Henry VIII

Born at Greenwich on 28 June

Jun 28, 1491

Henry's older brother Prince Arthur, heir to the throne dies, leaving Henry as the heir.

Jan 31, 1502

Married Catherine of Aragon, daughter of the King and Queen of Spain and Arthur's widow

Jan 31, 1509

Catherine gives birth to Princess Mary, later Mary I.

Jan 31, 1516

Henry VIII is made ‘Defender of the Faith’ by the Pope for being a good Catholic.

Jan 31, 1521

Henry's marriage to Catherine is annulled.

Jan 31, 1532

Henry marries Anne Boleyn

Jan 31, 1533

Henry VIII forms the 'Church of England'. Henry is confirmed as 'Supreme Head of the Church of England' following a parliamentary Act of Supremacy

Jan 31, 1534

The Dissolution of the monasteries starts. Henry VIII orders Thomas Cromwell to start closing most of the small monasteries in England.

Jan 31, 1536

Anne Boleyn is executed for high treason and Henry marries Jane Seymour

Jan 31, 1536

Act of Union between Wales and England

Jan 31, 1536

Jane Seymour gives birth to Edward (later Edward VI), but dies after childbirth

Jan 31, 1537

Henry marries and divorces Anne of Cleves

Jan 31, 1540

The end of the Dissolution. All the monasteries in England have been clposed

Jan 31, 1540

Thomas Cromwell is executed on a charge of treason

Jan 31, 1540

Henry marries Catherine Howard, his fifth wife.

Jan 31, 1540

Catherine is executed for treason

Jan 31, 1542

Henry marries Catherine Parr, his sixth wife.

Jan 31, 1543

Henry VIII dies, Whitehall, 28 Jan, aged 55.

Jan 31, 1547

succession at last

Jan 31, 1548