| | | 1527 | Events occurring at some time during this year Henry VIII meets Anne Boleyn  Anne Boleyn came to the attention of Henry VIII. Anne was a lady-in-waiting for Queen Catherine and the sister of Mary Boleyn who was at the time the mistress of Henry VIII. Henry became besotted by Anne. See Also
To end the marriage between Henry and Catherine Wolsey set up a secret tribunal where Henry VIII had to answer charges of having a illegal marriage. The court was held in secret so Catherine did not know. The plan was to present the facts to the Pope who would annul the marriage. Problems occurred when Rome was attacked by Catherine's nephew Charles and the Pope was captured. Any chance of the Pope annulling the marriage was now gone.
See AlsoJun 22 - Henry VIII declares his marriage invalid
Henry VIII told Catherine of Aragon that their marriage was invalid because she had earlier been married to his brother Arthur. Anne Boleyn, who Henry had become besotted with, wanted Henry to divorce Catherine and to marry her.
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| | 1530 | Nov 29 - Death of Wolsey
Thomas Wolsey died at Leicester.
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| | 1533 | Jan 25 - Marriage to Anne Boleyn
Henry VIII married Anne Boleyn at Whitehall Palace on or around the 25th of January. Anne was expecting a child which Henry and Anne hoped would be a boy.
See AlsoSpring - Act of Succession
A statute passed by Parliament called the 'Act of Succession' declared that Mary Tudor was illegitimate and not Henry's heir because the marriage between Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon was void. This meant that children of Henry and Anne Boleyn would be the true heirs to the English throne.
See AlsoMay 23 - Marriage to Catherine of Aragon declared illegal
Thomas Cranmer declared that the marriage between Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon was illegal and was annulled. The marriage between Henry and Anne Boleyn could then be formalised.
See AlsoMay 28 - Marriage to Anne Boleyn declared legal
Thomas Cranmer declared that the marriage between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn was legal.
See AlsoJun 1 - Coronation of Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn was crowned Queen of England at Westminster Abbey by the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer.
See AlsoSep 7 - Birth of Elizabeth to Anne Boleyn
Anne gave birth to Elizabeth a healthy girl at Greenwich Palace. Henry had hoped they would have a boy to ensure the continuation of the Tudor line.
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| | 1536 | Jan - Death of Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon died. It was believed that she had been poisoned but it is possible that she died of cancer. Catherine died at Kimbolton Castle.
See AlsoMay 2 - Anne Boleyn arrested
Anne Boleyn was arrested at Greenwich after the May-Day jousting tournament on the order of Henry VIII.
See AlsoMay 19 - Execution of Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, was executed for treason and adultery at the Tower of London.
See AlsoMay 30 - Henry marries Jane Seymour
Henry married his third wife Jane Seymour the former lady-in-waiting to both Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. They were married at York Palace (now the Palace of Whitehall)
See AlsoOct 2 (to Oct 18) - Lincolnshire Rebellion
The short rebellion that took place for a couple of weeks in October was the prelude for a much larger rebellion known as the Pilgrimage of Grace. The Lincolnshire rebellion began in response to Henry VIII's unpopular policies, including the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The Rebels also had grievances against Henry's unpopular advisers like Thomas Cranmer. The rebels consisted of both common people and land owners alike, but some land owners were forced to take part. The rebels reached Lincoln where they were assured Henry VIII would listen to their demands if they disbanded. Meanwhile Henry ordered that a army should be sent to Lincoln as kill the rebels. By the time that army, led by the Duke of Suffolk, reached Lincoln the rebels had dispersed.
See AlsoOct 21 - Pilgrimage of Grace
Following the earlier Lincoln rebellion, a larger rebellion began further north in Yorkshire. This rebellion again protested against Henry VIII's unpopular policies and advisers. They wanted Henry to put a stop to the dissolution of the monasteries and they wanted the removal of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer and Henry's adviser Thomas Cromwell. The leader of the rebellion was Robert Aske, a lawyer and excellent organiser. Somewhere between 30,000 and 35,000 rebels were involved and they took control of Pontefract Castle which fell to them without any resistance.
See AlsoOct 27 - Meeting with rebels
The Duke of Norfolk met with leaders of the rebels on Doncaster Bridge where their demands were heard. The Duke asked the rebels to disband promising that their demands would be considered. The rebels complied with the request to dispand and returned home. Henry VIII made no attempt to concider their demands.
See AlsoDec - Rebels list demands
At Pontefract the rebel leaders presented a list of demands. The rebels were assured of free pardons.
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| | 1537 | Qtr 1 - More uprisings
Although the main leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace were remaining peaceful and waiting for Henry VIII to look into their complaints others were not so trusting. Several uprisings occurred in the north east of England where Carlisle was besieged. The Duke of Norfolk was able to deal with the rebels and many of those suspected of taking part were hung in their villages as an example to the rest.
See AlsoSummer - Rebel leaders executed
Henry VIII summonsed the leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace to him in London where the rebels believed they would discuss terms with the King as they had been promised free pardons. Instead, Henry had the rebels arrested. They were sent back to their home lands where they were tried and executed.
See AlsoOct 12 - Edward VI born at Hampton Court
Jane Seymour gave birth to Edward at Hampton Court. The birth had complications and Jane became ill.
See AlsoOct 24 - Jane Seymour dies
Jane Seymour died after complications with the birth of Edward VI. She was buried in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
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| | 1540 | Jan 6 - Marriage of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves
Although Henry was disappointed that Anne did not resemble her portrait the marriage went ahead as planned.
See AlsoJul 9 - Marriage to Anne of Cleves annulled
The marriage of Henry VIII to Anne of Cleves was annulled just a few months after the marriage. Anne agreed to an annual income and the use of several lavish homes in England.
See AlsoJul 28 - Marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine Howard
Just weeks after the marriage to Anne of Cleves was annulled Henry married Catherine Howard.
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| | 1542 | Feb 13 - Catherine Howard executed
Found guilty of adultery and therefore treason, Catherine Howard was sentenced to death and was executed on Tower Green within the Tower of London.
See AlsoAug - Battle of Haddon Rig
Henry VIII renewed his claim on the Scottish throne and sent his army in the north of England into Scotland. The army was met by a Scottish army led by George Gordon the 4th Earl of Huntley at Haddon Rig in Teviotdale. The Scots defeated the English led by Robert Bowes.1
See AlsoNov 24 - Battle of Solway Moss
The battle at Solway Moss ended in a terrible defeat for the Scottish when they were overrun by a much smaller force of English troops led by Sir Thomas Wharton. Several high-worth Scottish prisoners were taken and transported to the Tower of London for future ransom. The shock of the defeat is supposed to have been so great for the Scottish king, James V, that he died just a few weeks later.
See AlsoDec 8 - Birth of Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary was born at Linlithgow Palace in West Lothian, Scotland. She was the daughter of James V, king of Scotland and Mary of Guise, from France. James V died a week after Mary was born and she became Queen of Scotland.
See AlsoDec 14 - Death of James V of Scotland
The defeat of the Scottish army at Solway Moss a few weeks earlier is supposed to have shocked James V so much that he died. His daughter Mary was only a week or so old when he died and she became queen, known as Mary Queen of Scots. James Hamilton, Earl of Arran became regent of Scotland as Mary was too young to rule.
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| | 1543 | Jul - Treaties at Greenwich
A treaty was signed by the Scots and Henry VIII swearing peace between the two nations and the agreement that Mary, Queen of Scots, should marry Henry's son Edward.
See AlsoJul 12 - Marriage of Henry and Catherine Parr
Henry married Catherine Parr, his sixth and final wife at Hampton Court Palace.
See AlsoSep 9 - Queen Mary's Coronation
The coronation of Mary, Queen of Scots, took place at Stirling.2
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| | 1544 | Events occurring at some time during this year Construction of Southsea Castle Henry VIII built the castle at the entrance to Portsmouth harbour to protect against French invasions. See Also | |
| | 1547 | Jan 28 - Death of Henry VIII
Henry died at Whitehall Palace at the age of 55. He was buried in St. George's Chapel Windsor next to Jane Seymour, his favourite wife.
See AlsoFeb 20 - Edward VI crowned
The coronation of Henry VIII's son Edward took place at Westminster Abbey.
See AlsoMar 31 - Death of Francis I
Francis I, the King of France, died at Rambouillet Castle. He was succeeded by his son Henry.3
See AlsoJul - Capture of the castle at St. Andrews
After a lengthy siege failed to take the well defended castle at St. Andrews, Mary of Guise asked the French for help. The castle at St. Andrews was captured and the Protestant leaders and John Knox were taken into custody.2
See AlsoSep 10 - Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
Thousands of Scots gathered near the town of Musselburgh, just to the east of Edinbugh. They faced an English army led by the Duke of Somerset. The Scots had a good position on the battle field but wasted it when they attacked. The Scots were heavily defeated. The defeat at Pinkie Cleugh was a threat to Queen Mary and so she was secretly moved from Stirling Castle to the Augustinian Inchmahome Priory located on an island on lake Menteith.2
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| | 1548 | Qtr 1 - Queen Mary moved to Dumbarton Castle
To comply with the agreement to marry Mary to the French Dauphin, the young queen was moved from Inchmahome Priory to Dumbarton Castle on the banks of the River Clyde on the west of Scotland. It was here that she waited before sailing to France.2
See AlsoJul - The French arrive in Scotland
The request of the Scottish Regent, Mary of Guise, for help to fight the English was answered by the arrival of a army of several thousand French. The assistance came on condition that her daughter Mary should marry the French Dauphin, Francis.4
See AlsoAug 13 - Queen Mary arrives in France
Queen Mary arrived in France. Four girls all also called Mary and coming from noble families were chosen to accompany the Queen. Known as the 'Four Maries' the girls were Mary Beaton, Mary Fleming, Mary Livingston and Mary Seton. They landed, possibly, at Roscoff on the north-west coast of France.2
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Selection of references used:
1. Richard Oram,The Kings and Queens of Scotland,
2. Antonia Fraser,Mary Queen of Scots,
3. W.H.Hudson,France, The Nation & its Development,MCMXVII
4. John Prebble,The Lion in the North,
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