Reformation, The
Shares in the drafting of a proclamation giving Anabaptists and Sacramentaries ten days to get out of the country. Henry personally presides at the trial of John Lambert for denying the real presence
Role range: 1509-1547
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Henry VIII Biography and Timeline — Page 20
Follow Henry VIII through 1,046 dated historical records for England.
Henry VIII, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
1,046Distinct records
20 of 27Page
1538–1540Years on this page
1538
Defender of the Faith
Pope Paul III excommunicates Henry VIII after the break with Rome and rejection of papal authority.
Role range: 1509-1547
Excommunication
Excommunicated by Pope Paul III
Role range: 1509-1547
Reformation, The
At the end of 1538, a proclamation is issued forbidding free discussion of the Sacrament and forbidding clerical marriage, on pain of death
Role range: 1509-1547
Alliance Agreement
The King and Cromwell arrange with Lutheran princes to have detailed discussions on forming a political and religious alliance
Role range: 1509-1547
Papal Bull
The Pope calls upon all Christians to attack & destroy the English King
Role range: 1509-1547
1539
Parliament
Opening of Henry VIIIs 7th Parliament
Role range: 1509-1547
Great Bible Authorised
The Great Bible receives royal authorisation for church use, providing the first officially approved English Bible intended for widespread parish access.
Role range: 1509-1547
Reformation, The
The House of Lords creates a committee with a religious balance of conservatives and reformers to examine and determine doctrine
Role range: 1509-1547
Legislation
The Churches are ordered to display a copy of the English Bible. Tha Act of Six Articles of the Protestant faith is passed
Role range: 1509-1547
Reform of Bible Use
The Churches are ordered to display a copy of the English Bible. Tha Act of Six Articles of the Protestant faith is passed
Role range: 1509-1547
Reformation, The
The Six Articles confirm the conservative interpretation of doctrines such as the real presence, clerical celibacy, and the necessity of auricular confession, the private confession of sins to a priest. The Duke of Norfolk notes that the Lords committee into religious doctrine had not agreed on anything and proposes that the Lords examine six doctrinal questions, which form the basis of the Six Articles
Role range: 1509-1547
Six Articles, The
The Duke of Norfolk notes that the Lords committee into religious doctrine had not agreed on anything and proposes that the Lords examine six doctrinal questions, which form the basis of the Six Articles
Role range: 1509-1547
Six Articles, The
The Six Articles confirm the conservative interpretation of doctrines such as the real presence, clerical celibacy, and the necessity of auricular confession, the private confession of sins to a priest
Role range: 1509-1547
Greater Monasteries Dissolution Act
Parliament confirms the surrender and transfer of larger religious houses, accelerating the end of monastic institutions across England.
Role range: 1509-1547
Six Articles Act
The Six Articles Act enforces conservative doctrine within the Church of England under royal supremacy.
Role range: 1509-1547
Six Articles, The
The Six Articles Act passes Parliament at the end of June, forcing Latimer and Nicholas Shaxton to resign their dioceses given their outspoken opposition to the measure
Role range: 1509-1547
Resignation of Bishops of Salisbury & Worcester
The Bishops of Salisbury & Worcester resign
Role range: 1509-1547
Legislation
The Act of Proclamations is passed
Role range: 1509-1547
Reform of Royal Proclamations
The Act of Proclamations is passed
Role range: 1509-1547
Rebellion of Rebels in Bellahoe
Lord Leonard Grey defeats the Kildare faction of ODonnell & ONeill
Role range: 1509-1547
Rebellion of Rebels in Bellahoe
Lord Leonard Grey defeats the Kildare faction of ODonnell & ONeill
Role range: 1509-1547
Reformation, The
Henry becomes displeased with the results of the Six Articlles Act and its promulgators; the ever-loyal Cranmer and Cromwell are back in favour
Role range: 1509-1547
Six Articles, The
Henry becomes displeased with the results of the Six Articlles Act and its promulgators; the ever-loyal Cranmer and Cromwell are back in favour
Role range: 1509-1547
Marriage
Cromwell oversees the talks and a marriage Treaty to Anne of Cleves is signed
Role range: 1509-1547
Marriage
Anne of Cleves arrives in Rochester
Role range: 1509-1547
House of Lords Precedence Act Passed
Parliament sets the precedence of leading officers and peers in the House of Lords, formalising important aspects of upper-house order.
Role range: 1509-1547
Monastic Lords Disappear from Parliament
Dissolution removes abbots and priors from the Lords, leaving bishops as the remaining Lords Spiritual and making temporal peers the majority.
Role range: 1509-1547
Statute of Proclamations Enacted
Parliament gives royal proclamations statutory force in defined circumstances, expanding the Crown's capacity to regulate without a new Act.
Role range: 1509-1547
Treaty of Toledo
Charles V & Francis I agree not to ally with England except by mutual agreement
Role range: 1509-1547
Reformation, The
Henry becomes displeased with the results of the Six Articlles Act
Role range: 1509-1547
Reformation, The
Parliament passes the Six Articles reaffirming Catholic practices such as transubstantiation, clerical celibacy and the importance of confession to a priest and prescribed penalties if anyone denied them
Role range: 1509-1547
Six Articles, The
The Six Articles Act passes Parliament at the end of June, forcing Latimer and Nicholas Shaxton to resign their dioceses given their outspoken opposition to the measure. Parliament passed the Six Articles reaffirming Catholic practices such as transubstantiation, clerical celibacy and the importance of confession to a priest and prescribed penalties if anyone denied them
Role range: 1509-1547
1540
Marriage
Meets Anne of Cleves for the 1st time. Feels he has been tricked by Cromwell into marrying Anne of Cleves
Role range: 1509-1547
Alliance Agreement with German Protestants against the Holy Roman
Cromwell recommends an alliance with German Protestants against the Holy Roman Empire
Role range: 1509-1547
Alliance Henry VIII and German Protestants
Cromwell recommends an alliance with German Protestants against the Holy Roman Empire
Role range: 1509-1547
Marriage
Henry VIII marries Anne of Cleves, fourth wife of Henry VIII of England from 6 January 1540 to 9 July 1540
Role range: 1509-1547
Marriage
Marries Anne of Cleves, the daughter of the Duke of Cleves. Cromwell recommends an alliance with German Protestants against the Holy Roman Empire
Role range: 1509-1547
Monastic Dissolution Completed
The remaining major monastic houses are closed or surrendered, leaving the Crown in possession of extensive former church lands and revenues.
Role range: 1509-1547
Arrest of Thomas Cromwell
Henry VIII has Cromwell arrested for his part played in the marriage to Anne of Cleves
Role range: 1509-1547
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.