18 February 1516: A public celebration is ordered by King Henry VIII after the birth of a healthy son by his wife, Catherine of Aragon. The boy, to be named Henry after his father, is expected to continue the Tudor royal family. The King is jubilant as he had feared that, after already having suffered four miscarriages and child deaths (two of them sons), as well as being in her thirties and thus of late child-bearing years, Catherine would be unable to give him any more children. That wish has now been fulfilled; England can now only pray for the good health of the child.
31 October 1517: Martin Luther, a German priest and professor residing in Wittenburg, publishes his Ninety-Five Theses, in which he confronts indulgence salesmen in particular, and the Catholic system of indulgences in general. He believes that faith, not deeds, is the path towards forgiveness, and that the Bible is the best and only source of knowledge about God; this goes against the Church's teaching that the clergy are God's messengers and their word is inspired by God. Luther is later excommunicated and his writings denounced by the Church, as well as many Catholic nations, including England. The Protestant Reformation begins.
3 October 1518: Cardinal Wolsey, Henry VIII's main advisor and perhaps the second-most powerful man in England, creates the Treaty of London, a non-aggression pact between the (generally Catholic) nations of Western Europe in response to growing Ottoman power in the East. England, France, the Holy Roman Empire, the Papal States, Spain and Burgundy sign the treaty.
7 June 1520: The Field of the Cloth of Gold, a 17-day-long friendly event between France and England (especially between their respective Kings, Francis I and Henry) begins. Both sides engage in a potlatch of opulence, including long games and tournaments, especially jousting. Much of the event is held in honour and for the good health of Henry's young son.
31 October 1517: Martin Luther, a German priest and professor residing in Wittenburg, publishes his Ninety-Five Theses, in which he confronts indulgence salesmen in particular, and the Catholic system of indulgences in general. He believes that faith, not deeds, is the path towards forgiveness, and that the Bible is the best and only source of knowledge about God; this goes against the Church's teaching that the clergy are God's messengers and their word is inspired by God. Luther is later excommunicated and his writings denounced by the Church, as well as many Catholic nations, including England. The Protestant Reformation begins.
3 October 1518: Cardinal Wolsey, Henry VIII's main advisor and perhaps the second-most powerful man in England, creates the Treaty of London, a non-aggression pact between the (generally Catholic) nations of Western Europe in response to growing Ottoman power in the East. England, France, the Holy Roman Empire, the Papal States, Spain and Burgundy sign the treaty.
7 June 1520: The Field of the Cloth of Gold, a 17-day-long friendly event between France and England (especially between their respective Kings, Francis I and Henry) begins. Both sides engage in a potlatch of opulence, including long games and tournaments, especially jousting. Much of the event is held in honour and for the good health of Henry's young son.
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