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1517
The Ninety-Five Theses
The Ninety-Five Theses is a famous text written by Martin Luther, a German monk and professor of theology. This text marks the start of the European Reformation and was spread through Europe thanks to the printing press. -
1526
The Tyndale Bible
William Tyndale translated the New Testament into English. -
1534
Act of Supremacy
The Act of Supremacy, which have founded the Anglican Church, made king Henry VIII the "Supreme Head of the Church of England". -
Period: 1547 to 1553
Reign of Edward VI
After Henry VIII's death, his son Edward VI, who's fiercely protestant, became king. During his reign, a series of measures pushed England towards Protestantism. -
Period: 1553 to 1558
Reign of Mary I
After Edward VI's death, Mary I, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, became the first Queen of England. She repealed the Prostestant legislation and restored Catholicism within 18 months. -
1559
Act of Uniformity + Act of Supremacy
With the Act of Uniformity, which is a religious belief, every parish had to use the Book of Common Prayer and people who did not attend an Anglican service were fined.
With the Act of Supremacy, which is a church organisation, Elizabeth I became "Supreme Governor of the Church of England", abolished the authority of the Pope and restored the authority of the Queen over the Church, like Henry VIII previously did. -
Period: 1563 to 1571
The 39 articles of faith
The 39 articles of faith stated the doctrine (religious belief) of the Church and made 3 important changes : a new ecclesiology (conception of the Church), a new doctrine of Salvation and a new definition of sacraments and of the mass. This doctrine is still in use today. -
1570
Regnans in Excelsis
The papal bull "Regnans in Excelsis", issued by Pope Pius V is a text that called Elizabeth the "so-called queen" and "a heretic favouring heretics". It also excommunicated Elizabeth. -
1571
Treasons Act
In response to the papal bull "Regnans in Excelsis", The Treasons Act made it treason for anyone to say that Elizabeth was not the true Queen of England and Wales. -
Execution of Mary Queen of Scots
After Francis Walsingham (Elizabeth's master spy) managed to decipher a coded letter between Mary Stuart and a group of Catholics plotting against Elizabeth (Babington Plot, 1586), Mary was then executed. -
Acts of Union
The Acts of Union dissolved the Irish Parliament and merged it with the British Parliament, creating Great Britain.