Treaty of Bruges
Signs a secret Treaty with Charles V to launch a "great enterprise" against France
Role range: 1509-1547
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Henry VIII Biography and Timeline — Page 6
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
6 of 27Page
1521–1523Years on this page
1521
Treaty of Charles V
Signs a secret Treaty with Charles V to launch a "great enterprise" against France
Role range: 1509-1547
Alliance Great Britain and Austria and France
Wolsey represents England in negotiations with Margaret of Austria for the anti-French alliance.
Role range: 1509-1547
Great Enterprise
English and Imperial representatives negotiate the secret Treaty of Bruges for war against France.
Role range: 1509-1547
Great Enterprise
The agreement envisages Henry VIII invading northern France while Charles V attacks French interests elsewhere.
Role range: 1509-1547
Treaty of Bruges
English and Imperial representatives negotiate the secret Treaty of Bruges against Francis I of France.
Role range: 1509-1547
Treaty of Bruges
The Treaty of Bruges plans an Anglo-Imperial campaign against Francis I of France.
Role range: 1509-1547
Great Enterprise
Henry VIII accepts plans for a major war with France in alliance with Charles V.
Role range: 1509-1547
Award
Pope Leo X grants Henry VIII the title Fidei Defensor, Defender of the Faith.
Role range: 1509-1547
Defender of the Faith
Pope Leo X grants Henry VIII the title Fidei Defensor, Defender of the Faith.
Role range: 1509-1547
Award
Pope Leo X confers "Fidei Defensor" on Henry VIII, used today by the monarchy. Awarded "Defender of the Faith" for his "Defence of the Seven Sacraments" by Leo X
Role range: 1509-1547
Alliance Henry VIII and Emperor
Francis I invades Navarre & entrusts Wolsey to discuss an alliance with the Emperor
Role range: 1509-1547
Defence of the Seven Sacraments
After writing Assertio Septem Sacramentorum (Defence of the Seven Sacraments) in opposition to Luther, Henry VIII is rewarded with the title Fidei Defensor (Defender of the Faith) by Pope Leo X
Role range: 1509-1547
Defence of the Seven Sacraments
Publishes the Assertio Septem Sacramentorum, defending the seven sacraments against Luther.
Role range: 1509-1547
Defender of the Faith
After writing Assertio Septem Sacramentorum (Defence of the Seven Sacraments) in opposition to Luther, Henry VIII is rewarded with the title Fidei Defensor (Defender of the Faith) by Pope Leo X
Role range: 1509-1547
Papal Dedication
Dedicates the Defence of the Seven Sacraments to Pope Leo X as a statement of Catholic orthodoxy.
Role range: 1509-1547
Reformation, The
After writing Assertio Septem Sacramentorum (Defence of the Seven Sacraments) in opposition to Luther, Henry VIII is rewarded with the title Fidei Defensor (Defender of the Faith) by Pope Leo X
Role range: 1509-1547
Royal Style
Henry VIII begins using Defender of the Faith as part of his royal style.
Role range: 1509-1547
Defence of the Seven Sacraments
Publication of "Defence of the Seven Sacraments", attacks Martin Luther
Role range: 1509-1547
Defender of the Faith
After writing Assertio Septem Sacramentorum (Defence of the Seven Sacraments) in opposition to Luther, Henry VIII is rewarded with the title Fidei Defensor (Defender of the Faith) by Pope Leo X
Role range: 1509-1547
Reformation, The
After writing Assertio Septem Sacramentorum (Defence of the Seven Sacraments) in opposition to Luther, Henry VIII is rewarded with the title Fidei Defensor (Defender of the Faith) by Pope Leo X
Role range: 1509-1547
1522
Alliance Henry VIII and Charles V
An alliance is agreed with Charles V against the French while a guest of Henry's
Role range: 1509-1547
Alliance Henry VIII and Charles V
Henry VIII and Charles V confirm their anti-French alliance in the Treaty of Windsor.
Role range: 1509-1547
Great Enterprise
The Treaty of Windsor postpones major joint action while keeping the Great Enterprise alive.
Role range: 1509-1547
Treaty of Windsor
Signs a Treaty with Emperor Charles V. Confirms the anti-French alliance but postponing action until 1524
Role range: 1509-1547
Imperial Marriage Commitment Renewed
Renews the projected marriage between Princess Mary and Charles V as part of the continuing alliance with the emperor.
Role range: 1509-1547
Great Enterprise
Surrey's raid tests English military pressure on France but achieves limited results.
Role range: 1509-1547
Invasion of France
The Earl of Surrey leads an English expedition into Picardy as a preliminary campaign against France.
Role range: 1509-1547
Diplomatic Plan at London
Vetoes a plan by Wolsey to attack French ports as too wrisky
Role range: 1509-1547
Lutheran Controversy
Martin Luther replies angrily to Henry VIII's Defence of the Seven Sacraments.
Role range: 1509-1547
1523
Great Enterprise
Henry VIII prepares for the fuller invasion of France promised under the Anglo-Imperial alliance.
Role range: 1509-1547
Parliament
Opening of Henry VIIIs 4th Parliament
Role range: 1509-1547
Dissolution of Parliament
Henry VIIIs 4th Parliament closes
Role range: 1509-1547
Invasion of France
English forces gather at Calais for the invasion of northern France.
Role range: 1509-1547
Invasion of France
The Duke of Suffolk leads an English army through Picardy during the campaign against France.
Role range: 1509-1547
Great Enterprise
English forces advance deep into northern France but fail to take Paris or force a decisive settlement.
Role range: 1509-1547
Retreat
Suffolk's army withdraws toward Calais after the 1523 campaign loses momentum.
Role range: 1509-1547
Reform of Church-State Relations
Act for the Pardon of the Clergy, the Clergy are forced to submit to Royal Supremacy
Role range: 1509-1547
Reform of Government
Worsteds woven in Norwich must be dyed anywhere except Norwich
Role range: 1509-1547
Alliance Henry VIII and Imperial and Bourbon interests
England coordinates with Imperial and Bourbon interests against Francis I.
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.