Key Events in the Life of Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell

Sir Thomas More published Utopia

1516

Sir Thomas More appointed Lord Chancellor

1529

Sir Thomas More resigned over the 'Submission of the Clergy'

1532

Sir Thomas More refused to take the Oath of Succession

1534

Sir Thomas More executed for treason

1535

Thomas Cromwell born

1485

Thomas Cromwell returned to England after his time abroad

1516

Thomas Cromwell became a member of the Royal Council

1531

Thomas Cromwell largely took over the King's divorce

1532

Thomas Cromwell became Chancellor of the Exchequer

1533

Thomas Cromwell became Vicar General

1535

Thomas Cromwell became Lord Privy Seal and Principal Secretary

1536

Thomas Cromwell became Earl of Essex

1540

Thomas Cromwell executed

1540

First Act of Annates passed, banning payments of annates to Rome

1532

Act in Restraint of Appeals to Rome passed

February 1533

Henry's first marriage declared null and void by Archbishop Cranmer

1533

Second Act of Annates passed, allowing the King to appoint bishops and abbots

January 1534

Act to Stop Peter's Pence passed

March 1534

Act of the Submission of the Clergy passed

March 1534

First Act of Succession passed, declaring Henry's first marriage invalid

March 1534

Act of Supremacy passed, declaring Henry head of the Church of England

November 1534

Treason Act passed, making it treasonable to deny the King's supremacy

December 1534

Act for First Fruits and Tenths passed, requiring clerical taxes to go to the King

December 1534

Thomas Cromwell's bureaucratic reforms created the Court of Augmentations

1536

Court of General Surveyors amalgamated with the Court of Augmentations

1536

Court of First Fruits and Tenths established

1536

Court of Wards established

1540

Parliament in session that passed extensive legislation and expanded its role during Henry's reign

1529-1536

Pilgrimage of Grace, which resulted in discussions about the Royal Council's structure

1536-1537

Geoffrey Elton argued that there was a 'revolution in government' under Henry VIII

1529-1536

Thomas Cromwell fell from power

1540

Henry married Catherine Howard, after Cromwell's fall from power

1540

Catherine Howard executed

1542

Henry married Catherine Parr

1543

Reform faction took control after Catherine Howard's execution

1543

Norfolk and his son, the Earl of Surrey, arrested for treason

1546

Duke of Norfolk tried to discredit Thomas Cranmer and Catherine Parr

1546