Death of Elizabeth I
Death of Elizabeth I, at Richmond Palace, the last Tudor monarch
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1603 in England
Explore 53 historical events and records for England in 1603.
Historical records for England in 1603
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 53 unique records.
53Unique records
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18Named events on this page
16Named people on this page
6Places on this page
March
Death of Elizabeth I Ends Tudor Dynasty
Elizabeth dies without children, ending direct Tudor rule and activating the succession of the Scottish king descended from Margaret Tudor.
Council Prepares Peaceful Stuart Succession
Cecil and senior councillors prepare for a rapid proclamation of James VI as Elizabeth's health deteriorates, reducing the danger of a disputed interregnum.
April
Union of Crowns
Accession of James VI of Scotland to the throne of England as James I
Burial
Elizabeths funeral takes place in Westminster Abbey
Parliament
The lower house has 406 members representing 90 county seats & 370 borough seats
Hampton Court Conference
While many of the main Puritan goals were rebutted, the Millenary Petition culminates in the Hampton Court Conference, which eventually led James to commission a new English translation of the bible, now known as the King James Version
Millenary Petition
It is claimed, but not proven, that this petition had 1,000 signatures of Puritan ministers. This carefully worded document expressed Puritan distaste regarding the state of the Anglican Church
Millenary Petition
The Millenary Petition is a list of requests given to James I by Puritans in 1603 when he was travelling to London in order to claim the English throne.
Millenary Petition
While many of the main Puritan goals were rebutted, the Millenary Petition culminates in the Hampton Court Conference, which eventually led James to commission a new English translation of the bible, now known as the King James Version.
May
Gunpowder Treason Plot
Accompanied by John Wrights brother Christopher, Fawkes had also been a member of the 1603 delegation to the Spanish court pleading for an invasion of England
Gunpowder Treason Plot
Thomas Percy, Catesbys friend and John Wrights brother-in-law, was introduced to the plot
Gunpowder Treason Plot
Accompanied by John Wrights brother Christopher, Fawkes had also been a member of the 1603 delegation to the Spanish court pleading for an invasion of England
Gunpowder Treason Plot
Thomas Percy, Catesbys friend and John Wrights brother-in-law, was introduced to the plot
June
Gunpowder Treason Plot
Thomas Percy meets with Robert Catesby, a religious zealot similarly unimpressed with the new royal dynasty, & joins Catesbys conspiracy to kill the king and his ministers by blowing up the House of Lords with gunpowder
Gunpowder Treason Plot
Thomas Percy meets with Robert Catesby, a religious zealot similarly unimpressed with the new royal dynasty, & joins Catesbys conspiracy to kill the king and his ministers by blowing up the House of Lords with gunpowder
July
Arrest of Walter Raleigh
Arrested for allegedly plotting with Spain to place Arabella Stuart on the throne
Coronation
Coronation of James I, great grandson of James IV & Margaret Tudor
September
Trial
Sentenced to death at his trial in Winchester
Other events (month unknown)
Bacon Writes On Religious Pacification
Early under James I Bacon advocated approaches to easing disputes within the English church. His argument connected political stability to careful distinctions in matters of belief.
Bye Plot
In the absence of any sign that James would move to end the persecution of Catholics, as some had hoped for.
Bye Plot
In what became known as the Bye Plot, the priests William Watson and William Clark planned to kidnap James and hold him in the Tower of London until he agreed to be more tolerant towards Catholics.
Bye Plot
several members of the clergy (including two anti-Jesuit priests) decided to take matters into their own hands.
Bye Plot
In the absence of any sign that James would move to end the persecution of Catholics, as some had hoped for.
Bye Plot
In what became known as the Bye Plot, the priests William Watson and William Clark planned to kidnap James and hold him in the Tower of London until he agreed to be more tolerant towards Catholics.
Bye Plot
several members of the clergy (including two anti-Jesuit priests) decided to take matters into their own hands.
Chancellor
Appointed Chancellor
Cheshire Proof Map
An early proof state of Speed's map of Cheshire is produced as work on his national atlas advances.
Gunpowder Treason Plot
Catesby helped to organise a mission to the new king of Spain, Philip III, urging Philip to launch an invasion attempt on England, which they assured him would be well supported, particularly by the English Catholics.
Gunpowder Treason Plot
Thomas Percy meets with Robert Catesby, a religious zealot similarly unimpressed with the new royal dynasty, & joins Catesbys conspiracy to kill the king and his ministers by blowing up the House of Lords with gunpowder.
Gunpowder Treason Plot
Following James's succession to the English throne in 1603, Percy became disenchanted with the new king, whom he supposed had reneged on his promises of toleration for English Catholics.
Gunpowder Treason Plot
Thomas Percy meets with Robert Catesby, a religious zealot similarly unimpressed with the new royal dynasty, and joins Catesby's conspiracy to kill the king and his ministers by blowing up the House of Lords with gunpowder.
Gunpowder Treason Plot
Thomas Percy, Catesby's friend and John Wright's brother-in-law, was introduced to the plot.
Gunpowder Treason Plot
Thomas Wintour was chosen as the emissary, but the Spanish king, although sympathetic to the plight of Catholics in England, was intent on making peace with James
Invasion of England
Catesby helped to organise a mission to the new king of Spain, Philip III, urging Philip to launch an invasion attempt on England, which they assured him would be well supported, particularly by the English Catholics.
Invasion of England
Robert Catesby may have sent Christopher Wright to Spain to see if Philip III would continue to support English Catholics after Elizabeth's death.
Invasion of England
Thomas Wintour was chosen as the emissary, but the Spanish king, although sympathetic to the plight of Catholics in England, was intent on making peace with James.
Invasion of England
Thomas Wintour was chosen as the emissary, but the Spanish king, although sympathetic to the plight of Catholics in England, was intent on making peace with James
Invasion of England
Robert Catesby may have sent Christopher Wright to Spain to see if Philip III would continue to support English Catholics after Elizabeth's death
Kings Men
After the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603, the Lord Chamberlains Men company is awarded a royal patent by the new king, James I, and changed its name to the King's Men
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.