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Period: 1509 to 1547
Reign of Henry VIII
The most famous King of England, who paved a way for Protestantism when he first broke from the authority of the Roman Catholic Church to divorce his wife. -
1517
Printing of the Ninety-Five Theses
A famous text of Martin Luther, which marked the start of the European Reforms. -
1526
The Tyndale Bible
The first Bible that was translated and published in English for non-Latin readers, by William Tyndale. -
1549
Publication of the Book of Common Prayers
A revision of the mass-book under Edward VI, one of the measures that pushed England towards Protestantism. -
Period: 1553 to 1558
Reign of Mary I "Bloody Mary"
The very first Queen Regnant of England. She tried to restore Catholicism in England but died of illness without succeeding. -
1558
(Greeted) Death of Mary I
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Period: 1558 to
Reign of Elizabeth I, "The Golden Age"
A Queen that reigned for 45 years without getting married, she stabilized the Church Of England with principles still in place nowadays. She also secured the position of England in the world. -
1569
The Northern Rebellion
6000 Catholic insurgents against the religious reforms. They wanted to replace Elizabeth I on the throne by Mary Stuart, but the rebellion was rapidely crushed. -
The Babington Plot against Elizabeth I
Discovered by Francis Walsingham, the Queen's spymaster. It led to the execution of Mary Stuart in 1587, for her complicity in the plot. -
The Defeat of the Spanish "Invincible" Armada
A victory for England thanks to the new fleet and strategy used. It had a great ideological effect, beneficial for Elizabeth's affirmation as Queen. -
Period: to
Reign of James I
The son of Mary Stuart and King of Scotland, he succeeded to Elizabeth I as she had no heir : he therefore ruled over the two countries. He strongly believed in his divine rights as a King. -
The Gunpowder Plot
A small group of Catholics' conspiracy : they wanted to blow the Parliament up to kill the King. -
The new King James' Bible
The only change accepted from the "Millenary Petition" of the Puritans, as James I wanted to continue Elizabeth I's status quo. -
Period: to
The Thirty Years War
A military defeat for Charles I, it caused huge strains of finances and had a important impact on the population. -
Period: to
Reign of Charles I
King James I's son, he firmly believed in the divine rights of Kins just as his father, and hated criticism. He favored the Arminians, a minority wing of Anglicans. -
The "Petition of Rights"
A complaint from the Members of Parliament : they wanted the Charles I to stop the illegal collect of customs and to recognise that his power had limits. -
Period: to
The Personal Rule
Also called "The Eleven Years Tyranny" by some historians. A period during which Charles I reigned without a Parliament. -
The Scottish National Covenant
A petition opposing Charles I's new policy in Scotland. The Scottish General Assembly removed the bishops to rebel against the King, which led to the Bishops War. -
"The Great Remonstrance"
An important document voted by the Parliament, which summarized all the wrong-doings of King Charles I and ended with "revolutionary" demands. -
Civil War Declaration
King Charles I formally declared war on the Parliament, several months after marching in the House of Commons to arrest five of its members. -
The "Agreement of the People"
A text issued by the New Model Army. It is a consequence of the Civil War, which encouraged radical ideas. -
Period: to
The Interrregnum
The Latin term for "the inbetween of two reigns". It is marked by the failure of the Commonwealth's stability and the creation of a military protectorate. -
Charles I's Execution
Charles I is brought on trial for high treason by the Rump Parliament, and is then beheaded . -
Period: to
The Commonwealth
England is declared a Commonwealth in March 1649, after the abolition of the House of Lords and the King's execution. -
Period: to
The Protectorate
A period of millitary dictatorship, during which is issued "The Instrument Of Government", England's first and only written Constitution. -
Dissolution of the Rump Parliament
The Army got irritated by the slow progress with the electoral reforms asked for, so Cromwell decided to dissolve this Parliament. -
Period: to
Reign of Charles II
The new King ignored all the promises he made in the "Declaration of Breda" : he executed those who signed Charles I's death warrant, and took revenge on Cromwell by dismembering is already buried body. -
The Restoration
Charles II issued the "Declaration of Breda", asking for the restoration of monarchy in exchange of promises of amnesty and religious toleration. -
Period: to
Reign of James II
Brother of Charles II, the Parliament feared that he brings back Catholic absolutism : indeed, he tried to enforce toleration of Catholic worship. -
The Glorious Revolution
The Parliament invited William of Orange, James II's son-in-law, to seize the throne in fear that the King tries to restore Catholicism. William's army is met with no resistance, and he took the throne as William III. It led to Britain's transformation in a Constitutional Monarchy.