Rebellion of Rebels in London Bridge
Marys supporters occupied London Bridge in force, and the rebels were unable to penetrate into the city
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1553 in England
Explore 213 historical events and records for England in 1553.
Historical records for England in 1553
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 213 unique records.
213Unique records
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27Named events on this page
13Named people on this page
9Places on this page
February
March
Parliament
Edward VI's second Parliament opens in London.
Taxation Grant
Parliament grants Edward VI two fifteenths and tenths during the final parliamentary session of his reign.
Parliament
Edward VI's second Parliament closes after a short final session of the reign.
James Dyer Chosen Commons Speaker
James Dyer becomes Speaker for Edward VI's final Parliament as the young king's health and succession become increasingly urgent political concerns.
May
Marriage
Forced to marry Lady Jane Grey by his father, the Duke of Northumberland
Marriage
Marries Lord Guildford Dudley, son of the Duke of Northumberland
Jane Grey Marries Guildford Dudley
Jane Grey marries Guildford Dudley, joining the senior Grey succession claimant to the family of the politically dominant Duke of Northumberland.
Marriage to Guildford Dudley
Jane Grey marries Guildford Dudley, linking the designated Protestant heir to Northumberland's family shortly before Edward VI's succession arrangements take effect.
Device for the Succession
As his health worsens, Edward develops a succession plan intended to prevent Mary from inheriting the Crown.
June
Succession
Edward VI orders Mary & Elizabeth to be made "illegitimate & lawfully begotten"
Succession
Judges are shown Edward's devise for the succession and asked to put his proposed settlement into legal form.
Succession
Edward VI orders Mary & Elizabeth to be made "illegitimate & lawfully begotten"
Succession
Edward VI orders Mary & Elizabeth to be made "illegitimate & lawfully begotten"
Succession Devise Legal Pressure
Edward Montagu and other judges are ordered to give legal form to Edward VI’s succession devise despite warning that overturning the statutory succession could be treasonous.
Judges Summoned on Succession
Edward summons senior judges to his sickbed and presses them to prepare his succession devise as letters patent.
Forty-Two Articles
The Forty-Two Articles are promulgated as a Protestant doctrinal statement shortly before Edward's death.
Devise for Succession
Edward VI's succession device excludes Mary and Elizabeth from the throne
Devise for the Succession
Edward VI formalises a succession scheme favouring Lady Jane Grey and her male heirs, excluding Mary and Elizabeth from the crown after his death.
Excluded from Succession
Mary and Elizabeth are excluded by Edward VI's device for the succession
Letters Patent for the Succession
Letters patent embody Edward's succession settlement and place Lady Jane Grey ahead of Mary and Elizabeth.
Succession
Mary & Elizabeth become "illegitimate & lawfully begotten"
Succession
Mary & Elizabeth become "illegitimate & lawfully begotten"
Succession
One of the subscribers of the device settling the crown on Lady Jane Grey, but he swiftly abandoned his support
Device Expanded to Lady Jane
Edward alters his succession plan so that Lady Jane Grey herself, not merely hypothetical male descendants, can inherit if he dies without issue.
Device for the Succession
Supports Edward VI's succession plan favouring Lady Jane Grey.
Edward VI Illness
Edward VI's illness makes Mary's succession politically urgent
Forty-Two Articles Authorised
The Forty-Two Articles are issued with royal authority, summarising Protestant doctrine shortly before Edward VI's death.
July
Move to Kenninghall
Mary leaves Hunsdon for Kenninghall to avoid Northumberland's control
Succession
Advised to escape the control of Northumberland, moves to Kenninghall, Norfolk
Succession
Escorts Mary during her entry in state into London
Coronation
Under the influence of the Duke of Northumberland, lady Jane Grey is crowned Queen. Mary & Elizabeth were removed from the succession
Death of Edward VI
Edward VI dies at Greenwich Palace aged fifteen after a prolonged pulmonary illness.
Death of Edward VI
Edward VI dies leaving a disputed Protestant succession
Edward VI Death
Edward VI's death exposes reformers to danger.
Succession
Proclaimed Queen by Northumberland who had persuaded Edward VI to leave her the throne
Claim to Throne
Mary asserts her hereditary claim after Edward VI dies
Escape to East Anglia
Mary escapes Northumberland's control and rallies support in East Anglia
Jane Informed of Royal Succession
Jane is informed that Edward's device names her as successor, placing her at the centre of the attempt to exclude Mary and Elizabeth.
Jane Summoned to Syon House
Jane is summoned to Syon House after Edward's death, where councillors prepare to tell her that the crown has been assigned to her.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.