Lord Chancellor
Appointed Lord Chancellor
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1556 in England
Explore 54 historical events and records for England in 1556.
Historical records for England in 1556
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 54 unique records.
54Unique records
1 of 2Page
28Named events on this page
12Named people on this page
5Places on this page
January
Philip Becomes King of Spain
Mary becomes queen consort of Spain when Philip succeeds Charles V
Dudley Plot Betrayed
A plot against Mary is betrayed to Cardinal Pole and conspirators are arrested
Gunpowder Treason Plot
The plot is betrayed to Cardinal Pole & the plotters are arrested & put in the Tower
Plot
The plot is betrayed to Cardinal Pole & the plotters are arrested & put in the Tower
Plot
The plot is betrayed to Cardinal Pole & the plotters are arrested & put in the Tower
March
Pole Ordained Priest
Reginald Pole is ordained priest before becoming archbishop.
Cranmer Burned
Thomas Cranmer is burned after rejecting his earlier recantations.
Death of Thomas Cranmer
Death of Thomas Cranmer
Execution
Holds his hand in the fire which signed the annulment of Henry VIII from Catherine. Burnt at the stake by Mary I
Execution
Cranmer is burned after repudiating his recantations
Execution
Thomas Cranmer is burned after renouncing his earlier recantations
Execution of Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer is burned for heresy during Mary's reign
Oxford Martyrs Legacy
Cranmer is later burned, completing the Oxford martyrdoms.
Archbishop of Canterbury
Consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury
Consecration
Consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury
Pole Archbishop
Reginald Pole is consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury after Cranmer is deprived.
Pole Consecrated
Pole is consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury.
Pole Consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury
Reginald Pole is consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury and becomes the senior English churchman of Mary's restored Catholic establishment.
Henry Peckham Arrested in Dudley Conspiracy
Henry Peckham is arrested after the discovery of the Dudley conspiracy, which seeks to challenge Mary's government and exploit discontent with Spanish influence.
John Daniel Arrested in Dudley Conspiracy
John Daniel is arrested for participation in the Dudley conspiracy and is held while the government investigates the network behind the plot.
May
Arrest of Kat Ashley
Arrested for plotting against Mary I
Plot
Arrested for plotting against Mary I
June
Arrest of Francis Verney
Arrested for plotting against Mary I, convicted of treason but pardoned
Dudley Conspiracy
A failed conspiracy seeks to replace Mary with Elizabeth
Gunpowder Treason Plot
A failed plot to replace Mary with Elizabeth
Plot
A failed plot to replace Mary with Elizabeth
Plot
Arrested for plotting against Mary I, convicted of treason but pardoned
Treason
Arrested for plotting against Mary I, convicted of treason but pardoned
July
Execution
Daniel is executed after the Dudley conspiracy is uncovered
Execution
Peckham is executed for involvement in the Dudley conspiracy
Dudley Conspiracy
Plotters seek to replace Mary with Elizabeth during the Dudley conspiracy
Dudley Conspiracy
Plots an invasion of England to depose Mary and place Elizabeth on the throne
Dudley Conspiracy
Government uncovers a conspiracy linked to Henry Dudley and other opponents of Mary's regime
Dudley Conspiracy Suppressed
Mary's government suppresses the Dudley conspiracy against the regime
Dudley Plot
Henry Dudley's conspiracy aims to place Elizabeth on the throne
Exile Plot
Dudley seeks foreign support for a plot against Mary and Philip
Invasion Plot
Henry Dudley plans foreign-backed action against Mary's government
Plotters Imprisoned
Conspirators linked to Henry Dudley are imprisoned in the Tower
Servants Arrested
Elizabeth's servants and supporters are investigated after the Dudley conspiracy
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.