Birth of Thomas Wolsey
Thomas Wolsey is born in Ipswich and later becomes Henry VIII's chief minister, cardinal and Lord Chancellor during the early Tudor reign.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Thomas Wolsey Biography and Timeline
Follow Thomas Wolsey through 106 dated historical records for England.
Thomas Wolsey, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
106Distinct records
1 of 3Page
1473–1515Years on this page
1473
1498
Priest
Ordained as a Priest
1501
Chaplain
Appointedhaplain to Archbishop Henry Deane
1506
Vicar
Appointed Vicar of Redgrave in Suffolk
1507
Chaplain
Appointedoyal Chaplain to Henry VII
1508
Treaty of Friendship
Visits James VI who refuses a Treaty of friendship until Arran & Hamilton are released
Vicar
Appointed Vicar of Lydd on Romney Marsh
1509
Dean
Appointed Dean of Lincoln
Council of Wolsey
Appointed Member of Council
Almoner
Appointed Almoner to Henry VIII
Canon
Appointed Canon of Hereford Cathedral
1510
Registrar of Order of the Garter
Appointed Registrar of the Order of the Garter
Vicar
Appointed Vicar of Torrington
1511
Privy Council
Appointed Privy Councillor
Canon
Appointed Canon of Windsor
Alliance Holy League
Instrumental in England joining the Holy League against France
Holy League
Instrumental in England joining the Holy League against France
Invasion of France
Wolsey is put in charge of preparations for war with France
1512
Dean
Appointed Dean of Hereford Cathedral
1513
Canon
Appointed Canon of York
Capture of Dijon
Wolseys Swiss army captures Dijon
Capture of Therouanne
Helps Henry VIII capture of Therouanne & Tournai
Capture of Tournai
Helps Henry VIII capture of Therouanne & Tournai
Invasion of France
Co-ordinates Henry VIIIs campaign of Northern France
Invasion of France
Wolsey hires a Swiss mercenary army & invades Burgundy
Siege of Besancon
Wolseys Swiss army lays siege to Besancon during the invasion of Burgundy
1514
Bishop
Begins lobbying Pope Leo to appoint him as a Cardinal
Peace Treaty
Wolsey negotiates for Henry VIII who gains a pension & Tournai
Role range: 1515-1529
Peace
Wolsey negotiates for the agreed marriage between Louis & Henrys sister Mary. Henry VIII & Louis XII agree peace until a year after the death of either
Role range: 1515-1529
Rule of Tournai
Wolsey negotiates & gains Tournai under the Treaty of St Germain-en-Laye
Role range: 1515-1529
Archbishop
Appointed Archbishop of York
Role range: 1514-1529
Purchase of Hampton Court
Acquires Hampton Court
Archbishop
Appointed Archbishop of Oxford University
Bishop
Appointed Bishop of Lincoln
Bishop
Begins lobbying Pope Leo to appoint him as a Cardinal. Appointed Bishop of Tournai
1515
Election
Elected Cardinal, "Saint Cecilia beyond Tiber of the Holy Church of Rome"
Inauguration
Sworn in as Lord Chancellor before Henry VIII at the chapel at Eltham
Role range: 1515-1529
Lord Chancellor
Lives in splendor at the palaces of Whitehall & Hampton court. Appointed Lord Chancellor
Role range: 1515-1529
Hampton Court
Wolsey builds Hamton Court it as an ideal Renaissance Cardinals palace in the style of Italian architects. Rebuilds the manor house over the next 7 years to form the nucleus of the present day palace. Hamton Court is based upon Paolo Corteses de Cardinalatu, an instruction book for a Cardinals ideal residence
Role range: 1515-1529
Lord Chancellor
Appointed Cardinal
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.