Tudor Britain Timeline |
1485 |
The War of the Roses ends at the Battle of Bosworth. Henry Tudor wins and is crowned Henry VII |
1485-1509 |
Reign of King Henry VII
( See Henry Vlll's Timeline) |
1492 |
Christopher Columbus discovered the West Indies |
1497 |
John Cabot, the Italian-born English explorer, discovered Newfoundland. He left Bristol on his ship, the Matthew, looking for a sea route to Asia. He ended up in North America, the first European to reach there since the Vikings. |
1498 |
Christopher Columbus discovered Trinidad in the Caribbean Sea. |
1499 |
A plague epidemic killed thousands of people in London. |
1509 - 1547 |

21 April 1509
Henry VII died and his son Henry VIII succeeds to the throne |
1513 |
30 June 1513
A 35,000-strong English army, led by Henry VIII, lands at Calais, which is ruled by England.
9 September 1513
King James IV of Scotland is killed at the Battle of Flodden. James's son becomes James V of Scotland at the age of 18 months. |
1515 |
24 December 1515
Cardinal Wolsey appointed lord chancellor |
1521 |
Henry Vlll made 'Defender of Faith' by Pope Leo X for being a good Catholic. |
1524 |
Population of Britain 2.3 million. 6% of the population lived in towns. 3% in London |
1529 |
18 October 1529
Henry VIII sacks Cardinal Wolsey for failing to persuade the pope to grant him divorce to Catherine of Aragon. |
1533 |
Henry VIII marries Anne Boleyn |
1534 |
17 November 1534
Henry VIII forms the 'Church of England'. Henry is confirmed as 'Supreme Head of the Church of England' following a parliamentary Act of Supremacy |
1535 |
The first Bible printed in English is placed in Churches. |
1536 |
14 April 1536
Act of Union makes Wales part of England  |
1536-1539 |
Dissolution of the Monasteries (Destruction or closure of 560 monasteries and religious houses)

|
1541 |
Population of Britain 2.7 million.
18 June 1541
Henry VIII proclaimed king of Ireland |
1542 |
Mary, Queen of Scots lays claim to the English throne |
1544 |
Henry VIII invades northern France |
1545 |
The French attempt to invade England.
20 July 1545
The Mary Rose sinks in Portsmouth harbour. |
1547-1553 |

28 January 1547
Edward Vl becomes king
Many new schools and colleges founded. |
1548 |
23 September 1548
The Book of Common Prayer |
1548 |
10 July 1553
Lady Jane Grey proclaimed queen. Jane Grey reigns for little more than a fortnight, and is executed on 12 February 1554. |
1553-1558 |
3 August 1553
Mary I becomes queen |
1554 |
25 July 1554
Mary I marries Philip II of Spain |
1558 |
17 November 1558
Elizabeth I begins her 45 year reign
|
1561 |
Mary, Queen of Scots returns to Scotland |
1567 |
Mary Queen of Scots gives throne of Scotland to James |
1569 |
Population of Britain 3.2 million. |
1570 |

Sir Francis Drake sets sail for his first voyage to the West Indies |
1577 |
Drake becomes the second person to go round the world |
1585-1604 |
England and Spain at war |
1587 |
8 February 1587
Queen Elizabeth I executes Mary, Queen of Scots |
1588 |

The Armada fleet of Philip II of Spain attempts to invade England, but is defeated |
1591 |
First performance of a play by William Shakespeare |
1600 |
First British involvement in the Indian continent - East India Company formed.
Population of Britain just over 4 million. 10% of the population lived in towns. |
1603 |
24 March 1603
Queen Elizabeth I died. King James of Scotland becomes the first Stuart king of England.
End of Tudor Times
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