First Parliament Opens
Elizabeth opens her first parliament to settle religion and succession
Role range: 1558-1603
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Elizabeth I Biography and Timeline — Page 3
Follow Elizabeth I through 434 dated historical records for England.
Elizabeth I, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
434Distinct records
3 of 11Page
1559–1559Years on this page
1559
Cecil Confirmed
William Cecil becomes Elizabeth's principal adviser in the early reign
Role range: 1558-1603
Privy Council Reformed
Elizabeth reshapes the Privy Council around trusted Protestant and moderate advisers
Role range: 1558-1603
Succession
The Government drafts a petition requesting the Queen to marry & provide an heir
Role range: 1558-1603
Marriage Petition Answered
Elizabeth answers parliamentary pressure by refusing to be hurried into marriage
Role range: 1558-1603
Marriage
Parliament addresses Elizabeth & urges her to marry
Role range: 1558-1603
Act of Supremacy Introduced
Government introduces legislation restoring royal authority over the English church
Role range: 1558-1603
Dynastic Marriage Negotiations at Cateau Cambresis
Philip II decides to marry Elizabeth of Valois rather than Elizabeth I
Role range: 1558-1603
Treaty of Cateau Cambresis
Philip II decides to marry Elizabeth of Valois rather than Elizabeth I
Role range: 1558-1603
Anglo French Peace
Elizabeth accepts peace with France and temporary French possession of Calais
Role range: 1558-1603
Calais Clause
Treaty provides that Calais may be restored after eight years or compensated
Role range: 1558-1603
Calais Eight-Year Compensation Clause
Accepts a peace formula allowing France to retain Calais subject to a future compensation arrangement if the town is not restored.
Role range: 1558-1603
French Hostilities Formally Ended
Concludes a separate peace with France that ends the war inherited from Mary's reign and stabilises Elizabeth's new government.
Role range: 1558-1603
Rule of Calais
Under the Treaty of Cateau Cambresis Calais is ceded to France for 8 yrs
Role range: 1558-1603
Treaty of Cateau Cambresis
Agrees an Anglo-French truce over Scotland
Role range: 1558-1603
Treaty of Cateau Cambresis
Elizabeth I cedes Calais to France for 8 yrs
Role range: 1558-1603
Elizabethan Supremacy Restored
Parliament restores royal authority over the English Church and gives Elizabeth the title Supreme Governor rather than Supreme Head.
Role range: 1558-1603
Supreme Governor Title Adopted
Elizabeth adopts the title Supreme Governor of the Church of England, framing royal ecclesiastical authority in language acceptable to a broader constituency.
Role range: 1558-1603
Act of Supremacy Passed
Act of Supremacy restores the crown's authority over the Church of England
Role range: 1558-1603
Act of Uniformity Passed
Act of Uniformity restores a revised English prayer book
Role range: 1558-1603
Reform of Church Governance
Restores the anti-papal laws of Henry VIII
Role range: 1558-1603
Supreme Governor Title
Elizabeth takes the title Supreme Governor rather than Supreme Head of the Church
Role range: 1558-1603
Elizabethan Act of Uniformity Passed
Parliament requires use of a revised Book of Common Prayer and establishes penalties for clergy or worshippers who reject the authorised service.
Role range: 1558-1603
Revised Prayer Book Introduced
The revised prayer book becomes the standard liturgy of the Elizabethan Church, combining the 1552 structure with selected modifications.
Role range: 1558-1603
Prayer Book Restored
The revised Book of Common Prayer comes into use under Elizabeth
Role range: 1558-1603
Royal Injunctions of 1559 Issued
Elizabeth's injunctions regulate preaching, images, clerical conduct and parish worship while enforcing the new religious settlement.
Role range: 1558-1603
Royal Injunctions
Royal Injunctions direct clergy and parishes to follow the new settlement
Role range: 1558-1603
Visitations Ordered
Elizabeth's government orders church visitations to enforce religious conformity
Role range: 1558-1603
Support for Scottish Protestants
Elizabeth's council moves toward aiding Scottish Protestants against French influence
Role range: 1558-1603
Supreme Governor
Appointed Supreme Governor of the Church
Role range: 1558-1603
Oath of Supremacy Required from Clergy
Clergy and many officeholders are required to acknowledge Elizabeth's ecclesiastical supremacy as Supreme Governor.
Role range: 1558-1603
Book of Common Prayer
Under Elizabeth I, a more permanent enforcement of the reformed Church of England was undertaken and the 1552 Book of Common Prayer is republished, scarcely altered, in 1559
Role range: 1558-1603
Protestant Prayer Book
The Protestant Prayer Book of 1552 is re-introduced, the black rubric is omitted
Role range: 1558-1603
Reform of Church Governance
Begins to restore the predominant position of the Church of England.
Role range: 1558-1603
Reform of Church Governance
Elizabeth becomes the "Supreme Governor" not the "Head" of the Church of England
Role range: 1558-1603
Reform of Church Governance
Enforces the Protestant religion by law.
Role range: 1558-1603
Reform of Church Governance
Issues a proclamation permitting certain parts of the service to be read in English.
Role range: 1558-1603
Reform of Church Governance
Supreme power is vested in the Crown.
Role range: 1558-1603
Reform of Church Governance
The Act of Uniformity is passed, the worst penalty is imprisonment.
Role range: 1558-1603
Reform of Church Worship
The Act of Uniformity, restores the 2nd Edwardian Prayer Book.
Role range: 1558-1603
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.