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Period: 1509 to 1547
Reign of Henry VIII
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1517
The Ninety-Five Theses
Famous text written by Martin Luther, a german monk who denounced priests' practices, especially the indulgences. Its publication, seen as a devastating critique, marked the start of the European Reformation. -
1526
The Tyndale Bible
Translation of the Bible in English by William Tyndale. -
1534
Act of Supremacy
Religious schism which led to the creation of the Church of England (also called the Anglican Church) + Henry VIII became the unique and supreme head of the Church -
Period: 1536 to 1541
Dissolution of the monasteries
Henry VIII dissolved every monasteries in England, which he considered as "bastions of popery". This had a huge economical and social impact on the population. -
Period: 1536 to 1537
Pilgrimage of Grace
Interrupting the dissolution process, a 6 months rebellion took place in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The insurgents, which came from all social classes, were against the dissolution and the Reformation. They also demanded the restoration of the Pope and of Mary Tudor to the Royal Succesion, as well as economic grievances. -
Period: 1547 to 1553
Reign of Edward VI
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1549
The Book of Common Prayer
The revision of the mass-book led to the publication of the Book of Common Prayer. Its imposition provoked rebellions. -
Period: 1553 to 1558
Reign of Mary I
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Period: 1555 to 1558
Bloody Mary
Mary I send over 200 heretics to the stake. Many protestants thus left the country for the Continent, they were called the "Marian exiles". -
Period: 1558 to
Reign of Elizabeth I
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1559
Act of Supremacy
Elizabeth I wanted to return to Protestantism. To do so, she restored the Act of Supremacy which abolished the Pope's authority : the Queen became "Supreme Governor of the Church of England". -
1559
Act of Uniformity
Establishment of the use of the Book of Common Prayer in every parish + people who didn't attend an Anglican service were fined -
Period: 1563 to 1571
The 39 Articles of faith
Articles that states three important changes in the doctrine of the Church : a new ecclesiology (conception of the Church), a new doctrine of salvation as well as a new definition of sacraments and of the mass. These statements are still in use to this day. -
1569
The Northern Rebellion
A revolt emerged against religious reforms. Led by the Earls of Westmorland and Northumberland, it attempted to replace the Queen by Mary, the Queen of Scots. -
1570
The Pope's "Regnans in Excelsis"
The Pope issues the papal bull "Regnans in Excelsis" in which he excommunicates Elizabeth I. Calling her the "so-called queen", he also gave Catholics licence to kill the Queen with the certainty that it wouldn't be seen as a crime. -
1571
The Treasons Act
In response to the papal bull that excommunicated her, Elizabeth I considered as a treason anyone who says that she isn't the true Queen of England and Wales. -
1581
Repression of Catholics
The Repression of Catholics, or the 1581 act, stated that : any person converting or already converted to Catholicism was destined to a death penalty, any participation or celebration to the Catholic Mass was forbidden and that Anglican services were compulsory (or the person will receive a £20 fine per month). During the repression, which last 26 years until the Queen's death (from 1577 to 1603), 163 people were killed. -
The Babington plot
During her whole reign, Elizabeth defended herself against many plots. And many of them attempted to replace her by Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. The Babington plot is part of them. In fact, young catholics planned to kill the Queen, but their strategies were discovered by Francis Walsingham who deciphered a coded letter between Mary and the group. She was thus convicted for complicity and sentenced to death. -
Execution of Mary Queen of Scots
Involved in civil war in Scotland, Mary Stuart sought refuge near her cousin, Elizabeth I. As she represented a threat to the Queen and the English Kingdom, she was kept under close watch for 19 years before she was executed for complicity (see the Babington plot for more details). -
Defeat of the Spanish Armada
Philip II King of Spain attempted to invade England because the Queen supported the Dutch revolt against his country. England emerged victorious for material, strategical and human advantage. This event acted as a reaffirmation of the English nation's and Elizabeth's power. -
The Tilburry Speech
This speech was made in order to rally the troops preparing to repel the invasion of the Spanish Armada. It embodied Elizabeth's strategy to get back legitimacy to her subjects : she is not an ordinary woman but "The Prince" who was always devoted to his people and kingdom. -
The Millenary Petition
A thousand of Church Ministers signed a petition to ask for the purification of the Church of England to erase the last traces of Catholic doctrines. However, the King refused it and confirmed the compromise of his predecessor. -
Period: to
Reign of James I
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The Gunpowder Plot
This plot was led by a small group of Catholics who tried to blow up the Parliament and kill James I by putting various explosives under them. Their attempt failed. -
The Great Contract
This financial Reform would have enable the King to receive a fixed sum. In fact, the Parliament refused it because he would have been financially independent and wouldn't need them anymore regarding money. In response, James I dismissed the Parliament. -
King James' Bible
New translation of the Bible in English. -
Period: to
The Thirty Years' War
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Period: to
Reign of Charles I
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The Petition of Rights
Petition in which the members of the Parliament requested Charles I to recognise the illegality of his taxations to solve financial issues and that his powers had limits. -
The Three Resolutions
The members of the Parliament passed this act in which was considered as an enemy of the Kingdom whoever tried to "reject" Protestantism and advised the King to collect custom duties without their consent. -
Period: to
The Personal Rule
Imprisoning the five members of Parliament who passed the Three Resolutions act and dissolving their unit, the King declared that there would be no more Parliaments. It is the start of the Personal Rule, a period during when Charles I ruled without Parliaments. Since it last 11 years, this period is also called "The Eleven Years of Tyranny". -
The Bishops' Wars
A riot emerged in Scotland where the King tried to impose the New Prayer Book and attempted to draw the Scottish Church (Calvinist) with the English one (Anglican). Led by a local woman at first, it turned into a rebellion. -
The Scottish National Covenant
Petition which opposed the King's religious policy by calling for the independence of the Scottish Church. -
Period: to
The Long Parliament
Charles I finally called a Parliament in 1640. The House of Commons passed to acts to ensure that there would be regular meetings and they executed one of the King's most powerful advisers to punish him from his "Personal Rule". -
The Grand Remonstrance
Document voted by the Parliament which stated all the wrong doings of the King and concluded to revolutionary demands. This text divided the Parliament in two groups: the Parliamentarians and the Royalists. -
Period: to
Civil War
Wars of the Parliament (Parliamentarians vs Royalists). The Parliamentarians won twice. -
The New Model Army
The Parliamentarians created a new army of 22 000 men during the Civil War, it was nationalized and provided new radical ideas. However, the Parliament disbanded it without paying the soldiers, this will led to mutiny and the army will kidnapp the King. -
Period: to
The Interregnum
After the execution of King Charles I, England abolished monarchy and declared as a Commonwealth (Republic) governed by the House of Commons. This period will be led in part by Cromwell since the government failed to reach stability (they couldn't satisfy evreybody with their republican forms). -
Period: to
The Commonwealth
This period was marked by Royalists' revolts in Ireland and Scotland who supported monarchy (it was cruched by Cromwell); as well as the defeat of the Scots Army by Cromwell too, raised by Charles II (son of Charles I and King of Scotland). Since some tensions remained, Cromwell dissolved the Parliament. -
Execution of King Charles I
Put on trial for high treason because he allied with Scotland to escape from the New Model Army, King Charles I is executed. The monarchy and House of Lords is abolished = England declared itself as a Republic. -
Period: to
The Cromwellian Protectorate
Military dictatorship governed by Cromwell. He had the executive power but was ruling with a legislative power, and controlled the military and diplomacy. This period is marked by a success: Cromwell won against Catholic Spain. It ends with his death in 1658 because his son resigned after 6 months of ruling, leading to anarchy. -
The Declaration of Breda
Charles II promised a general pardon, religious toleration and proposed to share power with the Parliament in order to return to monarchy. -
The Restoration
Following Charles II's speech, monarchy is restored. -
Act of Uniformity
Ministers had to swear conforming to the Book of Common Prayer. -
The Popish Plot
Rumor of a plot led by French to kill Charles II and replace him by his brother James II (who was Catholic). Source of fear because James would might try to restore absolute monarchy and implement pro-Catholics reforms. -
Period: to
The Exclusion Crisis
Parliament attempted to debar James II from succession to the English throne. In response, Charles II dissolved the Parliament. -
The Glorious Revolution
James II on the throne = threat for the Kingdom because he and his heir were Catholic. A tentative of invasion to seize the Crown led to the dislodgment of the King from the throne and the settlement of his daughter and her husband to replace him + liberties of English subjects reinforced + stable political system -
Toleration Act
Document that established religious pluralism and freedom of worship for Protestants. -
The Bill of Rights
Statement that limited monarch's power: listed King James' misdeeds, Parliament had to consent to new laws + had control over finances and the army, settled out Parliament's rights + basic civil rights -
The Act of Settlement
King William III and Mary II had no children left and all potential Stuart successors were Catholic = document which ensured Protestant succession, ignoring the successors. It also put an end to tensions between King and Parliament, stating a new balance in favour of the Parliament. -
Union Act
Creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain with the union of England (+ Wales) and Scotland.