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Period: 1509 to 1547
Henry VIII's Reign
Henry's reign was marked by the English Reformation, separating the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church : the Schism. -
1517
Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses
Martin Luther marked the start of the European Reformation when he published The Ninety-Five Theses, a devastating critique of the practices of the Catholic Church — the Indulgences in particular. -
1526
The Tyndale Bible
New protestant beliefs arose during the European Reformation. With the idea that the core of protestantism laid in an individual relationship to God, reformers set to translate the Bible into the vernacular. The Tyndale Bible was The New Testament translated into English for the first time, by William Tyndale. -
1526
Act of Supremacy
After the Pope rejected his petition for a divorce, king Henry VIII became Supreme Head of the Church of England, leading to the break with Rome (= the Roman Catholic Church). That's when the schism happened, and the Church of England was established. -
Period: 1536 to 1537
The Pilgrimage of Grace
In retaliation to the dissolution of monasteries led by Henry VIII, rebellions rose in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. They lasted 6 months and were the greatest rebellions ever faced by a Tudor monarch. Among the insurgents were common people, but the clergy and the gentry as well. -
Period: 1547 to 1553
Edward VI's Reign
Edward's reign was rather brief, but he reinforced the Protestant reforms. -
Period: 1553 to 1558
Mary I's Reign
Mary I's reign was marked by a temporary return to Catholicism, in just 18 months. She was known as "Bloody Mary" because of the persecution of Protestants that occurred during that time. Her goal was to restore Catholic authority in England. -
Period: 1558 to
Elizabeth I's Reign
Elizabeth I reinstated Protestantism through Anglicanism, the new doctrine of the Church of England. It was a compromise that featured elements from both Catholicism and Protestantism. Her reign was seen as the Golden Age of the country. -
1559
Act of Supremacy (of Elizabeth I)
Elizabeth 1 abolished the Pope’s authority, restoring her power over the Church. She became the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. -
1570
Pope Pius V excommunicates Elizabeth
With a growing hostility against the Elizabethan religious settlement, the Pope eventually issued a papal bull — « Regnans in Excelsis », which excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I. In response, Elizabeth passed the **1571 Treasons Act, which made it treason for anyone to say that she was not the true Queen of England and Wales -
The Execution of Mary Stuart
Mary Queen of Scots represented a threat to Elizabeth, as she was her legitimate heir and supported by Catholics who weren’t in favor of the current religious situation. Mary was imprisoned for 19 years before she was convicted for complicity to the Babington Plot of 1586, and sentenced to death. She was executed in Fotheringham Castle the following year. -
The Defeat of the Spanish Armada
Philip II, Catholic King of Spain, supported several plots against Elizabeth. In response, she supported the Dutch Revolt against Spain. Consequently, the King of Spain attempted to invade England with the seemingly invincible Spanish Armada - but England emerged victorious. This victory acted a proof of the extraordinary qualities of Elizabeth, a reaffirmation of the English national cohesion and of its insularity ; but also as a pretext to claim divine protection to glorify Protestantism. -
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James I's Reign
James I's reign was marked by ongoing disputes with Parliament, more specifically regarding matters such as taxation, the divine right of kings, and religious tensions. -
Period: to
Charles I
Much like his father James I, Charles I faced persistent conflicts with Parliament. His reign ultimately led to the English Civil War, which resulted in his execution in 1649 and the establishment of the Commonwealth. -
Period: to
The Personal Rule
11 years during which Charles I ruled without calling a Parliament. It was prompted by a few disagreements the King had had with the previous Parliaments, that he dissolved. -
The Grand Remonstrance
The Grand Remonstrance was an important document voted by Parliament following heated debates, summarizing all the wrongdoings of Charles I and concluded on revolutionary demands. This divided the Parliament into 2 groups : the Parliamentarians, who believed this was necessary, and the Royalists, who thought it was too extreme. -
The English Civil War catalyst
In January, Charles I attempted to arrest 5 members of Parliament. This was a breach of privilege from him, that escalated the overall conflict.
On August 22, 1642 Charles declared war on Parliament. -
Period: to
The First English Civil War
This first war lasted four years and cost the lives of 190,000 Englishmen, with the Parliamentarians emerging victorious in 1646, after the King and the Royalists surrendered. The Parliament’s victory was mainly thanks to their efficiency at raising money, their alliance with Scotland, and the creation of the New Model Army. -
The Second Civil War
The second Civil War lasted for almost a year and concluded with the defeat of the Royalists by the Parliamentarian forces. It was made of a series of revolts in the South of England, Wales and Scotland. -
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The Interregnum
The Interregnum refers to the period in England when the monarchy was abolished, and the country was governed as a Republic. -
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The Commonwealth
After the regicide of Charles I, England was declared a Commonwealth and ruled as a Republic. It was marked by royalist revolts in Scotland and Ireland repressed by Cromwell. It eventually reached its end after issues with the Rump Parliament, and the following one as well (Barebones Parliament), who were both dissolved. -
King Charles I’s execution
After escaping army custody, Charles allied himself with the Scots to attempt to defeated Parliament. He failed and was put on trial for high treason, before getting executed for that same reason. Following this, both monarchy and the House of Lords were abolished, and England was declared a Commonwealth. -
Period: to
The Cromwellian Protectorate
The protectorate was a military disctatorship, led by Cromwell, appointed as Lord Protector, who ruled with the help of the legislative power (Parliament and Council of State). It reached its end when Cromwell died in 1558. -
Period: to
Charles II's Reign
Charles II, who was King of Scotland, issued the Declaration of Breda, which - in return of the restoration of monarchy - promised a general amesty (for his father’s execution), religious toleration, and sharing the power with Parliament. It was effective. His reign, also referred to as the Restoration, marked the end of the Republic and the reestablishment of the monarchy. -
Period: to
James II's Reign
Brother of Charles II, James II was a Catholic absolutist who tried to promote his views to a majorly protestant nation, which led to discontent. His reign was interrupted by the Glorious Revolution. -
The Glorious Revolution
William of Orange invaded England and seized the crown, as he was invited by the Parliament to do so. He faced no resistance, which led James II to flee. He became William III, ruling the country along with Mary II. -
Period: to
William III and Mary II's Reign
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The Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights was key political document, that established limits on the sovereign’s power and affirmed parliamentary authority. It guaranteed essential rights such as free elections, freedom of speech in Parliament, and protection from cruel and unusual punishment. It was a model for the US Bill of Rights. -
The Act of Settlement
The Act of Settlement ensured that only Protestant heirs, could inherit the throne, excluding Catholics from the line of succession. It aimed to secure religious and political stability by preventing a Catholic monarch from ascending to the throne. -
Period: to
Anne's Reign
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Act of Union
This marked the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). -
Period: to
George I's Reign