Tudor Timeline of events (2024)

1485

22 August: Henry Tudor defeats Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth.

1485 30 October: Henry Vll crowned at Westminster Abbey 1486 January: Henry VII marries Elizabeth of York, uniting the two houses and ending the Wars of the Roses. 1487

17 June: Henry VII defeats a pretender to his throne at the Battle of Stoke

1497 John Cabot sailed from Bristol aboard the 'Matthew' and discovered North America 1502

2 April: Arthur, Prince of Wales dies, leaving his widow, Catherine of Aragon
With the heir to the throne now dead, the 11-year old Henry, Duke of York, became first in line to the throne.

1503

8 August: James IV of Scotland marries Margaret, daughter of Henry VII of England. Although this meant peace between the two countries, the marriage also gives James IV's descendents a claim to the English throne.

1509

21 April: Henry VII dies and is succeeded by his younger son Henry VIII
Two months after he became king, he married his brother's Spanish widow, Catherine of Aragon.

1513

9 September: James IV of Scotland is defeated and killed at the Battle of Flodden Field. While Henry VIII's forces were campaigning against the French king Louis XII, James IV of Scotland invaded England.

1515

Thomas Wolsey becomes a cardinal and Lord Chancellor

1518 Thomas Wolsey is made papal legate, making him effectively head of the English church. He was the most powerful man in England after the king. 1521

June: Henry VIII meets Francis I of France at the 'Field of the Cloth of Gold'
The first meeting of Henry VIII and Francis I of France took place just outside the English-held town of Guines near Calais, France. In a fortnight of ceremonies and entertainments, the English and French kings attempted to outshine each other with extravagant clothes and jewels, lavish tents and spectacular feasts, jousts and games.

1521

17 October: The pope grants Henry VIII the title 'Defender of the Faith'
Pope Leo X conferred the title on Henry for his book 'Assertio Septem Sacramentorum' (Defence of the Seven Sacraments), which affirmed the supremacy of the pope.

1528

Henry VIII appeals to the pope to annul his marriage so that he could marry Ann Boleyn instead.

1528

29 February: First Protestant martyr is burned in Scotland

1530 Thomas Wolsey, unable to arrange the king's divorce from Catherine of Aragon, was stripped of his offices and died on his way to face a charge of treason. 1533 January: Henry VIII commands Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer to declare the marriage to Catherine of Aragon void on the grounds that the union was illegitimate because Catherine was his brother's widow. 1533

25 January: Henry VIII marries Anne Boleyn, following divorce from Catherine of Aragon

1533 September: Anne Boleyn gives birth to Elizabeth 1534

November: Act of Supremacy makes Henry head of the English church
Henry VIII formed the 'Church of England separating England from the Roman Catholic Church. Henry himself was never a Protestant, but the break with Rome was a huge encouragement to Protestants in England.

1534

6 July: Former Chancellor Sir Thomas More is executed for treason for refusing to swear to the Act of Succession (which made Ann Boleyn's daughter Elizabeth heir to the throne) because its preface undermined the authority of the pope.

1536 Act of Union joined England and Wales
The Laws in Wales Acts of 1535 and 1542 attempted to regularise the relationship between the two nations, by introducing the English legal system in Wales. English became the official language of administration. 1536 - 1540

Destruction or closure of 560 monasteries and religious houses

1536

Henry VIII's second wife Anne Boleyn is executed

1536 Eleven days after the execution of his second wife, Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII marries Jane Seymour. 1536

4 August Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer receives the first Bible in English

1537

12 October: A male heir, Edward, is born to Henry VIII and Jane Seymour
Henry was shattered by her death shortly after Edward's birth.

1541

Henry VIII changes his title from Lord of Ireland to King of Ireland

1542 Mary, Queen of Scots laid claim to the English throne 1547

28 January: Henry VIII dies and is succeeded by nine-year-old Edward VI

1553

6 July: Edward VI dies and is succeeded by Lady Jane Grey
Four days after Edward died, Jane was proclaimed queen, but widespread popular support for Mary ensured her reign lasted only a matter of days.

1553

19 July: Mary I, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, becomes queen
Mary was the first woman to be crowned monarch of England in her own right. A devout Catholic, she was determined to halt the growth of Protestantism initiated by her father, and return England to Roman Catholicism.

1554

25 July: Mary marries Philip of Spain despite widespread opposition

1556

21 March: Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer is burnt for heresy
Thomas Cranmer, who had approved the divorce of Henry VIII from Mary's mother, Catherine of Aragon, went to the stake the following March.

1558

7 January: England's last French possession, Calais, is lost

1558

17 November Mary dies and Elizabeth I accedes to the throne

1559

24 June: Book of Common Prayer becomes the only legal form of worship

1570 Sir Francis Drake set sails for his first voyage to the West Indies 1577 15 November: Sir Francis Drake set sails in his flagship 'Pelican' - soon renamed 'Golden Hind' to circumnavigate the world. 1580

c. 26 September: Francis Drake arrives at Plymouth after circumnavigating the world

1587

8 February: Mary Stuart (Mary I of Scotland) is executed when found guilty of treason to kill Elizabeth

1588 The English defeats the Spanish Armada at the Battle of Gravelines 1591 First performance of a play by William Shakespeare 1600 First British involvement in the Indian continent - East India Company formed.
Population of Britain just over 4 million Click here for Information on the Tudors