1558 in History

Elizabeth succeeds after the death of Mary I

Elizabeth succeeds Mary as Queen of England

Formally proclaimed Queen outside the Palace of Westminster

Henry II authorizes the French campaign against English Calais

Later tradition links Mary's deathbed grief with the loss of Calais

Later tradition links Mary's deathbed sorrow with the loss of Calais

The last English possession on the French mainland is lost during Mary's reign

Mary's government attempts to respond as French forces attack Calais

Calais falls and England loses its last mainland French stronghold

Wentworth surrenders Calais after French forces overwhelm the town

Henry II celebrates the recovery of Calais from England

French forces capture Arlon during the wider war against the Habsburgs

Sees action during the French capture of Calais from England

Supports French forces during the capture of Calais

Guise captures Calais from England after a rapid winter campaign

Helps capture Calais from the English

Guise captures Calais from the English during the Italian War

Captures Calais from the English in a major French victory

Guise captures Calais from the English

Henry II gains a major propaganda victory from the capture of Calais

French forces capture Calais the last major English possession on the French mainland

The last major English possession on French soil is taken by the French

French forces capture Calais during Mary's final year

Russian forces capture Dorpat during the Livonian campaign

Guise captures Fort Nieulay during the Calais campaign

Guise captures Guisnes after the fall of Calais

Russian forces capture Narva during the opening phase of the Livonian War

Guise captures Risbank and isolates Calais harbour

Guise captures key defences protecting Calais harbour

French forces capture Thionville during the campaign against Habsburg positions

Mary dies and the Catholic restoration soon gives way to Elizabeth’s settlement.

Appointed Chief Secretary of State

Mary's councillors prepare for Elizabeth's succession as Mary's illness worsens

Beginning of the Livonian War

Thermes is defeated and captured by Spanish forces

Mary accepts Elizabeth as successor under pressure from her councillors

Mary recognizes Elizabeth as successor under pressure from her councillors

Ferdinand I is recognized as Holy Roman Emperor after Charles V's abdication

English naval support helps Spanish forces near Gravelines

Elizabeth receives the Spanish ambassador Count de Feria after her accession

Elizabeth begins forming her first Privy Council

Elizabeth appoints Francis Knollys to her Privy Council

French forces open the campaign that leads to the fall of Calais

French forces take Calais from England

Mary marries Francis and later becomes Queen Consort of France

Grey defends Guisnes after Calais falls

French forces capture Guisnes after Calais falls

Guisnes falls after the loss of Calais

Grey surrenders Guisnes after prolonged French pressure

Mary's health worsens as councillors prepare for succession

Mary's health declines sharply in the final months of her reign

Succeeds as Holy Roman Emperor after Charles V's abdication is recognized

Ivan IV begins the Livonian War against the Livonian Confederation

Calais falls to French forces during Mary's final year

England loses Calais to French forces during Mary's reign

Mary's death ends the burnings of Protestants carried out during her reign

Mary's death ends the burnings of Protestants under her regime

Mary remains in France after marrying the future Francis II

Mary Queen of Scots marries the French dauphin Francis

Francis marries Mary Queen of Scots and strengthens the Franco Scottish alliance

Elizabeth's government prepares the funeral ceremonies for Mary I

Mary's reign ends with Calais remembered as a severe political loss

Elizabeth receives news of Mary's death and her own accession

Elizabeth appoints Nicholas Bacon as Lord Keeper

Elizabeth summons her first parliament for the coming year

Mary's second suspected pregnancy proves false and succession anxiety grows

Elizabeth is formally proclaimed Queen outside Westminster

Appointed member of Elizabeth I's Council

Clinton leads English raids against the French coast

Clinton commands the English fleet raiding the French coast near Le Conquet

Elizabeth is accepted as successor as Mary's health fails

Elizabeth's ministers begin preparing a Protestant religious settlement

Ministers prepare legislation restoring royal supremacy over the Church

Elizabeth appoints Robert Dudley as Master of the Horse

English rule of Calais ends when French forces take the town

The last major English possession on French soil is lost

English rule of Calais ends after more than two centuries

Mary's second expected pregnancy proves false and succession anxiety increases

Mary again believes herself pregnant but no child is born

Mary again believes she is pregnant but no child is born

French operations continue against Habsburg strongholds after Calais

Begins the siege that leads to the French capture of Calais

Guise opens the winter campaign against Calais

Guise's forces besiege Thionville during the 1558 campaign

Elizabeth avoids committing herself to a marriage with Philip II

Elizabeth succeeds Mary I and is proclaimed Queen in London

Ferdinand I is recognized as Holy Roman Emperor

Under pressure from councillors Mary recognizes Elizabeth as her successor

Elizabeth is informed that the Privy Council has accepted her succession

The Privy Council recognizes Elizabeth as Mary I's successor

After Mary I dies the French court backs Mary Queen of Scots claim to England and Ireland

Philip supports Elizabeth's succession to block the French-backed claim of Mary Queen of Scots

Calais is surrendered to French forces

Calais falls to France after a rapid winter campaign

Elizabeth brings Thomas Parry into her early governing circle

Philip II continues the Habsburg war against France

Mary accepts arrangements that allow Elizabeth to succeed peacefully

Elizabeth appoints William Cecil as principal secretary

Charles V dies in retirement at the monastery of Yuste

Death of Charles V in retirement at Yuste

Death of Mary I at St James Palace

Mary I dies and Elizabeth succeeds to the throne

Mary dies and Elizabeth succeeds to the English throne

Mary dies at St James Palace after a reign of five years

Mary dies at St James Palace and her reign ends

Dies shortly after the death of Mary I

Mary I dies leaving Philip II without the English crown

Rumours of Mary's death spread before the official announcement

Egmont leads Spanish cavalry to victory over France at Gravelines

Spanish forces defeat the French near Gravelines