Queen Elizabeth I reign was a major part of the 1500s; many events in her life effected the lives of her subjects and the world at large. The following are two timelines: one of Elizabeth's personal life and the other of the world in general during her reign. Many events are present on both timelines because not only were they significant in Elizabeth's life but they were also significant to England or the world at large.
September 7, 1533
Elizabeth is born in Greenwhich, UK May 19, 1536 Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth’s mother, is executed on Tower Hill January 28, 1547 King Henry VIII the father of Queen Elizabeth I dies and her younger brother Edward VI becomes king. July 6, 1553 King Edward VI dies of tuberculosis, Elizabeth’s older sister Mary I becomes Queen and declares England to be a Catholic state once more. March 18, 1554 Rumors of Elizabeth's involvement in a rebellion against Mary have her imprisoned in the Tower of London for eight weeks on false charges. November 17, 1558 Queen Mary I dies. Accession of Queen Elizabeth. Elizabeth re-established the Protestant Anglican Church. (Reigned 1558-1603) January 13, 1559 Elizabeth I is officially crowned Queen of England a title she will hold for 44 years May 15, 1567 Mary Queen of Scots (Catholic) is imprisoned by Elizabeth in the Tower of London for being accused of being involved in plotting a rebellion against Elizabeth. Elizabeth later releases Mary but keeps her under house arrest. 1569 The Nevilles of Durham and Percys of Northumberland plot to overthrow Elizabeth I and reinstate Roman Catholicism in “The Rising of the North”, but Elizabeth defeats them. 1570 The excommunication of Elizabeth I by the Catholic Church. September 26, 1580 Francis Drake, one of Elizabeth's favorite subjects, returns to England after his voyage around the world. July 1, 1586 Treaty of Berwick - Queen Elizabeth and James VI of Scotland (Mary Queen of Scots son & Elizabeth's future successor) form a league of amity. 1586 The Babbington Plot is discovered - Sir Francis Walsingham discovers plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth and replace her with Mary Queen of Scots. The leader of the plot was Anthony Babbington. Mary Queen of Scots is convicted of involvement in the Babbington plot February 8, 1587 Queen Elizabeth orders the execution of Mary Queen of Scots for her involvement in the Babbington plot. 1587 England begins war with Spain that will last until Elizabeth's death in 1603. August 8, 1588 The Spanish Armada of 132 ships is defeated by the English fleet of 34 ships and 163 armed merchant vessels under Lord Howard of Effingham, Sir Francis Drake, and Sir John Hawkins December 1594 Shakespeare preforms for Queen Elizabeth and her court. This is one of several times the Bard's plays were performed for her majesty. 1599 The Queen's favorite Robert, Earl of Essex was placed in charge of a large English army to suppress Irish rebels. Instead, Essex signed an unauthorized truce with the Earl of Tyrone - the greatest rebel, because of this Queen Elizabeth deprives Essex of his titles and orders his arrest 1600 Queen Elizabeth I grants charter to East India Company, helping establish England as a world power February 25, 1601 Robert Devereux (1566-1601), Earl of Essex is executed on Tower Green for attempting a rebellion against the Queen. March 24, 1603 Queen Elizabeth dies in Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom, of blood poisoning. James I of England, James VI of Scotland, (great-great-grandson of Henry VII) is proclaimed King of England. |
1531
King Henry VIII splits with the Roman Catholic church and forms the Church of England in order to divorce Lady Catherine and marry Anne Boleyn. This decision begins the English Reformation. January 28, 1547 King Henry VIII the father of Queen Elizabeth I dies and her younger brother Edward VI becomes king. 1547 Tsar Ivan IV (Ivan the terrible) starts to rule in Russia 1549 Introduction of uniform Protestant service in England based on Edward VI's Book of Common Prayer. July 6, 1553 King Edward VI dies of tuberculosis and he left the throne to 'the LadyJane and her heirs male.' Lady Jane reigns for 9 days, then Elizabeth’s older sister Mary I becomes Queen and declares England to be a Catholic state once more. 1554 Protestant rebellion, led by Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger, against Queen Mary I 1555 Under the reign of Queen Mary I, over 300 protestants burnt at the stake causing Queen Mary I to be known as “Bloody Mary”. July 6, 1560 Treaty of Edinburgh between England, France, and Scotland. 1562 England joins the slave trade, shipping slaves from Africa to the Americas 1563 The Black Death (Bubonic Plague) broke out in London 1564 The Peace of Troyes between England and France April 23, 1564 William Shakespeare was born June 19, 1566 Mary Stuart's (Mary Queen of Scots) only child is born, James (future king of Scotland and England) 1566 The Turkish Ottoman Empire reaches its largest size August 24, 1572 St Bartholomew's Day massacre where French Protestants were massacred by French Catholics in Paris. Similar atrocities elsewhere in France result in thousands of deaths. 1577 Alliance between England and Netherlands 1577 Francis Drake sails around the world and returns in 1580 March 18, 1581 Parliament passes strict legislation against Roman Catholics with heavy fines for hearing Mass March 25, 1584 Walter Raleigh receives the patent to explore and settle in North America June 4, 1584 Virginia colony of Roanoke Island established by Sir Walter Raleigh December 8, 1585 Robert Dudley leads the English army to fight the Spanish forces who are occupying the Netherlands 1587 War between England and Spain begins April 19, 1587 Drake destroys the Spanish fleet at Cadiz August 8, 1588 The Spanish Armada of 132 ships is defeated by the English fleet of 34 ships and 163 armed merchant vessels under Lord Howard of Effingham, Sir Francis Drake, and Sir John Hawkins (war between Spain and England continues until 1603) April 10, 1591 James Lancaster sets sail from Plymouth to the East Indies January 30, 1592 The death of Pope Innocent IX during the previous year had left the Papal throne vacant. Ippolito Aldobrandini is elected Pope Clement VIII. 1593 London Theatres close due to the Bubonic Plague (The Black Death). 1593 Penalties are proposed for people who refuse to attend Church of England services and to make it a crime to attend Catholic services. 1596 English fleet under the Earl of Essex and Lord Howard of Effingham capture Cadiz. 1597 Irish rebellion under Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone begins (finally put down 1601) 1597 King Philip II of Spain sends a second armada against England - a storm scatters his ships. 1600 Queen Elizabeth I grants charter to create the East India Company to trade with India. 1601 Elizabethan Poor Law charges the parishes with providing for the needy. March 24, 1603 Queen Elizabeth dies in Richmond, Surrey, UK, of blood poisoning. James I of England, James VI of Scotland, (great-great-grandson of Henry VII) is proclaimed King of England. |