The Six Wives of Henry VIII Timeline

A daughter, Catalina, was born to Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castille, the monarchs of Spain. She was known as Catherine of Aragon.

A son, Arthur Tudor, was born to King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York at St Swithun’s Priory.

The Treaty of Medina el Campo between England and Spain provided for the marriage of Catherine of Aragon and Prince Arthur.

Henry Tudor, was born to Henry VII and Elizabeth of York at Greenwich Palace, London

Anne Boleyn was born. She was the second daughter to Thomas and Elizabeth Boleyn.

Catherine of Aragon married Prince Arthur at St Paul’s Cathedral. After the wedding celebrations the couple made their home at Ludlow Castle.

Prince Arthur died of an unknown illness at Ludlow Castle leaving Catherine of Aragon a widow.

King Henry VII did not want to lose the treaty with Spain or repay the first part of Catherine of Aragon’s dowry. So Prince Henry, aged 12 years was betrothed to Catherine. 

By 1505 the political situation had changed and a match with Spain was no longer a good prospect. King Henry VII forced Prince Henry to publicly repudiate his betrothal to Catherine of Aragon.

A daughter, Jane, was born to John Seymour and his wife Margery Wentworth at Wulfhall, Wiltshire.

King Henry VII died of tuberculosis at Richmond Palace. He was succeeded by his son, Henry who took the throne as King Henry VIII.

Henry VIII married his brother’s widow, Catherine of Aragon at the Church of Observant Friars.

A son, Henry, was born to Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon at Richmond Palace.

Henry and Catherine’s son, Prince Henry died.

Katherine Parr was born to Maud and Sir Thomas Parr.

Anne of Cleves, was born to Maria and John Duke of Cleves at Dusseldorf in Germany.

A daughter, Mary, was born to Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon at Greenwich Palace.

Henry VIII’s mistress, Elizabeth (Bessie) Blount gave birth to a son, Henry Fitzroy. This proved to Henry that he was able to father a son and that his lack of male heir was the fault of Catherine of Aragon.

Anne Boleyn joined the court of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. She had recently returned from the French court and her French style of dress and mannerisms made her stand out at court.

Kathryn Howard was born to Jocasta and Edmund Howard. She was the niece of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk and cousin to Anne Boleyn.

Henry’s illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy, was created Duke of Richmond.

Henry VIII began to pursue Anne Boleyn as a love interest, but she refused to become his mistress.

Henry began to have serious doubts about the validity of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon sparking what became known as the Divorce Crisis.

An ecclesiastical court was convened at Westminster to hear Henry VIII’s concerns regarding his marriage and to consider whether it should be annulled. The court concluded that they were not qualified to judge the case and that it should be referred to Rome.

Henry VIII separated from Catherine of Aragon.

Henry VIII wrote to the Pope requesting an annulment of his marriage. The Pope sent Cardinal Campeggio to hear the case.

Henry and Catherine of Aragon appeared before Campeggio’s legatine court. Catherine stated that she did not recognise the court and insisted that her marriage to Henry was valid and true. After listening to all the evidence Campeggio declared he could not pass verdict on the marriage and that it should be referred to Rome.

Members of the King’s council unsuccessfully tried to persuade Catherine of Aragon to enter a convent. This was desired since it would leave Henry free to re-marry and have a son and heir to continue the Tudors.

Henry sent Catherine of Aragon away from court. He also refused her permission to see her daughter, Mary unless she would agree to a divorce or enter a convent.

Thomas More and Bishop Fisher refused to sign the Submission of the Clergy which effectively made Henry head of the Church in England.

Pope Clement VII told Henry VIII that unless he returned to his lawful wife he would be excommunicated.

Henry VIII married Anne Boleyn, who was pregnant with Henry’s child, in the private chapel in Whitehall Palace.

Anne Boleyn was crowned Queen of England.

Pope Clement VII excommunicated Henry and his council.

A daughter, Elizabeth Tudor, was born to Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn at Greenwich Palace, London. Henry was very disappointed that the child was a girl since he had been convinced that the child would be the son he so desired.

Henry VIII’s illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy, married Mary Howard, daughter of the Duke of Norfolk.

The Act of Succession settled the succession on the children of Henry and Anne Boleyn. There was also a requirement for all of the king’s subjects to swear an oath to uphold the act.

Anne Boleyn was delivered of a stillborn baby.

The Act of Supremacy declared that Henry VIII was Head of the Church in England. The reigning monarch has held the title ever since.

Bishop John Fisher was beheaded on Tower Hill for refusing to sign the Act of Succession and accept Henry VIII as Supreme Head of the Church in England.

Anne Boleyn suffered another miscarriage.

Sir Thomas More was executed by beheading for refusing to sign the Act of Succession and accept Henry VIII as the Supreme Head of the Church in England.

Henry VIII began pursuing Jane Seymour as a love interest.

An Act of Union joined England and Wales and made Henry VIII King of both.

Catherine of Aragon died. At the time it was widely believed that she had been poisoned by Anne Boleyn. It is now thought that she died of cancer.

King Henry VIII suffered a fall during a joust that left him unconscious for two hours.

Anne Boleyn was arrested on a charge of treason for having committed adultery with four men, Henry Norris, Francis Weston, William Brereton and Mark Smeaton; and committing incest with her brother George Boleyn.

Anne Boleyn was executed by beheading for treason on Tower Green.

Henry VIII married Jane Seymour at Whitehall Palace, London.

A new Succession Act stated that the children of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour would succeed ahead of Henry’s other children. Like her half-sister, Mary, Princess Elizabeth was now declared illegitimate and given the title Lady Elizabeth.

Henry’s illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy, died of tuberculosis.

A son, Edward, was born to Henry VIII and Jane Seymour at Hampton Court Palace. Henry was overjoyed that he had a son to continue the dynasty of the Tudors.

Jane Seymour died from puerperal fever.

A treaty of marriage, arranged by Thomas Cromwell, agreed the betrothal of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves.

Despite the fact that he did not like his bride, Henry VIII married Anne of Cleves at Greenwich Palace. He had instructed Thomas Cromwell to find a loophole in the treaty to prevent it going ahead, but there was none and Henry could not risk upsetting the German Duke.

Henry VIII began pursuing Kathryn Howard as a love interest.

Thomas Cromwell was charged with high treason.

The marriage of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves was annulled. As a gift for agreeing to the annulment of the marriage, Anne was given properties including Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, a pension for life and was made an honorary sister to the King.

Henry VIII married Kathryn Howard at Oatlands Palace. He was very happy with his young bride and showered her with gifts.

Kathryn Howard appointed her former lover Francis Dereham as her private secretary. She also became close to Thomas Culpeper.

Kathryn Howard was arrested and charged with treason for committing adultery with Francis Dereham and Thomas Culpeper.

Kathryn Howard was executed by beheading for treason.

Henry VIII married Katherine Parr at Hampton Court Palace. Katherine was recently widowed and had hoped to marry Thomas Seymour, brother of Jane Seymour, but she could not refuse the king.

A new Succession Act settled the succession on the children of Henry VIII – Edward, Mary and Elizabeth.

King Henry VIII died at Whitehall Palace. He was succeeded by his son, Edward who became King Edward VI of England, Ireland and Wales.

Katherine Parr secretly married Edward VI’s uncle, Sir Thomas Seymour.

Katherine Parr died 6 days after giving birth to a daughter, Mary Seymour.