The English Reformation

King Henry Ascends to the Throne

Apr 21, 1509

In the same year, he married Catherine of Aragon. Known to be a hard-working & active man, King Henry drastically changed religion when he was denied a divorce from his wife. He ended up passing legislation through Parliament that made him the Supreme Head of the Church instead, and married Anne Boleyn in 1533. The Act of Supremacy recognized both of these and was passed a year later. Throughout the rest of his life he would marry four more wives and had three children. He died January 28, 1547.

Catherine of Aragon Marries King Henry VIII

Jun 11, 1509

Catherine was betrothed King Henry VIII because his father was interested in keeping her dowry. She was crowned Queen of England on June 24, 1509. Catherine gave birth to a daughter and two sons, but they all died at a young age. Her next daughter, Mary, lived. Due to the lack of a male heir, King Henry VIII began to petition the pope for an annulment. Catherine had to renounce the title of queen, and would be known as the Princess Dowager of Wales. She and her daugher were separated.

Mary Tudor's Birth

Feb 18, 1516

Catherine of Aragon's Marriage to King Henry VIII Dissolved

Jan 1, 1533

Anne Boleyn Marries King Henry VIII

Jan 25, 1533

By December 1532, Anne was pregnant. To avoid questions of the legitimacy of the child, Anne and Henry were secretly married even though the King's marriage to Catherine was not yet dissolved. Anne was crowned on the first day of June and on September 7, 1533, Princess Elizabeth was born. She became pregnant twice more, but both children were either miscarried or stillborn. On May 2, Anne was arrested for adultery, incest, and plotting to murder the King. She was later executed.

Birth of Elizabeth

Sep 7, 1533

Anne Boleyn gave birth to Elizabeth on September 7, 1533 at Greenwich Palace.

First Act of Supremacy is Passed

Nov 1, 1534

Was repealed in 1555 by King Henry's daughter, Mary I.

Catherine of Aragon's Death

Jan 7, 1536

Catherine died at Kimbolton Castle and was buried at Peterborough Abbey.

Anne Boleyn's Marriage to King Henry VIII Dissolved

May 14, 1536

Anne Boleyn's Execution

May 19, 1536

Jane Seymour Marries King Henry VIII

May 30, 1536

In the 24 hours that Anne Boleyn was executed, Jane Seymour and Henry VIII were formally betrothed. Unlike King Henry VIII's previous two queens, Jane never had a coronation. Jane became pregnant in early 1537 and gave birth to Edward at Hampton Court Palace in October.

Edward VI's Birth

Oct 12, 1537

King Henry VIII's first and only son, Edward, is born through Jane Seymour.

Jane Seymour Dies

Oct 24, 1537

Jane Seymour died only two weeks after Edward was born. She was the only wife that was buried with King Henry VIII at the St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Anne of Cleves Marries King Henry VIII

Jan 6, 1540

Hans Holbein was sent to the Duke of Cleves to paint both sister's of the Duke: Anne and Amelia. Henry VIII decided to have a contract drawn for his marriage with Anne. By the time they were married, King Henry VIII was already looking for ways out of the marriage. Anne testified that the marriage had not been consummated and that her previous engagement had not been broken. She was later known after the divorce as the "King's Sister" and was given property.

Kathryn Howard Marries King Henry VIII

Jul 28, 1540

Born in c. 1521 in Wingate, County Durham, Kathryn was the 5th wife of King Henry VIII. Less than two years later she was beheaded on grounds of treason for commiting adultery while married.

Kathryn Howard's Death

Feb 13, 1542

She was executed on February 13, 1542, and buried at the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula at the Tower of London.

Katherine Parr Marries King Henry VIII

Jul 12, 1543

Born in Kendall around 1512, Katherine was the 6th and last wive of King Henry VIII. She developed a close relationship with all three of his children, and helped reconcile him with Mary and Elizabeth, whom he had previously disowned. After King Henry died on a military campaign she was appointed regent. She ended up undergoing a religious reformation as well as marrying a former consort. She died due to birth complications on September 5, 1548.

King Henry VIII's Death

Jan 28, 1547

Buried in Windsor. Reigned for 37 years, 9 months, and 7 days. Succeeded by Edward VI.

Edward VI Ascends to the Throne

Jan 28, 1547

After his father's death, Edward VI became king at just 9 years of age. Men such as his uncle and protector, Edward Seymour, and his chief advisor, John Dudley, formed part of a council that King Henry VIII had put together before his death. Many Protestants supported the young king, but they feared an early death and attempted to place another woman on the throne rather than his sister Mary. On July 6 1553, Edward VI died from tuberculosis, and few days later Mary ended up taking the throne.

Katherine Parr's Death

Sep 5, 1548

Died due to birth complications.

Edward VI's Death

Jul 6, 1553

At 15 years of age, Edward VI died from tuberculosis. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Mary Tudor Ascends to the Throne

Jul 19, 1553

After King Henry sought an annulment from Catherine, Mary was declared illegitimate and no longer to be called a princess but rather "The Lady Mary". When the King began to fall ill, he drafted his will declaring that Edward would be his heir and Mary was to follow him if he were to die childless. But before Edward died, Northumberland convinced him to leave the crown to his cousin Jane. Instead of fleeing, Mary took a stand. The Privy Council realized their error and declared Mary the queen.

Anne of Cleve's Death

Jul 16, 1557

Anne of Cleves was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Queen Elizabeth Ascends to the Throne

Jan 15, 1558

Queen Elizabeth I ascended to the throne in 1558 and was immensely popular. She repealed the Catholic legislation introduced by Mary and re-established the Protestant Church in England.Queen Elizabeth never married and was therefore called the Virgin Queen. Under her rule, England prospered and new lands were explore in the New World. She defeated the Great Spanish Armada and protected England from invasion.

Queen Mary's Death

Nov 17, 1558

Second Act of Supremacy is Passed

Jan 1, 1559

Queen Elizabeth I reinstated the Act of Supremacy after her sister Mary I, who repealed it, died.

Queen Elizabeth I's Death

Mar 24, 1603

Queen Elizabeth died at Richmond Palace due to blood poisoning, in which at the time, England was one of the most powerful and prosperous countries in the world.