Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I.

Catherine of Aragon dies

Jan 7, 1536

She died in Kimbolton Castle, England and she was buried in Peterborough Abbey.

Henry divorced first wife Anne

May 1, 1536

Henry wanted an anollment but the church refused to give it to him, which caused him to breakway. He beheaded his next wife, the next one died, divorced the next one, beheaded the next one and the last survived.

King Henry VIII beheads Anne Boleyn

May 19, 1536

Anne was put in trial for high treason which is a crime that can be punishable by death and was put into the Tower of London. Anne was allegedly in a affair with 5 men, one of them including her brother. King Henry had all 5 men face gruesome death. Anne was stripped of her title as queen and her marriage was invalid to King Henry. She was then found guilty of treason and adultery and sentenced to death by a sword.

King Henry VIII marrys Jane Seymour

May 30, 1536

King Henry VIII first noticed Jane when he stayed at the Seymour family home in September of 1535, although his love for her started in February of 1536. Within 24 hours of Anne Boleyn's execution, the two were formally bethrothed. During there marriage Jane gave birth to a son, Edward. Jane being so weak died just two weeks after Edwards birth.

Edward VI

Oct 12, 1537

Third child, only son by King Henry’s third wife Jane Seymour.

Jane Seymour dies

Oct 24, 1537

Jane Seymour died from childbirth to her son Edward. She was buried at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Ann of Cleves

Jan 6, 1540

Ann of Cleves was a German noblewoman and King Henry VIII's fourth wife, they married on Janurary 6th, 1540. That night he decided that he was not fond of her anymore, afterall she was never properly schooled and only knew how to read and write in German."I liked her before not well, but now I like her much worse." Therefore, she was forced to leave the court on the 24th of June. He then asked her for her consent to an anullment, she agreed, and they ended their marriage on July 9th, 1540.

Kathryn Howard

Jul 28, 1540

Kathryn Howard was the lady in waiting for Ann of Cleves and caught Henry VIII's attention. The king married this young, 19 year old only 15 days after having an anullment with his fourth wife, Ann of Cleves. Kathryn made him very happy, he spoiled her with many gifts and called her his "rose without a thorn". However, soon rumors began to come up and that she had been seeking the company of other young men. The shocked Henry VIII then had her beheaded on February 13th, 1540.

King Henry VIII dies

Jan 28, 1547

Edward was 10 when he ecieved the throne.

Henry dies and the last of his six wives is widowed

Jan 28, 1547

Katherine Parr dies

Sep 5, 1548

Katheine Parr dies in childbirth

Edward introduced a uniform Protestant service in England based on his Book of Common Prayer.

Jan 1, 1549

Edward gives the throne to his cousin claiming his sisters were illegitimate

Feb 1, 1553

Edward VI dies

Jul 6, 1553

Elizabeth I recives throne.

Nov 17, 1558

Immediatly Repealed the Catholic legislation introduced by Mary.

Spanish is defeated under the rule of Elizabeth.

Aug 8, 1588

One of her biggest accomplishments as queen.

Elizabeth I dies

Mar 24, 1604