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Period: 1509 to 1547
Reign of Henry VIII
It is under his reign that happened the schism, known as the separation between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church. -
1517
The Ninety-five Theses
Martin Luther, german monk, wrote his theses to denounce the Church, mostly the Indulgences. -
1526
First English Bible
Tyndale wrote the first english Bible, taking Luther's idea (wrote it in german) -
Period: 1534 to
Early Modern Period
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Nov 3, 1534
Act of Supremacy
After the Pope's disapproval of the King's divorce, the King of England is made "Supreme Head of the Church of England". This Act started the Protestant Reformation. -
Period: 1536 to 1537
Pilgrimage of Grace
6 months of the greatest rebellions ever faced by the Tudor's family. Mostly in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where people were against the Reformation. -
Period: 1547 to 1553
Reign of Edward VI
It is now the turn of Edward VI, son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour to reign over England. -
Jan 15, 1549
The Book of Common Prayer
Edward VI pushes England towards Protestantism. After the revision of mass-book, the "Book of Common Prayer" is published, which shapes what the Anglican Church believes in and how they worship. -
Period: 1553 to 1558
Reign of Mary I
Known as "Bloody Mary", she is the first Queen Regnant of England. -
Period: 1555 to 1558
Bloody Mary
Protestantism was secrecy, as Mary I brought back Catholicism, and heretics were burned alive by Mary I (200 of them). -
Period: 1558 to
Reign of Elizabeth I
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1559
Act of Supremacy
Another Act of Supremacy is passed under Elizabeth’s reign, but she is now made “Supreme Governor of the Church of England”. -
1559
Act of Uniformity
Every parish had to use the book of Common Prayer and the ones who did not attend an Anglican service were fined. -
Period: 1563 to 1571
The 39 articles of Faith
It stated the doctrine of the church with 3 new important changes : new ecclesiology, doctrine of Salvation and definition of sacraments. -
1570
Elizabeth’s excommunication
After the Pope Pius V issued the Papal Bull “Regnans in Excelsis”, Elizabeth I was excommunicated of the Roman Catholic Church. -
Execution of Mary Queen of Scots
After being imprisoned for 19 years, Mary was convicted for complicity and was sentenced to death in the Fortheringham Castle wearing a bright red dress, colour of the Catholic martyrs. -
The Defeat of the Spanish Armada
As Elizabeth supported the Dutch revolt against Spain, the King Phillip II attempted to invade England. England was victorious of that battle. -
The Speech to the troops at Tilbury
It is in this famous speech that Elizabeth talked about her legitimacy as a Queen, with her most known quote : “I know I have the body of a weak woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a King, and a King of England too”. -
Period: to
Reign of King James I of England and VI of Scotland
He was the son of Mary Queen of Scots. He was proclaimed King of Scotland in 1567 and was crowned King of England in 1603 on Elizabeth’s death. -
The Gunpowder Plot
It is a conspiracy devised by a small group of Catholics to blow up the Parliament and kill James I, which did not see the light as they were arrested by the police. -
The Great Contract
James I inherited a £100,000 debt. He tried to introduce a financial reform (the contract) which meant the King would receive a fixed sum. The House of Commons refused to vote in favour and James dismissed the Parliament. -
The King James Bible
One of the important changes, a new translation of the Bible. -
Period: to
The Thirty years’ War
Military defeats, England at war with Spain and France. Caused a huge strain of finances and the raising of troops had important impacts on the local population. -
Period: to
Reign of King Charles I
He firmly believed in the divine rights of Kings and interpreted all criticism as a direct challenge to his authority. He favoured the Arminians, a minority wing of Anglicans. -
Petition of Rights
The MPs requested the King to recognise the illegality of extra-parliamentary taxation, billeting, martial law, imprisonment without trial. They wanted to get Charles recognise that there were limits to his powers. -
The Three Resolutions
It declared that whoever tried to bring in “Popery or Arminianism” or to alter the Protestant form of the Church of England was an enemy of the k-Kingdom, as well as anyone advising the King to collect custom duties without the Parliament’s consent. -
Period: to
The Personal Rule
Official name given to the 11 years when the King ruled without calling a Parliament. Whig historians called it “The Eleven Years of Tyranny”. -
Scottish National Covenant
It is a petition opposing Charles’ I religious policy, it called for spiritual independence of the Scottish Church to be maintained. -
Short Parliament
Called for the first time after 11 years, but dismissed after only 3 weeks as the MPs demanded the King to address their grievances. -
Period: to
Long Parliament
They passed two acts to remedy 11 years of grievances: they should meet at least every 3 years and the dissolution required its consent. -
Militia Act
The army should be placed under the control of the Parliament and not the King. -
The Grand Remonstrance
It is an important document voted by Parliament after heated debates and it summarized all the wrong doing of Charles I. It concluded the right of the House of Commons to choose the King's ministers, for the Parliament to control any army sent to Ireland and to reform the Church. -
Charles marched into the House of Commons
As Charles believed that 5 MPs were plotting against the Queen. He marched into the House of Commons with troops and attempted to arrest them. It was a breach of privilege. -
Period: to
English Civil Wars
On 22 August 1642, Charles formally declared war on parliament, after they presented 19 Propositions to the King. Prior to that, Charles believed 5 MPs were plotting against the Queen, he marched into the House of Commons with troops. -
First Civil War
On this day, Charles formally declare war on Parliament. This war would cost the lives of 190,000 Englishmen and last four years. -
Abolishing the Monarchy
After Charles’ death, the Monarchy and the House of Lords were abolished and England was declared a Commonwealth. -
Period: to
Interregnum
It is a period between two reigns and two kings. -
Period: to
The Commonwealth
Basically, England was a Commonwealth and it ruled as a Republic. The House of Lords was abolished and the House of Commons had supreme authority. -
King Charles' I execution
Charles I was put on trial for high treason and he was executed after that. The monarchy would then be abolished. -
The Instrument of Government
It is England’s first and only written constitution. -
End of the Commonwealth
It is the end of the Commonwealth and the start of the Cromwellian Protectorate, or Military Protectorate. -
Period: to
The Cromwellian Protectorate
It was a military dictatorship, similar to a monarchy without a King. Cromwell appointed Lord Protector, Parliaments elected every 3 years and Council of State served for life. -
Declaration of Breda
Charles II issued this declaration, it promised general amnesty and religious toleration in return for the restoration of Monarchy. -
Period: to
Reign of Charles II
Charles I's son, he fled to France after Cromwell defeated his army. -
The Restoration
Charles II restored the Monarchy -
The Act of Uniformity
All ministers had to swear to conform to the Book of Common Prayer. -
The Popish Plot
It was a rumour of a plot to murder Charles II and replace him with his Catholic brother James II. -
The Exclusion Crisis
Parliament attempted to debar James II from the succession to the English throne as he was Catholic. -
Period: to
Reign of James II
He is the last Catholic monarch of England. He is mainly known for the Glorious Revolution. -
The Glorious Revolution
Started as James’ wife gave birth to a Catholic heir, a son. It was a threat to Protestantism. -
The Bill of Rights
It fixed limitations on the king’s powers, the Parliament had to consent to new laws and gained control over finances and over the army. -
The Act of Settlement
It ensured a Protestant succession, ignoring dozens of Catholic heirs. It put an end to the quarrel between the King and Parliament. -
Act of Union
Creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain: England, Wales and Scotland. Scotland even kept its Presbyterian church and own laws.