Tudor Births, Marriages and Deaths Chronology – Henry VIII

After a long illness, King Henry VII, aged 52 years, died from tuberculosis at Richmond Palace.

King Henry VII was buried in Westminster Abbey. John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester led the service. Afterwards he was buried next to his wife, Elizabeth of York, in the King Henry VII Chapel in the Abbey.

Henry visited Catherine of Aragon in her private chambers and proposed to her. He had been urged to marry Catherine by members of his Privy Council to preserve the treaty with Spain. The marriage would also secure the release of the remainder of Catherine’s dowry.

Henry VIII married Catherine of Aragon in the church of Greenwich Palace. The service was performed in private, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Warham. The wedding was a low-key affair because the court remained in mourning following the death of Henry VII.

Henry’s grandmother, Margaret Beaufort, died. Before she died she told Henry to listen to the advice of John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester.

Catherine of Aragon announced that she was pregnant.

Catherine felt her baby move for the first time.

Catherine was prematurely delivered of a stillborn daughter. Although Henry and Catherine were disappointed, miscarriage and stillbirth in a first pregnancy was a common occurrence in the sixteenth century.

Catherine announced a second pregnancy.

Catherine of Aragon went into labour.

Catherine of Aragon was delivered of a son who was named Henry after his father. In celebration guns were fired from the Tower and the city bells were rang. Beacons were lit and free wine was distributed to all Londoners. The infant prince was immediately created Prince of Wales.

Prince Henry was christened at Richmond. His godparents were the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Earl of Surrey and the Countess of Devon.

Prince Henry died at Richmond Palace. Both King and Queen were deeply upset.

Prince Henry was given a lavish funeral and buried in Westminster Abbey.

Jane More, the 23 year old wife of Thomas More, died. She left her husband with four young children to care for.

Thomas More married Alice Middleton, a widow with a daughter. His reasoning for making such a hasty re-marriage was that he needed a mother for his four young children.

Katherine Maud Parr was born to Sir Thomas and Lady Maud Parr.

Katherine Maud Parr was born to Sir Thomas and Lady Maud Parr.

Lord Admiral, Edward Howard decided to attack the French fleet at Brest a second time. He managed to grapple his ship with that of the French commander, Pregent de Bidoux, and boarded the French vessel. Unfortunately, the French ship broke free leaving Howard stranded. The French threw him overboard and he drowned due to the weight of his armour.

Catherine of Aragon went into labour prematurely. She was delivered of a son who died shortly after birth.

Henry VIII’s widowed sister, Margaret, gave birth to a son, Alexander. He was created Duke of Ross.

Catherine of Aragon announced her fourth pregnancy.

Henry’s widowed sister, Margaret Tudor, married the 19 year old Earl of Angus, Archibald Douglas. Although the marriage gained her the support of the powerful Douglas family, she lost the support of many other Scottish nobles who felt that, by marrying, she had automatically forfeited her right to be regent for her son.

Mary Tudor and Louis XII were married by proxy with ceremonies taking place in London and Paris. In London, the Duke of Longueville stood as proxy for the French kiing while in Paris the Earl of Worcester stood as proxy for Mary.

King Louis XII of France and Princess Mary Tudor were married at Abbeville, France. The marriage was followed by feasting and tournaments.

Catherine of Aragon was delivered of a stillborn son.

King Louis XII was taken ill early in December 1514 and died on 31st. It was rumoured that his young bride had worn him out. As soon as it became clear the French King was dying, Wolsey had written to Mary warning her not to commit herself to any other person without King Henry’s permission.

Henry’s sister Mary and Charles Brandon secretly married in Paris. When Henry learned of the marriage he was furious.

Catherine of Aragon announced her fifth pregnancy. However, less hope was placed on it than before.

The son of Margaret Tudor – Alexander, Duke of Ross, aged 20 months died.

Catherine of Aragon’s father, Ferdinand, died. He was succeeded as King of Spain by his grandson, Charles of Castile and Burgundy. Charles was now ruler of Spain, Naples, Sicily, lands in the New World and the Netherlands.

Catherine of Aragon was delivered of a healthy baby girl. She was named Mary. Although there were celebrations to mark the birth of a healthy child, there was disappointment that the child was not a boy.

Princess Mary was christened in the Chapel of Observant Friars at Greenwich Palace. Her godparents were the Countess of Surrey, Catherine, Duchess of Norfolk and Cardinal Wolsey.

A son, Henry, was born to Charles Brandon and Henry VIII’s sister Mary.

Catherine of Aragon’s Maid of Honour and close friend, Maria de Salinas, married William, Lord Willoughby. The marriage meant that she left Catherine’s service, but the two remained close friends.

Thomas Parr, father of Katherine Parr, died.

Catherine of Aragon announced her sixth pregnancy.

King Henry VIII’s mistress, Elizabeth Blount, one of the Queen’s ladies in waiting, became Pregnant.

In the presence of the Papal Legates, Cardinal Campeggio and Cardinal Wolsey, two year old Princess Mary was formally betrothed to Henri, Dauphin of France in the Queen’s chambers at Greenwich. Admiral Bonnivet acted as proxy for the Dauphin and placed a small gold ring on Mary’s finger.

Catherine of Aragon was delivered of a daughter, but she was very weak and died soon after birth.

King Henry VIII’s sister, Margaret, wanted to divorce her second husband Archibald Douglas. She wrote to Henry asking for his support but he refused and instead sent cleric Henry Chadworth to try to effect a reconciliation between the pair.

Maximilian, ruler of the Habsburg Empire and Holy Roman Emperor, died. His grandson, Charles I of Spain inherited the Habsburg Empire and an election was announced for Holy Roman Emperor. Charles, Francis I of France and Henry VIII all put themselves forward for election.

Henry’s mistress, Bessie Blount, was delivered of a son who was named Henry Fitzroy. Henry was overjoyed by the birth of a son since it proved that he could father sons and that his lack of a male heir was not his fault.

John Colet, Dean of St Paul’s died.