Timeline of British history (1500–1599) facts for kids

Welcome to the 1500s! Back then, the idea of "British history" as we know it didn't really exist. The word "British" mostly referred to the ancient people of Britain and the Welsh. This page will take you on a journey through important events in the history of England and Scotland between 1500 and 1599. It was a time of big changes, new ideas, and powerful kings and queens!

Key Events in the 1500s

England's Royal Changes

• 1509: A new era began in England! Henry VIII became King and married Catherine of Aragon. He would rule for many years and bring huge changes.
• 1521: New religious ideas, called "Lutheran" writings, started to spread around England. These ideas questioned some of the traditional church teachings.
• 1525: King Henry VIII wanted his marriage to Catherine of Aragon to be ended, but the Pope refused. This disagreement would lead to major events.
• 1526: Cardinal Wolsey, a powerful church leader in England, ordered that books with Lutheran ideas be burned.
• 1529: King Henry VIII decided to break away from the authority of the Pope in Rome. He declared himself the head of the Church of England. This was a massive change!
• 1534: The Act of Supremacy was passed. This law officially made Henry VIII the supreme head of the Church of England. Another law, the Treasons Act 1534, made it treason to deny the King's new title.
• 1535: Two important figures, Thomas More and Cardinal John Fisher, were executed because they did not accept King Henry VIII as the head of the church.
• 1536: William Tindale, who had translated the Bible into English, was executed in Antwerp.
• 1547: After Henry VIII died, his young son, Edward VI, became King of England.
• 1549: The "Prayer Book rebellion" happened in the south-west of England. People were unhappy with the new religious changes.
• 1553: King Edward VI passed away, and his half-sister, Mary I, became Queen of England. She tried to bring England back to the Roman Catholic Church.
• 1558: Queen Mary I died, and her half-sister, Elizabeth I, became Queen. Her long reign would be a golden age for England.
• 1559: Queen Elizabeth I passed her own Act of Supremacy 1559. This law once again established the monarch as the head of the Church of England.

Scotland's Path to Protestantism

• 1513: A sad day for Scotland. King James IV and many Scottish soldiers were killed in a big battle against England called the Battle of Flodden.
• 1532: Scotland created the College of Justice and the Court of Session. These were important new courts to help manage the country's laws.
• 1542: Just a baby, Mary, Queen of Scots, became Queen of Scotland. Her life would be full of drama and challenges.
• 1559: John Knox, a strong supporter of a new Protestant faith called Calvinism, returned to Scotland from Geneva. He worked hard to spread his ideas.
• 1560: The Scottish Parliament made laws that officially changed the Church of Scotland to a Protestant church. This was known as the Protestant Reformation in Scotland.
• 1567: Mary, Queen of Scots, who was Catholic, was forced to give up her throne and leave Scotland after Protestant lords rose up against her.
• 1579: James VI, Mary's son, took over the government of Scotland from his regent, James Douglas.
• 1582: The University of Edinburgh was officially started by a Royal Charter. It became a very important place for learning in Scotland.
• 1592: King James VI passed the "Golden Act." This law recognized the power of Presbyterianism within the Scottish church, which was a form of Protestantism.

Shared Destinies

• 1571: England passed another Treasons Act 1571 to deal with threats to the Queen and the new religious order.
• 1587: A very significant and sad event happened for both England and Scotland. Mary, Queen of Scots, was executed at Fotheringay Castle in England on February 8th.
• 1588: A huge Spanish fleet, known as the Spanish Armada, tried to invade England but was defeated on August 8th. This was a massive victory for England and Queen Elizabeth I.

See also

• Timeline of British history
• Timeline of British history (1000-1499)
• Timeline of British history (1600-1699)
• Early Modern Britain
• History of the British Isles
• History of England
• History of Ireland
• History of Northern Ireland
• History of Scotland
• History of Wales
• History of the United Kingdom