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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. -
1553
Poor Laws
At that time, poverty was one of the main social issues influenced by the rise in population, land enclosures, and the reformation of monasteries. This law implies helping the poor and must be mentioned as it remains one of the famous legacy of Elizabeth's reign.
They were passed two more times, in 1697 and 1601. -
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. -
Elizabeth's death
By the end of her long epic reign, the Queen had secured England's position and reputation in the world, and she imposed Protestantism in her country. -
Period: to
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
The heir of the Queen was the son of her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots. When her mom died, executed by Elizabeth, he was crowned king of Scotland in 1567.
Thus, on Elizabeth's death, James VI of Scotland became James I of England. -
The Gunpowder plot
Once he became king, James I kept following Elizabeth's laws. Catholics were offended as they hoped the new king of England would encourage her mom's beliefs. A group of Catholics plotted to explode the Parliament the new king was in. Before it could happen, an anonymous letter was sent to alert the Parliament. -
Establishment of Jamestown in Virginia
The first presence of English colonies in North America. Named after James I, it represents the first permanent settlement. -
Period: to
The Starving Time
It recounts the period of starvation, during which only 60 of the 500 colonists survived. This was due to a lack of drinkable water, insufficient crop growth, and conflicts with the Native Powhatan tribe, which led some settlers to resort to cannibalism. -
First dismissal of Parliament
Due to financial issues, there was tension between James I and Parliament. The King was dependent on the Parliament as he needed to call up to get money. Hence, he introduced the "Great Contract", a financial reform to ask to receive a fixed sum so he would be financially independent.
This also means that he wouldn't need the parliament anymore. For this reason, the House of Commons refused, thinking it would be beneficial for them.
In the end, James decided to dismiss parliament. -
Period: to
The Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War opened with James I but concluded with his heir, Charles I. The war opposes England, Spain, and France. -
Gathering of the Parliament
James requested the parliament back to finance the war on Spain. Parliament wanted to reaffirm their privileges and rights facing the King's attitude. -
Period: to
Charles I
Son of the previous king, Charles I, became King of England and Scotland. He's the first King of England, being Arminian. He ruled with determination and wanted to affirm his reputation. -
Petition of Right
Charles I signed this legal petition, which reinforced the recognition of the parliament's right to be respected by the King. -
Period: to
The Personal Rule
Due to the previous dissolution of the Parliament, the king ruled the country without the Parliament. It is also called "The Eleven Years Tyranny." -
Three Resolutions
The MPs introduced Three Resolutions, which denounced whoever tried to bring "Popery or Arminianism" influences into the Church of England. This triggered the start of the "Personal Rule" as the King imprisoned the MPs and dissolved parliament. -
Period: to
The Scottish crisis
This crisis resulted in the conclusion of the civil war and the end of personal rule. It was influenced by the fact that, since Charles I, Scotland and England had shared the same monarch, even though they remained two independent kingdoms, which created some tensions. -
The Grand Remonstrance
This document was voted on by Parliament to regroup all the wrongdoings of Charles I and concluded with "revolutionary" demands, which included:
1. The right of the House of Commons to choose the King's ministers.
2. The right for Parliament to control any army sent to Ireland.
3. The right for Parliament to reform the Church. The text divided Parliament into two groups, the Parliamentarians and the Royalists -
Period: to
The First Civil War
The Battle of Naseby influenced the victory of Parliamentarians as the King and Royalists surrendered in May 1646.
This war included financial issues, - the House of Commons disbanded the New Model Army without paying the soldiers. This led to mutiny; the New Model Army seized the King.
This war cost the lives of 190,000 Englishmen. -
Period: to
The Second Civil War
The Second Civil War began when the King fled the country and formed an alliance with the Scots. The key events of the war revolved around a series of revolts in the South of England, Wales, and Scotland. -
Period: to
The Interregnum
The Interregnum is the period in which England was a republic. It included the reign of the Commonwealth and the Cromwellian Protectorate
It regroups political issues to reach the stability of the country.
The "Military Protectorate" under Cromwell emerged during the interregnum, which involved experiments with republican governance. The main challenge was securing support from both the propertied classes seeking stability and the army demanding religious toleration and reforms. -
Period: to
The Commonwealth
For the first time, England became a Commonwealth, meaning it was governed without a King by a group of self-governing members as a republic.
Due to tensions with Parliament, Cromwell dissolved the Parliament.
On 16 December 1653, it was the end of the Commonwealth and the start of a new period The Cromwellian Protectorate. -
King Charles I execution
Due to the King's treason, Charles I was executed on 30 January 1649. It concluded the Civil Wars. -
Period: to
Cromwellian Protectorate
This period is associated with a Military Dictatorship. First, Cromwell became Lord Protector. Then, every three years, the Parliaments of 460 MPs were elected.
The Council of State was imposed.
The death of Cromwell influenced the end of the Protectorate. -
The Instrument of Government
The Instrument of Government was the first and only written constitution of England and Scotland. -
The Restoration
Due to the Declaration of Breda, which guarantees general stability, the restoration of the monarchy is back.
The period the monarchy was restored lasted 11 years (1660-1671). -
Period: to
Charles II
He was the son of Charles I. His reign is known for concluding the Protectorate. In May 1660, the King restored the monarchy during the Restoration.
His reign ended when he died in 1685. -
Period: to
The Political crisis
Those crises included two main events.
The Popish Plot :
In 1678, rumors emerged about a French plan to assassinate King Charles II and replace him with his Catholic brother, James II, raising fears of pro-Catholic policies and a threat to Parliament's authority. The Exclusion Crisis:
From 1679 to 1681, Parliament attempted to block James II's accession to the throne, challenging the Divine Right of Kings. In response, Charles II dissolved Parliament. -
Period: to
James II
He was the brother of Charles II and is known as the last Catholic monarch of England. He represents hope for Catholics, having been involved in a plot against his brother, but he also embodies the fear of Catholic absolutism. His reign ended when he was threatened by his daughter and son-in-law. He fled to France and left behind his crown. -
Period: to
The Glorious Revolution
During James II's reign, fears of Catholic absolutism grew, especially after the birth of his son in 1688. Parliament then invited William of Orange to invade England, leading to James II fleeing to France.
William became King William III. This "Glorious" Revolution was bloodless and resulted in the overthrow of James, with his daughter and her husband taking power, which reinforced English liberties and stabilized the political system. -
Period: to
King William III and Mary II
The central event of the Glorious Revolution marks the beginning of the reign of King William III and Queen Mary II.
They became joint monarchs and pledged to accept the authority of Parliament, along with new limitations on the powers of the monarchy. Their reign was pivotal in transitioning Britain toward a constitutional monarchy. Although the king served as the head of state, his powers were restricted by law. -
The Bill of Rights
The parliament presented a key political document to the monarch to limit the sovereign's power and reinforce the rights of Parliament. Parliament needed to assert control to ensure their rights were respected. The document also established basic civil rights. -
The Act of Settlement
This act reinforced the Bill of Rights that was imposed. It ensured a Protestant succession, ignoring all the potential Stuart successors who were Catholic. -
Act of Union between England and Scotland
The Act of Union, imposed by Queen Anne, fulfilled James I's dream of uniting the two kingdoms. As a result of this union, Scotland lost the parliament but gained 45 seats in the House of Commons and 16 seats inwards. However, Scotland retained its Presbyterian Church and its own legal system.