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Period: 1509 to 1547
Henry VIII
Henry VII was born in 1491 and died in 1547.
Known for having six wives, he's one of the most famous and emblematic English Kings who achieved a schism between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church. -
1517
The Ninety-Five Theses
The famous text that marks the start of the European Reformation was written by Martin Luther, a German monk who protested the sale of indulgences.
He denounced buying expensive letters of pardon instead of turning to charity. -
1526
The Tyndale Bible
Since Protestantism reinforces an individual's relationship with God, it requires private study of the Bible. Hence, William Tyndale translated the New Testament into English in 1526.
The Tyndale Bible was not the first New Testament translated into vernacular. In 1522, the New Testament was translated for the first time by Martin Luther in German. -
1533
Act in Restrain of Appeals
Since the Pope rejected Henry's petition to divorce Catherine of Aragon in 1529, the King established the Act in Restraint of Appeals. It offered the King the legal power to annul marriages without the Pope's authorization.
Afterward, Henry VIII married Ann Boleyn in 1533.
From this moment, Henry VIII started to oppose the Pope. -
1534
Act of Supremacy
This political move represents the start of the schism of England from the Roman Catholic Church.
The king became "Supreme Head of the Church of England", and the Pope and clergy's powers were transferred to the King. -
Period: 1536 to 1541
The dissolution of the monasteries
Henry VIII chose to define the monasteries as bastions of popery.
The valuables were removed and melted down.
This movement is a kind of nationalization.
Indeed, the Crown appropriated their income and the 25% of the land that the Church owned before. -
Period: 1536 to 1537
Pilgrimage of Grace
Pilgrimage of Grace regrouped rebellions in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, which succeeded in interrupting the dissolution.
Those rebellions included common people, the gentry and the clergy. They were known as the greatest rebellions that ever confronted a Tudor monarch.
The reasons why they were facing the Tudor monarch :
- the dissolution of the monasteries and the Reformation.
- they wanted the restoration of the Pope and Mary Tudor to the Royal Succession
- economic grievances -
Period: 1547 to 1553
Edward VI
He was the son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour and was only 9 when he became the new King. That's why he needed a Lord Protector who was his eldest uncle Edward Seymour to help him become a King at a young age.
He became a kid King since he died from tuberculosis when he was 15 in 1553.
During his reign, England adopted Protestantism. -
Jan 15, 1549
The Book of Common Prayer
One of the Protestant measures under Edward VI.
This Prayer Book eradicated Roman Catholic practices and became the Church of England's official resource.
The marriage of the clergy was allowed.
The apparition of this book led to rebellions in Cornwall and Devon. -
Period: 1553 to 1558
Mary I (Tudor)
Daughter of Henry VII and Catherine of Aragon, she became the first queen of England in 1553.
Her husband Philip II of Spain and also her mom were very Catholic.
She restored Catholicism in 18 months and abolished the Protestant legislation her father and half-brother set up.
She quickly became known as "Bloody Mary".
Her people were not attached to her, her death was even greeted. -
Period: 1555 to 1558
Bloody Mary
Protestantism was considered as heretics. Protestants became the "Marian exiles" and were forced to leave the country otherwise, they were burnt alive at the stake ( over 200 Protestants died under her reign.) -
Period: 1558 to
Elizabeth
She was the daughter of Henry VIII and Ann Boleyn, the enemy of Catherine of Aragon, the mother of Mary I (the last queen).
As a sincere protestant, she had to return to Protestantism. -
Feb 1, 1559
The Act of Supremacy
Church organization that abolished the authority of the Pope and transferred it to the Queen over the Church. Once again, she became "Supreme Governor of the Church of England," just like his father, Henry VIII, and his half-brother Edward VI. -
Mar 1, 1559
The Act of Uniformity
One of the new legislation of the new Queen.
This Act is a religious belief that imposes the Book of Common Prayer to all the churches. People who did not attend an Anglican service were fined. -
Period: 1563 to 1571
The 39 Articles of Faith
This doctrine is one of the new legislation imposed by the Queen. It represents the start of the doctrine of the Church that is still present today.
It set up three important changes :
1) A new ecclesiology
2) A new doctrine of Salvation
3) A new definition of sacraments and of the mass -
Feb 25, 1570
Papal bull "Regnans in Excelsis"
The Pope wrote this text to confront Elizabeth's power and abilities. The text excommunicated Elizabeth, and it is even possible to say that it gives Catholics the agreement to kill her without appearing as a crime by Rome (The Pope). -
1571
The Treasons Act
The Treason Act responded to the Pope's reproach and to anyone who dismissed the Queen's role and power. -
1581
the 1581 Act (Repression of Catholics)
Since the Queen imposed the new legislation, she has faced rebellions. This act confronted any person converted to Catholicism who participated and celebrated __Catholic Mass, which was at the time forbidden.
Anglican services are forced to pay a fine of £20 per month.
During the repression, the Queen killed 163 Catholics in 26 years. (1577-1603) -
The Babington plot
Catholics organized strategies to kill Elizabeth and put Mary Stuart on the throne. Coded letters between Marie Stuart and this group were sent, discussing their plan. Yet those letters were intercepted by Francis Walsingham, who managed to decipher one of the ciphers and ended up discovering their strategies. -
The execution of Mary Queen of Scots
After being imprisoned for 19 years, Mary Queen of Scots was executed in 1587 in Fotheringham Castle.
She gives her last words to Catholics' prayer (in Latin).
Her last visual representation represents her as a Catholic. -
Spanish invasion by the "invicible Armada"
After years of religious conflict, it led to conflict between Elizabeth and the Catholic King, who supported several plots against her.
As a rival, Elizabeth also supported the Dutch Revolt against Spain.
The Spanish Armada was built to invade England.
With the help of material and human advantages on the side of England, the Protestant country was victorious.