Philip Becomes King of Spain
Mary becomes queen consort of Spain when Philip succeeds Charles V
Role range: 1553-1558
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Mary I Biography and Timeline — Page 6
Follow Mary I through 274 dated historical records for England.
Mary I, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
274Distinct records
6 of 7Page
1556–1558Years on this page
1556
Dudley Plot Betrayed
A plot against Mary is betrayed to Cardinal Pole and conspirators are arrested
Role range: 1553-1558
Pole Ordained Priest
Reginald Pole is ordained priest before becoming archbishop.
Role range: 1553-1558
Cranmer Burned
Thomas Cranmer is burned after rejecting his earlier recantations.
Role range: 1553-1558
Execution of Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer is burned for heresy during Mary's reign
Role range: 1553-1558
Execution
Thomas Cranmer is burned after renouncing his earlier recantations
Role range: 1553-1558
Pole Archbishop
Reginald Pole is consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury after Cranmer is deprived.
Role range: 1553-1558
Pole Consecrated
Pole is consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury.
Role range: 1553-1558
Dudley Conspiracy
A failed conspiracy seeks to replace Mary with Elizabeth
Role range: 1553-1558
Dudley Conspiracy Suppressed
Mary's government suppresses the Dudley conspiracy against the regime
Role range: 1553-1558
Dudley Conspiracy
Government uncovers a conspiracy linked to Henry Dudley and other opponents of Mary's regime
Role range: 1553-1558
Plotters Imprisoned
Conspirators linked to Henry Dudley are imprisoned in the Tower
Role range: 1553-1558
Servants Arrested
Elizabeth's servants and supporters are investigated after the Dudley conspiracy
Role range: 1553-1558
Savoy Marriage Proposal
Mary summons Elizabeth to court over a proposed marriage to Emmanuel Philibert
Role range: 1553-1558
Catholic Reform Synod
Pole’s synod promotes clerical reform and Catholic teaching.
Role range: 1553-1558
Elizabeth Returns to Hatfield
Mary sends Elizabeth back to Hatfield after she refuses a Savoy marriage proposal
Role range: 1553-1558
1557
England Enters War
Mary commits England to war against France in alliance with Spain
Role range: 1551-1559 – 1553-1558
War with France
Mary declares war on France in support of Philip of Spain
Role range: 1551-1559 – 1553-1558
Declaration of War
Philip II persuades Mary to support Spain by declaring war on France
Role range: 1553-1558
Spanish Alliance War Commitment
Brings England into Philip's war against France after renewed strategic pressure overrides earlier efforts to limit English involvement in Habsburg conflicts.
Role range: 1553-1558
War with France
Mary declares war on France in alliance with Philip II of Spain
Role range: 1551-1559 – 1553-1558
Philip Departs
Philip leaves England after securing English entry into the war
Role range: 1553-1558
Philip Leaves England
Philip II leaves England and does not return before Mary's death
Role range: 1553-1558
English Troops to France
English troops support Spanish operations against France
Role range: 1551-1559 – 1553-1558
Calais Defences Strained
Calais becomes vulnerable as French forces prepare a winter attack
Role range: 1551-1559 – 1553-1558
Catholic Visitation Programme Expanded
Episcopal visitations enforce restored Catholic worship, inspect clergy and remove practices introduced during the Edwardian Reformation.
Role range: 1553-1558
Catechism Programme
Mary’s church promotes Catholic instruction through parish clergy.
Role range: 1553-1558
Clergy Discipline
Pole’s programme stresses residence, preaching and clerical standards.
Role range: 1553-1558
1558
French Assault on Calais
French forces open the campaign that leads to the fall of Calais
Role range: 1551-1559 – 1553-1558
Calais Lost
The last English possession on the French mainland is lost during Mary's reign
Role range: 1553-1558
Calais Surrendered
Calais falls and England loses its last mainland French stronghold
Role range: 1553-1558
Capture of Calais
French forces capture Calais the last major English possession on the French mainland
Role range: 1551-1559 – 1553-1558
Capture of Calais
The last major English possession on French soil is taken by the French
Role range: 1551-1559 – 1553-1558
Capture of Calais
French forces capture Calais during Mary's final year
Role range: 1553-1558
French Capture Calais
French forces take Calais from England
Role range: 1553-1558
Rule of Calais Ends
English rule of Calais ends when French forces take the town
Role range: 1551-1559 – 1553-1558
Rule of Calais Ends
The last major English possession on French soil is lost
Role range: 1553-1558
Surrender of Calais
Calais is surrendered to French forces
Role range: 1551-1559 – 1553-1558
Surrender of Calais
Calais falls to France after a rapid winter campaign
Role range: 1553-1558
Loss of Calais
Calais falls to French forces during Mary's final year
Role range: 1551-1559 – 1553-1558
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.