Timeline

1485 - 1486

Battle of Bosworth

On August 22, 1485 Henry Tudor defeated King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in Leicestershire. Richard III's naked body was strapped to a horse and displayed. Henry became king of England.

Birth of baby ends Wars of the Roses

1486. Henry VII and his new wife Elizabeth had a son, Arthur. Henry was a Lancastrian and Elizabeth a Yorkist. The birth of their children united the rival families and ended the Wars of the Roses.

Henry Tudor was crowned King Henry VII of England

1485. Henry Tudor was crowned King Henry VII of England. He was a very distant relative of the Royal family, but people had hated King Richard III and welcomed Henry as their new king.

In Henry VII's reign all were Roman Catholics

1485. Henry VII believed that he was a lucky king and he claimed this was because: "God is on my side". In Henry's reign everyone followed the Roman Catholic religion.

Sweating sickness

1485. It is thought that the French soldiers fighting for Henry Tudor may have brought a new disease to England called "sweating sickness", because it made people sweat. Many died from it.

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1487 - 1488

Battle of Stoke

On June 16, 1487 the Battle of Stoke took place between the King's army and soldiers of a young man who wanted to be king. He pretended to be a royal relative, but his real name was Lambert Simnel.

Lambert Simnel's punishment

1487. Lambert Simnel's punishment for trying to become king was to work as a servant in Henry VII's kitchens. It was a hard life preparing food, such as swan and peacock, for the great royal feasts.

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1489 - 1490

English people's enthusiasm for sport began in the

1489. English people's enthusiasm for sport began in the reign of Henry VII. Henry realised that it was good to be physically fit and he encouraged organised sports such as tennis and archery.

Food taster employed by royals

1490. In Tudor times there was a constant threat from traitors and rivals. As result the royals and other wealthy families would employ a taster to test their food and check it wasn't poisoned.

Tudors loved their food

1490. The Tudors loved their food and held many magnificent banquets. Diners would eat out of dishes made of wood, earthenware, or, if it was a royal banquet, metal dishes would be used.

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1491 - 1492

Christopher Columbus discovers Caribbean Islands

1492. Christopher Columbus sailed west to try to find a new route to Asia and discovered the Caribbean Islands (the West Indies).

Prince Henry born

Henry VII and Elizabeth's second son, Henry, was born on June 28, 1491. Henry was very attractive, good at sports and brilliant at his studies. He later became king because his older brother died.

William Caxton dies

1491. William Caxton died. Caxton was famous for setting up the first printing press in England in 1476. Before that time books had to be copied out by hand, and so were very rare and expensive.

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1493 - 1494

Royal family became wealthy under Henry VII

1494. The Royal family became wealthy under Henry VII, mainly because he was mean with money. Even his wife Elizabeth was not allowed to buy too many new fancy clothes or pieces of jewellery.

Spices from abroad became very popular

Spices from abroad, such as pepper, had become very popular in English cookery by 1493, but some merchants were punished for mixing other ingredients, such as gravel and sawdust, to their spices.

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1495 - 1496

First dry dock built at Portsmouth

1496. The first dry dock, which made it easier to build ships, was built at Portsmouth. Ships at this time were built of wood, usually oak, and were important for defence and exploring other lands.

First English blast furnace built

1496. The first English blast furnace was built in the Weald.

Henry locked pretender Perkin Warbeck in Tower

1495. Henry locked the pretender Perkin Warbeck in the Tower of London. Instead of killing Warbeck's supporters, he made them pay him money to show they were sorry.

Perkin Warbeck arrived in England

1495. Perkin Warbeck, a boatman's son, arrived in England ready to fight. He pretended he was one of the two Royal princes who disappeared, and were possibly murdered, during the reign of Richard III.

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1497 - 1498

Hans Holbein born

1497. An important painter called Hans Holbein was born. He painted in a new style, following a new set of ideas amongst artists, writers and thinkers, called the Renaissance.

John Cabot discovered mainland North America

1497. John Cabot sailed west from Bristol to look for China and discovered mainland North America. Henry VII was very enthusiastic about finding new countries and paid for Cabot's trip.

Toothbrush invented

1498. The toothbrush was invented in China. Most people, including Henry VII, in Tudor times, lost their teeth at a very young age, often in their 20s or even as teenagers.

Vasco da Gama sailed round Africa to India

1497/98. Vasco da Gama sailed round Africa to India.

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1499 - 1500

First cookery book published

1500. The first cookery book ever written in English was published in this year. It was written with old English spellings and its title was the Boke of Cokery, which means the book of cookery.

Only 2.6 million people lived in England

1500. At this time only 2.6 million people lived in England. Today it is around 55 million. Only a few very rich people had the chance to travel around the country and abroad.

Sheen Palace burnt down

1499. Sheen Palace burnt down. The large amount of wood used in buildings made them catch fire easily. Henry VII built Richmond Palace in its place. This became his favourite palace.

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1501 - 1502

Christopher Columbus introduced cocoa beans

1502. Christopher Columbus introduced cocoa beans to England after tasting a cocoa-based drink in the Gulf of Honduras. These beans are used today to make chocolate.

Prince Arthur marries Catherine of Aragon

1501. Henry VII's eldest son Arthur married Catherine of Aragon, which put England on friendly terms with Spain. This proved that Spain accepted the Tudor family as the rightful rulers of England.

Prince Arthur, Henry VII's oldest son, died

1502. Prince Arthur, Henry VII's oldest son, became ill and died. This meant that his younger brother, Prince Henry was now the heir to the throne.

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1503 - 1504

Henry VII became first to have face on coins

1503. Henry VII became the first English king to have a likeness of his face imprinted on coins. The money we use today has on it a likeness of our present queen, Elizabeth II.

The Mona Lisa was painted

1504. A world famous portrait called the Mona Lisa, was painted by Leonardo da Vinci. The woman in the painting has a very secretive smile.

Work began on Henry VII's chapel

1503. Work began on Henry VII's chapel in Westminster Abbey. This chapel was built to hold the tombs of all the Tudor family and it was finally finished in 1512.

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1505 - 1506

Renaissance movement made lute-playing popular

1505. The Renaissance movement had made lute-playing very popular around this time. Prince Henry was an excellent musician. He played the lute and the harp, and composed his own music and poetry.

Roads and signposts

1506. Roads at this time were little more than tracks. The carts and carriages made deep ruts in the road which sometimes caused them to tip over. There were no signposts to guide travellers.

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1507 - 1508

Crossbow used more than longbow

1507. The crossbow was now starting to be used more than the longbow in battle. It was more accurate than the longbow and could fire arrows a greater distance.

Noble families were visited by royalty

1508. Noble families at this time were regularly visited at their houses by the King, Queen and all their servants. They were expected to sleep and feed the royal party and provide them with horses.

World map includes continent of America

1507. A new world map included the continent of America for the first time.

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1509 - 1510

First copyright in Britain granted

1510. The first copyright in Britain was granted to Thomas Godfrey. This meant no one was allowed to copy his inventions and designs.

Gun-ports invented

1510. Gun-ports, the holes in the side of ships from which cannons could be fired, were invented. This meant the sailors could fire the cannons from a safer position below deck.

Henry marries first wife Catherine of Aragon

1509. The newly crowned king Henry VIII married Catherine of Aragon on June 11. Catherine had been married to Henry's older brother Arthur, who died in 1502.

Henry VII dies

On April 22, 1509, Henry VII died, aged 52. He was buried in Westminster Abbey next to his wife. He was respected but not loved by his people.

Henry was crowned King Henry VIII

1509. The second son of Henry VII the handsome and fun-loving Prince Henry was crowned King Henry VIII. Henry loved sport and music and is believed to have written the words for the song Greensleeves.

Mary Rose completed

1510. One of Britain's great warships, the Mary Rose, was completed. It was the first ship to be fitted with broadside firing guns, and had 207 guns in total.

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1511 - 1512

Henry VIII and Catherine have son, Prince Henry

On January 1, 1512, Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon had a son, Prince Henry. King Henry was overjoyed to have a male heir to the throne and celebrated in grand style.

Henry VIII increases naval fleet

1512. Henry VIII knew it was important for England to have a good navy to defend her at sea. In the first three years of his reign he increased his fleet from seven to 18 ships and he kept building!

Henry VIII spends days celebrating birth of son

1512. Henry VIII spent days feasting and jousting to celebrate the prince's birth. Jousting was a nobleman's sport. Contestants wore armour and had to knock each other off horses, using a long pole.

Landlords and farmers began to keep sheep

1512. Landlords and rich farmers began to keep sheep rather than grow crops. They took common land away from the poor, who grew even poorer and hungrier.

Prince Henry dies

Out of every 100 Tudor babies born, 70 died before their first birthday, and sadly the young royal Prince Henry died in February, 1512, barely one month after his birth.

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1513 - 1514

England was attacked by Scotland

1513. England was attacked by James IV of Scotland and his army. Scotland was friendly with England's enemy, France. Scotland was defeated and James killed at the Battle of Flodden in Northumberland.

Henry arranges for his sister to marry Louis XII

1514. After making peace with France, Henry arranged for his sister, Mary, to marry the French King, Louis XII. They had one daughter Lady Jane Grey, who later tried to become queen of England.

Henry VIII invaded France

1513. Henry VIII invaded France, joining forces with Emperor Maximilian, the Holy Roman Emperor.

Thomas Wolsey made the Archbishop of York

1514. Thomas Wolsey was made the Archbishop of York. He was the son of a butcher, but he was a very clever man who enjoyed 15 years of wealth and power before upsetting Henry VIII in 1529.

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1515 - 1516

Hampton Court

1515. The building of Hampton Court, a beautiful Tudor m ansion, was started. It was built of brick at a time when many grand buildings were made of stone.

Princess Mary was born

1516. Princess Mary was born on February 18 to Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Henry was disappointed as he really wanted a son who could become king after him.

The building of Hampton Court started

1515. The building of Hampton Court, a beautiful Tudor mansion, was started. It was built of brick at a time when many grand buildings were made of stone.

Thomas Wolsey made Lord Chancellor and Cardinal

1515. Thomas Wolsey was made Lord Chancellor and Cardinal. He worked very hard for King Henry VIII who preferred to spend his time having fun, playing music and tennis, dancing, hunting and jousting.

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1517 - 1518

Coffee beans arrive in England

1517. Coffee beans arrived in England for the first time.

Protestant Movement started

1517. Some people in Europe started to tire of the Roman Catholic religion and the Pope. A German, called Martin Luther, began an alternative religion called the Protestant Movement.

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1519 - 1520

Ferdinand Magellan sails all the way round world

1519. The ship of a Spaniard called Ferdinand Magellan sailed all the way round the world. The sailors became so short of food they had to eat mice and worms to stay alive.

First bars of chocolate appear in Spain

1520. The first bars of chocolate appeared in Spain.

Henry VIII loved to show off

1520. Henry VIII loved showing off. When he met with the French king, Francis I, at the Field of the Cloth of Gold, a mini town was built, decorated with precious jewels and golden fabric.

Leonardo da Vinci dies

1519. Great Italian genius Leonardo da Vinci died. He was a great painter, architect, engineer, inventor and scientist. He drew designs for helicopters, hundreds of years before they became reality.

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1521 - 1522

England went to war with France again

1522. Once again England went to war with France.

Jail fever

1522. A new fever arrived in England called jail fever. Many prisoners suffered from it and did not recover. It was carried by lice which lived on humans and caused a red rash.

Magellan set off to prove the world was round

1522. Magellan set off to sail around the world to prove that it is round, but died on the way.

New religious ideas were written about in Europe

1521. New religious ideas were written about in Europe. Henry VIII argued for the Catholic religion being the best and the Pope called him Defender of the Faith. Coins still carry the abbreviation FD.

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1523 - 1524

Clothes worn by the wealthy became very fancy

1523. Clothes worn by the wealthy became very fancy and were often made of velvet. Women's dresses were embroidered with silk thread, and men wore silk shirts, velvet stockings and tunics.

Poor people became beggars or robbers

1524. Poor people often became beggars or robbers at this time making towns and even the countryside unsafe. Only the monks and nuns offered any real help and shelter for the poor.

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1525 - 1526

Henry VIII was a fun-loving king

1526. Henry VIII was a fun-loving king, and in 1526 it was recorded that he spent most of his summer hunting stags in the forests. Henry also liked jousting, archery, wrestling and falconry.

Most people farmed the land

1525. Most people farmed the land at this time. The crops grown in Tudor times were wheat, oats, barley, beans and root crops such as turnips. Some farmers also kept sheep.

William Tynedale translates the New Testament

1525. For hundreds of years Bibles had been written in Latin and the church liked it that way. In 1525 William Tynedale translated the New Testament into English. This angered many people.

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1527 - 1528

Henry VIII asks for annulment of marriage

1527. In the spring of this year, Henry VIII decided he no longer wanted to be married to Catherine of Aragon. He asked Pope Clement VII for the marriage to be annulled, meaning cancelled.

Soldiers at this time still wore full armour

1528. Soldiers at this time still wore full armour, including helmets, breastplates and guards for their thighs when going into battle. Archers wore padded tunics to protect themselves against arrows.

Thomas Wolsey

1528. By now Thomas Wolsey had become very rich and powerful working for Henry VIII, but in 1529 he was forced to give one of his beautiful homes to the King. This house was called Hampton Court.

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1529 - 1530

Henry VIII takes power and money from priests

1530. Henry VIII found ways to take power and money from English priests. The Roman Catholic Church was the main religion in England at that time, but Henry claimed the priests were unlawful.

Henry VIII turned against his friend Thomas Wolsey

1530. Henry VIII turned against his powerful church friend Thomas Wolsey because he failed to persuade the Pope to let him have a divorce. He arrested Wolsey who died before his trial.

Pope won't give Henry annulment

1529. Henry VIII became angry with the Pope because he wouldn't give him permission to divorce Catherine of Aragon. Henry wanted to marry a beautiful lady of the court called Anne Boleyn.

William Tynedale publishes Genesis in English

1530. William Tynedale published Genesis, a section of the Bible, in English. Until now copies of the Bible had been written in Latin. His English version of the New Testament was banned in England.

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1531 - 1532

Henry declares himself Head of Church of England

1532. Henry VIII declared himself Head of the Church of England. This was shocking as the Pope had always been seen as the head of the Christian church in all the Roman Catholic countries in Europe.

Henry marries in secret second wife Anne Boleyn

1532. Henry secretly married Anne Boleyn.

Thomas Cranmer became new Archbishop of Canterbury

1532. Thomas Cranmer became the new Archbishop of Canterbury, the top position in the church in England, after the King.

Thomas Cromwell given important jobs

1531. Henry VIII gave Thomas Cromwell, a very clever man, important jobs in his government. He was made Chancellor of the Exchequer and he helped Henry to take control of the church in England.

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1533 - 1534

Anne Boleyn gives birth to Elizabeth

On September 7, 1533 Anne Boleyn gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth, who was later to become Queen Elizabeth I. Henry was disappointed, as he wanted a son.

Henry divorces Catherine

Henry VIII divorced Catherine on May 23, 1533 and was excommunicated by the Pope. This meant that Henry was thrown out of the Roman Catholic Church, which believed his soul would now go to Hell.

Henry publicly celebrated marriage to Anne Boleyn

1533. Henry publicly celebrated his marriage to Anne Boleyn. Tudor weddings were splendid affairs. Guests often brought their food, drink and musical instruments. Celebrations could go on for days.

The Act of Supremacy

1534. The Act of Supremacy, a new law, made Henry the Supreme Head of the Church in England. This meant Henry no longer took orders from the Pope, the Rome-based head of the Roman Catholic Church.

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1535 - 1536

Anne Boleyn was beheaded

Anne Boleyn was beheaded by a French swordsman on May 19, 1536. Sharp swords were used to behead royals, but everyone else was beheaded with an axe which was usually blunt.

Group of men led by Robert Aske angry

1536. A group of men, led by a lawyer called Robert Aske, were angry with Henry VIII for changing the country's religion. They marched in a Pilgrimage of Grace asking for their views to be heard.

Henry became rich by getting rid of monasteries

From 1535-1540 Henry VIII became rich by getting rid of more than 800 monasteries in England. He took their land and valuables in a process called dissolution. Monks had lived in the monasteries.

Henry marries Jane Seymour

1536. Henry VIII married his third wife, another lady of court, Jane Seymour.

Sir Thomas More beheaded

Sir Thomas More was beheaded on July 6, 1535, because he refused to accept that Henry was in charge of the English church. The heads of traitors were usually displayed on London Bridge on a pole.

William Tynedale executed

1536. William Tynedale was executed for heresy, (speaking in an anti-religious way).

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1537 - 1538

Henry and Jane produce heir to the throne, Edward

Henry VIII and Jane Seymour produced an heir to the throne, a son called Edward, on October 12, 1537. Henry was overjoyed and 2,000 guns were fired from the Tower of London in celebration.

Henry VIII angers Pope further

1537. Henry VIII angered the Pope even further by allowing the Bible to be read out in church in English, instead of Latin, the language it was written in.

Henry VIII began building the Palace of Nonsuch

1538. Henry VIII began building the most magnificent palace in the whole of Europe. It was called the Palace of Nonsuch in Surrey, but it was never finished and has not survived.

Henry VIII built many castles from 1538-40

Henry VIII built many castles from 1538-40. After his disagreement with the Pope, he was worried about attacks from Catholic countries such as France or Spain.

Jane Seymour dies days after Edward's birth

1537. Jane Seymour died just days after giving birth to Edward. Henry had loved her and was very upset. She was the only wife to share his grave at Windsor.

Robert Aske and opponents killed

1537. Robert Aske was killed along with 200 other Yorkshire people who had opposed Henry VIII changing the country's religion and destroying the monasteries.

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1539 - 1540

Deal Castle finished

1540. The biggest of Henry VIII's new castles, Deal Castle in Kent, was finished this year. It was fitted with cannons and like most of his castles was built with money and stone from the monasteries.

Henry divorces Anne of Cleves

On July 12, 1540, Henry VIII divorced Anne of Cleves, just six months after marrying her.

Henry marries fifth wife Catherine Howard

Henry VIII married his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, on July 28, 1540, just 16 days after his divorce from Anne of Cleves. She was only 19, very pretty and lively.

Henry marries fourth wife Anne of Cleves

Henry VIII married his fourth wife Anne of Cleves on January 6, 1540. His new wife was from a part of Europe which supported changes in religious ideas, but Henry thought she was ugly and smelt.

Most of the monasteries had been destroyed

By 1540 most of the monasteries had been destroyed. Beautiful manuscripts and books decorated by the monks were lost. The work of the monks, teaching children and feeding the poor, also ended.

Thomas Cromwell was sent to the Tower of London

1540. Thomas Cromwell was sent to the Tower of London for his part in arranging Henry VIII's marriage to Anne of Cleves whom he didn't like. Cromwell was later beheaded.

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1541 - 1542

Catherine Howard beheaded

1542. Henry VIII's fifth wife, Catherine Howard, was beheaded on February 13. Her ghost has been seen haunting one of the corridors at Hampton Court Palace where she had stayed with Henry.

Countess of Salisbury beheaded

1541. The Countess of Salisbury, Margaret Pole was beheaded. It was a very gory occasion, because she struggled with her guards at the block and it took several swings of the axe to chop off her head.

England was invaded by James V of Scotland

1542. England was invaded by James V of Scotland. The Scottish army was defeated at the Battle of Solway Moss.

Mary Queen of Scots born

A Scottish princess called Mary was born on December 8, 1542. She was Henry VIII's niece and daughter of James V of Scotland. Six days later James V died and baby Mary inherited the Scottish throne.

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1543 - 1544

Hans Holbein dies

1543. The Renaissance painter Hans Holbein died. Both Henry VII and Henry VIII were interested in the ideas of the Renaissance and Holbein painted the Royals and many British noblemen.

Henry marries sixth and last wife Katherine Parr

Henry VIII married for the sixth and last time on July 12, 1543. His final wife Katherine Parr outlived Henry and she looked after his three children Edward, Mary and Elizabeth very well.

Mary Queen of Scots crowned at nine months old

1543. At just nine months old, Henry VIII's niece Mary was crowned Queen of Scotland. She was known as Mary Queen of Scots.

Nicolaus Copernicus published theory of Earth

1543. Nicolaus Copernicus published his theory that the Earth moves around the sun. Before this time it was generally believed that the sun, the moon and all the stars moved around the Earth.

Ralph Hogg casts first iron cannon

1543. Ralph Hogg cast the first complete iron cannon, and Henry's army laid siege to Bologne in Italy on September 18.

Southsea Castle built to protect England

1544. Southsea Castle was built to help protect England against the enemies she had made through Henry VIII's religious changes. These changes came to be known as The Reformation.

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1545 - 1546

Anne Askew executed

1546. Anne Askew was tortured on the rack - a machine which stretched the body - and then publicly burned to death in London, for handing out leaflets in favour of a more extreme Protestant religion.

First non-royal divorce took place

1546. The first divorce by someone who was not part of the Royal family took place. Henry VIII's changes to the country's religion made it easier for people to divorce.

French try to invade the Isle of Wight

1545. The French tried to invade the Isle of Wight, a small island off the south coast of England. Henry VIII had built up a fleet of 80 ships to defend his nation.

Henry VIII became very ill

1546. A very ill Henry VIII made his last will, naming Edward as the next king. Henry was so overweight at the end that he had to be lifted into his four-poster bed with a hoist, a type of crane.

Mary Rose sunk

The famous English warship the Mary Rose sunk in battle on July 19, 1545, drowning the hundreds of men on board. The boat was raised from the sea bottom in 1982.

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1547 - 1548

Beards became a popular fashion

1548. Beards became a popular fashion for men after Henry's death. For the majority of his adult life Henry VIII had worn a beard and royal fashions were often followed by everyone else.

Edward VI crowned king at nine years old

Edward VI, the son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, was crowned king on February 20, 1547, at the age of just nine. He was not a very healthy child and died six years later, of tuberculosis.

Edward VI re-opened a number of hospitals

1547. Edward VI re-opened a number of hospitals, including the St Mary Bethlehem Hospital in London, to care for the many sick people who in the past had been looked after by monks and nuns.

Henry VIII dies

Henry VIII died in January, 1547, aged 55. He loved eating, and was hugely overweight and ill at the end of his life. He was also rich, owning over 70 palaces, castles and big houses.

Mary Queen of Scots sent to France

1548. Mary Queen of Scots was sent to France, aged five, for her own protection.

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1549 - 1550

Churches began to change

1550. Churches began to change. Fancy statues, paintings and prayer books were not seen as a way to glorify God. Instead, bare walls were seen as the right sort of place in which to think about God.

Edward educated by private tutors

1550. Edward was educated by private tutors. Only wealthy children were educated, learning subjects such as Latin, music, religion, and maybe Hebrew and Greek. Few poor people could read or write.

First book of prayers written in English

1549. The first book of prayers was written in English, instead of Latin, by the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer. Edward VI, like Thomas Cranmer, was in favour of the new Protestant religion.

In Tudor times children dressed like their parents

1550. Edward VI was only a boy when he became king but in Tudor times children dressed like their parents. Boys wore stockings, hats and tunics, and could be married at 14. Girls could marry aged 12.

Prince's toys very impressive

1550. Edward's childhood toys were very impressive for the time - rocking horses, model ships and castles made out of wood, tin or lead. Poor children played on the streets with hoops and balls.

Protestant religion acceptance law passed

1549. A law was passed which stated that everyone had to accept the new Protestant religion. It was called an Act of Uniformity and Catholic church services became illegal.

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1551 - 1552

Another law passed to outlaw Roman Catholic Church

1552. A second law was passed to outlaw the Roman Catholic Church. From 1547-53 many beautifully decorated statues, artworks, and prayer books, honoured by the Catholic religion, were destroyed.

Edward had poor health

1551. Edward had poor health, and it is said his bedroom walls were washed three times a day to prevent illness. Little was known about curing diseases. Herbs and wine were used as medicine.

Edward prepares for kinghood learning noble sports

1551. Like his father before him Edward was prepared for kinghood by learning the noble sports of hunting and falconry. Ordinary Tudor people only learned archery, which would be helpful in battle.

Edward still too young to rule without help

1552. Edward was still too young to rule England without help. His protector was the Duke of Northumberland, who feared Mary Tudor (a Catholic) becoming queen if Edward died young.

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1553 - 1554

Edward died of the disease tuberculosis

1553. Edward died of the disease tuberculosis at the age of just 15. Although this disease can now be prevented, it was a killer in Tudor times. Many people died young.

Expedition leaves to sail round Northern Russia

1553. An expedition, with Sir Hugh Willoughby in charge, left London to sail round Northern Russia. It was a dangerous journey and Sir Henry and all his crew were frozen to death in Lapland.

Lady Jane Grey named as next ruler

1553. As he lay dying, Edward VI named his cousin Lady Jane Grey to be the next ruler of England. This was because she supported the Protestant religion like himself.

Lady Jane Grey was crowned queen but taken by Mary

1553. Lady Jane Grey was crowned queen, but nine days later her cousin Mary Tudor raised an army and took the throne from her, and Lady Jane was imprisoned in the Tower of London and later beheaded.

Mary changed England back to a Catholic country

1554. Queen Mary married a Catholic prince, Philip of Spain, and changed England back into a Catholic country, by cancelling all the religious laws which had been passed by Henry VIII and Edward VI.

Mary was crowned queen

1553. Edward VI's sister Mary, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, was crowned queen. She was a strong Roman Catholic and disagreed with the new religion in England, started by her father.

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1555 - 1556

Bishop of Gloucester John Hooper killed

1555. The Bishop of Gloucester John Hooper became one of the first important people to be tied to a wooden stake and burned to death because he wouldn't become a Catholic.

Elizabeth Tudor was moved to her childhood home

1555. Elizabeth Tudor, Henry VIII's daughter, was moved to her childhood home of Hatfield House. Queen Mary did not want to hurt her but had a close watch kept on her to make sure she remained loyal.

Mary's husband became King of Spain

1556. Mary's husband Philip became King of Spain when his father died. A Catholic and a foreigner, he had not been very popular in England. He left to take his throne and never returned to England.

Queen Mary orders execution of Thomas Cranmer

1556. Queen Mary ordered the Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, to be burned at the stake for having the wrong religious beliefs. He had helped Henry VIII to divorce Mary's mother.

Unhappy feeling in the country

1555-1556. There was a lot of unhappy feeling in the country, partly due to very bad food harvests in both these two years, and this led to many poor people being hungry and sick.

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1557 - 1558

Bloody Mary

1558. During Mary's reign she ordered over 300 Protestants to be burned to death at the stake for refusing to give up their religious beliefs. As a result she became known as Bloody Mary.

Elizabeth I named as queen

1558. Elizabeth I was named as the next queen. She had red hair and was clever and well educated like her father Henry VIII. She was the daughter of his second wife Anne Boleyn.

England and Spain became friendly

1557. England and Spain became friendly because Queen Mary was married to a Spaniard. The two countries then decided to go to war with France.

France takes Calais

1558. France attacked and took control of Calais, the last French town which was ruled by the English.

Queen Mary dies

1558. Queen Mary died, aged 42, of the flu and possibly cancer. She had desperately wanted to produce a son who would continue to support the Roman Catholic Church, but she had no children.

Robert Recorde invented the equals sign

1557. Robert Recorde invented the equals sign (=) which we all use regularly now for our maths sums.

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1559 - 1560

Anthosis van der Wyngaerde produces street map

1559. Anthosis van der Wyngaerde produced a street map of London.

Elizabeth I crowned

On January 15, 1559, Elizabeth paraded in a grand, horse-drawn carriage through the streets of London. The crowds cheered her. On January 16 she was crowned at Westminster Abbey.

Mary Queen of Scots' husband died

1560. Mary Queen of Scots' husband King Francis II died.

Matthew Parker was made Archbishop of Canterbury

1559. To try to stop all the fighting over religion, Elizabeth encouraged, but didn't force, people to be Protestants. A wise man called Matthew Parker was made Archbishop of Canterbury.

Special instruments were developed for navigation

1560. Special instruments were developed and improved during this time to help with navigation for boats, and to study the stars (astrology).

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1561 - 1562

Arenas created for fighting entertainment

1561. Arenas started to be created, often in inn yards, for entertainment such as cock fighting and bear baiting - both very cruel sports. Plays would also be performed by travelling actors.

Elizabeth I nearly dies from smallpox

1562. Elizabeth I nearly died from smallpox, which left ugly scars on her face. She covered these with Tudor make-up, made from lead and mercury. Sadly these toxic ingredients also damaged her skin.

Mary Queen of Scots returns to Scotland

1561. Mary Queen of Scots returned to Scotland after the death of her husband Francis II the King of France. She was only 18, beautiful and in charge of a country she hardly knew or understood.

Special medal for Elizabeth made

1562. A special medal was made to commemorate Elizabeth I's recovery from smallpox. People believed Elizabeth's survival was a sign that God approved of her reign despite the problems with religion.

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1563 - 1564

Bubonic plague sweeps England

1563-64. The bubonic plague, a serious illness, swept through England, and over 17,000 Londoners died - about one sixth of the people living there. There was no known cure.

Michelangelo dies

1564. Michelangelo, one of the world's greatest artists and sculptors died. An Italian, his greatest masterpiece was a fresco (a wall painting) on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

Ordinary Tudor people met up to buy and sell goods

1563. Ordinary Tudor people used to regularly meet up in their nearest market town to buy and sell goods. More than half the people in England at this time used to live in small market towns.

William Shakespeare born

1564. Famous English writer William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-on-Avon in the Midlands. His plays and poetry are famous worldwide. He lived until 1616.

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1565 - 1566

First coach was presented to Queen Elizabeth

1565. It is believed that the first coach in England was presented to Queen Elizabeth by a Dutchman. This would have been pulled by horses.

Poor people dress in rough woollen clothes

1565. Poor people at this time dressed in rough woollen clothes or coarse cotton. Land workers wore a shirt, loose trousers, held up by crossed straps. The women wore an apron over a simple dress.

Smoking first became fashionable

1565. Smoking first became fashionable in the Tudor period after Sir John Hawkins introduced tobacco from America in 1565. Sir Walter Raleigh's fondness for tobacco persuaded others to try it.

Smoking first became fashionable

1565. Smoking first became fashionable in the Tudor period after Sir John Hawkins introduced tobacco from America in 1565. Sir Walter Raleigh's fondness for tobacco persuaded others to try it.

Weapons

1566. Weapons used by soldiers around this time included crossbows, longbows, and guns called muskets and matchlocks. These could fire about 30 shots in an hour, roughly one shot every two minutes.

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1567 - 1568

Gerhardus Mercator produces map of world

1568. Gerhardus Mercator produced a map of the world.

Mary Queen of Scots forced to give up her throne

1567. The beautiful Mary Queen of Scots was forced to give up her throne after her secretary and her second husband were murdered. She was thought to be involved.

Mary Queen of Scots returns to England

1567. Mary Queen of Scots came to England and spent 20 years as a prisoner. She passed much of the time doing embroidery, a popular pastime for Tudor women.

Rich people regularly ate meat and poultry

1568. Rich people at this time regularly ate meat and poultry, such as pigs, pheasants and swans. Poor people ate what they could catch in the fields: rabbits, pigeons and even blackbirds.

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1569 - 1570

Hunting and hawking popular sports

1570. Hunting and hawking remained a popular sports among the wealthier noblemen who would often take large picnics into the forest. Deer was the main animal hunted at this time.

Pope excommunicates Elizabeth

1570. Elizabeth was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church, by the Pope. In Europe she was seen as an enemy of the Catholic religion.

Witchcraft

1569. A law was passed to stop people trying to talk with the dead and tell the future. Witchcraft was both admired and feared in Tudor times, especially if the future held bad news for the monarch.

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1571 - 1572

A supernova was observed

1572. A supernova - a star which suddenly increased in brightness - was observed by Tycho Brahe in Denmark, also by John Dee and Thomas Digges in England.

Scientific advancement

1571. There is evidence of scientific advancement in certain areas of life during Tudor times. Leonard Digges describes a theodolite in this year - an instrument used to measure angles for building.

The Royal Exchange named

1571. The Royal Exchange, described by some as the first shopping mall, is so named by Elizabeth I.

Woollen caps to be worn on a Sunday

1571. A law was passed which ordered everyone over the age of six to wear a woollen cap on Sundays and holidays, to help England's wool trade. Only important people were excused from obeying this law.

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1573 - 1574

Fashions

1574. At Elizabeth's court, fashions included a ruff around the neck, often held in place with wire. Men wore padded breeches and women wore dresses with tight bodices and padded sleeves.

Punishments very harsh

1574. Punishments for wrongdoing were very harsh in Tudor times. Murderers were burned to death and robbers had ears and hands cut off. The stocks and ducking stools were also used for punishment.

Smallpox affected many people

1574. Smallpox affected many people at this time, leaving them with deep, ugly scars. Candle wax was used to hide the scars by smoothing the wax into the skin.

Torturing prisoners took place through Tudor times

1573. The torture of prisoners took place throughout the Tudor period, including Elizabeth's reign. Machines such as the rack, thumbscrews, and heavy iron weights left their victims in agony.

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1575 - 1576

First public theatres were built in London

1576. The first public theatres were built in London to cater for the growing interest in the performance of plays, by popular playwrights such as Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare.

Letters and news carried by messengers

1576. Letters and news would be carried by messengers in Tudor times. They would travel by horse, and innkeepers had to help them by law.

Slave trade was now in operation

1575. The slave trade was now operating. Slaves were captured in Africa and taken back to England by ship, to work the land and to mine precious metals. Slavery was seen as normal at this time.

Tudors use knives and fingers to eat

1575. People in Tudor times used knives and their fingers to eat food. There were no forks. The knives were made in Sheffield.

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1577 - 1578

Elizabethan servants have to wear badge

1578. Elizabethan servants would be expected to wear the badge of their masters on the arms of their dresses. Working boys weren't allowed to wear ruffs or fancy shoes and stockings.

Francis Drake first Englishman to sail round world

1577-80. Francis Drake is the first Englishman to sail right round the world. It took him three years.

Traders in London

1577. Traders in London, selling the same goods as each other, often set up business in the same street. The street would then get named after them: eg Threadneedle Street was full of tailors.

Wax model of Queen found

Witchcraft was feared in Tudor times. In 1577 a wax model of the Queen was found with a pin through its heart. Elizabeth was scared, as she believed that a witch's magic could cause her death.

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1579 - 1580

Communities had to provide soldiers with equipment

1580. Most people in Britain preferred peacetime to war. Every community had to provide soldiers and some equipment whenever there was a war. This stayed true right up to recent times.

Elizabeth's style

1579. At 47 Elizabeth was still an impressive woman who dressed in grand, heavily jewelled dresses to show her power. She also bathed very often for the Tudor period - about four times a year!

Interest in music and musical instruments growing

1579. The interest in music and musical instruments was still growing at this time and was encouraged by Queen Elizabeth. She also loved dancing and was keen to hold royal balls at court.

Sir Francis Drake was knighted by Elizabeth I

1580. Sir Francis Drake was knighted by Elizabeth I. A brilliant sailor and a daring pirate, he had made her rich. During his voyages he attacked many Spanish towns and ships and stole their gold.

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1581 - 1582

Beards popular among wealthier Elizabethan men

1582. Beards were very popular among wealthier Elizabethan men and it was fashionable to trim their beards to a point.

Fashionable to black-out front teeth

1582. It became very fashionable in Elizabeth I's reign for rich women to black-out front teeth. This may have been done to "hide" bad teeth of which there were many in Tudor times.

The watching of plays becomes increasingly popular

1581. The watching of plays was becoming an increasingly popular pastime. Outside London the plays were often performed in inn yards and actors would travel from town to town to find new audiences.

Water piped into private houses

1582. For the first time water was piped to some private houses in London. Most people had to draw their water from a well or stream.

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1583 - 1584

Cut purses

1583. Around this time the richer people wore leather straps to secure their purses and belts. Thieves used to cut these straps; the robbers became known as "cut purses".

First pencils made using graphite

1584. The first ever pencils were made using graphite, a type of carbon, dug out of the ground in Borrowdale, in the Lake District.

Galileo describes how pendulum swings

1583. The Italian astronomer and scientist Galileo described how a pendulum swings with a regular rhythm.

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1585 - 1586

Mary Queen of Scots found guilty of treason

1586. Mary Queen of Scots was found guilty of treason after being involved in a plot by Catholics to kill Elizabeth and put Mary on the throne. Sir Francis Walsingham discovered the plot.

Potatoes brought to Britain

1586. Sir Thomas Harriet brought the first potatoes to Britain. The Tudors were the first to taste this vegetable which we take for granted as part of our dinner today.

Sir Walter Raleigh sets up first British Colony

1585. Sir Walter Raleigh set up the first British colony in Virginia, North America.

Special days and festivals celebrated

1586. Even in Tudor times people celebrated special days and festivals such as Mayday and Shrove Tuesday. Christmas then, as now, was extra special; servants and the poor would be invited to join in.

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1587 - 1588

Elizabeth introduces standard weights and measures

1588. Elizabeth I introduced standard weights and measures. Everyone in the country could use them, to make sure that they knew the exact amount they were buying or selling.

Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded

1587. Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire on February 8. Her son, James VI of Scotland, was shocked and angry.

Nearly 300 Catholics executed for their beliefs

1588. Nearly 300 Catholics were executed for their religious beliefs.

Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester, dies

1588. The man Elizabeth I loved and would like to have married, Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester, died. He had been a good friend and advisor to Elizabeth but was not seen as a suitable husband.

Sir Francis Drake attacked Spanish settlement

1588. Sir Francis Drake attacked the Spanish settlement Santo Domingo, stole their gold, and destroyed the town. Elizabeth I accepted some of Drake's stolen gold.

Sir Francis Drake raids Cadiz

1587. Sir Francis Drake, a British adventurer and a pirate, raided a Spanish harbour - Cadiz - destroying 37 ships. This gave England more time to prepare for war with Spain.

Sir Walter Raleigh sets up second British Colony

1587. Elizabethan adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh set up a second British town in North America. This was the beginning of the British Empire. By the Victorian era, Britain controlled much of the world.

Spain declares war on England

1587. Spain declared war on England for killing Mary Queen of Scots. Mary's death was a good excuse for attacking England, which they hated anyway.

The Spanish Armada

1588. A fleet of ships was sent by Spain to invade England. It was called The Spanish Armada. Elizabeth rallied the British fleet before they set sail and destroyed the Armada.

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1589 - 1590

First paper mill opened in England

1589. Paper was to become easier for people to buy after the first paper mill, which made paper from trees, was opened in England. This gradually made books less rare.

Galileo experiments with gravity

1589. The Italian scientist Galileo dropped things from the Leaning Tower of Pisa to experiment with gravity and how things fall.

Glass was a luxury item

1590. Glass was a luxury item in Tudor times. Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire, with its many windows, was built in the 1590s. It showed how wealthy its owner, Bess of Hardwick, had become.

Reverend William Lee invents knitting machine

1589. A knitting machine was invented by a Nottingham churchman called Reverend William Lee. Before this all woollen clothes had to be knitted by hand with knitting needles.

Woollen cloth from England becomes popular abroad

1589. Woollen cloth from England became increasingly popular abroad after William Lee invented his knitting machine, and many farmers stopped growing crops and started keeping sheep instead.

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1591 - 1592

First microscope made in the Netherlands

1591. The first microscope was made in the Netherlands.

Galileo invented thermometers

1592. The first thermometers, used to measure temperatures, were invented by the Italian scientist, Galileo.

Sir John Harrington invents flushing toilet

1591. Elizabeth I's godson Sir John Harrington invented the flushing toilet for his new home Kelston Hall. The queen was so impressed she asked him to fit flushing toilets in all her palaces.

The summers of 1590s brought the plague

1591. Every summer through the 1590s many people became ill and died from the plague. Tudors believed that diseases were carried by bad smells and didn't understand how germs and diseases spread.

William Shakespeare began writing plays

1591. The famous English writer William Shakespeare began writing plays which are now world famous. He wrote violent plays such as Macbeth and Hamlet, and comedies such as Midsummer Night's Dream.

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1593 - 1594

Elizabeth I had her own royal messengers

1594. Elizabeth I had her own royal messengers, to carry all her important letters and documents. It took them over a week to travel, by horse, from London to Scotland.

Playwright Christopher Marlowe stabbed to death

1593. A talented Tudor playwright called Christopher Marlowe was stabbed to death in a pub in London. His death was surrounded by mystery and some believe his death was faked.

Robert Dudley sets up Roderigo Lopez

1594. Handsome courtier Robert Dudley, Earl of Essex tried to impress Elizabeth I by setting up her royal doctor, Roderigo Lopez, as a traitor who was plotting to kill her. Lopez was beheaded.

Theatres closed at various times to stop plague

1593. Magistrates closed the new theatres at various times in the 1590s to stop the plague from spreading. Some religious people thought the theatres were wicked places, which spread diseases.

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1595 - 1596

Elizabeth I's fashion

1595. It is believed that around this time Elizabeth I now owned over one thousand dresses. Many of them were decorated with precious jewels.

Guns and cannons

1596. Guns, and especially cannons, were getting larger and more destructive. They were used in sea battles and on land.

Sir Francis Drake dies

1596. Sir Francis Drake died attempting a final raid on Spanish treasure in The Americas. The fighting was harsh and Drake contracted a fever which killed him.

Sugar was very expensive

1595. Sugar was very expensive in Tudor times and honey was sometimes used instead. Herbs were often grown in gardens, and used to flavour the food.

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1597 - 1598

Elizabeth I's loyal adviser William Cecil dies

1598. Elizabeth I's loyal and clever adviser William Cecil died. He had helped Elizabeth survive her difficult job as queen for 40 years.

Smoking clay pipes became increasingly popular

1597. Smoking clay pipes became increasingly popular for both men and women. Tobacco was shipped in from the New World, and was very cheap to buy.

Work began on The Globe

1598. Work began on The Globe, a famous open-air theatre in London by the River Thames. Shakespeare's plays were performed here, as well as in court, to entertain Elizabeth I.

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1599 - 1600

Giordano Bruno burnt at stake

1600. Giordano Bruno is burnt at the stake for heresy.

London was one of the largest cities in Europe

1600. London was now one of the largest cities in Europe with around 200,000 people living there. It centred around the River Thames, a river used to transport goods in and out of England.

The Globe was opened

1599. The Globe, an open-air theatre, was opened to the public. Only men were allowed to perform in theatres, and teenage boys played the part of any female characters.

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1601 - 1602

A type of football was played

1602. A type of football was played at this time and was popular amongst the less wealthy. At court poetry and music were much enjoyed by many, including Elizabeth I.

Elizabeth ordered the execution of Robert Devereux

1601. Elizabeth ordered the execution of the dashing Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex. Elizabeth had admired his good looks but he disobeyed her orders and plotted to get rid of her.

William Gilbert published De Magnete

1601. William Gilbert published De Magnete.

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1603 - 1604

Elizabeth I dies

1603. Elizabeth died aged 70. She described herself as "married to England" and had been well loved by her people. Her death marked the end of the Tudor dynasty.

Fabrizio found that veins had valves

1603. Fabrizio found that veins in our bodies have valves to help the flow of blood.

James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England

1603. James VI of Scotland now also became James I of England. Later in his reign he was almost blown up by Guy Fawkes in the Gunpowder Plot.

Tudors were very superstitious

1603. Tudors were very superstitious. When Elizabeth I's coronation ring had to be cut off because it had become too tight for her finger, many saw it as a sign of bad news ahead for her.

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