1078
Tower of London
Begins construction of the Tower of London starting with the white Tower
Historical place archive
Browse historical events and people recorded at Tower of London in England. The records below are rendered directly from the World History Database into this page's initial HTML.
Begins construction of the Tower of London starting with the white Tower
The White Tower of the Tower of London is completed
Arrested by Henry I for extortion, the Towers 1st recorded prisoner
Escapes from the Tower of London
Appointed Constable of the Tower of London
Takes refuge in the Tower of London
Matilda is driven out of London due to her arrogance. Londoners besiege Matildas ally Geoffrey de Mandeville
Matilda is driven out of London due to her arrogance. Londoners besiege Matildas ally Geoffrey de Mandeville
Appointed Constable of the Tower of London
Appointed Constable of the Tower of London
Arrested for protesting against the taxation levied for the rescue of Richard I
Arrested during the Irish rebellion
Helps capture the Tower of London to secure King Johns agreement to the Magna Carta
Helps capture the Tower of London to secure King Johns agreement to the Magna Carta
The Tower of London is held by the royalists
Arrested for the murder of Lambert Leglis
Imprisoned by Henry III, charged with treason & stripped of his offices
Imprisoned by Henry III, charged with treason & stripped of his offices
Frederick II sends Henry III 3 leopards, kept in the Tower of London
Retreats to the Tower of London
Forced to seek refuge in the Tower of London
Londoners join Despenser who hold the Tower & burn the manor of the King of the Romans
Lays siege to the Tower of London
Arrested for corruption
Arrested for criminal partiality in high office
Arrested for arrempting to steal the crown jewels
Death of Thomas Le Boys, executed
Beheaded for supporting the Scots
Leads an army & captures Roger Mortimer & keeps him in the Tower
Arrested by an army led by Edward II
Escapes from the Tower of London
Held at the Tower of London by Roger de Mortimer
Keeps Edward III as a prisoner after the murder of Edward II
Held in the Tower of London
Imprisoned in the Tower & ransomed for 10,000 pounds
After crossing London Bridge without resistance, the rebels then gained entry to the Tower of London and captured Simon Sudbury, the unpopular Archbishop of Canterbury, before proceeding to behead him
After crossing London Bridge without resistance, the rebels then gained entry to the Tower of London and captured Simon Sudbury, the unpopular Archbishop of Canterbury, before proceeding to behead him
After crossing London Bridge without resistance, the rebels then gained entry to the Tower of London and captured Simon Sudbury, the unpopular Archbishop of Canterbury, before proceeding to behead him
Takes refuge in the Tower of London
The Peasants revolt reaches the Tower of London. Takes refuge in the Tower & addresses the crowd in the Green. Arranges to meet the crowd the next day
Richard II seeks refuge in the Tower. Rebels attack John of Gaunts palace at the Savoy
Peasants break into the Tower of London & execute, among others, Simon Sudbury
Arrested by Richard II & imprisoned in revenge for his action as a Lord Appellant
Tried by Richard II, confesses to treachery
Richard II abidicates, Henry IV becomes the 1st Lancastrian monarch
Forced to abdicate by the Earl of Hereford, son of John of Gaunt, who claims the crown. Abdicates under pressure from the nobles in the Tower of London
Sends James I to the Tower of London
Arrested & taken to the Tower of London
Arrested & taken to the Tower of London
Henry V becomes insane & without his protector Somerset is locked up
Released from the Tower after Henry VI regains his sanity
Released from the Tower of London by Henry VI
Begins pounding the walls of the Tower of London
Begins pounding the walls of the Tower of London
Begins to help organixe the details for the siege of the Tower of London
Begins to help organize the details for the siege of the Tower of London
Warwick besieges London & forces the Lancastrians to retreat to the Tower of London
Organizes a siege of the Tower of London with the Mayor of the City
Heps successfully besiege the Tower of London for Edward of York, he was part of the latters triumphal entry into London and was elected a Knight of the Garter a few days after
Imprisoned in the Tower, Louis XI of France comes to his aid, siding against Edward IV
Imprisoned for a 2nd time in the Tower of London, in the Wakefield Tower
Henry VI dies in the Tower & Edward reclaims the throne
Death of Henry VI, assassinated, Edward reclaims the throne
Death of George of Clarence
Executed for treason
Executed for treason
The " Princes in the Tower" are killed by Richard III
Death of Richard Duke of York, assasinated, 1 of the 2 "Princes of the Tower"
Fearing the Woodvilles would attempt to monopolise power, Gloucester quickly moved to take control of Edward V and had Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers, and Richard Grey, brother and son to Elizabeth Woodville, arrested. The young King was transferred to the Tower of London to await the coronation
Has Stanley arrested for treason during a meeting of the Council at the Tower. Has Morton arrested for treason during a meeting of the Council at the Tower
Has Stanley arrested for treason during a meeting of the Council at the Tower. Has Morton arrested for treason during a meeting of the Council at the Tower
Has Edward Vs brother Richard Duke of York moved from the sanctuary of Westminster
Kept in the Tower, the last Plantagenet & a threat to Henry VII
Arrested by Henry VII
Arrested at Bosworth & kept at the Tower for 3 years by Henry VII
Has the Yorkist heir Edward Earl of Warwick put in the Tower of London
Released from the Tower having obtained a reversal of his & his fathers attainder
Executed for leading e rebellion in Cornwall
Arrested & taken to the Tower after the siege of Exeter
Escapes briefly from the Tower of London
Warbeck is recaptured after his escape and is transferred to the Tower of London under stricter confinement.
Pretends to be Edward Earl of Warwick & is arrested
Executed for allegedly conspring with Perkin Warbeck as a 2nd pretender to the throne
Death of Ralph Wulfard, executed for treason
Executed for allegedly conspring with Perkin Warbeck as a 2nd pretender to the throne
Pretender to the throne, son of Edward IVs brother the Duke of Clarence
A plot involving Perkin Warbeck and Edward, Earl of Warwick, is uncovered while both are prisoners in the Tower.
Death of Ralph Wulfard, executed for treason
The pretender to the throne is hanged in the Tower of London
Edward, Earl of Warwick, a senior Yorkist claimant, is executed after being convicted of treason.
Edmund de la Pole is imprisoned after Philip of Burgundy surrenders the Yorkist claimant to Henry VII.
Imprisoned in the Tower of London
Rides to the Tower with an escort led John de Vere with fears of unrest
Empson & Dudley are scapegoats for the extortion of Henry VIIs ministers
Empson & Dudley are scapegoats for the extortion of Henry VIIs ministers
Really executed as a scapegoat for financial irregularities. Executed for "constructive treason" & preventing the King from removing him from power
Really executed as a scapegoat for financial irregularities. Executed for "constructive treason" & preventing the King from removing him from power
Executed for "constructive treason" & preventing the King from removing him from power
Has Edmund de le Pole executed for acting as a mercenary in the French Army. Edmund de le Pole, supported by France as the "White Rose" pretender
Thomas Wyatt is arrested for adultery with Anne Boleyn. Mark Smeaton is arrested for adultery with Anne Boleyn
Elizabeth Barton, the "Holy Maid of Kent", is arrested for treason
Elizabeth Barton, the "Holy Maid of Kent", is arrested for treason
Refuses to swear to Henry VIIIs oath of succession
Refuses to swear to Henry VIIIs oath of succession
Thomas More writes devotional works while imprisoned for refusing to accept the royal religious settlement.
Sir Thomas More is arrested for refusing to take the oath of succession
Imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he writes his devotional Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation
Imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he writes his devotional Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation
Thomas More is imprisoned in the Tower of London after refusing the oath of succession.
Death of Elizabeth Barton, executed
Edward Bocking is hanged at Tyburn for heresy
Elizabeth Barton is hanged at Tyburn for heresy
John Fisher is arrested for refusing to take the oath of succession
Sent to the Tower for refusing to take the oath of succession
Sent to the Tower for refusing to take the oath of succession. Like Thomas More, Fisher takes the line that since the statute condemns only those speaking maliciously against the King's new title, there is safety in silence
Falls into a trap laid for him by Richard Rich, who perjures himself to obtain Thomas Mores conviction.
Fisher was taken in by Richard Rich and says that he is convinced "that the King was not, nor could be, by the Law of God, Supreme Head in earth of the Church of England".
Rich tells Fisher that for his own consciences sake the King wished to know, in strict secrecy, Fishers real opinion.
Falls into a trap laid for him by Richard Rich, who perjures himself to obtain Thomas Mores conviction.
Fisher was taken in by Richard Rich and says that he is convinced "that the King was not, nor could be, by the Law of God, Supreme Head in earth of the Church of England".
Rich tells Fisher that for his own consciences sake the King wished to know, in strict secrecy, Fishers real opinion.
The See of Rochester is declared vacant
Put on trial in Westminster Hall before a court of seventeen, including Thomas Cromwell, Anne Boleyns father, and ten justices, the only testimony is that of Richard Rich, Fisher is condemned to death
Put on trial in Westminster Hall before a court of seventeen, including Thomas Cromwell, Anne Boleyns father, and ten justices, the only testimony is that of Richard Rich, Fisher is condemned to death
Thomas Cromwell visits Thomas More in the Tower and urges him to accept the oath and royal supremacy.
Thomas More continues to refuse the oath while avoiding an explicit public denial of Henry VIII's supremacy.
Found guilty of treason & sentenced to death
Found guilty of treason & sentenced to death
Death of John Fisher, executed
John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, is executed
Sir Thomas More is executed
Thomas More is executed after refusing to accept the royal supremacy and succession oath.
Silken Thomas is sent as a prisoner to the Tower of London.
Silken Thomas is sent to the Tower of London as a prisoner after his surrender.
Lord George Rochford is arrested for adultery with Anne Boleyn, Anne's brother
Found guilty of adultery with Anne Boleyn & condemned to die by beheading
Mark Smeaton is arrested for having an affair with Anne Boleyn
Mark Smeaton is arested for having an affair with Anne Boleyn
Henry Norriss is arrested for having an affair with Anne Boleyn
Henry Norris is arrested for having an affair with Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn is arrested and taken to the Tower of London on charges of adultery, incest and treason.
George Boleyn is arrested with other men accused in the case against Anne Boleyn.
George Boleyn is arrested for high treason. Anne Boleyn is imprisoned in the Tower of London
George Boleyn is arrested for high treason
Francis Weston is arrested for high treason
George Boleyn is arrested for high treason
William Brereton is arrested for high treason
William Brereton is arrested for high treason. Francis Weston is arrested for high treason
Francis Weston is arrested for high treason
George Boleyn is arrested for high treason
William Brereton is arrested for high treason. Francis Weston is arrested for high treason
William Brereton is arrested for high treason
Arrested for infidelities with Anne Boleyn
Arrested for infidelities with Anne Boleyn
Thomas Wyatt is arrested for infidelities with Anne Boleyn. Richard Page is arrested for infidelities with Anne Boleyn
Thomas Wyatt is arrested for high treason. Richard Page is arrested for infidelities with Anne Boleyn
Thomas Wyatt is arrested for high treason
Cranmer sees Anne in the Tower and hears her confession
Cranmer pronounces Henrys marriage to Anne null & void
Buried in the Chapel of St Peter-ad-Vincula in the Tower, where she remains
Henry VIII has Cromwell arrested for his part played in the marriage to Anne of Cleves
Henry VIII has Cromwell arrested for his part played in the marriage to Anne of Cleves
Thomas Cromwell is executed after losing Henry VIII's confidence following the Anne of Cleves marriage.
Cranmer hands Henry a letter accusing the Queen of living "most corruptly & sensually"
Death of Francis Dereham, executed for treason
Death of Thomas Culpeper, executed for treason
Executed after Catherine Howard admits prenuptial unchastity with Dereham & Culpepper
Thomas Culpeper is executed for treason, an alleged lover of Catherine Howard. Francis Dereham is executed for treason, an alleged lover of Catherine Howard
Executed after Catherine Howard confesses unchastity with Dereham & Culpepper
Death of Francis Dereham, executed for treason
Thomas Culpeper is executed for treason, an alleged lover of Catherine Howard. Francis Dereham is executed for treason, an alleged lover of Catherine Howard
Death of Thomas Culpeper, executed for treason
Is executed by beheading on Tower Green following the parliamentary attainder.
Is executed on Tower Green with Catherine Howard after being condemned for assisting the queen's meetings with Thomas Culpeper.
Arrested for advocating that his father become Regent after Henry VIII's death
Arrested and sent to the Tower for opposing the Six Articles.
Is imprisoned during Henry VIII's final conservative reaction.
Arrested & sent to the Tower, increases Somersets power
Placed under arrest by his brother, Edward the Lord Protector. For scheming to marry Edward VI to Lady Jane Grey & himself to Pricess Elizabeth
Seymour is arrested for fraud
Arrested for conspiring to marry Elizabeth to Thomas Seymour
Death of Thomas Seymour, executed
Seymour is executed for treason
Seymour is executed for treason
Swept from power & imprisoned by a coalition led by Warwick
Released & reconiled with his rivals
Arrested for a 2nd time by thw Warwick led coalition
Arrested & placed in the Tower after the death of Edward VI. Apologises for reversing the will of Henry VIII in favour of Lady Jane Grey, too late
Is imprisoned in the Tower after the succession crisis.
Taken to the Tower & executed
Her accession is seen as a plot by Marquess of Dorset & the Duke of Northumberland
Brought to the Tower & cermonially received as Queen
Attends a private Mass for Edward in the Tower
Mary attends a private Catholic Mass for Edward VI in the Tower
Executed by Queen Mary after the fall of Lady Jane Grey after 2 weeks
Death of John Dudley, executed
The Earl of Northumberland & 2 of his accomplices are executed
Executed for trying to prevent Marys succession
Is imprisoned with other Protestant leaders.
Cranmer is imprisoned as the Catholic restoration gathers force.
Sent to the Tower but no implication in the Wyat rebellion is found
Imprisoned for 3 months. Convinced she will be executed, asks for a French swordsman with a sharp sword
Lady Jane Grey, Nortumberlands nine day puppet Queen, is executed
Is imprisoned after the rebellion collapses.
Is imprisoned and later tried for treason.
Is imprisoned for involvement in the rebellion.
Threatens to fire Tower guns on Southwark if Wyatt remains.
Demands control of the Tower and custody of the queen.
Taken prisoner after the uprising, executed at Tower Green for treason
Taken to the Tower & executed. Taken prisoner after the uprising, executed at Tower Green for treason
Jane Grey is executed after her father supports rebellion against Mary
Jane Grey is executed after rebellion renews fears over Protestant succession.
Taken prisoner after the uprising, executed at Tower Green for treason
Is executed after Wyatt's rising makes Jane Grey dangerous.
Guildford Dudley is executed after the Wyatt Rebellion makes Jane Grey politically dangerous.
Is executed because the rebellion renews succession fears.
Lady Jane Grey is executed after her father's support for the Wyatt Rebellion.
Authorises Lady Jane Grey's execution after Wyatt's rebellion.
Rowed through traitors gate
Gage receives Elizabeth into custody at the Tower
Elizabeth is investigated while Mary defends the Catholic settlement.
Is sent to the Tower while her links to the rebellion are examined.
Elizabeth is imprisoned while Mary investigates links to the Wyatt Rebellion.
Holds Elizabeth in custody after the rebellion.
Orders Elizabeth imprisoned during the investigation.
Bedingfield is assigned to escort and guard Elizabeth
Elizabeth leaves the Tower and is placed under guard
Elizabeth leaves the Tower but remains under close guard
Arrested for plotting against Mary I
Arrested for plotting against Mary I
Arrested for plotting against Mary I, convicted of treason but pardoned
Arrested for plotting against Mary I, convicted of treason but pardoned
Arrested for plotting against Mary I, convicted of treason but pardoned
Conspirators linked to Henry Dudley are imprisoned in the Tower
Imprisoned for marrying Lady Katherine Grey without the Queen's permission
Katherine Grey is imprisoned for marrying Edward Seymour without royal permission
Elizabeth orders Katherine Grey confined after her secret Seymour marriage is discovered
Birth of Edward Seymour Lord Beauchamp son of Hertford and Katherine Grey
Katherine Grey is discussed by some councillors during Elizabeth's illness
Released from the Tower of London
Arrested for introducing a Bill to repeal ecclesiastical laws & a new prayer book
Imprisoned when Elizabeth I discovers his marriage to Elizabeth Throckmorton
Catesby is arrested because of his Catholic sympathies during Elizabeth Is illness
Arrested for allegedly plotting with Spain to place Arabella Stuart on the throne
James I has Andrew Melville arrested for mocking the English Church
Arrested for involvement with the Gunpowder Plot, 1605-1621
Guy Fawkes is arrested for his part in the gunpowder plot. For 2 days Fawkes is the only suspect & his name becomes synonymous with the Powder Treason, the Gunpowder Plot
For 2 days Fawkes is the only suspect & his name becomes synonymous with the Powder Treason, the Gunpowder Plot
For 2 days Fawkes is the only suspect & his name becomes synonymous with the Powder Treason, the Gunpowder Plot
For 2 days Fawkes is the only suspect & his name becomes synonymous with the Powder Treason, the Gunpowder Plot
Released after 13 yrs
Agrees to undertake an expedition to Guiana in search of gold
Promises not to attack any Spannish possessions
Appointed Lieutenant of the Tower of London
Strafford is committed to the Tower after the Commons presents its impeachment.
Strafford enters the Tower while the Lords consider the impeachment accusations.
Laud is committed to the Tower while Parliament prepares its case against him.
Strafford tells Charles that he will not obstruct assent intended to preserve public peace.
Laud gave Strafford a final blessing from the Tower as the condemned Earl passed toward execution.
The Commons commits Palmer after his challenge to the Grand Remonstrance proceedings.
Lunsford's appointment alarms Londoners who distrust his royalist reputation.
Charles appoints Thomas Lunsford as Lieutenant of the Tower, provoking public opposition.
Charles appoints Thomas Lunsford as Lieutenant of the Tower, provoking public opposition.
Byron replaces Lunsford as Lieutenant of the Tower.
Charles appoints John Byron as the new Lieutenant of the Tower.
Charles appoints John Byron as the new Lieutenant of the Tower.
Hopton is imprisoned after opposing Parliament's claim to command the militia.
Gardiner is imprisoned for defending royal policies associated with ship money.
Hopton is imprisoned after opposing Parliament's claim to command the militia.
Gardiner is imprisoned for defending royal policies associated with ship money.
Pym supports guards preventing the King from gaining unrestricted control of the Tower.
Dering is released after imprisonment arising from conflict with Parliament.
Parliament directs Holland to help secure the Tower of London.
Parliament appoints Sir John Conyers Lieutenant of the Tower of London.
Parliament removes Byron from the lieutenancy of the Tower of London.
Held in the Tower of London from 1644 to 1646 after his capture at Nantwich.
While in prison Monck writes observations on military and political affairs.
Lilburne's imprisonment helps turn a circle of supporters into a wider Leveller movement, as campaigns for his liberty are presented as campaigns for the birthright liberties of all freeborn Englishmen
Overton is imprisoned in the Tower with Lilburne, Walwyn and Prince after the Council of State moves against the Leveller leadership
Walwyn is imprisoned in the Tower with Lilburne, Overton and Prince as the government suppresses the Leveller leadership
Walwyn is arrested with Lilburne, Overton and Thomas Prince after renewed Leveller attacks on the new regime, showing the Commonwealth's determination to break the movement's leadership
Lilburne and the imprisoned Leveller leaders issue "An Agreement of the Free People of England" as a proposed constitutional settlement
Thomas Blood is arrested for attempting to steal the crown jewels & released
Thomas Blood is arrested for attempting to steal the crown jewels & released
Imprisoned until 1684. Although pardoned by Charles II, Danby is imprisoned in the Tower
Released from prison
Executed on Tower Hill
Despite begging for mercy, Monmouth is executed by Jack Ketch on Tower Hill. It is said that it took multiple blows of the axe to sever his head
Despite begging for mercy, Monmouth is executed by Jack Ketch on Tower Hill. It is said that it took multiple blows of the axe to sever his head
Committed to the Tower in May on a high-treason accusation arising from a fabricated Jacobite plot.
Provenance
These entries are generated from stored World History Database records whose country and place fields match England and Tower of London. Names, dates, event labels and descriptions are reviewed and normalised as the database develops. Historical place names may not match modern administrative boundaries.
This database is a research index. For formal scholarly citation, verify individual claims against appropriate primary, archival, academic or specialist sources.