Events from the

1480s The 1480s decade ran from January 1, 1480, to December 31, 1489. Significant people * Robert Henryson Robert Henryson (Middle Scots: Robert Henrysoun) was a poet who flourished in Scotland in the period c. 1460–1500. Counted among the Sc ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. This decade marks the beginning of the

Tudor period In England and Wales, the Tudor period occurred between 1485 and 1603, including the Elizabethan era during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558–1603). The Tudor period coincides with the dynasty of the House of Tudor in England, which began with ...

Incumbents

Monarch A monarch () is a head of stateWebster's II New College Dictionary. "Monarch". Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. Life tenure, for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest ...

–

Edward IV Edward IV (28 April 1442 – 9 April 1483) was King of England from 4 March 1461 to 3 October 1470, then again from 11 April 1471 until his death in 1483. He was a central figure in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars in England ...

(until 9 April 1483),

Edward V Edward V (2 November 1470 – ) was King of England from 9 April to 25 June 1483. He succeeded his father, Edward IV, upon the latter's death. Edward V was never crowned, and his brief reign was dominated by the influence of his uncle and Lord ...

(9 April to 26 June 1483),

Richard III Richard III (2 October 1452 – 22 August 1485) was King of England from 26 June 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the Plantagenet dynasty and its cadet branch the House of York. His defeat and death at the Battle of Boswor ...

(26 June 1483 to 22 August 1485), then Henry VII * Regent – Richard, Duke of Gloucester (starting 30 April, until 26 June 1483)

Events

* 1480 ** 1 August – Treaty of Perpetual Friendship between England and

Burgundy Burgundy ( ; ; Burgundian: ''Bregogne'') is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. ...

. **

Magdalen College School, Oxford Magdalen College School (MCS) is a private day school in the British public school tradition located in Oxford, England, for boys aged seven to eighteen and for girls in the sixth form (i.e. ages sixteen to eighteen). It was founded by Willia ...

, established by

William Waynflete William Waynflete (11 August 1486), born William Patten, was Headmaster of Winchester College (1429–1441), Provost of Eton College (1442–1447), Bishop of Winchester (1447–1486) and Lord Chancellor of England (1456–1460). He founded Mag ...

. * 1481 **

William Caxton William Caxton () was an English merchant, diplomat and writer. He is thought to be the first person to introduce a printing press into Kingdom of England, England in 1476, and as a Printer (publishing), printer to be the first English retailer ...

publishes '' The Historie of Reynart the Foxe'', the first English edition of the tale, and also his 1480 translation of ''Mirrour of the Worlde'', the first book printed in England to include

woodcut Woodcut is a relief printing technique in printmaking. An artist carves an image into the surface of a block of wood—typically with gouges—leaving the printing parts level with the surface while removing the non-printing parts. Areas that ...

illustrations. ** 1481 or 1482 –

Thomas de Littleton Sir Thomas de Littleton or de Lyttleton Order of the Bath, KB Serjeant-at-law, SL(c. 1407–23 August 1481) was an English judge, undersheriff, Lord of Tixall Gatehouse, Tixall Manor, and legal writer from the Lyttelton family. He was also ma ...

's ''Treatise on Tenures'' published posthumously, the first ever printed text on

English law English law is the common law list of national legal systems, legal system of England and Wales, comprising mainly English criminal law, criminal law and Civil law (common law), civil law, each branch having its own Courts of England and Wales, ...

. * 1482 ** June – Richard, Duke of Gloucester invades

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

and captures

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

. ** 24 August – capture of Berwick: Scots surrender

Berwick-upon-Tweed Berwick-upon-Tweed (), sometimes known as Berwick-on-Tweed or simply Berwick, is a town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, south of the Anglo-Scottish border, and the northernmost town in England. The 2011 United Kingdom census recor ...

to Richard, ending his campaign; the town remains permanently English hereafter. ** Act concerning Swans sets out that

swan Swans are birds of the genus ''Cygnus'' within the family Anatidae. The swans' closest relatives include the goose, geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe (biology) ...

s are the property of the monarch (or those given permission by him to own them). * 1483 ** January – ''Act of Apparel'', a

sumptuary law Sumptuary laws (from Latin ) are laws that regulate consumption. '' Black's Law Dictionary'' defines them as "Laws made for the purpose of restraining luxury or extravagance, particularly against inordinate expenditures for apparel, food, furnitu ...

, is passed. ** 9 April – following the death of

, his son, the 12-year-old

becomes king with his uncle the Duke of Gloucester acting as

Lord Protector Lord Protector (plural: ''Lords Protector'') is a title that has been used in British constitutional law for the head of state. It was also a particular title for the British heads of state in respect to the established church. It was sometime ...

; the new king is proclaimed on 11 April. ** 14 April – news of his father's death and his own accession reaches Edward V at

Ludlow Castle Ludlow Castle is a ruined medieval fortification in the Ludlow, town of the same name in the English county of Shropshire, standing on a promontory overlooking the River Teme. The castle was probably founded by Walter de Lacy (died 1085), Wal ...

. He leaves for London on 24 April. ** 19 April – Edward IV is buried at

St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle St George's Chapel, formally titled The King's Free Chapel of the College of St George, Windsor Castle, at Windsor Castle in England is a castle chapel built in the late-medieval Perpendicular Gothic style. It is a Royal peculiar, Royal Peculia ...

. ** 30 April – the dowager queen's brother,

Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers (c. 144025 June 1483), was an English nobleman, courtier, bibliophile and writer. He was the brother of Queen Elizabeth Woodville who married King Edward IV. He was one of the leading members of the Woodvi ...

, who has been escorting Edward to London, is arrested by Richard, Duke of Gloucester and

Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham (4 September 1455 – 2 November 1483), was an English nobleman known as the namesake of Buckingham's rebellion, a failed but significant collection of uprisings in England and parts of Wales against ...

who proceed to

Stony Stratford Stony Stratford is a market town in Buckinghamshire and a constituent town of Milton Keynes, England. It is located on Watling Street, historically the Roman road from London to Chester. It is also a civil parish with a town council in the Cit ...

where they take over the escort of Edward. ** 1 May – the dowager queen and others of her family take sanctuary at

Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British m ...

. ** 4 May – the king enters London. ** 13 June –

summary execution In civil and military jurisprudence, summary execution is the putting to death of a person accused of a crime without the benefit of a free and fair trial. The term results from the legal concept of summary justice to punish a summary offense, a ...

at the

Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic citadel and castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamle ...

William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings (c. 1431 – 13 June 1483) was an English nobleman. A loyal follower of the House of York during the Wars of the Roses, he became a close friend and one of the most important courtiers of King Edward IV, ...

for allegedly conspiring against the new Protector's life. ** 25 June – execution at

Pontefract Castle Pontefract (or Pomfret) Castle is a castle ruin in the town of Pontefract, in West Yorkshire, England. King Richard II of England, Richard II is thought to have died there. It was the site of a series of famous sieges during the 17th-cent ...

in Yorkshire of

, Sir

Richard Grey Sir Richard Grey (1457 – 25 June 1483) was an English knight and the half-brother of King Edward V of England. Early life Richard Grey was the younger son of Sir John Grey of Groby and Elizabeth Woodville. Richard was a 3-year-old child w ...

(the king's half-brother) and Sir Thomas Vaughan on false charges of conspiring against the new Protector's life. ** 26 June – Richard becomes Richard III after Edward V is declared to be illegitimate by

Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

. ** 6 July – coronation of Richard III at

following a procession on the

Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after th ...

. ** Late Summer – disappearance of the

Princes in the Tower The Princes in the Tower refers to the mystery of the fate of the deposed King Edward V of England and his younger brother Prince Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, heirs to the throne of King Edward IV of England. The brothers were the only ...

, Edward V and

Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York (17 August 1473) was the second son of King Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville. Richard and his older brother, who briefly reigned as King Edward V of England, mysteriously disappeared shortly ...

. ** 8 September –

Edward of Middleham Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales ( or 1476 9 April 1484), was the son and heir apparent of King Richard III of England by his wife Anne Neville. He was Richard's only legitimate child and died aged seven or ten. Birth and titles Edward was ...

is invested as

Prince of Wales Prince of Wales (, ; ) is a title traditionally given to the male heir apparent to the History of the English monarchy, English, and later, the British throne. The title originated with the Welsh rulers of Kingdom of Gwynedd, Gwynedd who, from ...

by his father the king at the Archbishop's Palace in

York York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...

. ** October *** The

River Severn The River Severn (, ), at long, is the longest river in Great Britain. It is also the river with the most voluminous flow of water by far in all of England and Wales, with an average flow rate of at Apperley, Gloucestershire. It rises in t ...

forms a new course at

Gloucester Gloucester ( ) is a cathedral city, non-metropolitan district and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West England, South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean ...

, creating Alney Island. *** A rebellion by

is crushed by Richard III. ** 2 November – Buckingham executed at

Salisbury Salisbury ( , ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in Wiltshire, England with a population of 41,820, at the confluence of the rivers River Avon, Hampshire, Avon, River Nadder, Nadder and River Bourne, Wi ...

. ** William Caxton publishes his English translation of the ''Golden Legend'', his most popular publication. * 1484 ** January –

passes the act

Titulus Regius ' ("royal title" in Latin) is a statute of the Parliament of England issued in 1484 by which the title of King of England was given to Richard III. The act ratified the declaration of the Lords and the members of the House of Commons a year ea ...

, bastardising the children of Edward IV and his wife,

Elizabeth Woodville Elizabeth Woodville (also spelt Wydville, Wydeville, or Widvile; c. 1437Karen Lindsey, ''Divorced, Beheaded, Survived'', p. xviii, Perseus Books, 1995. – 8 June 1492), known as Dame Elizabeth Grey during her first marriage, was Queen of Engla ...

. ** 2 March – a

royal charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, but ...

is granted to the

College of Arms The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional Officer of Arms, officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the ...

, the official English

heraldic authority A heraldic authority is defined as an office or institution which has been established by a reigning monarch or a government to deal with heraldry in the country concerned. It does not include private societies or enterprises which design and/or r ...

, established in London. ** 26 March – William Caxton publishes his English translation of ''

Aesop's Fables Aesop's Fables, or the Aesopica, is a collection of fables credited to Aesop, a Slavery in ancient Greece, slave and storyteller who lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 564 Before the Common Era, BCE. Of varied and unclear origins, the stor ...

''. ** July – Richard III establishes a judicial

Council of the North The Council of the North was an administrative body first set up in 1484 by King Richard III of England, to improve access to conciliar justice in Northern England. This built upon steps by King Edward IV of England in delegating authority in th ...

. ** 21 September – Treaty of Nottingham: three-year truce between England and Scotland signed. * 1485 ** 31 July –

Thomas Malory Sir Thomas Malory was an English writer, the author of ''Le Morte d'Arthur'', the classic English-language chronicle of the Arthurian legend, compiled and in most cases translated from French sources. The most popular version of ''Le Morte d'A ...

's 1470 book ''

Le Morte d'Arthur ' (originally written as '; Anglo-Norman French for "The Death of Arthur") is a 15th-century Middle English prose reworking by Sir Thomas Malory of tales about the legendary King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Merlin and the Knights of the ...

'' published by Caxton. ** August – start of serious outbreak of

sweating sickness Sweating sickness, also known as the sweats, English sweating sickness, English sweat or ''sudor anglicus'' in Latin, was a mysterious and contagious disease that struck England and later continental Europe in a series of epidemics beginning i ...

. ** 22 August ***

Wars of the Roses The Wars of the Roses, known at the time and in following centuries as the Civil Wars, were a series of armed confrontations, machinations, battles and campaigns fought over control of the English throne from 1455 to 1487. The conflict was fo ...

Battle of Bosworth Field The Battle of Bosworth or Bosworth Field ( ) was the last significant battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the houses of House of Lancaster, Lancaster and House of York, York that extended across England in the latter half ...

is fought between the armies of King Richard III and rival claimant to the throne Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond. Richard dies in battle and Henry becomes King

Henry VII of England Henry VII (28 January 1457 – 21 April 1509), also known as Henry Tudor, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizure of the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death in 1509. He was the first monarch of the House of Tudor. Henr ...

, ending the Middle Ages in England and beginning of the

Tudor dynasty The House of Tudor ( ) was an English and Welsh dynasty that held the throne of England from 1485 to 1603. They descended from the Tudors of Penmynydd, a Welsh noble family, and Catherine of Valois. The Tudor monarchs ruled the Kingdom of Eng ...

. *** Creation of the

Yeomen of the Guard The King's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard is a Sovereign's Bodyguard, bodyguard of the British monarch. The List of oldest military units and formations in continuous operation, oldest British military corps still in existence, it was ...

. ** 30 October – coronation of Henry VII at

. * 1486 ** 18 January – marriage of Henry VII and

Elizabeth of York Elizabeth of York (11 February 1466 – 11 February 1503) was List of English royal consorts, Queen of England from her marriage to King Henry VII of England, Henry VII on 18 January 1486 until her death in 1503. She was the daughter of King E ...

, Richard III's niece, uniting the

House of Lancaster The House of Lancaster was a cadet branch of the royal House of Plantagenet. The first house was created when King Henry III of England created the Earldom of Lancasterfrom which the house was namedfor his second son Edmund Crouchback in 1267 ...

and the

House of York The House of York was a cadet branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet. Three of its members became kings of England in the late 15th century. The House of York descended in the male line from Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York ...

, celebrated with a firework display. ** April – Henry defeats the

Stafford and Lovell rebellion The Stafford and Lovell rebellion was the first armed uprising against King Henry VII after he won the crown at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. The uprising was led by Francis Lovell, Viscount Lovell, along with Sir Humphrey Stafford and Thom ...

. ** 20 September – birth of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York's eldest son

Arthur Arthur is a masculine given name of uncertain etymology. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. A common spelling variant used in many Slavic, Romance, and Germanic languages is Artur. In Spanish and Ital ...

Winchester Winchester (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs N ...

. ** 6 October – John Morton enthroned as

Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the Primus inter pares, ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the bishop of the diocese of Canterbury. The first archbishop ...

. ** The ''

Book of Saint Albans ''The Book of Saint Albans'', originally ''Boke of Seynt Albans'', is the common title of a book printed in 1486 that is a compilation of matters relating to the interests of the time of a gentleman. It was the last of eight books printed by the ...

'' is published. ** First recorded use of the word '

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

' to describe a game in which the ball is kicked. * 1487 ** 24 May –

Lambert Simnel Lambert Simnel (c. 1477 – after 1534) was a pretender to the throne of England. In 1487, his claim to be Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick, threatened the newly established reign of Henry VII (1485–1509). Simnel became the ...

is crowned King "Edward VI of England" in

Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin Christ Church Cathedral, more formally The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (Irish: ''Ardeaglais Theampall Chríost''), is the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the cathedral of the ecclesiastical province of the Uni ...

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

. He claims to be

Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick Edward is an English male name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortunate; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-S ...

, Elizabeth of York's cousin, and on 5 June lands in

Furness Furness ( ) is a peninsula and region of Cumbria, England. Together with the Cartmel Peninsula it forms North Lonsdale, Historic counties of England, historically an exclave of Lancashire. On 1 April 2023 it became part of the new unitary author ...

with an army to challenge Henry VII for the throne. ** 16 June – Wars of the Roses: at the

Battle of Stoke Field The Battle of Stoke Field, which took place at East Stoke, Nottinghamshire, on 16 June 1487, may be considered the last battle of the Wars of the Roses, since it was the last major engagement between contenders for the throne whose claims deriv ...

, the final battle of the conflict, the rebellion of pretender Lambert Simnel, led by

John de la Pole, 1st Earl of Lincoln John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

and

Francis Lovell, 1st Viscount Lovell Francis Lovell, 9th Baron Lovell, 6th Baron Holand, later 1st Viscount Lovell, KG (1456 – probably 1487) was an English nobleman who was an ally of King Richard III during the War of the Roses. Sir William Catesby, Sir Richard Ratcliffe and ...

, is crushed by troops loyal to Henry VII. ** 25 November – coronation of

Queen consort of England The English royal consorts listed here were the spouses of the reigning monarchs of the Kingdom of England, excluding joint rulers William III of England, William III and Mary II who reigned together in the 17th century. Most of the consorts we ...

. * 1488 ** The price of knitted

wool Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have some properties similar to animal w ...

len

hat A hat is a Headgear, head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorpor ...

s is fixed by law. * 1489 ** 14 February – Treaty of Redon: England allies with

Brittany Brittany ( ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the north-west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica in Roman Gaul. It became an Kingdom of Brittany, independent kingdom and then a Duch ...

against

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. ** 26 March – the Treaty of Medina del Campo between England and

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

includes provision for a marriage between Arthur, the son of King Henry VII, and Spanish princess

Catherine of Aragon Catherine of Aragon (also spelt as Katherine, historical Spanish: , now: ; 16 December 1485 – 7 January 1536) was List of English royal consorts, Queen of England as the Wives of Henry VIII, first wife of King Henry VIII from their marr ...

. ** 28 April –

Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland Henry may refer to: People and fictional characters * Henry (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters * Henry (surname) * Henry, a stage name of François-Louis Henry (1786–1855), French baritone Arts and entertainme ...

murdered by protesters against new war tax; revolt quickly suppressed. ** 13 June –

Battle of Dixmude A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force co ...

: Anglo-Habsburg victory over France. ** 29 November –

Arthur Tudor Arthur, Prince of Wales (19/20 September 1486 – 2 April 1502), was the eldest son of King Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York, and an older brother to the future King Henry VIII. He was Duke of Cornwall from birth, and he was crea ...

is invested as

. ** The

Gold Sovereign The sovereign is a British gold coin with a nominal value of one pound sterling (£1) and contains of pure gold. Struck since 1817, it was originally a circulating coin that was accepted in Britain and elsewhere in the world; it is now a ...

is first issued. ** King Henry VII gives a city charter to

Southwold Southwold is a seaside town and civil parish on the North Sea, in the East Suffolk District, East Suffolk district, in the county of Suffolk, England. It lies at the mouth of the River Blyth, Suffolk, River Blyth in the Suffolk Coast and Heaths ...

Births

* 1482 **

Richard Pace Richard Pace (c. 148228 June 1536) was an English clergyman and diplomat of the Tudor period. Life He was born in Hampshire and educated at Winchester College under Thomas Langton. He attended the universities of Padua and Oxford. In 1509, ...

, diplomat (died

1536 Year 1536 ( MDXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March *January 6 – The Colegio de Santa Cruz de Tlatelolco, the oldest European school of higher learning in the Americas, is ...

) * 1483 ** Thomas Parr, alleged oldest living man (died

1635 Events January–March * January 23 – 1635 Capture of Tortuga: The Spanish Navy captures the Caribbean island of Tortuga off of the coast of Haiti after a three-day battle against the English and French Navy. * January 25 & ...

) * 1485 **

Hugh Aston Hugh Aston (also spelled ''Asseton'', ''Assheton'', ''Ashton'', ''Haston''; 1485 – buried 17 November 1558) was an English composer of the early Tudor period. While little of his music survives, he is notable for his innovative keyboard an ...

, composer (died

1558 __NOTOC__ Year 1558 ( MDLVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 7 – French troops, led by Francis, Duke of Guise, take Calais, the last continental possession o ...

) **

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex Thomas Cromwell (; – 28 July 1540) was an English statesman and lawyer who served as chief minister to King Henry VIII from 1534 to 1540, when he was beheaded on orders of the king, who later blamed false charges for the execution. Cromwell ...

, statesman (executed

1540 Year 1540 ( MDXL) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 6 – King Henry VIII marries Anne of Cleves, his fourth Queen consort; the marriage lasts six months. * February 1 ...

) **

John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford ( 1485 – 14 March 1555) was an English royal minister in the Tudor era. He served variously as Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom, Lord High Admiral and Lord Privy Seal. Among the lands and property he ...

, royal minister (died

1555 Year 1555 ( MDLV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 22 – The Kingdom of Ava in Upper Burma falls. * February 2 – The Diet of Augsburg begins. * February 4 &nda ...

) * 1486 ** 20 September –

Arthur, Prince of Wales Arthur, Prince of Wales (19/20 September 1486 – 2 April 1502), was the eldest son of King Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York, and an older brother to the future King Henry VIII. He was Duke of Cornwall from birth, and he was crea ...

, son of

(died

1502 Year 1502 ( MDII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 1 – Portuguese explorers, led by Gonçalo Coelho, sail into Guanabara Bay, Brazil, mistaking it for the mouth of ...

) * 1487 **

Hugh Latimer Hugh Latimer ( – 16 October 1555) was a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, and Bishop of Worcester during the Reformation, and later Church of England chaplain to King Edward VI. In 1555 under the Catholic Queen Mary I he was burned at the ...

, Protestant bishop (martyred

) * 1488 **

Thomas Audley, 1st Baron Audley of Walden Thomas Audley, 1st Baron Audley of Walden KG, PC, KS, JP (30 April 1544), was an English barrister and judge who served as Lord Chancellor of England from 1533 to 1544. Early life Audley was born in Earls Colne, Essex, the son of Geoffr ...

, Lord Chancellor (died

1544 __NOTOC__ Events January–March * January 4 – In India, Maldeo Rathore, King of Marwar (now part of the state of Rajasthan) is tricked by counterintelligence spread by Mughal Empire, Mughal Emperor and Afghan Shah Sher Shah Su ...

) **

Myles Coverdale Myles Coverdale, first name also spelt Miles ( – 20 January 1569), was an English ecclesiastical reformer chiefly known as a Bible translator, preacher, hymnist and, briefly, Bishop of Exeter (1551–1553). In 1535, Coverdale produced the fi ...

, Bible translator (died

1568 Year 1568 ( MDLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 6 – In the Eastern Hungarian Kingdom, the delegates of Unio Trium Nationum to the Diet of Torda convene i ...

) * 1489 ** 2 July –

Thomas Cranmer Thomas Cranmer (2 July 1489 – 21 March 1556) was a theologian, leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I. He is honoured as a Oxford Martyrs, martyr ...

, Protestant

(martyred

1556 Year 1556 ( MDLVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 4 – In Japan, Saitō Yoshitatsu, the eldest son of Saitō Dōsan, arranges the murders of his two younger brot ...

)

Deaths

* 1481 ** 23 August –

, judge and legal author (born c.

1407 Year 1407 ( MCDVII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 20 – Ming–Việt War: China conquers Dong Do, the eastern capital of Dai Ngu (now Hanoi, capital of Vietna ...

) ** 19 November –

Anne de Mowbray, 8th Countess of Norfolk Anne de Mowbray, 8th Countess of Norfolk, later Duchess of York and Duchess of Norfolk (10 December 1472 – 19 November 1481) was the child bride of Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, one of the Princes in the Tower. She died at the age o ...

(born

1472 Year 1472 ( MCDLXXII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. Events January–December * February 20 – Orkney and Shetland are returned by Norway to Scotland, as a result of a defaulted dowry payment. * Mar ...

) **

Mary Woodville Mary Woodville, Countess of Pembroke (c. 1456–1481) was a sister of Edward IV of England, Edward IV's Queen consort, Elizabeth Woodville, and of Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers. She later became the first wife of William Herbert, 2nd Earl ...

, noblewoman (born c.

1454 Year 1454 ( MCDLIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. Events January–December * February 4 – Thirteen Years' War: The Secret Council of the Prussian Confederation sends a formal act of disobedience ...

) * 1482 ** 25 August –

Margaret of Anjou Margaret of Anjou (; 23 March 1430 – 25 August 1482) was Queen of England by marriage to King Henry VI from 1445 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471. Through marriage, she was also nominally Queen of France from 1445 to 1453. Born in the ...

, exiled queen consort of Henry VI (born

1430 1430 (Roman numerals, MCDXXX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 7 – Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, marries Isabella of Portugal, Duchess of Burgundy, Isabella of Po ...

) ** Approximate date –

William Worcester William Worcester (c. 1415 – c. 1482) was an English antiquary, author, and historian known for his detailed writings on medieval England. He served as the secretary to Sir John Fastolf, a prominent military commander during the Hundred Year ...

, topographer, antiquary and chronicler (born

1415 Year 1415 (MCDXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 24 – France and England agree to extend their truce in the ongoing Burgundian War after the English Bishop of Durh ...

) * 1483 ** 4 April –

Henry Bourchier, 1st Earl of Essex Henry Bourchier, 5th Baron Bourchier, 2nd Count of Eu, 1st Viscount Bourchier, 1st Earl of Essex ( – 4 April 1483), was the eldest son of William Bourchier, 1st Count of Eu, and Anne of Gloucester. On his mother's side, he was a grea ...

(born c.

1405 Year 1405 ( MCDV) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar, the 1405th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 405th year of the 2nd millennium, the 5th year of the 15th century, and the 6th year of ...

) ** 9 April – King

Edward IV of England Edward IV (28 April 1442 – 9 April 1483) was King of England from 4 March 1461 to 3 October 1470, then again from 11 April 1471 until his death in 1483. He was a central figure in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars in England ...

(born

1442 Year 1442 ( MCDXLII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 25 – **The English Parliament opens at Westminster for a 60-day session, and the House of Commons re-elects Wil ...

) ** June –

(executed) (born

1431 Year 1431 ( MCDXXXI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 9 – Pretrial investigations for Joan of Arc begin at Rouen in France, which is under English occupation. * Feb ...

) ** 13 June –

, knight, half brother of

(executed) (born

1458 Year 1458 ( MCDLVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar, the 1458th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 458th year of the 2nd millennium, the 58th year of the 15th century, and the 9th year ...

) ** 25 June –

(executed) (born

) ** 2 November –

, politician (born

) ** George Nevill, Duke of Bedford, dispossessed nobleman (born 1465) **

Edmund Sutton Sir Edmund Sutton (1425 – c. 1485) was an English knight who fought at the Wars of the Roses. His father was John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley. Early life Sutton was born in Dudley, the eldest son of John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley, KG, and hi ...

, nobleman (born

1425 Year 1425 (Roman numerals, MCDXXV) was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. Events January – March * January 8 – The internment of Ming dynasty China's Yongle Emperor, who died on August 12, takes place ...

) * 1484 ** 9 April –

Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales ( or 1476 9 April 1484), was the son and heir apparent of King Richard III of England by his wife Anne Neville. He was Richard's only legitimate child and died aged seven or ten. Birth and titles Edward was ...

(born c.

1473 Year 1473 ( MCDLXXIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. Events January–December * February 12 – The first complete Inside edition of Avicenna's ''The Canon of Medicine'' (Latin translation) is publish ...

) ** 2 October –

Isabel of Cambridge, Countess of Essex Isabel of Cambridge, Countess of Essex (1409 – 2 October 1484) was the only daughter of Richard, 3rd Earl of Cambridge, and Anne de Mortimer. She was the sister of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, and like him a great-grandchild of ...

(born

1409 Year 1409 ( MCDIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 1 – The Welsh surrender Harlech Castle to the English. * January 18 – The Decree of Kutná Hora strengthe ...

) * 1485 ** 16 March –

Anne Neville Anne Neville (11 June 1456 – 16 March 1485) was List of English royal consorts , Queen of England from 26 June 1483 until her death in 1485 as the wife of King Richard III. She was the younger of the two daughters and co-heiresses of Richard N ...

, queen of

Richard III of England Richard III (2 October 1452 – 22 August 1485) was King of England from 26 June 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the Plantagenet dynasty and its cadet branch the House of York. His defeat and death at the Battle of Bosw ...

(born

1456 Year 1456 ( MCDLVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. Events January–December * May 18 – Second Battle of Oronichea (1456): Ottoman Forces of 15,000 are sent to capture Albania, but are met and swi ...

) ** 22 August (killed at the

) *** King

(born 1452) ***

Robert Brackenbury Sir Robert Brackenbury (died 22 August 1485) was an English courtier, who was Constable of the Tower of London during the reign of Richard III. He is believed to have been responsible for enabling the (presumed) murders of the Princes in the Tow ...

courtier to Richard III (year of birth unknown) *** William Brandon, supporter of Henry VII (born

1426 Year 1426 ( MCDXXVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 7 – King Henry VI summons the Parliament of England, directing its members to meet at Leicester on February 18. * J ...

) ***

John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk , also known as Jack of Norfolk, (22 August 1485), was an English nobleman, soldier, politician, and the first Howard Duke of Norfolk. He was a close friend and loyal supporter of King Richard III, with whom h ...

(born

) ***

Richard Ratcliffe Sir Richard Ratcliffe, KG (died 22 August 1485) was a close confidant of Richard III of England. Life Ratcliffe came from a gentry family in the Lake District, and became a companion of Richard when the latter was still Duke of Gloucester (1461 ...

, supporter of Richard III (year of birth unknown) ** August –

William Catesby William Catesby (1450 – 25 August 1485) was one of Richard III of England's principal councillors. He also served as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Speaker of the House of Commons during Richard's reign. The Catesbys’ medieval wealth de ...

, supporter of Richard III (executed) (born

1450 Year 1450 ( MCDL) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 19 – The Jingtai Era begins in China under the Emperor Daizong, and the Zhengtong Era ends after 14 years. * Janu ...

) ** 17 October –

John Scott of Scott's Hall Sir John Scott, JP (c. 1423 – 17 October 1485) of Scot's Hall in Smeeth was a Kent landowner, and committed supporter of the House of York. Among other offices, he served as Comptroller of the Household to Edward IV, and lieutenant to t ...

, Warden of the Cinque Ports (born c.

1423 Year 1423 ( MCDXXIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 6 – The Electorate of Saxony merges with the Margravate of Meissen and the Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg. * February 11 ...

) * 1486 ** 30 March – Thomas Bourchier,

and

Lord Chancellor of England The Lord Chancellor, formally titled Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, is a senior minister of the Crown within the Government of the United Kingdom. The lord chancellor is the minister of justice for England and Wales and the highest-r ...

(born c.

1404 Year 1404 ( MCDIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March *January 14 – The fourth Parliament of King Henry IV of England opens for a session of two months. *February 10 – Thoma ...

) ** 11 May –

, Lord Chancellor and bishop of Winchester (born c.

1398 Year 1398 ( MCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. Events January–December * March 15 – Trần Thuận Tông is forced to abdicate as ruler of the Trần dynasty in modern-day Vietnam, in fa ...

) ** 19 September – Richard Oldham, cleric (year of birth unknown) * 1487 ** 16 June –

John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln ( 1460 – 16 June 1487) was a leading figure in the Yorkist aristocracy during the Wars of the Roses. After the death of his uncle Richard III, de la Pole was reconciled with the new Tudor regime, but two years ...

(born c.

1463 Year 1463 ( MCDLXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar, the 1463rd year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 463rd year of the 2nd millennium, the 63rd year of the 15th century, and the 4th y ...

) ** 30 September –

John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley John Sutton VI, 1st Baron Dudley (25 December 1400 – 30 September 1487) was an English nobleman, diplomat, and councillor of King Henry VI. He fought in several battles during the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of the Roses, as well as acted ...

, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (born

1400 Year 1400 ( MCD) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The year 1400 was not a leap year in the Proleptic Gregorian calendar, it was a common year starting on Wednesday. Events January–March * January 4 ...

) **

William FitzAlan, 16th Earl of Arundel William Fitzalan, 9th Earl of Arundel, 6th Baron Maltravers (23 November 1417 – 1487) was an English nobleman. Born on 23 November 1417, William was the second son of John Fitzalan, 6th Earl of Arundel (1385–1421), and Eleanor Berkeley (d ...

(born

1417 Year 1417 (Roman numerals, MCDXVII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 19 – After the dismissal of Al-Musta'in (Cairo), Al-Musta'in as Caliph of Cairo by the Sultan Shaykh ...

) * 1489 ** 28 April – Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland (born c.

1449 Year 1449 ( MCDXLIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 2 – King Henry VI of England summons the members of parliament, directing them to assemble on Februry 12 at We ...

)

References

{{England year nav