A Timeline of Events at the Time of the Mary Rose

By Tim Lambert

1491

Henry VIII is born

1492

Columbus sails across the Atlantic

1493

The great surgeon Paracelsus is born

1494

On his second voyage, Columbus discovers Jamaica. In Portsmouth Henry VII builds the Square Tower.

1495

Portsmouth Dockyard is founded

1497

John Cabot sails to Newfoundland

1498

The Portuguese reach India

On his third voyage, Columbus discovers Trinidad

1500

The Portuguese discover Brazil

1509

Henry VIII becomes king of England

Henry VIII marries Catherine of Aragon, his brother’s widow

Work begins on building the Mary Rose

Wallpaper is first printed in England

Curtains for windows are first mentioned in England (previously windows only had shutters)

1511

The Mary Rose is launched

The Portuguese reach Thailand

1513

The English win the battle of Flodden against the Scots (who were allies of the French)

The Spanish land in Florida

1514

The ship Henry Grace a Dieu is launched

The Portuguese reach China

1515

Anne of Cleves is born

1516

The Portuguese reach Vietnam

1517

Martin Luther begins the Protestant Reformation

The Ottoman Turks conquer Egypt

1519

Havana, Cuba is founded

Ferdinand Magellan sets sail on a voyage to circumnavigate the world. He is killed on the journey but some of his men make it.

1521

Cortes conquers the Aztecs in Mexico

1522

England is at war with France again

The Ottoman Turks capture Belgrade

A great iron chain is placed across the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour. It can be lowered to let friendly ships in.

1523

Gustav Vasa becomes king of Sweden. He is the first of the Vasa dynasty.

1524

Italian explorer Giovanni Da Verrazzano discovers New York Harbor

1525

Turkeys are first eaten in England

The mathematical symbol for squared is invented

1526

The war between England and France ends

In India Babur founds the Mughal Empire

The Turks defeat the Hungarians at the Battle of Mohacs

1527

Henry VIII extends Portsmouth Dockyard

1528

The Spanish reach Texas

1529

The Turks besiege Vienna but fail to capture it

1530

Cardinal Wolsey dies

Ivan the Terrible, Tsar of Russia is born

The population of England is about 3 million

1533

Henry divorces Catherine of Aragon. He marries Anne Boleyn.

Pizarro conquers the Incas

1534

Henry VIII makes himself head of the Church of England

Jacques Cartier discovers the St Lawrence River in Canada

In Ecuador, the city of Quito is founded

1535

Thomas More is executed

In Peru, the city of Lima is founded

1536

The Pilgrimage of Grace (An uprising in the North of England)

Anne Boleyn is beheaded

Henry marries Jane Seymour

An Act of Union unites Wales with England

Catherine of Aragon dies

1536-1540

Henry VIII closes the monasteries and confiscates their property, including the Domus Dei in Portsmouth (now the Garrison Church)

1537

Jane Seymour dies

Thomas Elyot invents the word encyclopedia

1538

In Colombia, the city of Bogota is founded

1540

Henry marries Anne of Cleves but quickly divorces her

Henry marries Katherine Howard

1541

The Irish parliament agrees to recognise Henry VIII as King of Ireland rather than Lord of Ireland

The Turks conquer Hungary

The Spanish discover the Mississippi River

1542

The battle of Solway Moss. The English defeat the Scots.

Kathryn Howard is beheaded

The Spanish reach California

1543

Henry marries Catherine Parr

Copernicus publishes his theory that the Earth orbits the Sun

Andreas Vesalius publishes The Fabric of the Human Body, which contains accurate diagrams of the human body

Portuguese sailors reach Japan

1544

Southsea Castle is built

The English capture Boulogne. They hold it until 1550.

1545

The Mary Rose sinks

1547

Henry VIII dies. His son becomes King Edward VI.