Marriage
Anne of Cleves is ordered to leave court
Role range: 1509-1547
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Henry VIII Biography and Timeline — Page 21
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
21 of 27Page
1540–1543Years on this page
1540
Bill of Attainder
Parliament passes a bill of attainder against Thomas Cromwell after his fall from power.
Role range: 1509-1547
Marriage
Anne's betrothal to Lorraine & the non-consummation of the marriage are investigated. A formal trial into the marriage between Henry VIII & Anne of Cleves begins
Role range: 1509-1547
Marriage
Henry VIII seeks Anne of Cleves's formal consent for an inquiry into the validity of their marriage.
Role range: 1509-1547
Marriage
The Church marriage tribunal finds Henry VIII's marriage to Anne of Cleves invalid
Role range: 1509-1547
Marriage
Henry's marriage to Anne of Cleves is annulled after six moninth of marriage. Court decrees that Anne is not Queen & will be known as the sister of the King
Role range: 1509-1547
Marriage
The marriage between Henry VIII & Anne of Cleves is annulled on the grounds that it had never been consummated, Henry claimed that he had found his bride so unattractive that he could not bear to sleep with her
Role range: 1540-1540
Dissolution of Parliament
Henry VIIIs 7th Parliament closes
Role range: 1509-1547
Reform of Bible Use
The English Bible is ordered in every parish church
Role range: 1509-1547
Execution
Thomas Cromwell is executed after losing Henry VIII's confidence following the Anne of Cleves marriage.
Role range: 1509-1547
Marriage
Marries Catherine Howard, 5th wife
Role range: 1509-1547
Reform of Inheritance Law
The Statute of Wills is passed
Role range: 1509-1547
Court of First Fruits and Tenths
A royal court is established to collect clerical revenues formerly associated with papal finance.
Role range: 1509-1547
Court of Wards and Liveries Established
Parliament creates a specialised court to manage royal rights over wardships, marriages and liveries arising from feudal tenure.
Role range: 1509-1547
New Cathedral Dioceses Planned
The Crown reorganises part of the former monastic estate into new bishoprics and cathedral foundations within the royal church.
Role range: 1509-1547
Statute of Wills Expands Testamentary Land Transfer
Parliament permits wider disposal of land by will, altering inheritance practice and reducing restrictions associated with feudal tenure.
Role range: 1509-1547
1541
Arrest of Thomas Wyatt and Ralph Sadler
Cromwells supporters are arrested, includes Thomas Wyatt & Sir Ralph Sadler
Role range: 1509-1547
Rule of Ireland
The Dublin Parliament passes the Crown of Ireland Act declaring Henry VIII King of Ireland.
Role range: 1509-1547
Investigation
Cranmer gives Henry VIII evidence alleging Catherine Howard's misconduct before and after her marriage.
Role range: 1509-1547
Arrest of Catherine Howard
Catherine Howard is placed under guard at Syon House after accusations of adultery and misconduct.
Role range: 1509-1547
Arrest of Catherine Howard
Catherine Howard is placed under house arrest for adultery
Role range: 1509-1547
Execution
Thomas Culpeper is executed for treason, an alleged lover of Catherine Howard. Francis Dereham is executed for treason, an alleged lover of Catherine Howard
Role range: 1509-1547
Treason
Thomas Culpeper is executed for treason, an alleged lover of Catherine Howard. Francis Dereham is executed for treason, an alleged lover of Catherine Howard
Role range: 1509-1547
Meeting with James IV
Wants to meet James IV but James does not appear & Henry claims the Scottish theone
Role range: 1509-1547
Arrest of Catherine Howard
Cranmer hands Henry a letter accusing the Queen of living "most corruptly & sensually"
Role range: 1509-1547
Unlawful Games Act Promotes Archery
Parliament restricts several popular games partly to encourage regular archery practice considered important for national defence.
Role range: 1509-1547
Battle of Haddonrig
Orders the Northern levies over the Border but they are dispersed at Haddonrig
Role range: 1509-1547
Invasion of Scotland
Orders the Northern levies over the Border but they are dispersed at Haddonrig
Role range: 1509-1547
1542
Eighth Parliament
Henry VIII opens his eighth Parliament at Westminster, beginning a session dealing with major Tudor political and religious business.
Role range: 1509-1547
Catherine Howard Attainder
Parliament passes the attainder condemning Catherine Howard and Jane Rochford; Henry VIII gives effect to the measure through royal assent.
Role range: 1509-1547
Bristol City Status
Bristol gains city status in connection with the creation of the new cathedral diocese.
Role range: 1509-1547
Diocese of Bristol Created
Creates the Diocese of Bristol, with the former Augustinian abbey church becoming Bristol Cathedral.
Role range: 1509-1547
Battle of Solway Moss
Benefits politically from the Scottish defeat and uses captured nobles to increase English pressure on Scotland.
Role range: 1509-1547
Marriage Project for Mary
Promotes a future marriage between Prince Edward and the infant Queen Mary, seeking a dynastic settlement favorable to England.
Role range: 1509-1547
Release of Scottish Prisoners
Allows captured Scottish nobles to return home under political conditions, seeking to turn prisoners from Solway Moss into supporters of English policy.
Role range: 1509-1547
First English Bankruptcy Statute Passed
Parliament creates a statutory process for dealing with certain insolvent traders who evade creditors, an early foundation of English bankruptcy law.
Role range: 1509-1547
First Tudor Witchcraft Act Passed
Parliament makes specified forms of witchcraft and sorcery felony offences punishable under secular criminal law.
Role range: 1509-1547
King of Ireland
Assumes the title King of Ireland under legislation passed by the Irish Parliament, replacing the older title Lord of Ireland.
Role range: 1509-1547
1543
Marriage Alliance
Henry VIII seeks to marry Prince Edward to Mary, Queen of Scots, as a means of uniting the kingdoms.
Role range: 1509-1547
Invasion of Scotland
Henry VIII proposes that Prince Edward should marry Mary, Queen of Scots, to unite the Tudor and Stuart lines.
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.