Chronology: Key Events in Henry VIII to Mary I 1509-29

1511: England joins the Holy League against France.

1512: Disastrous campaign in France.

1513: Henry and Wolsey travel to France. English troops win the Battle of the Spurs and capture Tournai and Therouanne.

1514: England makes peace with France (1).

1515: Wolsey is appointed Lord Chancellor by the King, and Cardinal by the Pope.

1516: Treaty of Noyon ends war in Italy.

1518: Treaty of London is signed (2).

1519: Maximilian dies. Henry is a candidate for the Imperial throne (3).

1520: Henry entertains Francis I at the Field of the Cloth of Gold near Calais.

1521: Henry signs the Treaty of Bruges with Charles. Wolsey stands as a candidate for the Papacy (4).

1522: Henry declares war on France. Francis I invades Milan but loses at the battle of Bicocca.

1523: Wolsey again stands as a Papal candidate (5). English troops wage an unsuccessful campaign in France.

1525: Amicable Grant provokes disturbances in East Anglia (6).

1526: England joins the League of Cognac against Charles.

1527: Divorce proceedings begin. Imperial troops sack Rome and take the Pope prisoner.

1528: Wolsey signs the Treaty of Westminster with France. Henry agrees a truce with Charles (7).

1529: Imperial troops defeat France at Landriano. Wolsey falls from power (8).

1. Wolsey negotiated a peace with Louis XII. Henry's daughter, Mary, was to marry the French King and Henry was to receive an annual pension. England retained Tournai (formerly part of the Holy Roman Empire) and Therouanne (formerly French).
2. The London conference fulfilled two main purposes: Wolsey received his papal legateship and Henry and the other delegates pledged themselves to organise a crusade against the Ottoman Turks.
3. Although Henry was a serious candidate, he stood no realistic chance of success. He was in competition with Francis I of France and Charles I of Spain and their financial resources were far greater than his.
4. Wolsey received no votes in spite of having received Charles' assurance that he would use his influence on his behalf.
5. Charles again pledged to support Wolsey's candidature and he again received no votes.
6. The Amicable Grant was a non-parliamentary tax imposed on the laity and clergy to meet the costs of the French campaign. The King was informed of disturbances in Norfolk and Suffolk by the dukes of these counties - both were ill-disposed towards Wolsey.
7. English merchants were outraged at the interruption of trade with Charles' continental territories and persuaded the King that a truce must be agreed.
8. Within a week of learning of France's defeat at Landriano, Wolsey resigned as Lord Chancellor.