Isle of Albion: Timeline of Tudor Britain

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History of Albion

Timeline of Albion

Timeline of Albion

Dissolution timeline event

Tudor Albion

1502AD

The heir to the throne - Arthur, Prince of Wales - dies suddenly at Ludlow castle, six months after his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Henry, the 11yr old Duke of York is next in line to the throne.

1503AD

James IV of Scotland marries Margaret, daughter of Henry VII of England, leading to the "Treaty of Perpetual Peace".

1509AD

Henry Vlll succeeds to the throne. He marries his brother's widow, Catherine of Aragon, two months later.

1513AD

James IV invades England while Henry's forces are engaged figthing in France. He is defeated by Thomas Howard at the Battle of Flodden Field.

1515AD

Thomas Wolsey becomes a cardinal and Lord Chancellor.

1521AD

Henry VIII meets Francis I of France at the 'Field of the Cloth of Gold' near Calais. A lavish festival is held, with feasting, josuting, wrestling and games.

1527AD

Henry VIII appeals to the pope to annul his marriage to Catherine, so that he might marry Ann Boleyn and father an heir. The pope refuses.

1528AD

First Protestant martyr is burned in Scotland.

1532AD

The English Church agrees to support Henry VIII in his confrontation with the papacy. Parliament (despite great resistance) votes for his election to the position of Supreme Head and Sole Protector of the Church in England.

1533AD

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, declares Henry's marriage to Catherine null and void. Henry VIII marries Anne Boleyn in secret. Within months, Anne had fallen pregnant. "The Act of Restraint in Appeals" is passed, abolishing all Papal authority to intervene in any appeal regarding matters spiritual or temporal.

1534AD

The "Act of Supremacy" is passed, making Henry the "supreme head in earth of the Church of England". With this act, the English reformation is essentially complete.

1535AD

Cromwell sets up his "Commission of Visitors" to conduct the visits to religious houses on his behalf. The "Visitation of the Monasteries" commences, compiling evidence to support their suppression and estimates of their wealth.

1535AD

Former Chancellor Sir Thomas More is executed for treason.

1536AD

A bill is passed authorising the closure of all monasteries with an income of less than £200 per year. Some 376 religious houses are earmarked for dissolution, with that work starting immediately and in earnest.

1536AD

The Pilgrimage of Grace is undertaken as the peasants rise up in support of the religious houses.

1536AD

Act of Union joins England and Wales. The powerful 'Marcher' lordships which run along the border are abolished. The English legal system is introduced in Wales.

1536AD

Anne Boleyn is executed.

1537AD

Henry marries Jane Seymour and fathers a male heir, Edward.

1539AD

A new Act of Parliament is passed, and the remaining religious houses granted to the crown.

1540AD

Waltham Abbey becomes the last abbey to be dissolved.

1542AD

James V of Scotland dies, precipitating a succession crisis.

1542AD

Mary, Queen of Scots, lays claim to the English throne.

1547AD

Henry VIII dies and is succeeded by nine-year-old Edward VI.

1547AD

The English army wins the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in Scotland.

1553AD

Edward VI dies and is succeeded by Lady Jane Grey.

1553AD

Henry's daugher by Catherin of Aragon, Mary, rallies her suppporters and rides into London to denounce Jane. Her challenge is unopposed. Mary is crowned queen, and Jane is imprisoned.

1554AD

Sir Thomas Wyatt leads a rebellion against Mary, whose proposed marriage to Philip of Spain has provoked popular discontent amongst a population who fear Spanish rule.

1556AD

Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer is burnt for heresy.

1558AD

England's last French possession, Calais, is lost.

1558AD

Mary dies and Elizabeth I accedes to the throne. She shall reign for 45 years.