Henry VIII Biography and Timeline

Birth of Henry VIII

Birth of Henry VIII, son of Henry VII & Elizabeth of York

Role range: 1509-1547

Birth of Prince Henry

Elizabeth of York gives birth to a second surviving son, providing the dynasty with an important reserve male heir behind Arthur.

Christening

Christened in the Church of the Observant Friars

Role range: 1509-1547

Peerage

Created Duke of York

Role range: 1509-1547

Lieutenant

Appointed Lieutenant General of Ireland

Role range: 1509-1547

Marshal

Appointed Marshal of England

Role range: 1509-1547

Warden

Appointed Warden of the Cinque Ports

Role range: 1509-1547

Death of Henry VIII

Death of Prince Arthur, Henry becomes heir to the throne

Role range: 1509-1547

Succession

Prince Arthur dies & Henry becomes heir to the throne

Role range: 1509-1547

Marriage

Catherine of Aragon is betrothed to Henry VIII

Role range: 1509-1547

Succession

Pope Julius grants dispensation for Henry to marry Catherine

Role range: 1509-1547

Marriage

"If a man shall take his brothers wife, it is impurity..they shall be childless"

Role range: 1509-1547

Peerage

Created Duke of Cornwall

Role range: 1509-1547

Succession

Created Prince of Wales.

Role range: 1509-1547

Marriage

Henry VIII repudiates his betrothal to Catherine of Aragon

Role range: 1509-1547

Accession

Accedes to the throne on the day of the death of his father Henry VII

Role range: 1509-1547

Succession

Succeeds as King of England after the death of Henry VII.

Role range: 1509-1547

Coronation

Rides to the Tower with an escort led John de Vere with fears of unrest

Role range: 1509-1547

Arrest of Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley

Richard Empson & Edmund Dudley are scapegoats for Henry VIIs ministers extortion

Role range: 1509-1547

Arrest of Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley

Empson & Dudley are scapegoats for the extortion of Henry VIIs ministers

Role range: 1509-1547

Coronation Council Preparations

The royal council prepares the joint coronation of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon as the first great ceremony of the new reign.

Role range: 1509-1547

Alliance England and Spain

Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon re-allies England with Spain

Role range: 1509-1547

Marriage

Marries Catherine of Aragon, his dead brothers widow, daughter of Ferdinand II

Role range: 1509-1547

Tower Stay before Coronation

Henry stays at the Tower of London before the coronation, following the customary pre-coronation sequence of royal ceremonies.

Role range: 1509-1547

Coronation Procession Leaves Tower

Henry proceeds from the Tower through decorated London streets as the city stages public celebrations for the new king.

Role range: 1509-1547

Knights of the Bath Created

New Knights of the Bath are created during the coronation festivities, linking chivalric honour with the inauguration of the reign.

Role range: 1509-1547

Coronation Recess to Westminster Hall

The crowned royal couple leave the Abbey in state and proceed toward the great coronation banquet.

Role range: 1509-1547

Coronation

Followed by a banquet in Westminster hall, "greater than any Caesar had known". Crowned at Westminster

Role range: 1509-1547

Henry VIII Coronation Banquet

A lavish banquet in Westminster Hall concludes the public coronation celebrations and displays the wealth of the new Tudor court.

Role range: 1509-1547

Henry VIII Coronation Oath

Henry swears the coronation oath before proceeding to the sacred rites of anointing and investiture.

Role range: 1509-1547

Henry VIII Crowned

Henry is crowned after the anointing and investiture, formally completing his accession as king.

Role range: 1509-1547

Henry VIII Receives Coronation Regalia

Henry receives the sword, ring, sceptres and other traditional insignia associated with English kingship.

Role range: 1509-1547

Henry VIII Receives Homage

Peers render homage to the crowned king after the principal religious rites are completed.

Role range: 1509-1547

Henry VIII Recognition Rite

Henry is presented for recognition before the assembled congregation as the coronation service formally begins.

Role range: 1509-1547

Joint Coronation Communion

Henry and Catherine participate in the Eucharistic conclusion of the joint coronation service.

Role range: 1509-1547

Coronation Knights Selected

Young gentlemen are selected for ceremonial knighthood as part of the traditional celebrations accompanying the coronation.

Role range: 1509-1547

Informs Ferdinand that Queen Catherine is pregnant

Informs Ferdinand that Queen Catherine is pregnant

Role range: 1509-1547

Assizes

Special assizes to redress grievances are abolished

Role range: 1509-1547

Parliament

Parliament opens for the 1st time during Henrys reign. Opens Parliament, 21 Jaunuary-21 February

Role range: 1509-1547

First Parliament of Henry VIII Opens

Henry VIII's first Parliament begins work on fiscal, legal and political business inherited from the previous reign.

Role range: 1509-1547