The English Reformation

King Henry VIII Takes the Throne

Apr 21, 1509

King Henry the eighth was born on June 28, 1491 to Henry VII of England and Elizabeth York. His older brother, Arthur, was supposed to be king so little is known about Henry’s childhood until Arthur dies. However, he did go to Arthur’s wedding to Catherine of Aragon in 1501. Soon after, Arthur dies. Catherine is set up to marry Henry. Henry was a very Catholic man and this wedding was prohibited in Leviticus. Henry VII died on April 22, 1509 and Henry VIII took the thrown at 18 years old.

King Henry VIII Marys Catherine of Aragon

Jun 11, 1509

Catherine of Aragon was born on December 16, 1485. Catherine was first married to Henry VIII’s brother, widowed, and then married to Henry VIII. Catherine had four children. The first was a premature daughter, the second and boy that lived for 52 days, third that was a miscarriage, and fourth, Mary Tudor. Wanting a son, Henry asked the pope for an annulment, he denied them. So Henry got the Archbishop of Canterbury to grant the annulment. Catherine died on January 7, 1536 as Princess Dowager.

Mary I is Born

Feb 18, 1516

The Daughter of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon.

Annulment of Catherine of Aragon's Marraige to King Henry VIII

Jan 1, 1533

King Henry VIII Marrys Anne Boleyn

Jan 25, 1533

Born between 1500 and 1509, Anne Boleyn was not royalty. Henry VIII had earlier had an affair with her sister, Mary, but Anne refused to do the same. But, Anne Boleyn soon ended up pregnant. After Henry VIII got an annulment from Catherine of Aragon, he Married Anne and made her queen. This first baby was Elizabeth I. Anne knew she needed to have a boy, but she had many miscarriages and a stillborn. Soon she was wrongly accused of adultery and executed after their marriage was declared invalid.

Elizabeth I is Born

Sep 7, 1533

Daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.

Act of Supremecy under King Henry VIII

Mar 1, 1534

The Crown Declars itself Separate from the Catholic Church

Mar 23, 1534

King Henry VIII’s first marriage to Catherine of Aragon did not give him a son, so he asked the Pope for an annulment. When he did not agree, and his mistress at the time, Anne Boleyn, became pregnant, he knew he must act fast. Therefore, he pronounced himself the head of the new Church of England and got an archbishop to grant them an annulment. Only After his marriage to Anne did England declare its independence from the Catholic Church.

Death of Catherine of Aragon

Jan 7, 1536

Execution of Anne Boleyn

May 19, 1536

King Henry VIII Marys Jane Seymour

May 30, 1536

Born in either 1508 or 1509, Jane Seymour was one of Anne Boleyn’s ladies in waiting. She caught Henry VIII’s eye while Anne and him were still married. The king and her were formally betrothed within 24 hours after Anne’s execution. In 1537 she gave birth to a son, Edward. She died two weeks later on October 24 and was buried in the King’s tomb that he was working on. She was the only one of the King’s wives to be buried with him.

Edward VI is Born

Oct 10, 1537

Son of King VIII and Jane Seymour.

Death of Jane Seymour

Oct 24, 1537

King Henry VIII Marys Anne of Cleves

Jan 6, 1540

Born on September 22, 1515, Anne of Cleve’s marriage to King Henry VIII was meant to strengthen England, not out of love. They were married on January 6, 540. King Henry was not attracted to her at all and already was looking for ways to get out of the marriage before it even happened. They got an annulment and Anne of Cleves died peacefully on July 16, 1557.

Annulment of Anne of Cleves's Marraige to King Henry VIII

Jul 1, 1540

King Henry VIII Marys Kathryn Howard

Jul 28, 1540

Born in 1521, Kathryn Howard was the cousin of Anne of Boleyn. She married the King when she was 19 and he was 49. The king loved her because she brought life back into him and made him happier. However, she was unfaithful to him and enough evidence was gathered up about it that the Archbishop notified Henry. He didn’t believe it at first, but soon she was executed on February 13, 1542 and buried next to Anne Boleyn.

Execution of Kathryn Howard

Feb 13, 1542

King Henry VIII Marrys Katharine Parr

Jul 12, 1543

Born in 1512, Katherine’s mother was a lady in waiting to Catherine of Aragon and named her daughter after her. She was noticed by the king and they were married on July 12, 1543. She supported reformed faith and had many enemies. She was well educated and had a passion for knowledge and helped with the education of Elizabeth I and Edward VI after King Henry VIII’s death in January 28, 1547. She was also a patron of the arts and published two books. She died on September 5, 1548.

Edward VI is Crowned King of England

Jan 28, 1547

Edward was crowned the king of England at the age of nine. He was known for the difference in religion he made during his short reign. Although Henry VIII changed the religion of England, he didn’t actually change many parts of the system. Edward VI made everything plain in the churches. Also, priests were allowed to marry. Commoners could now understand what was being said in churches and didn’t have to pay as many taxes for the church. His health failed about 6 months before he died in 1553.

Death of King Henry VIII

Jan 28, 1547

Death of Katherine Parr

Sep 5, 1548

Death of Edward VI

Jul 6, 1553

Mary I of England Claims the Throne

Jul 19, 1553

Mary I was Queen of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death. She was born to King Henry VIII and Catherin of Aragon. She was the center of court attention until the King got an annulment from Catherine and Mary was declared illegitimate. After Edward VI died, she became Queen of England. She wanted to restore England back to being Catholic and the Protestants did not like that. Her persecution of the Protestants caused her enemies to call her "Bloody Mary".

Death of Anne of Cleves

Jul 16, 1557

Elizabeth I is Crowned Queen of England

Nov 17, 1558

Elizabeth was the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth was seen as a threat to the queen, Mary I, her half-sister, and was locked up in the Tower of London for many months. When Marry finally died, Elizabeth was crowned queen. She was called the “Virgin Queen” because she never married and instead gained wealth from playing her suitors off each other. She also defeated the Spanish Armada. She supported the arts and caused a Golden Age for England. She died on March 24, 1603.

Death of Mary I of England

Nov 17, 1558

Act of Supremecy under Elizabeth I

Jan 1, 1559

Death of Elizabeth I

Mar 24, 1603