French Attack on Calais
Guise opens a rapid French offensive against the Pale of Calais, exploiting weak winter defences around England's last major possession in France.
Historical events in 1558
142 historical records
January 155843 historical events
Siege of Calais Begins
Guise opens the winter campaign against Calais
Siege of Calais
Begins the siege that leads to the French capture of Calais
French Assault on Calais
French forces open the campaign that leads to the fall of Calais
Capture of Fort Nieulay
Guise captures Fort Nieulay during the Calais campaign
Capture of Risbank
Guise captures Risbank and isolates Calais harbour
Capture of Risbank
Guise captures key defences protecting Calais harbour
Calais Surrendered
Wentworth surrenders Calais after French forces overwhelm the town
Fall of Calais
Guise captures Calais after a short siege, ending more than two centuries of English possession and removing the traditional base for invasions of France.
Calais Lost
The last English possession on the French mainland is lost during Mary's reign
Calais Surrendered
Calais falls and England loses its last mainland French stronghold
Capture of Calais
French forces capture Calais the last major English possession on the French mainland
Capture of Calais
The last major English possession on French soil is taken by the French
Capture of Calais
French forces capture Calais during Mary's final year
French Capture Calais
French forces take Calais from England
Rule of Calais Ends
English rule of Calais ends when French forces take the town
Rule of Calais Ends
The last major English possession on French soil is lost
Surrender of Calais
Calais is surrendered to French forces
Surrender of Calais
Calais falls to France after a rapid winter campaign
Loss of Calais
Calais falls to French forces during Mary's final year
Loss of Calais
England loses Calais to French forces during Mary's reign
Rule of Calais Ends
English rule of Calais ends after more than two centuries
Calais Victory
Henry II celebrates the recovery of Calais from England
Capture of Calais
Henry II gains a major propaganda victory from the capture of Calais
Capture of Calais
Guise captures Calais from England after a rapid winter campaign
Capture of Calais
Helps capture Calais from the English
Capture of Calais
Guise captures Calais from the English during the Italian War
Capture of Calais
Captures Calais from the English in a major French victory
Capture of Calais
Guise captures Calais from the English
Capture of Calais
Sees action during the French capture of Calais from England
Capture of Calais
Supports French forces during the capture of Calais
Guisnes Surrendered
Grey surrenders Guisnes after prolonged French pressure
Guisnes Falls
French forces capture Guisnes after Calais falls
Guisnes Lost
Guisnes falls after the loss of Calais
Capture of Guisnes
Guise captures Guisnes after the fall of Calais
Fall of Guines
Guise's forces take Guines after the fall of Calais, eliminating the remaining major English fortified position in the former Pale.
William Cordell Chosen Commons Speaker
William Cordell becomes Speaker of Mary's final Parliament, which continues sitting into the year of her death.
Guisnes Defence
Grey defends Guisnes after Calais falls
Calais Relief Ordered
Mary's government attempts to respond as French forces attack Calais
Calais Campaign
Henry II authorizes the French campaign against English Calais
Declaration of War
Beginning of the Livonian War
Livonian War Begins
Ivan IV begins the Livonian War against the Livonian Confederation
War with France
Philip II continues the Habsburg war against France
March 15585 historical events
Second Pregnancy Belief
Mary again believes herself pregnant but no child is born
Second Pregnancy Belief
Mary again believes she is pregnant but no child is born
Emperor Recognized
Ferdinand I is recognized as Holy Roman Emperor after Charles V's abdication
Holy Roman Emperor
Succeeds as Holy Roman Emperor after Charles V's abdication is recognized
Succession
Ferdinand I is recognized as Holy Roman Emperor
April 15583 historical events
Marriage to Mary of Scots
Francis marries Mary Queen of Scots and strengthens the Franco Scottish alliance
French Marriage
Mary marries Francis and later becomes Queen Consort of France
Marriage to Francis
Mary Queen of Scots marries the French dauphin Francis
May 15583 historical events
Capture of Narva
Russian forces capture Narva during the opening phase of the Livonian War
Pregnancy Disappointment
Mary's second suspected pregnancy proves false and succession anxiety grows
Second False Pregnancy
Mary's second expected pregnancy proves false and succession anxiety increases
June 15584 historical events
Capture of Arlon
French forces capture Arlon during the wider war against the Habsburgs
Capture of Thionville
French forces capture Thionville during the campaign against Habsburg positions
Siege of Arlon
French operations continue against Habsburg strongholds after Calais
Siege of Thionville
Guise's forces besiege Thionville during the 1558 campaign
July 15585 historical events
English Fleet at Gravelines
English naval support helps Spanish forces near Gravelines
Defeat at Gravelines
Thermes is defeated and captured by Spanish forces
Battle of Gravelines
Egmont leads Spanish cavalry to victory over France at Gravelines
Battle of Gravelines
Spanish forces defeat the French near Gravelines
Capture of Dorpat
Russian forces capture Dorpat during the Livonian campaign
August 15583 historical events
Raid on Conquet
Clinton leads English raids against the French coast
Raid on Le Conquet
Clinton commands the English fleet raiding the French coast near Le Conquet
Marriage Journey
Mary remains in France after marrying the future Francis II
September 15582 historical events
Death of Charles V
Charles V dies in retirement at the monastery of Yuste
Death of Charles V
Death of Charles V in retirement at Yuste
October 15585 historical events
Calais Recovery Negotiating Position
Supports instructions requiring English negotiators to press France over Calais and defend English interests in the approaching peace conference.
Cateau Peace Instructions
Authorises detailed instructions for English commissioners negotiating peace with France while the loss of Calais remains a central issue.
Council Discusses Succession
Mary's councillors prepare for Elizabeth's succession as Mary's illness worsens
Health Declines
Mary's health worsens as councillors prepare for succession
Health of Mary I
Mary's health declines sharply in the final months of her reign
November 155837 historical events
Succession Recognized
The Privy Council recognizes Elizabeth as Mary I's successor
Elizabeth Recognized
Mary accepts Elizabeth as successor under pressure from her councillors
Elizabeth Recognized
Mary recognizes Elizabeth as successor under pressure from her councillors
Succession
Under pressure from councillors Mary recognizes Elizabeth as her successor
Succession Decision
Elizabeth is informed that the Privy Council has accepted her succession
Rumours of Death
Rumours of Mary's death spread before the official announcement
Accession
Elizabeth succeeds after the death of Mary I
Accession
Elizabeth succeeds Mary as Queen of England
Accession
Formally proclaimed Queen outside the Palace of Westminster
News Reaches Hatfield
Elizabeth receives news of Mary's death and her own accession
Proclaimed Queen
Elizabeth is formally proclaimed Queen outside Westminster
Succession
Elizabeth succeeds Mary I and is proclaimed Queen in London
Calais Lament
Later tradition links Mary's deathbed grief with the loss of Calais
Calais Lament
Later tradition links Mary's deathbed sorrow with the loss of Calais
Death of Mary I
Death of Mary I at St James Palace
Death of Mary I
Mary I dies and Elizabeth succeeds to the throne
Death of Mary I
Mary dies and Elizabeth succeeds to the English throne
Death of Mary I
Mary dies at St James Palace after a reign of five years
Death of Mary I
Mary dies at St James Palace and her reign ends
Memory of Calais
Mary's reign ends with Calais remembered as a severe political loss
Succession Rival Claim
After Mary I dies the French court backs Mary Queen of Scots claim to England and Ireland
Catholic Restoration Ends
Mary dies and the Catholic restoration soon gives way to Elizabeth’s settlement.
Marian Persecutions End
Mary's death ends the burnings of Protestants carried out during her reign
Marian Persecutions End
Mary's death ends the burnings of Protestants under her regime
Death of Reginald Pole
Dies shortly after the death of Mary I
Mary I Dies
Mary I dies leaving Philip II without the English crown
Chief Secretary
Appointed Chief Secretary of State
Queen's Council
Appointed member of Elizabeth I's Council
First Council
Elizabeth begins forming her first Privy Council
William Cecil Appointed
Elizabeth appoints William Cecil as principal secretary
Feria Audience
Elizabeth receives the Spanish ambassador Count de Feria after her accession
Francis Knollys Council
Elizabeth appoints Francis Knollys to her Privy Council
Robert Dudley Advanced
Elizabeth appoints Robert Dudley as Master of the Horse
Thomas Parry Council
Elizabeth brings Thomas Parry into her early governing circle
Recognized Successor
Elizabeth is accepted as successor as Mary's health fails
Succession Supported
Philip supports Elizabeth's succession to block the French-backed claim of Mary Queen of Scots
Will and Succession
Mary accepts arrangements that allow Elizabeth to succeed peacefully
December 15587 historical events
Nicholas Bacon Appointed
Elizabeth appoints Nicholas Bacon as Lord Keeper
Spanish Marriage Question
Elizabeth avoids committing herself to a marriage with Philip II
Religious Reform Planned
Ministers prepare legislation restoring royal supremacy over the Church
Parliament Summoned
Elizabeth summons her first parliament for the coming year
Elizabeth's Coronation Planning Begins
Elizabeth's council begins organising the first major public ceremonial display of the new reign after her accession in November.
Mary's Funeral Ordered
Elizabeth's government prepares the funeral ceremonies for Mary I
Religious Policy Planned
Elizabeth's ministers begin preparing a Protestant religious settlement
Chief Baron Appointed
Appointed Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer
Chief Justice Appointed
Appointed Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
Council of Elizabeth
Appointed member of Elizabeth I's Council
Privy Council
Appointed Privy Councillor under Elizabeth I
Speaker of House of Commons
Appointed Speaker of the House of Commons
Lord Chamberlain
Appointed Lord Chamberlain
Foreign Policy Statement at London
Elizabeth is visited by Count de Feria and says she will not be Spain's puppet
Militia Reform
Annual militia rates are planned with regular training and local arsenals
Declaration of War
Mary continues war against France on the side of Spain and Philip II
False Pregnancy
Mary mistakenly believes herself to be pregnant during her final year
War with France Continues
Mary's war against France continues after the loss of Calais
Pole Suspended as Legate
Mary accepts Pole’s suspension as papal legate during conflict with Rome.
Heresy Charge
Faces hostility from Pope Paul IV during the final year of Mary's reign
Master of the Horse
Appointed Master of the Horse by Elizabeth I
Continued War after Calais
Mary's government continues military operations after losing Calais, but England cannot mount an effective invasion capable of recovering the captured territory before her death.
Montaigne Develops Friendship With La Boetie
Montaigne grew close to the humanist magistrate Etienne de La Boetie. Their intellectual companionship shaped his later understanding of friendship as a uniquely profound bond.
Grand Inquisitor
Michele Ghislieri serves as Grand Inquisitor before later becoming Pope Pius V
Grand Inquisitor Appointed
Paul IV appoints Michele Ghislieri as Grand Inquisitor
Rule of Honshu
The Mori add to their land in Honshu
Secretary of Regent
Appointed Secretary to the Regent Mary of Guise
Regency Continues
Mary of Guise continues as regent during her daughter's French marriage
Death of Archibald Campbell
Death of Archibald Campbell 4th Earl of Argyll
Peerage
Succeeds to the title and estates of Earl of Angus
Birth of John Erskine of Mar
Birth of John Erskine later 2nd Earl of Mar
Priest
Appointed priest before later becoming Bishop of Ross